by Sophia Grace
The carriages were all arranged. Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and Miss Bingley were to ride in Mr. Bingley’s carriage. The four Bennet daughters were to ride in their family’s carriage. In Mr. and Mrs. Forrester’s carriage was to be Wickham and Denny.
Elizabeth had no idea of it being any different until Mr. and Mrs. Forrester showed up at Longbourn with the two officers in tow. As soon as they exited the carriage, Mrs. Forrester exclaimed she had rather not ride all the way to Hertford Castle with three gentlemen. As if it had been prearranged by the pair, Lydia immediately volunteered to give up her spot in her family’s carriage. She ran to Mrs. Forrester and grasped her hand.
Mr. Wickham, catching Elizabeth’s eye, stepped forward and, Elizabeth thought, was about to make his wishes known for riding in the carriage with the Bennets, since only four were allowed in the Forrester’s carriage, when Mrs. Forrester said, “Denny, you do not mind riding with the Bennets, do you?”
He assured them all he would not and it was almost all settled until at that moment, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley pulled up in a phaeton.
Mrs. Bennet smiled and welcomed them both though as usual she was more than amiable toward Mr. Bingley and less so toward Mr. Darcy.
A frown tugged at Jane’s lips. “Where is Miss Bingley?”
“My sister sends her regrets, but she finds she is too ill today to travel. Darcy has brought his phaeton for us to travel in.”
As soon as the pleasantries were finished and everyone said what was proper toward Mr. Darcy’s new gig, Mr. Darcy said they all should be off as they wanted time to explore the castle.
Though she agreed with him, Elizabeth’s anger rose. Mr. Wickham had told her of all his bad dealings with Mr. Darcy. She caught the officer’s eye. He just shook his head, smiling. She had no idea how he could act such a way when he was treated so poorly by Mr. Darcy. Indifference would have been difficult to manage, but he was even better than that. It was as if it had never taken place at all. How could he forget such a thing? He was a better person than she could ever hope to be. If someone had treated her wrongly, she would not be able to forgive him as it seems Mr. Wickham had done.
“Mr. Bingley,” Mrs. Bennet started. “What a smart phaeton Mr. Darcy has, but I am sure that our carriage will do better for you. Much more comfortable and you should be able to talk on the way there. Yes, much better. You and Mr. Denny should ride with Jane and…” Her glance slid past Elizabeth and latched onto her second youngest daughter. “…Kitty. That will be such a merry party.”
Mr. Bingley stepped toward the Bennet’s carriage and Mr. Darcy frowned. It was not difficult to figure out why Mrs. Bennet wanted Mr. Bingley to go in their carriage. Of course, that left Elizabeth with no seat anywhere.
Upon realizing this, Mr. Bingley halted his step. “But Miss Elizabeth? Where are you to ride?”
Mr. Darcy came forward and bowed at Elizabeth. “If Miss Bennet does not mind, she can ride with me.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes. If it was not for the lure of being able to spend time with Mr. Wickham while at the castle, she may have faked a headache in order to not go forward with the scheme. Jane and Mr. Bingley looked so hopeful to ride with one another, too. How could she deny her sister a chance to spend a few hours with Mr. Bingley? It would be very cruel of her indeed to put her own wants ahead of her dear sister’s.
Elizabeth forced a smile to her face and dropped to give a small curtsey. “I would be delighted, Sir. Thank you.”
The smile that overtook Mr. Darcy’s face was unlike any Elizabeth had ever observed before. It was truly radiant, and dare she think, almost made him amiable. She had always thought him a very handsome man, but that did not matter when one’s personality did not match their looks. She would rather have a poorer looking man that was more agreeable to her than a handsome man who was proud such as Mr. Darcy. With this smile, however, she could not find any stain of pride anywhere. He looked truly happy to drive her to the castle.
She was so taken aback by it that she made no answer when her mother whispered, “I am sorry, Lizzy. He is very disagreeable, but think what you are doing for your sister.”
She allowed him to lead her to his new phaeton and helped her get seated. He put the top back so they could enjoy the sunshine of the day. It was truly a nice carriage and if she were to travel with any other person, she would be very happy to go on such a trip with the top down, the sun on her face and the breeze in her hair.
Mr. and Mrs. Forrester’s carriage lead the way, followed by the Bennets, and then Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth brought up the rear. Though Elizabeth knew the phaeton could travel faster than any of the other carriages, Mr. Darcy did not tire his horse any. Soon, the other carriages were almost out of sight on the road. It seemed her companion was content to enjoy the scenery on the way to the castle. She had not believed Mr. Darcy to be that kind of gentleman and she was pleasantly surprised when he pointed out different views to her that he found pretty.
“Look there,” he said. “That lone tree in a halo of sunshine. That is very fine, indeed.”
Elizabeth, who had been looking at the very tree, smiled. It was one of those rare scenes they happened upon at the exact moment in time it was beautiful. A few minutes before or after and the sun would not have been shining on the tree just so as to prick her skin into goosebumps.
“I agree, Sir. Lovely.”
They had not spoken much as of that moment. It seemed as if every time Elizabeth opened her mouth around him, they disagreed about something. But to have little conversation with him was wearing on her. She should at least be trying to enjoy her company as well as the forest and valleys surrounding them.
“Does Hertfordshire remind you of your home county at all, Mr. Darcy?”
Mr. Darcy gripped the reins tighter and turned toward Elizabeth. His eyes held a dream-like quality as they focused on her. Perhaps it was the mention of his home that offered her such a look into his character. “In some ways, yes. In others, no. Hertfordshire is tamer than Derbyshire. Up North we have hills and rock faces. There are steep cliffs to climb and look down upon valleys. In Hertfordshire, you can look straight and see for a long way in certain areas. In Derbyshire, it is not the same at all. Then again, since I am from there, I may not hold an indifferent opinion. I believe Derbyshire to be the most beautiful in our country.”
The way he described it, Elizabeth could see why. The description of its peaks and valleys warmed her. Hopefully, one day, she would be able to visit that part of the country.
She said as much to Mr. Darcy who again smiled at her. “I hope you do get a chance of it, Miss Bennet. You must promise me one thing if you do.”
“What is that, Mr. Darcy?”
“You will have to tell me how you like it.”
“Surely my opinion cannot mean much to you. You are from there so you will be the better observer.”
“Ah, yes, but I see Derbyshire from my mind’s eye. I should like to hear an outsider’s opinion and since you are a great studier, Miss Bennet, I would enjoy hearing your opinion. Your frankness alone will determine whether I have embellished my county’s merits or not.”
Elizabeth laughed at his way of describing her. She could see why he felt she was frank. She had always told Mr. Darcy exactly what she thought, even oftener than she told others. When they had spent time at Netherfield together, she had insisted on giving her opinion at every chance she got. Even more so when it had been opposite his own beliefs.
A blush of red colored her cheeks. “If I should ever see it, you can be assured I will give you my opinion.”
“How are you finding the drive in the phaeton, Miss Bennet?”
“I like it very much. Such an agreeable way to see the countryside in the summer. I admit I am glad to be riding in it instead of the carriage. What a narrower view we would have instead of this.”
“Exactly as I think. Even after Miss Bingley became ill, Bingley still wanted to take his carriage, but I insisted we take this and e
njoy the day. Since you are with me, however, he will never know what he has missed out on.”
“Well, I shall tell him and hope to make him green with envy. But not so much that he wishes to take my place on the way home.”
Mr. Darcy laughed wholeheartedly. The sound of it widened Elizabeth’s smile. How very different he was than when she had ever spent time with him before. Perhaps it was because they were alone and she had only been around him with others. But she should think that company would make him even better behaved. Not so, however. If Mr. Wickham had not told her what Darcy had done to him before this day, she would not believe him. He was all politeness and understanding.
“What brings that frown to your face, Miss Bennet? You are not getting tired of the trees, are you? Look to your right. There is a field there that might interest you.”
Elizabeth looked at the rock-lined field. The grass was tall and wild, like her battling emotions inside. How could she be thinking kind thoughts about Mr. Darcy? He was so cruel to Wickham and Elizabeth could not abide by dishonesty. Either Mr. Darcy was proud and disagreeable and downright unsavory as Mr. Wickham made him out to be, or he was the gentleman next to her that aimed to be pleasing and happy with his surroundings.
“You did not care for it?” he asked.
His furrowed brows, once she looked at him, were what caused her loose tongue. It was evident he really wanted to know what was troubling her.
“Mr. Darcy, do you care if I ask you a question?” When he did not answer right away, she kept talking. “It may be quite personal, but I find I am having a hard time discerning your character. I get such different accounts of you that I do not know what to think.”
Mr. Darcy’s lips thinned. He gathered his thoughts before he spoke. He looked neither troubled nor upset when he answered. “If you will, Miss Elizabeth, I should ask that you study my character during this trip to make your own opinion. Large parties do not give me credit and even worse still, I fear others may have attempted to ruin my character for you. Perhaps you can take this time to make your own observances. Does that suit you?”
Elizabeth looked away from him and out at the green surrounding the dirt road. Surely, she could give him this time, could she not? What did she have to lose? It was one trip and if she found at the end that she still deemed him disagreeable, what harm could be done? Her opinion was unchanged. When the trip finished, if she found he became more favorable to her, then she could ask him herself about Mr. Wickham. “I believe that will do just fine, Mr. Darcy.”
Chapter 2
Mr. Darcy and Lizzy played ‘I spy’ for some miles, but they had to stop when the only things they saw were green. There was no amusement in the game itself after that, only in making fun of themselves.
“I believe we are almost there, Miss Bennet. The others in our party may already be there. We could have stayed up with them, but I feel that the journey is just as fine as the destination.”
Elizabeth smiled at the poetic nature of his pretty speech. To think Mr. Darcy could like poetry? It had never entered her mind before. “True. I think Hertfordshire has even improved in my estimation during this trip. I had no idea that beyond my small rolling hills and pastures there was so much more to my own county. I should like to do more traveling. I have seen but little of England, and now that you have told me of your envious Derbyshire, I wonder at what the other counties might bring for enjoyment.”
“If you ever get a chance to see the coast, you should take it. My sister was at Ramsgate for a time.” He straightened his shoulders and a momentary frown graced his face. He turned toward her and smiled, however, and whatever thought took him away for a while vanished. “The ocean is wondrous.”
“By the time we are done with this day, I shall have a list of places I want to travel to thanks to you.”
He placed his hand on the brim of his hat and tipped it forward. “You are welcome.”
She turned away from him, smiling to herself, when a rather large stone structure came into view. She pointed at it. “I do believe we are very close. That must be Hertford Castle now, is it not?”
“I believe it is.”
Mr. Darcy flipped his wrists, giving the reigns a little snap, and the horses moved faster. They passed the distance much quicker and soon, he pulled the phaeton close to the other carriages. Mr. Darcy leapt to the ground before helping Miss Bennet down from the high perch. He held his elbow out to her, and she took it happily.
What a difference a couple of hours had made. From being upset at having to ride with him to being enthusiastic at being in his presence and linking his arm with hers.
Mr. Darcy walked her past the gate and a large, open courtyard spread out before them. In the distance, she could pick out members of their party enjoying the grounds. There was Jane with Mr. Bingley, who walked a little apart from the others. Her youngest sister had commandeered Mr. Wickham, which did not vex her as it would have that morning. She knew Lydia had arranged with Mrs. Forrester to go in their carriage with Wickham, but with her arm around Mr. Darcy’s, she could not care less.
She immediately pulled him toward the ruins side of the castle. The structure itself had been built around eight-hundred years prior to their visit. After it left royal hands, however, the castle could not be kept up as it should have.
“Is there not something beautiful about seeing such an historic place? I know it is just crumbled rock before us, but imagine what it would have been.”
“There can be beauty in oddities,” Darcy admitted.
Elizabeth pointed to what used to be an elevated walkway. The walkway was still standing, but the walls enclosing it had now fallen to the ground. From such a vantage point, she may be able to look down upon the valley on the other side. “I am determined to go up there, Mr. Darcy.”
“You might take a fall.”
“That is one advantage that living in the country has brought me. I have climbing legs and I intend to use them.”
She picked up her skirts and ran toward the fallen rock that led to the walkway. She grasped one rock after the other, bringing her up the side until she could get her hands on the stone forming the walkway. Mr. Darcy’s presence had gone unnoticed until he came up next to her. His hat was off and he smiled. “Stuck?” he asked.
She frowned at the predicament before her. If the last rock was a little taller, she could make it. Mr. Darcy smiled and pulled himself the rest of the way onto the stone. After doing so, he bent over offering Elizabeth his hands. He easily pulled her up beside him and they both walked further out on the walkway where they could see past the other side.
The view was indescribable. Words could not mark how pretty it was or measure the feelings coursing through Elizabeth at that time. A sense of freedom whiplashed through her as the breeze pulled her bonnet back. It was almost as if she were untethered in the sky, flying like a bird over the rolling hills. She had never seen anything like it.
“I may have to retract my previous statement,” Mr. Darcy said. “This might be the prettiest view of all I have seen, even in Derbyshire.”
Elizabeth looked up at him and found him smiling at her.
Something struck her with the way he looked at her. She returned his gaze, staring deep into the depths of his brown eyes.
“The view is admirable, Miss Bennet, but it is you, mouth open in awe, eyes in joyous wonderment that have made me speak so freely and honestly. I have never before beheld anything with such inspiring beauty.”
Elizabeth could not believe her ears. Had Mr. Darcy not only just complimented her, but in such a way that had made her heart stop for a second and her pulse beat in her ears? She was so wrong to think ill of him before. He was not proud and certainly not disagreeable. He was kind, charming, and indeed, she would say fun. Her face had almost hurt every moment on the way here for smiling so much.
She was not smiling now though. His attentions affected her more than she would have guessed. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she knew not wha
t to say in return. She wanted to tell him she was wrong in her estimation of him before. She wanted to tell him sorry for always arguing with him. She wanted to tell him how handsome he was.
Elizabeth could get none of that out. Due to her lack of words, she moved closer to him and stood looking out at the beauty before them.
“Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy started. “I would normally allow you your silence, but there is one thing I have been wanting to say to you for so long. I feel if I do not say it now, I may never work up the nerve to say it again.”
She turned. They were almost touching now. His hand reached out to her, but then it dropped in the narrow space between them. He considered the void space with regret. When he finally turned his face toward her, he looked more unsure of himself than he ever had before. Seeing him flounder, finally brought words to Elizabeth’s lips. “Please, Mr. Darcy. What is it that you wanted to say to me?”
His chest raised and lowered steadily. He blinked, searching every corner of Elizabeth’s face until finally, his lips started to move. “I find I can no longer deny my attraction for you, Miss Bennet. The ride here has solidified every thought, every feeling that you have pulled from me. I am in love with you, Elizabeth Bennet. I am not sure when it started. It could have been that small smile you give when you are about to argue your side. It could be your fine eyes when they have found wrong in something I have done. Indeed, it could even be in the hasty turn of your countenance when you are so determined not to think well of me. I know not what sparked it, but I am ablaze in my adoring love for you.”
His breath had quickened during his confession so that he stood before her almost gasping for air. “Please tell me if I have any hope to secure your affections. I can take you to the coast and to Derbyshire, of course, if you will let me. I will see that every wish you have is met. I would not have it any other way, Elizabeth, then to see you truly happy.”