Page 80 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

He cut the line near the hook. “You may move now, Georgie.”

He worked at the hook for another moment until he freed it from Elizabeth’s gown. After examining the fly, he placed it in her hand.

“This is a fine fly, ma’am. Was it one of your father’s?”

“No, sir. I gave his collection to my uncle. I could not bear to look upon them. Papa loved fishing above every other sport. It was too difficult...”

“I understand,” he said.

He glanced at the fly in her hand. “Whose collection is this?”

“These are mine, sir. I tied them myself. You must understand that my father was a teacher at heart. He had no son, and I suppose I filled that void. He would have taught all of us, but none of my sisters cared for outdoor pursuits.”

“What else did he teach you, Miss Elizabeth?”

“I can row a boat. I learned upon our pond. I can swim, and I can play cricket. I climb trees as well, though Papa cannot claim the credit for that. Playing with the neighborhood boys as a child provided all the instruction I required.”

“Do you ride, ma’am?”

“No, sir. I never learned.”

Georgiana spoke from beside them. “Lizzy, I have been fishing for more than an hour. I believe I shall rest now.”

“Very well, dear. Do you mind if I try my hand at it?”

“Not at all. I shall be happy to watch you.”

Elizabeth took up her rod, and she and Mr. Darcy fished for the remainder of the day, standing only a few feet apart, but seldom speaking, yet each contented in the society of the other.

Chapter 31: Clues

On their way home, Mr. Darcy asked, “Sweetling, how did you enjoy your day with Miss Elizabeth?”

“Fitzwilliam, I have never met such a kind or more interesting woman in all my life.”

“What is it that makes you think so?”

“She certainly bears no resemblance to Aunt Catherine or Aunt Helen. Surely, Brother, you do not consider them the kindest women you have ever known.”

He chuckled. “You are right, dear. Both women can be exceedingly rude.”

“Yes, because they hold such elevated stations. One is the daughter of an earl, and the other is married to an earl. They both believe their rank makes everything they think and say wise and proper, and everyone else must bend to their wishes and endure their foibles.”

Darcy frowned. “What you say would be comical if it were not the bitter truth.”

“And Cousin Anne has nothing to say at all. When we visited the week before Easter, I wished to know her better, but no matter how often I attempted to engage her in conversation, she made scarcely any response. She only gave a slight inclination of her head to acknowledge that she heard me. Is there something wrong with Cousin Anne?”

“I do not believe so, Georgie. Her mind appears sound enough, but to my knowledge, our cousin Anne has never studied much of anything. Perhaps she has little conversation because of it.”

“Perhaps if she once had conversation or opinions of her own, Aunt Catherine crushed them out of her,” Georgie opined.

He twisted his lips. “Little sister, I believe you may be right. Since I visit Rosings only from obligation and but once a year, I have made little effort to draw cousin Anne out of her reserve. Perhaps beneath it, she has opinions, personality, and conversation.”

“Perhaps, Brother, but it may be too late for her.”

“Very well, Sister. We have established Miss Elizabeth as the kindest and cleverest woman you have ever known. How did your morning pass?” He worked his hat between his hands.

“What could possibly have kept you both so bound to your books? When I entered the drawing room, it was as silent as a tomb. I should not have known two lively young women occupied the room if I had not seen you with my own eyes.”