“Kitty, Andrew, do sit and have some lemonade. Cook has outdone herself again—such an array of biscuits!” Matilda exclaimed, piling three into her palm.
With all parties settled and enjoying refreshments, Kitty was surprised to see Darcy rise and move to stand behind Lizzy’s chair. She had rarely seen him so pleased. Lizzy looked up at him with a glow.
“We have some news to share with our dearest friends—you, who are like our family,” Darcy began.
Kitty’s eyes bolted to Lizzy’s face, which was a picture of serenity and joy.
“Oh, my!” escaped from Lady Stapleton.
“This year, before Christmastide, we shall welcome the first of the next generation of Darcys!” he exclaimed. He bent to kiss Lizzy’s forehead.
“Lizzy!” Kitty gasped, and was answered with a knowing wink. She rushed to her sister and hugged her. “Oh Lizzy, such happy news!”
“Great news indeed!” the squire said, moving to shake Darcy’s hand as Georgiana ran forward to embrace her brother.
“Praise be! About time this neighborhood sees some bairns again! This is the best news in the land, I declare,” Lady Stapleton cried as she came over and grasped Lizzy’s hands. Kitty would not have been surprised to see the little woman leap for joy.
“Will this truly be the first baby hereabouts in some time?” Lizzy asked.
“Aye, it will. The youngest Nelson is nigh on seven years now. We must discuss the things you will need and how I can help you prepare—if you would welcome my help, that is,” Lady Stapleton added, seeming to become aware of propriety again. “I have found no greater joy than in being a mother,” she admitted. “Next to being married to the squire, of course.” She gave Lizzy a conspiratorial wink.
General laughter and good wishes filled the air, and Lizzy was offered as many cakes and biscuits as she could eat.
The meaningful looks and exchanges Kitty had witnessed, and Lizzy’s occasional spells of being unwell, were now explained. Look at the pair of them, so very happy. And to think, Lizzy would have missed all this had she accepted Mr. Collins. Let that be a lesson to me—to listen to my heart.
Kitty looked up to see Andrew offering his arm.
“The time is ripe for our walk, Miss Bennet. Will you do me the honor?”
She was not inclined to leave the happy atmosphere of the drawing room but the pleading look reappeared in his eyes and Kitty could not say no, in spite of her misgivings about what he might say. Surely he would not be offering—
“Miss Bennet?” he repeated.
“Yes, a walk would be lovely.” She turned towards Julia. “Will your sisters accompany us?”
“Certainly; we must honor propriety. I have asked Julia if she would stay behind us for a bit, as there is something I wish to speak to you about in confidence, if you will allow it,” Andrew said in a quiet voice, close to her ear. He seemed happy yet anxious. The whole situation was puzzling.
Kitty rose and took his arm. With Julia on his other arm, the three made their way outdoors to the path around the pond. The late afternoon light cast a golden glow on the leaves, and the air was heady with the perfume of budding peonies.
Once out of direct view of the house, Julia dropt back, claiming she wished to watch the swans on the water.
“When do you return to Scotland, Mr. Stapleton?” Kitty asked, to give the silence a direction.
“Scotland. Yes, well, my heart is there, indeed …” he trailed off, looking wistful.
Kitty made another attempt. “You take your studies seriously, I see. I can understand that. I myself find the land here most interesting, and I have not nearly the depth of knowledge you must hold by now. It must be a fascinating field. But how shall you … or perhaps it is impertinent of me to ask?”
His look encouraged her to go on.
“How shall you work as a scientist in Scotland and yet be master of Swan’s Nest?”
“Miss Bennet, since meeting you, I have been struck not only by your beauty, but also by your intelligence—as shown by your interest in my work—and by the sense of honor you demonstrate in social situations,” he said, looking at her sidelong. “I have something to confess, in confidence, and a question to ask. I must speak to someone—I cannot speak to my family, not yet. I had hoped to confide in you. Can I depend upon your secrecy?”
Kitty’s voice caught in her throat. Secrecy? Did she wish to be bound by Andrew’s secrets? Her thoughts flew back to Owen, the man who now possessed two of her secrets.
Andrew’s face was clouded with concern.
“You may unburden yourself to me and be assured of my secrecy—unless someone is in danger; in which case I must warn you I will consult my sister.”
“Thank you. No one is in danger. But you have in fact already touched on one of my concerns. I am torn. I love Swan’s Nest, of course. It is home. But I also love Scotland, and especially university life. There is much to learn, and I am so eager for it! I believe I can make a worthy contribution to my field. My uncle assures me my ideas are quite forward and encourages me to pursue them. I hope to continue my work in Scotland as long as possible. But my father is not a young man. I have a mother and four sisters who will depend on me. You can see my dilemma.”
“Indeed.” Kitty pursed her lips. “There is a gentleman in my old neighborhood, in Hertfordshire, who travels a great deal. He has a fine estate and is said to rely heavily on his steward. Would that be possible?”
“You think quickly, Miss Bennet. Sadly, my father’s steward is old, older than my father himself. A steward could look after the land; but not after my mother and sisters.”
“True. You have been gathering specimens here. Can you not continue some discovery in Derbyshire?”
“The caves round about and the areas with stone circles are of great interest. Many of the stones are ancient. There is one site in particular where the findings so far are remarkable. I should like to explore it in more depth. So yes, there is some work to be done here. But the testing must be done at university.” He paused, seeming to weigh these ideas.
“I must speak of another dilemma, which more nearly concerns you. May I continue?”
Kitty’s pulse quickened. She hesitated, then said, “You may.”
“There is another part of my heart that resides in Scotland, and did so very happily until recently.”
Kitty’s heart thudded to a stop.
“But I must explain. I have always kept young ladies at a distance. As heir to Swan’s Nest, I have been pursued by many, but mostly for my fortune. For my part, my mind was on my studies, and I took little interest in society other than considering it a pleasant pastime. As you noticed, I do enjoy dancing.”
They exchanged a smile.
“For many months—perhaps years—it has been hoped by both our families that Miss Darcy would be my wife. My father is like an older brother to Mr. Darcy; perhaps even like a father, especially since old Mr. Darcy died. I am very fond of Miss Darcy; but she is like a sister, so close she is to our family. She and Matilda are thick as thieves. And Miss Darcy’s heart lies elsewhere. The young man who has captured her heart also returns her feelings. I wish them well and hope their match will be accepted. So I had not taken much notice of young ladies—well besides Anna, who is in Scotland, and there are difficulties … so I felt there was nothing here for me until such time as I must consider residing at Swan’s Nest permanently. Nothing, that is, until you came into the neighborhood, Miss Bennet.”
Kitty’s heart was pounding and her breath came in quivers.
“I have met no one like you before. Yet I do not wish to be false with you. I shall return to Scotland shortly and know not the length of my stay.”
He paused and looked at her, almost through or beyond her. “I can offer nothing at present to any young lady. So what about you, Miss Bennet? Have you left your heart in Hertfordshire?”
They walked on in silence, with Julia still trailing them at a distance. The breeze had stilled and
the mingled smells from the water and woods wove amongst Kitty’s tangled senses.
“Miss Bennet?”
How much should she tell him? Who was Anna? She sighed.
“Mr. Stapleton, clearly your heart is troubled, and I am sorry for that. I have little experience regarding romance or courtship, and even less wisdom about such matters. I have had no serious attachments myself. Oh, there was one officer with whom I was enraptured for a time. But he married a lady with more fortune than I. My heart was broken, but my mind understood.”
She drew a deep breath and continued. “Fortunately, you are free to marry where your heart leads, and that you must sort for yourself, Mr. Stapleton. I think I understand what you are saying, but I cannot help you other than to say this: I do not wish to be unkind. Yet neither do I wish to cause confusion or heartbreak for another by being unclear.”
He turned to face her. “You are right, of course. Your insight is admirable, Miss Bennet, and I thank you for sharing it. You have shown yourself a true friend by allowing me to unburden myself, even if I was bold or impertinent. Forgive me. I can see now that you are correct—I must know my own heart first. But how does one do that?” His brows knit together.
Lacking this answer herself, she passed by his question.
“Time itself may lend some clarity to your situation. May I ask, why do you not talk of these things with Julia?”
He looked into her eyes. “Julia is much like you in temperament and wisdom. Perhaps that is part of your appeal to me. But she has her own sorrows of the heart, and they are deep; I do not wish to burden her further at present.”
Kitty looked at him with some surprise. So her own impression of Julia being in turmoil was not unfounded.
“I cannot speak of her feelings. I hope she will confide in you before long. I believe it would comfort her.”
Julia waited as they approached, then took her brother’s arm and the three returned to the merriment of the house to see Lady Stapleton already knitting a tiny hat of the softest wool.
Chapter Fifteen
The day of the picnic dawned cloudy and cool, perfect for the ladies’ morning ride. Tendrils of mist curled round the trees and clung to the fence posts as Darcy, Kitty, and Georgiana made their way along the edge of the field. Wearing her new habit, Kitty felt as elegant as her companions and sat tall on Cara. All the riders would gather at the crossroads where the estates conjoined except for Swan’s Nest, which met Pemberley further to the northwest. Darcy dismounted to work the gate, which he could not budge from his position in the saddle. Once they were through and the gate secured, they rode on to the crossroads and saw the others approach.
Lady Drake looked smart in her deep ruby habit. Her son Christopher Drake was maddeningly attractive—if only his character matched his handsome mien. Mrs. Goode was a plain but cheerful lady dressed in a green habit. Mr. Wyndham and Owen emerged like ghosts from the mist, the footsteps of their horses heard long before they could be seen.
“Why, Wyndham!” Darcy exclaimed. “I thought you were meant for the carriage today.”
“As did I, my friend. Mrs. Wyndham came to decide that Douglas would be companion enough for herself and Lucy—so I was free to join you on horseback.”
“Excellent news indeed!”
Squire Stapleton, along with Andrew and Julia Stapleton and their uncle Mr. Robertson, met the group at a spot down the road—the squire’s jovial laughter being heard before the Swan’s Nest party physically appeared. Kitty could imagine his voice lifting in song and it would not seem at all odd, such was his character.
At first the ladies rode together—Georgiana with Lady Drake, followed by Kitty and Julia with Mrs. Goode. Kitty observed with pleasure the affection between the two in front of her and hoped Georgiana’s dream of marrying Benjamin would come to pass. Christopher Drake, Owen Wyndham, and Andrew Stapleton rode in front, and the four older gentlemen brought up the rear.
The riders first kept near to the bank of the River Derwent as it wound its way through the valley and the oak woods, but soon the bank began to rise.
“Andrew, take the next path to the right,” the squire directed.
“The high pass to the Edge?”
“Yes. We will follow that to the top and then work our way down to the bridge at Little Longstone. After two more climbs we shall meet the others near Nob Cave for the picnic. The view of the dale from that spot is unsurpassed.”
“The fishing in these parts is also good,” Darcy added. “Perhaps next we shall make a fishing expedition, eh?”
The older gentlemen agreed heartily with this idea.
The mists evaporated as they climbed towards the Edge, and the sun glinted off the water. Owen rode up beside Kitty, close enough to speak quietly.
“How very ladylike you look in your saddle today, Miss Bennet.” He arched a brow at her, and she felt a blush cover her cheeks. He smiled and motioned for her to ride ahead of him as the path narrowed.
The river fell away on their left. Kitty dared not look down and was grateful for Cara’s talent at picking her way along the rocky path. The area was rough and craggy, not unlike the rocky land around Greystone and the stony hills behind Swan’s Nest. They paused at the top of the Edge to appreciate the view for miles around, staring until the boundary between earth and sky melted into mist. They rode the crest for some little time.
The direction of the descent went to and fro until the riders reached the level of the river again, where a stone bridge spanned the waterway. Two of the horses were reluctant to cross with the water swirling beneath. Darcy led Georgiana’s mount across, and the squire assisted Mrs. Goode. Once across, the riders regrouped.
As they readied for another climb, Kitty observed a look of significance pass between Julia and Owen. She sensed a degree of discomfort on both their parts. Julia was melancholy when Owen or Douglas were nearby or discussed. The group moved out and the climb claimed Kitty’s attention. The ride was demanding and she was grateful she had been in the saddle several times of late. She hoped Georgiana would not be too sore.
After a time, the squire announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived.” The sweeping view stole Kitty’s breath. The valley was a brilliant green and the river sparkled like the stars. The sun was now gaining in the sky.
Andrew rode up beside her. “Beautiful, is it not?” he said, taking in the view with her. “Much study can be done here, on either side of the river. The rock on one side is composed of limestone, and on the other side of gritstone. Some areas are thought to be old coral reefs, once part of an ancient sea.”
Kitty looked at him with admiration. “There is so much to be known about the world. My desire to read and learn is greatly increased after visiting a place such as this. Thank you for sharing some your knowledge.”
“Nearby are caves that beckon one to explore. There are many such in the limestone formations.”
“I have never seen a real cave up close,” Kitty mused.
“We have no time for cave exploring today. Perhaps another outing can be arranged at a cave that has been examined and deemed safe. Caves are not to be explored lightly. Some lead nowhere. Some are an endless maze; explorers can become lost. Some are underground waterways. Caves are always flooding or falling in on themselves.”
Kitty shuddered. Like a horse, she feared being trapped in any enclosure—or underground.
“Perhaps cave exploring is not for me,” she said with a dubious expression.
Andrew chuckled, then changed the subject.
“The day grows warm. The cool of the oak woods will be welcome before our climb towards Nob Cave, where we will picnic. Near there are castle ruins. We will find some mysterious stone circles as well.” His eyes sparkled.
“No wonder people recommend touring the Peaks!” Kitty exclaimed in rapture. “So many beauties and mysteries.”
“Indeed there are, Miss Bennet,” he said, looking at her with a sly smile. “Indeed there are.”
&nb
sp; Kitty pondered Andrew’s remark as they began their descent to the woods.
The coolness found in the shade of the oaks was exceedingly welcome. The riders stopped for the horses to drink and took their own refreshment whilst they admired the cliffs and ridges looming above. Fishermen could be seen here and there at points along the river. Darcy watched them with great interest. Andrew was showing Kitty the patterns of how moss grew on trees when Christopher spoke to the group.
“I have developed a great appetite. Let us make haste up the hill and finish this ride.” His horse danced with impatience.
“No!” Darcy said emphatically. “We have ladies with us, Mr. Drake. We shall arrive in good time, and it is best we all arrive in safety, on uninjured horses. Take another drink and cool off.”
Lady Drake frowned at her son. “It is never wise to put others, or horses, at peril. You know this.”
Christopher scowled and turned his back on the group.
Andrew, still beside Kitty, shook his head.
Kitty wondered about the friendships between the five young men she had met. By her observation, they seemed none too cordial. Even those who were brothers were markedly different in attitude and manner. Perhaps Julia could enlighten her about the men and their backgrounds. More than castle ruins and stone circles now piqued Kitty’s interest.
≈
Three coaches and three wagons greeted the morning explorers when they gained the summit. Further on, rugs and cushions were set out in the shade of an obliging beech. Servants gathered at the wagons, filling the food trays.
Lizzy waved gaily at Kitty and she waved back. There were stable lads to see to the horses, but Kitty would tend to Cara herself.
Lady Drake was of the same mind and greeted Kitty with a smile as she situated Cara nearby.
“You are a true horsewoman, Miss Bennet. I, too, personally ensure that my dear Seraphin is happily situated before I seek my own comfort.”
“They depend upon us, do they not, my lady?”
“Indeed they do. And we must honor that trust, no matter the cost, I say.”
Her Summer at Pemberley Page 13