“Mr Collins proposed to you?” Darcy asked incredulously.
“Is it so surprising that a man would propose to me?” Elizabeth responded, her brow arched in challenge.
He took her hand, absently caressing her palm with his thumb. “It would not have been a good marriage, Elizabeth. I cannot imagine you encouraged him, nor can I imagine you ever marrying such a man. I am sorry to say my aunt surrounds herself with people who grovel to her every demand, and you could not have been happy married to such a person as that. Nor could I imagine you complying with her every demand and whim, which would have made your existence here difficult, to say the least,” he replied thoughtfully, but then his lips curved into a slight grin. “I believe marriage to Mr Collins and being under the thumb of my aunt would have made you either commit murder or end up bound for Bedlam.”
She laughed, amazed to discover Mr Darcy was capable of teasing and equally surprised at his ignoring propriety by holding her hand. His thumb caressing her palm caused shivers to run up her spine, and she had to consciously remind herself not to lean further into him. His use of her Christian name so casually had a similar effect. “I believe you are correct, sir. I refused his proposal multiple times before he would believe me, and afterwards, he still applied to my father to overrule me. Thankfully, Papa supported my refusal, although Mama still bemoans the loss. She threatens not to support me when she is ‘thrown into the hedgerows’ upon my father’s passing.”
“Is your father in ill health?” Darcy asked, suddenly worried for her.
“Not at all, Mr Darcy; he is in excellent health. Mama does not understand the entail and believes it is unfair and perhaps even unlawful, and is convinced that Mr Collins will toss us all out immediatelyupon inheriting,” Elizabeth explained. “She viewed my marriage to the heir as her salvation. Because I refused him, she is even more convinced he will toss us out as retribution for his injured pride. The man simply could not imagine anyone turning down such an eligible prospect as he.”
“Did she not consider how miserable you would have been in such a situation?” he asked again.
“That was of little importance in her mind, sir. I hate to speak ill of anyone, least of all my mother, but she is of mean understanding and thinks of little beyond her comfort. I am also her least favourite child and the least understood, so it seemed fitting to her to toss me to the wolves, so to speak, to procure her eventual comfort,” Elizabeth replied. There was a mixture of her typical archness and sadness in her tone. “My happiness would have meant little if she could always remain at Longbourn. She does not realise that had she forced me into a marriage with such a man, I would have likely tossed her into the hedgerows myself upon my father’s passing.”
Darcy was quiet for several moments as he considered all she said. Finally, he spoke, caution tingeing his words. “I would like to ask you a question, but I am uncertain how to word it as I do not wish to offend you.”
“How did I end up so very different from my mother?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. His eyes widened in surprise, and he nodded sheepishly. She laughed at his expression.
“It is a simple enough explanation,” she explained. “Papa educated me as he would a son. I have read most books in his library, and I nearly manage Longbourn for him. I speak with the tenants and the steward and handle most of the issues; I only occasionally have to ask Papa’s advice or permission. He is, quite frankly, rather indolent and prefers to spend his time reading in his book room. I have also spent considerable time with my aunt and uncle in London. They exposed me to a broader culture than we have in Meryton and allowed me to see and experience a different type of home life. Unlike my parents, who often struggle to find common ground, they genuinely like each other and share a deep and profound love. They are the example I seek to emulate in my future marriage. Sadly, I am uncertain if my parents even like each other mostof the time, and their love for each other seems to have dwindled over the years if it ever existed.”
“It is interesting how you speak both of liking and loving each other,” Darcy said. “Can you explain what you mean by that?”
“We can love people without necessarily liking them,” she explained. “I love my sister Lydia because of our familial bond and desire the best for her. However, I must admit that I often find it challenging to genuinely like her. Our interests and values are very dissimilar, making it difficult to connect on a deeper level. Lydia’s silly and undisciplined nature worries me, and I fear it could have detrimental consequences for herself and our family if left unchecked.”
Darcy nodded. “That makes sense,” he replied thoughtfully.
Chapter Two
The couple had been wandering along the path as they spoke, and they both looked up when they heard a voice call out. “Darcy!” Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam cried. “Where have you been?” He stopped abruptly when he saw the pair together. “Miss Bennet! What a surprise to find you here with my cousin.” Fitzwilliam glanced at his cousin with a wry grin.
“Good morning, Colonel,” Elizabeth said.
“Richard,” Darcy nodded.
“I was on my way to call at the parsonage, Miss Bennet,” the colonel said. “Might I escort you back? Darcy, Aunt Catherine is looking for you and insists you attend to her immediately.”
“I will attend my aunt after I see Miss Bennet back to the parsonage,” Darcy insisted, offering her his arm again. She grinned up at him as she took it, and his heart lightened a little. He smiled in return, showing his dimples, both momentarily ignoring the colonel’s presence.
The colonel grinned as he fell into step with the couple, unconcerned at being forgotten. “It seems I amde trop, but I will accompany you, nonetheless. Have you both enjoyed your walks this morning?”
“The grove is lovely,” Elizabeth replied. “I so enjoy spring and seeing the flowers bloom. The gardens at Rosings are lovely, but Iconfess to preferring less formal gardens. There is so much… order here and not enough nature.”
“Pemberley’s gardens are much wilder,” Darcy informed her. “My grandmother and my mother also preferred less formal gardens. While the gardens are not fully wild, they are much more natural than the gardens here. There are many beautiful walks, and the park is a full ten miles around.” She heard the pride in his voice as he spoke of his home, but she recognised it was not a haughty pride but a pride of accomplishment and in his heritage.
“My aunt and uncle are taking a tour of the Lakes this summer, and I hope to join them. My aunt also intends to visit her former home in Derbyshire while we are there,” Elizabeth told them. “I have heard much of the ‘wildness’ of that county and look forward to seeing many of the Peaks while I am travelling through the area.”
“Where in Derbyshire did your aunt reside, do you know?” Darcy asked, considering how he might be able to invite this unknown aunt and uncle to his home while they travelled.
“My aunt grew up in Lambton, sir,” she replied.
“That is only five miles from Pemberley!” Richard exclaimed. “Will you pass through Matlock as well, do you think? Matlock is the seat of my own family.”
“I do not know yet; it will depend on my uncle and the length of our visit,” she answered. “My aunt and uncle will set the itinerary, and I will just accompany them.” She smiled brightly at both of them as she spoke.
“When I bring Georgiana to visit, I will speak to your uncle and invite them to Pemberley when they pass through Lambton,” Darcy told her, glancing down at her. He started at the sudden realisation he had said more than he ought; he would have to explain matters to Richard since the couple had just agreed to keep their courtship a secret.
Richard’s eyebrows flew to his hairline at the invitation. He said nothing but gave Darcy a meaningful look, which Darcy returned with one of his own. A moment later, they all arrived at the parsonage.
