“Mary, I am grateful to you. Your discipline may be difficult to hear, but if I do not learn from it, then shame on me.”
“I do not know what to say,” Mary said. “I have been wanting to discuss this with you for many months, but I thought you would be incensed.”
“At you? Never. With myself for being blind to my faults? Absolutely!”
“You are well, then?” Mary hesitated.
Elizabeth’s chest seemed to sink in on itself as she exhaled deeply. “Do not be concerned. I am well enough, Sister. It will take time for me to process what you have said and consider what I need to do. I have known for a long time that I am prone to mistakes. We cannot all be as perfect as Jane.”
“Lizzy, I hear you often say that to Jane to help her see her value. That must be a heavy burden for her to bear.”
Elizabeth shot her a sharp look. “Jane is incomparable in looks and character.”
Mary countered. “She is also humble and modest. With her delicate nature, does she view your comments as a compliment or as something she needs to live up to?”
Elizabeth aggressively paced, her fingers clicking as she walked. Aloud, Elizabeth mused, “She tells me that the only reason I say that she is perfect is because I love her, that I do not see her flaws. Oh, my! How cruel I have been! I burdened her instead of giving her relief.” Gritting her teeth, she huffed. She hated being wrong. When she stopped in front of Mary, she said, “I thought I knew myself, but I never have, have I? As hard as it is to admit, your sketch of my character is just.”
Mary remained silent, her eyes looking everywhere but at Elizabeth.
Sighing heavily, Elizabeth said, “You are a dear sister for taking the chance that I would see reason. You have given me much to ponder. I shall need a long walk to meditate on all this. Thank you, Mary.”
Her sister finally looked up. She said nothing, though her smile said it all.
Elizabeth changed into her walking boots and grabbed her bonnet. Within minutes, she was moving briskly toward Oakham Mount, where she would seek peace of mind to determine how to become a lady of purpose. How? That was the question.
The ripe wheatswaying in the gentle breeze settled Darcy’s heart. One of his greatest loves was riding the borders of the fields at Pemberley. The rolling hills covered in lush autumn colors with the rich smells of healthy soil and grain were manna to him. As his horse picked his way on a bridle trail to Meryton, the longing for his home plucked at his heartstrings.
He reined his gelding toward an overlook to view the entire valley. The lower portion of the path was well-traveled. Toward the top, the ascent was steep but no problem for his sturdy mount. When they burst over the top, he saw Miss Elizabeth Bennet sitting on a fallen tree, her bonnet beside her. Jumping to her feet, she smoothed her skirts.
“Miss Elizabeth, I am trespassing on your solitude.”
She was quick to reply. “Not at all. And as Oakham Mount sits on Netherfield’s property, it is I who trespass.”
“Finding respite anywhere on Bingley’s property will please him. Do not be concerned.”
“Very well.” Her smile was slight. “I confess, this has been my refuge for as long as I can remember.”
He dismounted, holding the reins in his hands. Running his gloved fingers over his horse’s muzzle, he was not surprised when the animal pushed his nose against his pocket. Extracting the apple, he offered it to the beast. Within seconds, it was gone, and his horse again sniffed his coat. Holding his palm up as if a magic trick to show that nothing remained, the gelding dropped his head to the grass.
Boldly, he inquired, “You need refuge? Are you well?” He did not approach her. Yet, even from a distance, distress lined her face.
“I would love more than anything to tell you I am merely enjoying the spectacular view.” She swept her arms in front of her, drawing his attention away from her.
The vista was as she described. Spectacular.
Instead of turning back to face her, he remained looking at the valley and the little cottages dotting the farmland, hoping she would continue speaking. His decision was correct.
“Sir, my next youngest sister just opened my eyes to a different perspective of our family’s situation. If you are here for any time, you will learn that Longbourn is entailed. As a landowner, I am certain that you know what this means. Upon our father’s death, we will be ushered from our home with no hope of return.”
“Is your father healthy?”
“As far as we know.”
He glanced over his shoulder at her and watched her nibble her bottom lip in thought. He wondered how soft her lips might be. Mentally shaking off the brief image of him caressing the spot she abused, he returned his attention to the matter at hand. “Pemberley was entailed until my father inherited. When my mother gave birth to only one heir, my father chose not to renew the covenants. My sister can inherit.”
She tilted her head, her brow arching. Without saying a word, she asked a thousand questions he felt completely uncomfortable answering. Yet, he easily discerned what she wanted to know.
Instead, he explained, “Miss Bennet, my father began instructing me as heir to Pemberley before I took my first steps. We were together until the demands of my education separated us. When I returned from Cambridge, we picked up where we left off as if no time passed. To me, they were the best of times. Less than a year later, we were in his study discussing purchasing seedlings for the next spring planting when he collapsed, his heart no longer beating. My immediate reaction was panic. I felt completely unprepared.”
