Laughing, he caught me in the air. “Lizzy Bennet! Still a wild creature, I see!” His vivid eyes roved my face hungrily. “How I have missed that look daring me to match you step for scandalous step.”
My heart almost exploded. To hear him speak my name just so, to see joy and welcome so vividly painted on features my memory had never quite captured accurately... I playfully swatted his shoulder, finding my voice. “As if you ever could! Why, I was running circles around you since infancy.”
He pressed one hand theatrically to his heart. “You cut me to the quick! Never could I aspire to equal you, oh queen of tricks and troublemaking. Is this any way to greet your dearest friend?” His eyes sparkled as bright as ever, crinkling into merriment lines beside them. “Look how you have ambushed me! Where is your famous fair warning?”
“When did you ever wait for fair anything? Come now, confess! Did you not appear this morning expressly hoping to take me unawares?” Laughing, I grabbed his hand and towed his taller frame toward the garden bench, heart lighter than it had felt in years.
I settled onto the stone bench, patting the spot beside me. “Come, you must tell me everything. What wild schemes and escapades have you pursued since we parted? I still have no notion of how you have passed your time. Not squandered it, I hope.”
George sprawled comfortably close beside me. “Let me guess what ridiculous notions that lively imagination has concocted. No doubt you picture me as...” He tapped one finger to his chin ponderously. “...a struggling barrister buried under mountains of legal manuscripts?”
I scoffed in mock affront. “As if you could apply yourself long enough to pass the examinations! No, I rather fancied you took holy orders and are even now a country parson scandalizing your parishioners.”
George threw back his head with a crack of laughter. “Me! A man of the cloth! Why, Lizzy, have you accounted me a saint?” His eyes glinted wickedly. “I promise you the army would have ejected me faster than the bishop if I attempted preaching.”
“The army, then. Doubtless, you were a cavalry officer leading glorious charges until some hilarious prank went astray?” My sideways glance brimmed with unspoken shared memories of youthful misadventures.
He shook his head, still chuckling. “You know me too well, m’dear. I confess, I briefly contemplated purchasing a commission, but the reality of army discipline quashed that fancy swiftly.”
I angled to better study the face I had dreamed of so often. Traces remained of the reckless boy who was my partner in every youthful folly. But maturity had lent him an air of purpose that sat with easy confidence on his broad shoulders and animated features. Impulsively, I squeezed his arm.
“Well, come then, out with it. What has the inestimable George Darcy made of himself since we parted?”
He slanted me a sudden uncertain look from beneath lowered lashes. “You shall laugh, I fear. I confess most of my hours are spent at races and gaming hells.” At my eloquent arch of brows, he rushed on. “Oh, not exclusively! Truly, Lizzy, credit me some decency.”
I tilted my head, unwilling to dismiss him so easily. “I know well a good heart beats under such fine clothes. Surely you have some worthwhile pursuits?”
George smiled then, and the glimpse of the boy I loved so dearly shone through. “As it happens, I have lately turned my thoughts toward studying estate management.” He gave an affected sigh. “And even investing—can you imagine!”
I pursed my lips, studying him. Some subtle shifting in his countenance hinted at more unspoken. “Those are rather domestic ambitions for an erstwhile liberty-taker. Any particular reason for such industry of late?”
He hesitated, something hopeful and vulnerable hovering on his mobile mouth. But at approaching voices from the house, he merely patted my hand with hasty cheer. “You shall know soon enough! But come, let us enjoy this all-too-brief interlude together without melancholy thoughts.”
I surveyed his pensive features, the shadow of earlier playfulness fading. “Come now, something weighs on you. I know that look too well.” Gently, I lifted his chin with one finger until he met my searching gaze. “We never kept secrets in days of old. Why can you not confide your hopes to me now?”
George grimaced. “I wish I could, Lizzy, truly!” He shifted restlessly, avoiding my eyes. “Suffice it to say prospects lie before me fairer than this wastrel son of a country squire deserves.” His rueful laugh held a bitter note. “But I am pledged not to speak openly as yet. You must allow me some mystery.”
My forehead creased, struggling to reconcile this newly grave George with the smiling suitor of minutes before. What changeable humor was this? “But why ever not share happy news? Unless...” I studied his averted features. “Can it be Fitzwilliam objects to your prospects?”
George’s shoulders jerked slightly before he mustered a tolerable façade. “My brother, the eternal tutor, you mean? Well, he does ride me cursed hard about application and industry and a dozen other dull virtues.” He flashed a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “You know I never could endure lectures.”
I shook my head slowly, pondering what lay unspoken behind his thin veneer. This new inscrutable George unnerved me. We had ever been open books to one another. What altered him now?
“I am sure Fitzwilliam only desires your best interests,” I offered gently. “But come, if we cannot speak of whatever mysterious future occupies you, at least entertain me with gossip of yesterday’s visitors! Are they relations, come to assess Pemberley’s new master?”
A queer look shuttered George’s sunny features briefly. He studied me closely. “No family of ours. But pray, what makes you imagine guests yesterday?”
I waved one hand airily. “Oh, I happened upon your brother while out walking the grounds.”
“Wait… ‘grounds?’ Tell me you did notwalkall the way from Farthingdale to Pemberley!”
“On my honor, I did,” I retorted stoutly. “Should you be surprised? I walk that distance back in Hertfordshire several times a week.”
He blinked. “Indeed! You are quite right—I should not permit myself to be surprised. But go on. You said you encountered Fitzwilliam?”
“Oh, yes, I did, and he explained you were otherwise engaged. Though he welcomed me warmly once I braved intruding.” I smiled impishly. “Does it surprise you Fitzwilliam has not forgotten our childhood friendship?”
George’s stare sharpened. “He invited you inside? But when was this meeting, precisely?”
