Page 91 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

He opened the volume.

“I have spent most of my life reading the observations of physicians. I expect I can endure the opinions of a few antiquarians.”

“Then you are welcome, sir.”

* * *

The days that followed settled into a pattern.

Darcy and Georgiana met Elizabeth at the gate each morning. She ran while they rode across the moor, sometimes within speaking distance and sometimes far enough away that she could forget she had company. They met again among the stones of Arbor Low, where the rising sun slowly replaced the gray of the October mornings.

They returned as far as the Radcliffs' gate before separating for breakfast, then met again at ten over Elizabeth's books.

Not every morning began according to plan.

On one occasion the Darcys were nearly half an hour late. Elizabeth had begun to think they were not coming when she saw the two horses approaching along the road.

Darcy apologized when they reached her.

“There was a matter at Pemberley that required my attention before we left.”

“You need not account to me for your time, sir.”

“I said I would meet you.”

The simple answer pleased her more than it ought. He was a man of his word. He had come because he had said he would.

At ten, they usually found Dr. Wynn with the Archaeologia. He gave an hour to the research when his former patients permitted it, making notes in a hand Elizabeth found easier to read than Georgiana did.

Mrs. Radcliff did not understand why four sensible people had become absorbed by ancient stones, missing farmers, fairies, and antiquarians, but she was pleased by the company. She often brought her sewing into the room while they worked.

Georgiana spoke little when Wynn was present. She listened to the discussions and made notes from Camden. When asked what she thought, her answers showed that she had been following every word.

One morning Elizabeth returned to Tam Lin.

“The part I cannot dismiss is the return. He does not escape the Fairy Queen by wandering until he finds his way home. Janet must recover him at a particular place and at a particular time.”

Darcy set down his pen. “The appointed time may matter as much as the place.”

“That is what troubles me.”

“Because of December twenty-first.”

“Yes.”

Dr. Wynn looked up from the Archaeologia. “Explain.”

Elizabeth spoke of the fairy stories.

“Three stories, different in almost every respect, but each connects passage into another realm with a particular place.”

“And Tam Lin adds the appointed time,” Darcy said.

“Yes.”

Wynn considered the books spread across the table.

“Then I begin to understand why the four of us spend our mornings with these dusty old gentlemen.”