Except for the evergreens the trees were entirely bare, and there were long grey vistas of brambles and grey hedges dusted with white. The fields had red brick farmhouses, with ascending columns of smoke going high into the air before they were dispersed by the soft winds.
The group passed several substantial estates and rode through a market town a little smaller than Meryton. The town was picturesque in the clear winter light, with timber framed buildings and white plaster walls and colorful signs proclaiming the business. Scissors and a thread for a tailor; a line of cloth for a haberdasher, a painting of a foaming mug of beer to advertise a pub, and one of a big four posted bed for the inn, a painting of a cabbage with apples and some other round fruit whose paint had faded too far for the color to be identified for a greengrocer.
Half an hour after they went through the town, they reached the village of Royston.
There was an inn yard they rolled into, and the grooms ran out to care for their horses and beg for tips. Elizabeth stepped out of the carriage. Darcy had eyes for no one else. She stretched her arms up, causing the fabric of her jacket to pull against her breasts, outlining their form. With her arms still held above her head she turned her neck from side to side several times.
Darcy’s mouth went dry.
She lowered her arms and looked around and smiled at him. “I have been to Royston once before. When I denied the possibility of finding secret treasure, what I meantin truthwas that I would be most put out with you if you should find its secret chamber whenIcould not.”
“Perhaps, we ought hunt for it together, and then share equally upon the discovery.”
She smiled back, and his stomach swooped. “I shall stick close to you, like a limpet, or as if we were nailed together.”
“Yes, you should. I…I might cheat you of the treasure if you were not close.”
Elizabeth nodded, her eyes aglow.
Their party was greeted by a white-haired smiling short man. “Greetings, greetings, Lords, Ladies! Greetings! Welcome to my abode!”
Bingley said, “You are the owner?”
“I am Mr. Watson. I built the tunnel that leads to the caves. Are you hoping to see?”
“I’ve heard a deuced lot about it.”
“A fine sight, a fine, fine sight. Fabulous, beyond the carvings possible in our modern days — there is likely some treasure hidden within the caves. My family searched, and we’ve found nothing yet, but we do not give up hope.” He waved them into the modest brick house. “Come. Come in! The entrance extends from under my house. I built the current entrance, many years ago now. When I was a boy visitors had to take a ladder down some twenty feet, and then we lowered a lamp by wire. Much improved now.”
They were all brought into the front parlor of his house, a substantial two-story affair. The man clapped his hands, and when his maid came out of the kitchen, with a smudge of flour on her cheeks, he exclaimed, “The best! Bring it out. Mulled wine, pastries, some meat. You must be famished from your trip. Far better to eat here than get something from the inn.” He lowered his voice and spoke half to Darcy and half to Bingley, “I fear me that the inn does not match the standard such grand personages as yourself expect.”
“Also,” Darcy ordered, “provide refreshment for our servants.”
“Of course, of course. Six pence to visit the caves. Do you want them to see as well?”
“Deuced good idea.” Bingley replied, “He would be a terror if Martin drove us all this way, and didn’t have a chance to see the carvings.”
“If you all go at once, the room would be crowded with too many people. After you gentlemen have visited, you might refresh yourselves a little longer while your men take their chance to look?”
After this was agreed, and Darcy handed the man a half crown for the refreshments and the fee to visit the cave, the five of them entered the thin tunnel. The stairs downwards were slippery with moisture, and almost warm, despite the season.
Each of the gentlemen was handed an oil lamp to carry, along with one held by Mr. Watson.
Elizabeth took Darcy’s arm as they carefully stepped down. Her face was flushed from the wine and the cold. She grinned while looking at him, her face less than a foot from his. Darcy’s stomach twisted. “I have not forgotten your promise to share the Templar wealth.”
“We will share, together.”
“I like that. Together.”
“I would never cheat you.”
Her sparkling eyes were barely visible in the light of the lamps.
“Ooops!” With a laugh Elizabeth’s foot slipped under her, and Darcy caught her and held her arm until she was stable. His lamp swung wildly in his other hand, the iron bottom of it lightly bouncing against the rough stone wall of the tunnel.
Mr. Watson called back tensely, “Caution, sirs. Caution, the stones become slippery in winter.”
“I am yet in perfect health.” Elizabeth had a laugh in her voice, and she gripped Darcy’s arm tightly. He gripped her wrist. “In all respects fine!”
