Elizabeth slowed instinctively.
That alone should have warned her.
“Lizzy!” Toby called. “Come see the pond!”
“There are tracks,” Thomas added mysteriously.
“Wolf tracks,” Toby whispered.
“There are no wolves in Hertfordshire—indeed, I do not believe there are wolves in all of England.”
“That is exactly what wolves want people to believe.”
Before Elizabeth could properly respond, the twins darted ahead toward the frozen pond beyond the meadow gate.
Lydia shrieked with laughter and chased after them.
Mrs. Bennet called sharply for caution while Mr. Bennet, with considerably less alarm, called after the boys to preserve at least one heir between them. Everything afterward seemed to occur at the same time. Thomas reached the gate first, only for the latch to come loose in his hand. The gate swung violently backward with enough force to send Miss Bingley crying out in alarmwhile Mr. Wilson lunged awkwardly aside to avoid being struck. Charlotte lost her footing on the packed snow in the confusion and collided directly into Darcy just as Mr. Bingley attempted simultaneously to steady Jane and catch Miss Lucas before she fell.
Lydia dissolved into helpless laughter so intense she nearly lost her own footing, while the twins, apparently oblivious to the chaos left in their wake, continued racing toward the pond at alarming speed.
And through the center of the chaos the twins vanished toward the pond at alarming speed.
“Thomas!” Mrs. Bennet called sharply. “Stay away from the ice!”
Darcy moved swiftly.
So did Elizabeth.
Neither stopped to discuss it.
By the time they crossed the meadow, the twins had reached the pond’s edge where Toby leaned dangerously far across the partially frozen surface attempting to retrieve what appeared to be a hat blown from someone’s head during the confusion.
“Do not move,” Elizabeth called.
Toby froze. The ice beneath him cracked loudly.
Darcy reached the boys first while Elizabeth caught Thomas by the sleeve just as he attempted another heroic advance.
“You are not helping,” she informed him breathlessly.
“But Toby—”
“Will survive.”
Darcy crouched carefully near the edge. “Toby. Step backward slowly.”
The boy obeyed instantly.
Elizabeth realized with some surprise that the twins listened to Darcy more readily than most adults, perhaps becausehe spoke to them seriously without any sign of the usual dismissiveness others displayed.
Darcy reached out steadily until Toby grasped his hand. One careful pull later the boy stumbled safely back onto solid ground.
Elizabeth exhaled.
Mrs. Bennet and the others reached them moments later.
Miss Bingley appeared appalled.
