They walked on with no words for some moments, remorse beginning to etch itself into Darcy’s features. “Miss Bennet, I apologize if I have made you uncomfortable,” he spoke lowly. “It was not my wish.”
Her eyes flashed quickly to his. “I….”
“Well, well, Mr Darcy! And Miss Elizabeth, how do you do today!” a cheery voice interjected.
The attention of both turned to Sir William Lucas, who approached round a bend in the path. He was mounted on his old road horse, a very fine, if aged, greatcoat splayed from his shoulders down over his saddle. Elizabeth tensed. Of all the people to see her out walking alone with Mr Darcy! It could only be worse if it had been this man’s wife they encountered!
Darcy bowed his head very properly to the titled gentleman. “Good Day, Sir William, how do you do?” he replied civilly.
“Oh, I am splendid, my dear sir, splendid! I see you and the lovely Miss Elizabeth are taking the air. Capital, capital! May I congratulate you, sir, on carrying off the fairest gem of the county? What felicitations must be pouring in, eh my good man?”
Darcy opened his mouth to reply, but the good Sir William had not yet exhausted his superfluity.
“I was just saying to my dear wife what a fine thing your arrival has been for the neighbourhood, Mr Darcy. Why, only consider all of these happy young couples; for where there is one engagement, there are always more soon to follow, eh Mr Darcy? What a handsome pair your friend Bingley and the lovely Miss Jane Bennet make, Mr Darcy. Such a fine thing, and we are all expecting to hear word at any time of such adesirableevent in the offing!” The gentleman’s bushy eyebrows waggled significantly.
“You are well acquainted, I must expect Mr Darcy, with our dear Charlotte’s happy news. Such a sensible and bright young man, my future son-in-law! He paints a lovely picture of the fair Rosings Park. Perhaps you can tell me, my dear sir, is the seat of the esteemed Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” he uttered the name with reverent care, “as magnificent as he claims?”
Darcy’s lips thinned. “Indeed, sir, it is very fine.”
“Capital!” the jubilant father enthused. “What a fortuitous connection. A lucky girl, my Charlotte!”
Darcy’s eyes flitted over Elizabeth’s face, taking in her tight expression. “If you will forgive me, Sir William, I would have declared all the luck to be on Mr Collins’ side. He is a fortunate man to have secured the hand of Miss Lucas.” He felt rather than observed Elizabeth’s swift and gratified glance in his direction. Her fingers tightened ever so imperceptibly on his arm. Rewarded again! His inner parts tingled with exhilaration.
“Oh, my dear sir, you flatter me! Such kind words, such condescension! Capital, I say. Oh, but Miss Elizabeth, do forgive my lack of breeding. How does our dear Mr Bennet this morning? I trust there is some improvement?”
“Indeed, sir,” the young lady answered, a mortified flush staining her cheeks still from Sir William’s callous remarks about Jane and Charlotte. Darcy, however, was soon privy to a wilful shift in her expression. She blinked twice, and that provocative sparkle returned to her eyes. Her lips curved deliciously. He held his breath, anxious to partake of the wit of his Elizabeth while her sword was pointed somewhere other than at himself.
“I believe, sir, that our dear Mr Collins will be most fittingly pleased to havemanyyears yet to enjoy the beauty of Rosings and the very great patronage of the Lady Catherine de Bourgh. What a fortuitous thing it is!” She met Sir Lucas’ eye with a sweet challenge, the corner of her mouth lifting ever so slightly.
“Well… yes, capital, I say.” Sir Lucas’ face clouded slightly. He possessed not the ability to mock himself, which often precluded the skill to rightly interpret some of his neighbour’s pleasantries. The lady inclined her head and offered him a gracious smile, and the gentleman at her side bowed in proper respect, so quite surely there was nothing amiss. He touched his hat. “Well, then. A very good day to you, Miss Elizabeth, and to you, Mr Darcy.” Still blinking and mystified, he gave his mount an uncoordinated nudge and moved off.
Darcy’s gaze shifted to the impertinent young lady at his side. “You speak of my unprepossessing ways! I might say, Miss Elizabeth, that it is not terribly gracious to make sport of those who cannot defend themselves from your witticisms.” He arched a brow, a hint of a smile teasing his mouth.
“Ah, but Mr Darcy, Sir William still believes me to be eminently genteel and modest, whereas you, who know better, I think are the more greatly entertained by my lack of proper deference! So, you see, no harm has been done.”
“Perhaps I am at least glad to know I am not theonlyone obliged to surrender my sword in a match of wits.”
Elizabeth laughed, those speaking eyes flashing beguilingly. “Very good, Mr Darcy! I shall return it to you, as is only sporting. You are a quick study, I daresay.”
He grinned, his heart swelling in his chest. “Miss Bennet, do you know how we train our hunting dogs?”
Her brow furrowed, eyes still twinkling as she tilted her head curiously. “I beg your pardon? I have no knowledge of dog training.”
“More is the pity, for you would prove a prodigiously talented handler. You see, Miss Bennet, a dog is ever eager to please. An unschooled pup blunders about, mayhem and destruction following in its wake. As it is offered instruction, it guesses what might be the desired response of its handler. Most of its guesses are far from the mark in the beginning, but the instant it makes a right move, the handler rewards it lavishly. Each correct response is praised, and gradually a new skill is learned. What was once an awkward and ignorant creature, capable only of causing confusion, becomes a loyal and clever partner, ever learning and desiring to be near its master.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes slyly, an impish curve to her mouth. “The great Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, comparing himself to a gangling hound puppy? How very amusing!”
“It is a fortunate animal indeed which finds itself in the care of a highly skilled and, dare I say,amiabletrainer,” he winked daringly at her, enjoying the rosy warmth flooding her cheeks.
“And this trainer; does he come to care for his animals, or does he merely take satisfaction in the creation of a useful partner?”
“Both, it is to be hoped, for the most effective partnerships are ruled by a mutual attachment. Dogs can be very loyal and affectionate, you know.” He hesitantly reached for her gloved hand, and she surprised him by meeting him halfway, a sudden shyness fluttering her lashes low.
He clasped her hand breathlessly for a moment, quite at a loss for words when she submitted so gently to his desire to touch her. “Shall I interpret that,” he rasped hoarsely, “as your way of rewarding your pupil?”
She slowly tipped her gaze up to his, a genuine rather than a provoking smile gradually lighting her features. “It would be unwise,” she answered softly, “to neglect to praise such a promising protégé.”
Chapter 20
