He had wronged her. And that remained unaddressed.
Darcy rose. “I believe I shall take some air.”
“The ground will be damp,” Bingley warned
“I shall remain near the house.”
Bingley inclined his head. “As you wish.”
Miss Bingley’s gaze followed him as he left, though she did not speak.
The gardens offered a welcome contrast to the interior of the house. The rain had passed, leaving behind a freshness that settled upon the air without discomfort. The paths,though darkened, remained passable, and the surrounding beds retained more life than the season might have suggested.
Darcy moved along one of the nearer walks, his pace even, his thoughts more ordered than they had been within.
Miss Elizabeth was above stairs. Miss Bennet’s illness ensured her presence.
Time had been given. Opportunity, once uncertain, now stood plainly before him. He would not neglect it again.
A cluster of late roses drew his attention. They stood in full bloom despite the season’s advance, their color deepened by the recent rain. He paused before them, considering their form, their persistence.
For a moment, his thoughts shifted. A simple gesture—an offering, perhaps—accompanying the apology he had yet to deliver. The idea presented itself clearly, but even as it formed, he dismissed it. Words must come first.
A movement to his left interrupted the moment.
Darcy turned.
Thomas and Toby stood a short distance away, their boots marked with mud, their expressions alert and unguarded.
He regarded them with mild curiosity.
“Does your mother know you have come so far from home?”
Thomas shrugged. “She is otherwise occupied.”
Toby stepped forward. “Longbourn is in a frenzy.”
Darcy thought he understood. “Because of Miss Bennet?”
“Yes,” Toby said. “They are very concerned for my sister.”
“We came to see,” Thomas added.
Darcy bowed his head slightly. “And what have you discovered?”
“Only what we already know: that she is here,” Toby replied.
“And that Lizzy is with her,” Thomas said.
There was a brief pause.
Toby shifted, his expression changing slightly. “We never intended for her to be caught in the rain.”
Darcy fixed his gaze upon him. “What do you mean?”
The boys exchanged a look.
Thomas frowned.
