To his surprise, she shook her head. “As much as I like to look at horses, even feed them an apple or scratch their noses, you will not see me sitting in a saddle.”
Darcy arched his brow. “You do not ride?”
“I do know how. I insisted on learning when Jane did, but she is the only one who emerged with an inclination for the activity,” she said, her deep, expressive eyes on his.
He longed to rest his hand on her elbow, to step a little closer, but it would be inappropriate, and although she gave every appearance of finding his company as desirable as he did hers, he could not forget his earlier confusion about Mr Collins.
“What do you find disagreeable about it?”
“Oh, it is not disagreeable, I just…do not especially like it. There is a difference, even if I cannot explain it properly. It is too easy for the world to go by quickly when you are atop a horse.”
“That is rather the point. And it is a great deal of fun.”
She gifted him with a gentle smile. “I imagine it is. I could develop a taste for riding, I suppose, but I felt I was missing out. There was so much I did not take the time to appreciate, such as the colour of the sky or the emergence of new flowers in the spring or the sound of cattle lowing across the fields.”
“You take great delight in the world about you.”
Her smile widened, and he almost offered to give her Pemberley.
“I do. Even here, where I have lived all my life, there is always something to discover, including upon occasion new people, such as you and the Bingleys. Have you heard that a regiment of the militia is to make Meryton its winter quarters?”
“I have. There will be many more people for you to meet, not just two neighbours and their guest.”
“I have not grown weary of their company.”
Her cheeks took on a dusting of colour, and she averted her gaze. She was adorable, and he felt something inside of him shift, almost as if taking another step closer to a future that looked full of promise.
“I am glad to hear it. You will soon meet more of Bingley’s family. I expect his older sister and her husband to arrive any day.” Speaking about the Hursts made Darcy realise that Mr and Miss Bingley had not invitedanyoneto Netherfield. In September, Bingley had implied they would have friends to stay beyond Darcy, and although they received morning callers, they had not hosted a single social event or even talked of doing so, at least in Darcy’s hearing.
It was odd, and brushing off such reflections, he told her about several places at Pemberley that could only be reached by riding or a prohibitively long walk. They were in the midst of this conversation, Miss Elizabeth skilfully extracting details he would not have known how to describe, when the remaining gentlemen entered the room. Bingley went to Miss Bennet at once, and, after looking about with an air of uncertainty, Mr Collins approached Darcy and Miss Elizabeth.
Mr Collins was heavy-looking, though not plump, and almost as tall as Darcy, but in his movements, he gave the appearance of an adolescent who was still growing accustomed to his body. Earlier, Darcy had noticed that Mr Collins would open his mouth to speak, then close it, perhaps furrowing his brow or grimacing. Darcy had almost convinced himself that what he had witnessed between the cousins at dinner was nothing more than the friendliness of people who had grown up together. They likely thought of each other as brother and sister. The man only seemed fully at ease when he was conversing with Miss Elizabeth, but it was meaningless. Mr Collins might simply be shy, Darcy assured himself.Hewould not be easy if he were thrust into company the day he returned home. No doubt, Mr Collins would prefer to be relaxing and talking to his family.
“Mr Darcy.” Mr Collins executed a bow that was a touch too formal for the occasion.
“You were introduced to Mr Darcy just this evening, and you must have spoken to him in the dining room after we ladies left.” Her voice was gentle and seemed to combine fondness and impatience.
After his eyes lingered on her for a long moment, Mr Collins nodded. “I shall have to learn how to be in friendly company again. Mostly, I was alone with my friend, and um, the others I was lately with expected…more.” He gave an awkward laugh and screwed his mouth into an embarrassed expression.
Miss Elizabeth gave his arm a pat. “I was forgetting that Mr Darcy and Mr and Miss Bingley are strangers to you. Although they have only been in the neighbourhood a few weeks, we have seen them frequently enough that it seems longer.”
Mr Collins nodded vigorously, quick to agree with her. To Darcy, he said, “I would have liked to have been home sooner, particularly so that I could attend the assembly last month. We always have such an agreeable time, do we not, Lizzy?”
Miss Elizabeth agreed.
“When I learnt there were new tenants at Netherfield, I was especially desirous of being home, but a man in my position in life does not always have the luxury of deciding where he will go and when. Is that not so, Lizzy?” Mr Collins evidently expected some response, and so she nodded.
“You have recently taken orders, I understand,” Darcy said.
Mr Collins replied that he had. “I was visiting one of my professors in Oxford. He knew of a woman with a living in her gift whom he wanted me to meet, and that extended my absence. My friend graciously asked me to stay at his family’s home, which is an easy walk from the lady’s estate. She encouraged me to remain in the neighbourhood, lest she have more questions for me, and I was not going to say I preferred to return to Longbourn. We met twice more.”
Again addressing his cousin, he said, “There is a great deal I must talk over with you. I am not quite sure what to think of the situation yet, but I know you will sort me out.”
Her only response was to nod, which was just as well. Mr Collins spoke on, this time directing his speech to Darcy.
“I hear you had the pleasure of meeting Mr Gardiner. Such an amiable gentleman. His wife and children were not with him, I believe. It is too bad you did not get to see them too. They make the perfect portrait of a happy family, the parents so well suited, and such lively, polite children. When I am so fortunate as to have my own little family, I shall do everything in my power to ensure they are just the same. I am sure you will agree with me, Mr Darcy—”
Darcy followed Mr Collins’s eyes down to his arm where Darcy just noticed Miss Elizabeth’s hand moving away. A lead weight settled in his stomach. Was there more to their connexion than he knew?
