“Pamela, you will run into trouble. I tell you, that other man will be trouble. You need to think seriously on learning your duties and saving money, not — is that a new ribbon?”
The young maid laughed and bounced her hair about. “Is it not pretty? I keep looking my best because I hope that other gentleman will visit again. Goodbye, auntie, I only came by to grab this.” She took a biscuit from the jar. Pamela then laughed again and bounced off to go upstairs.
Elizabeth smiled as the happy young woman left.
Mrs. Shore had a pensive frown.
“Other gentleman?” Elizabeth asked. “I was aware of no recent visitors — she should be cautious. My own sister was led into serious misfortune by youthful high spirits and a handsome man.”
Mrs. Shore threw up her hands. “If I have told her that once, I have told it to her at least twenty times. And I have told her once. She’ll not listen. She has money in her pocket, and she has gone porridge brained. The fun of a great house still robs her of the little sense she owns. Pamela is a good girl. I do not think she will… She is a good girl.”
“She is — thank you again for indulging Emma with treats.”
Elizabeth picked up the tray holding her and Emma’s dinner to bring their food back to the nursery. Carrying food for the governess would be beneath a footman in the house of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
As the hours went past, Elizabeth’s slight hope of being called down so she might see Mr. Darcy again dissipated. However, if he actually was to stay for an entire month she would have many other opportunities. A half hour before the time when Elizabeth would put Emma to bed and then retire to her tiny room adjoining the nursery, there was a knock on the door.
Pamela entered, smiling and curtseying. She carried a tray with slices of cake and a glass of champagne. “Miss Bennet, Lady Catherine has ordered for us all to celebrate! There is such a grand announcement. Mr. Darcy — he is very handsome — he is to marry Miss de Bourgh.”
Chapter Five
Darcy glared from his window at the grove of trees visible across a small meadow.
Three days.
He had still not stumbled across any idea to protect his sister’s reputation while saving him from the need to marry Anne. Lady Catherine was too determined. Even if he found Wickham and bribed the man to deny any stories, he could not silence Lady Catherine. She would go to London and make the largest scandal the ton had seen in years.
It was midday on Sunday, and when he’d gone to church in the morning he’d at last seen Elizabeth again. She had sat in one of the pews in the back of the church. She had not been there yet when Lady Catherine had led her party to their pew. But she was there when he left the church.
She had a small, confused frown when their eyes caught as he left the church with Lady Catherine and his cousin.
Darcy had not sought Elizabeth out, though he always was aware where the nursery and Elizabeth were.
What was the point? What was the point of anything? He had to marry Anne.
From the corner of his eye Darcy caught movement. He saw Elizabeth, swinging a basket from her arm, walking towards that grove which had always been a favorite of hers while her pupil ran circles around Elizabeth and walked backwards.
The wind caught her blue summer dress and billowed the fabric around her legs. The sunlight shined upon her, creating a sort of halo around Elizabeth’s brown hair. Darcy’s stomach twisted.
The girl ran behind Elizabeth so that she turned back to face the house to smile at her. Darcy saw her smile, and it nearly made his heart stop. She nodded happily at the eagerly chattering little girl. Elizabeth ruffled her hair before the girl took off at a run into the woods, and with a laugh Elizabeth followed her, the basket swinging from her arms, and her lean athletic form easily striding after her.
Darcy knew he needed to go outside and join the healthy green world again. He hurriedly put his light summer coat on, and he stumbled as he rushed down the stairs. It was a half conscious thing, but he immediately headed in the direction he’d seen Elizabeth.
The park had wide fields and expansive vistas. The deer in the park flitted from tree to tree as they enjoyed the ample grass. The scent of growth pervaded the air, and insects buzzed merrily. Everywhere trees were blooming with leaves and flowers.
Darcy quickly reached the grove Elizabeth had walked into.
It was the same grove.
He remembered for a moment those days when he believed she loved him but was unworthy of his high regard.
The trees formed a covered hallway over the path, and it was almost cool and comfortable. Darcy wiped the sweat from his forehead. He smiled at the memory of Elizabeth inclining her head towards him with her lovely mischievous smirk.
No one was in the grove.
Someone ran up behind him and in a child’s voice asked, “Hello! Are you taking a walk on Sunday too?”
Darcy did not see the speaker until he looked down. Elizabeth’s pupil had her hands on her knees and panted from her run. There was a laugh in her eyes.
“Far too beautiful a day to be locked up inside with my books.” Elizabeth hurried up from behind with a wide smile.
“Good day! Good day! Miss Bennet, I am glad to see you! It is a fine day, is it not?” Darcy threw his hands wide to refer to the trees, the weather, and the sounds of nature.
“It is an exceptional day. Emma did not run into you again, did she?”
“I did not!”
“Are you sure?” Elizabeth poked the little girl. “You’ve made quite a habit of running through Mr. Darcy.”
“No! Just that one time!”
“Are you sure? — Mr. Darcy, do tell me, did she run into you again?”
Darcy looked down at Emma, who looked back up at him pleadingly. He winked at her. “Alas this time it was I who ran into her.”
Emma giggled.
“That was quite clumsy of you.” Elizabeth’s wide smile was untroubled.
“He did not run into me either!”
Elizabeth exclaimed, “No! But he must have! He said he did. Mr. Darcy — did you just tell an untruth? Emma, you should not follow his example.”
“You shall teach her not to believe a word I say — I hope…I hope you do not distrust every word from me now.”
“Trust? I trust what you say…”
“Miss Williams said you were taking a walk—”
“For Emma it is more of a run.”
“Might I join you?”
“Me or Emma?” Elizabeth rubbed the girl’s shoulder. “I doubt you can keep up with her. She is faster than anyone I’ve ever met before.”
Emma beamed at Elizabeth’s silly praise. “Mr. Darcy, I will just walk so you can keep up with me. I’ll show you all of the types of trees. This is an aspen, and that is an oak, and that one way over there is a…a…”
“A willow, honey.”
“Yes, it is a willow.”
“That is very good.” Darcy clapped enthusiastically.
“Have you been to the stream? I can skip rocks. I’ve managed to make a rock jump, four, five times. More.” Emma held up six fingers between her two hands. “Lizzy says that is impressive because it is such a small stream.”
They walked to the stream, with the thick reeds grown up around it, and lilies, and brilliant water flowers. It ran merrily along, the surface of the water dappled by the sunlight coming through the overarching leaves. Fish were visible through the clear water, and one leaped out of the river on the opposite side from them, and the sun gleamed off its silvery skin. They found a large area though where the water was deeper and it presented a flat appearance.
Emma ran down to search out rocks to throw along the edge of the stream. With a serious frown she picked up rocks and turned them about to study their features, before tossing most back to the ground.
Darcy looked at Elizabeth.
She smiled at him. “Emma decided she likes you, and she can be quite determined with such adults. She truly is t
he sweetest creature, but if you do not wish to listen to her babble at length—”
“I am happy to learn the names of the trees. And from such a fine teacher.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Well if you must tell Emma that, you should with that very tone of voice.”
“I am thankful you allow me to accompany you. If you do not wish my presence though—”
“What are you speaking of?”
“I see you still like to frequent that grove, but I once thought you went there so often because we met there.”
Elizabeth laughed unabashedly. Her white teeth showed in her brilliant smile. “I likely enjoyed your company then. I do not know — one should never believe everything a woman says. I thought often of you afterwards — during those dark days, especially. Perhaps, I… Oh it does not matter! That was then! It is all so long ago — wait! I can read your hidden meaning. You came to the grove to seek my company again.”
Darcy flushed.
She beamed at him. “That was extremely kind of you!”
Emma called them down to join her next to the river. She had a small pile of smooth flat stones, perfect for skipping. Darcy squatted next to Emma and said with an air of dignity, “I expect to be deeply impressed by such a fine thrower as you claim to be.” He winked at her.
Darcy knew Elizabeth watched him, and he knew she found his friendliness to Emma attractive.
“I am a very fine thrower. My Mama taught me before she went to heaven, and then Lizzy taught me another trick.”
Darcy looked at Elizabeth. “Aha! You can skip rocks? Shall the list of your accomplishments never cease?”
“So a woman must skip rocks for you to consider her truly accomplished?”
“And she must read extensively.” Darcy grinned and said to Emma, “With such a fine teacher I expect great things from you!”
Emma grinned at the attention. She studied the pile for many seconds before she grabbed a fine round grey stone speckled with black. With an intense frown she pulled her arm back and hurled it forward. The stone bounced along the stream’s surface.
Darcy clapped enthusiastically. “Not bad at all! Not bad — I’d wager you can do better though!”
“I can! I can! ” She pulled another stone from the pile and threw it more quickly. This one did not skip as many times. But her third stone bounced far longer, and Emma jumped up and down with glee.
Elizabeth embraced her, saying, “Fine job. Very fine!”
Emma exclaimed, “Did you see that, Mr. Darcy! Did you see that!”
“I dare say I’d have trouble replicating it.”
Elizabeth laughed. “All gentlemen in my experience are proud of how talented they are at skipping rocks.”
“Not I, ‘twas Colonel Fitzwilliam and…our other companion who had a genius for the sport.”
“So there is something you cannot do well.”
“I can teach you!” Emma exclaimed enthusiastically.
Darcy grinned at Elizabeth and squatted down next to Emma again. “I know a little of the art. But perhaps I can learn from you.”
“Well you must find the very best stones first, and then hold them like so.”
Darcy nodded attentively, though he saw from the edge of his eyes the way Elizabeth’s face had curled into such a pretty smile that it jolted his stomach again. Her smiles always had affected him so. Following Emma's lead he picked up the stone, and she manipulated how he held it several times before proclaiming that Mr Darcy had it just right. Then he pulled back his wrist, let Emma correct his technique once more and then let the rock skip.
It was a decent throw, and Elizabeth clapped.
Emma was a harsher critic. “I did better than that! You must practice, Mr. Darcy. Miss Lizzy always says hard work is required for proficiency at any important matter.”
“So you consider skipping stones an important matter?” Darcy queried the girl in his most serious voice.
She giggled. “It’s just fun. And I’m the best!” She then proved that statement by hurling several more stones which skipped delightfully.
Darcy took his turn, and then Elizabeth hers. Elizabeth made the two best throws of their little group before they ran out of stones. Emma went off to search out more stones, though Darcy saw her after a moment forget the occupation to study something interesting which caught her attention along the riverbank. She then ran back, clutching a small object, “Look! It’s a beetle!”
Elizabeth laughed, though she drew back a little from the insect. “An excellent find.”
Emma nodded. “May I explore about?”
“Be careful — no climbing trees! I would be in great trouble if you fell out and broke your arm.”
“I’m more agile than you! I never fall.”
Elizabeth laughed and ruffled her hair.
Darcy looked at her in curiosity.
Elizabeth said, “I regaled Emma with the tales of my misadventures during childhood. She seems to think she shall not fall from trees in the way I did. Children must learn for themselves — but, Emma, remember Lady Catherine.”
That name sobered the girl. She nodded seriously before running off into the thicket around the pond.
Elizabeth looked at Darcy, her dark eyes smiling. She spoke in a soft voice, “You have been exceptionally kind.” She sat down on a large rock after rearranging her dress to keep from crumpling in folds under her.
Darcy sat on another rock near her, so that their knees almost touched. “I have been nothing of the sort. Emma is completely adorable. There is no kindness in enjoying her company.”
“She still is a child, though she is the sweetest child in the world — I speak as a woman with several nieces and a profusion of younger cousins. Emma is my favorite.”
“It is not just Emma who drew me here. I also enjoy your company.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks crimsoned. A part of Darcy was confused by his behavior with Elizabeth. He was an engaged man. While he felt no attachment to Anne, he could not, as a matter of honor, flirt with a different gentlewoman. He had never really understood how to flirt, but he thought he might be flirting with Elizabeth.
It felt special to be near her.
Elizabeth looked at him from the side, her deep brown eyes only meeting his for a moment. “I always wondered what you thought of me. If perhaps you resented me. By now you must have heard the tale of our disgrace, and about Lydia, and…I am surprised you sought my company.”
Darcy intently looked at Elizabeth. Lady Catherine had happily told everything that was known about Elizabeth’s youngest sister when he’d mentioned meeting her during their first dinner. It was a story which proved that he’d been objectively correct that her sisters might disgrace their connections.
Yet he’d been entirely and completely wrong to fear it.
Elizabeth looked down and said in a high-pitched voice. “Have you heard the story — I must tell you if you have not, so you—”
Darcy placed his hand on her knee. She fell quiet and looked at him. He studied her eyes. “You undervalue yourself. I know the story, but I would be a fool if I did not wish to seek you out.”
Their eyes held. Her brown eyes were like a light colored chocolate, alight with life. Elizabeth self-consciously looked down and away. “I gave you ample reason to avoid me.”
Darcy removed his hand from her knee when he realized it was there. He wasn’t flirting with her. There was more meaning to his behavior than flirting implied. He asked in a slightly confused voice, “Why would I ever wish to avoid you?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I rejected you quite harshly. It shames me to remember the phrases I spoke to you. I believe I said you were the last man in the world I would marry — which was quite melodramatic. And untrue, even at the time I would have preferred you to the other eligible offer I received.”
She glanced at him from the side again, her eyes peeking through her eyelashes.
“You were harsh. But I deserved harshness. My behavior towards you —
the recollection still fills me with shame. I cannot resent you. What you said to me then was the first time I learned to judge myself harshly, and it was a lesson of great value. I always swore that should fate let me meet you again, I would strive to prove I had listened to your admonitions and improved in my behavior.”
“Oh.” Elizabeth frowned at the ground. She then bit her lip and shook her head. With a laugh she said, “We are quite a pair. I had no notion that was how you would react to my refusal. I dare say it likely did have a salutary effect.”
“A most salutary effect.” Darcy grinned at her.
Elizabeth grinned back. And his stomach flipped. She said, “I am glad you sought me out again.”
The way their eyes met made Darcy incoherent as he looked at her. He could not think of the words he meant to say. Darcy looked away with a helpless smile. “I should have sought you out earlier. We have been in the same house for four days, and this is the second time we spoke.”
“You have no duty to talk to me — I am glad for your…friendship. But I would never have dreamed of expecting you to seek me out.”
“You had no reason to expect much of me. But it would have been right for me to seek you out quicker.”
While rubbing her knee Elizabeth said, “I had thought… I knew you could have. Perhaps I rather hoped to see you.” She darted her eyes up to his face and then looked down again. “You were friendly. I have been — I am not complaining. I am fortunate and glad for my position and my care of Emma. But I have been lonely.”
“Lonely?”
“You must know what it is like to be a governess. No gentlewoman wishes to spend much time with one. At least Lady Catherine discourages my socializing. A governess must always be aware of her subservient position.”
“I will seek you out often then.”
“I wondered if, once you’d heard more of my story, that you determined to have no further dealings with me. Or you had simply not thought about me. Which in truth was a far more painful thought than your righteous determination to avoid a woman with such a scandalous sister.”
The Trials: A Pride and Prejudice Story Page 4