Page 108 of Shields and Roses

~o~

The couple made their leisurely stroll in the garden last as long as they could. Lizzy told Darcy how her mother had stopped at the shop of nearly every merchant in the village to procure goods for the dinner party. Butcher, baker, candlestick maker, it seemed they had visited them all.

"When the shopping was done, Mama insisted we had to go around and make several invitations in person," she told him. "I asked if I could simply walk back to Longbourn, but she would have none of it."

"It is probably safest you did not," Darcy said. "Wickham may be locked up, but we do not know if my aunt has sent other agents to do you harm. I am also not certain how far we can trust any of the other soldiers. There may be some bad feeling after the way in which I dealt with Wickham and our less than friendly interview with Colonel Forster."

"I was trying not to think about that too much," she said, "although I would certainly not have walked back alone. All the same, I do not like feeling frightened to move around freely in my home village."

Darcy sighed. "I would not have you be frightened. Just very, very cautious."

"Caution and fear seem like members of the same family to me," she said, echoing his sigh.

"I suppose they are," he agreed.

After walking in silence for a time, Lizzy asked where he had ridden off to earlier that day. He told her about the errand to the Clarke farm, the problem they had found and the solution they came up with. That led to a discussion of the types of problems he most often ran into at Pemberley. They were still fully engrossed in the subject when Sir Phillip came out to report that a message had arrived from Netherfield Park.

"Mr. Bingley says that his guests have arrived, but will wait to descend upon Longbourn until tomorrow after they have settled in. He said he is looking forward to seeing you at dinner tonight, which means you will have to leave very soon unless you wish to be even more than fashionably late."

Darcy looked at the grinning young man. "You appear to be acting as Richard's proxy again," he said, "with the way you are enjoying my discomfiture at your news."

"Then I am playing my part well?" Sir Phillip asked.

Darcy and Lizzy both rolled their eyes at him and turned to go back inside. Sir Phillip followed, laughing.

~o~

Despite Bennet's teasing over the matter, Darcy decided to continue making use of Wickham's horse as long as he could. He rode to Netherfield Park across Longbourn's land, letting his carriage follow with his luggage by way of the road.

He had heard about Netherfield Park in discussions with Lizzy and Bennet but had not gotten a really good idea of the size or prosperity of the estate. Coming over the grounds and approaching the house on horseback instead of as guest arriving on the main drive gave him a better appreciation for the place.

The land looked like it could be as profitably farmed or managed as Longbourn, but it had suffered from inconsistent management and oversight. The overall feel of the grounds after he crossed the border between the two estates was more in line with what he had originally expected of Longbourn when he thought Bennet was the indolent and negligent landlord described by his aunt. A succession of tenant landlords probably combined with a poorly directed and possibly negligent steward had left the land less prosperous that I should have been judging by the example of Longbourn next to it.

It was only when he topped a low rise and came through a stand of trees that Darcy saw the true focus and draw of the estate. No matter what neglect might have happened to the grounds, the house was superb.

In size it fell about midway between Longbourn and Pemberley, but in elegance the scales tipped more towards the style and grandeur of his Derbyshire home. A skilled architect must have designed the well-proportioned building with its gleaming marble front and symmetrically arranged wings. Darcy made his way to the stable hoping the interior of the house and skill of the servants would match the promise of the exterior.

The servants at the stable were expecting him, which was a point in their favor. Darcy handed off the horse to one of the grooms and headed to the main house, preceded by a stable boy who ran ahead to notify them of his arrival.

It was no surprise that Bingley met him at the door. His friend's welcome was as jovial as ever.

"Darcy! I am glad you made it. I thought you might cry off entirely and stay at Longbourn for the rest of your visit."

Slapping his friend on the shoulder by way of greeting as he entered, Darcy replied, "Who could blame me if I did? But, as it turned out, my room was needed for unexpected arrivals, so off to Netherfield I came."

"Needed? Unexpected arrivals?" Bingley asked excitedly. "By whom? Did Miss Mary and her party arrive early?"

Darcy completely understood the anxiously hopeful look on Bingley's face, although he could not help laughing. He shook his head.

"No such luck for you, my friend. It was my uncle and sister who joined us today. My cousin Anne and her husband will arrive sometime tomorrow, and Miss Mary is still expected to arrive around midday on Thursday."

Despite his obvious disappointment, Bingley said cheerfully, "Well, that is good news for you, anyway. I know you have been concerned about them both."

"And I know you wish it had been Miss Mary, but even if it had, you could not leave your guests this evening to go visit her no matter how much you might wish to. This way the torture will be less."

"He has a good point," said another man's voice. Darcy turned in the direction of the speaker and saw Mr. Damask and Lord Sheldon standing at the bottom of the main staircase. He bowed politely to them both. As the gentlemen returned his bow, Lord Sheldon continued, "It is hard to be good host when your mind is occupied with jumping on your horse and riding off to see your lady fair. Good evening, Mr. Darcy. I understand you have recently learned who is a true member of the Rose family and who is not." Lord Sheldon was clearly teasing.

Darcy replied, "Oh, as I understand it, Miss Elizabeth is a member of the Rose family, she just does not carry the name in the way that I thought."