Page 59 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Georgiana glanced at her with shy pleasure. “It is called a Shaggy Ink Cap, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth bent to admire it. “It is quite lovely, with its tall white cap and delicate black edging.”

“It is edible when young,” Georgiana said. “As it grows older, it blackens and seems almost to melt into ink.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Well then, should I ever lose my way in these woods, I shall not perish of hunger, for I shall dine upon Shaggy Ink Caps.”

Georgiana's eyes brightened, though she said nothing.

Elizabeth found the girl's quiet manner endearing.

“Miss Darcy, shall we dispense with the formality? I should like you to call me Elizabeth, or Lizzy, as my family does. It seems rather silly to stand upon ceremony in this quiet wilderness.”

Georgiana's expression brightened. “I should like that very much. Will you call me Georgiana?”

“Gladly. Come, let me show you the red mushroom I found earlier. There were several other sorts growing in that same wood.”

Georgiana pointed toward a cluster of mushrooms.

“Those are puffballs.” The girl crouched beside the little cluster of white mushrooms. “They are quite suitable for eating while they are still white within. Once they begin to turn yellow, they are too old and no longer fit to eat.”

“Ah, then I have discovered another means of surviving should I ever lose my way.”

As they continued along the brook, Elizabeth asked, “Do you live in this part of Derbyshire, Georgiana? You seem quite familiar with these woods.”

“My home lies about sixteen miles further north. Pemberley is the name of my brother’s estate, and it is about two miles northeast of Bakewell. My uncle's country seat lies but three miles from here. When we are visiting, my brother and I often ride this way in the early mornings. “

Georgiana shook her skirts and then asked quietly, “And you, Lizzy? Where is your home?”

The two young women continued along the brook for another half hour, conversing with growing ease. At last, realizing they had wandered beyond sight of their families, they turned back.

When the two young women returned, they found Mr. Darcy and Mr. Gardiner standing by the brook with their fishing rods, while the wheelwright had arrived and was already replacing the broken wheel. Mrs. Gardiner sat beneath a nearby oak upon a rug she had spread some distance away from the two silent fishermen.

Elizabeth and Georgiana joined her. Mrs. Gardiner poured each of them a glass of water from a stoneware jug before asking, “How far did you ladies walk, Lizzy?”

“About a mile, Aunt. The brook follows the road for some distance. We reached a bend where the path turned away from the water and continued toward Cromford. We thought it prudent to return before we were discovered walking unchaperoned.”

“Very wise.” She turned to the younger girl. “Miss Darcy, are you traveling first to your uncle's home, or do you continue directly to Pemberley?”

“We shall continue on to Pemberley. Fitzwilliam and I are both longing to sleep in our own beds, far from the bustle of coaching inns. And I confess I have been dreaming of the bread pudding our cook prepares.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Aunt Maddie, you must ask your sister to make us a bread pudding, for now I shall not rest until I have indulged myself.”

Georgiana giggled. “I ought not to speak of food while we are stranded in the countryside with no hope of obtaining any.”

Mrs. Gardiner said, “That is not entirely true, Miss Darcy. Your brother has sent to the local tavern for stew, freshly baked bread, cheese, and wine. He assured us the food is of excellent quality.”

“My brother must have sent to the Greyhound Inn. I wonder he did not have us dine there instead.”

“I can answer that. He says the inn is too rough to receive ladies comfortably, and since the weather is pleasant, we shall dine here. He even offered the use of your carriage so we might eat in comfort.”

Elizabeth smiled at Georgiana. “Your brother is most hospitable and thinks of every comfort.”

“He does, Lizzy. Fitzwilliam is a very thoughtful brother.”

The three ladies turned their attention to the gentlemen. Once again, Elizabeth found herself thinking she had never seen such a handsome man as Mr. Darcy.

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