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Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy, then replied teasingly, “I am sure Mr Darcy has overstated my talents for some mysterious reason of his own. Such flattery is undeserved.”

“None of my praise for Miss Bennet’s talents is exaggerated. Quite the contrary.” He offered his arm to Elizabeth, who took it readily, blushing and suddenly feeling that she belonged at his side.

Georgiana led the way towards the music room, followed by the Gardiners. They passed a large window overlooking the garden and lake, and Elizabeth absently released Darcy’s arm to stop and admire the view. After a few moments, she sighed with pleasure and turned towards her companions. Darcy waited a few steps behind her, watching her, and suddenly she became very aware of his nearness.

“It is beautiful,” she whispered. Darcy followed, gently took her hand, and placed it on his arm.

Georgiana proudly showed them the pianoforte her brother had given her for her sixteenth birthday. She played for much of the evening, her skill equal to her love of music. Elizabeth sang to her accompaniment, but Darcy’s eyes rested upon her and sometimes distracted her from her song. She dismissed the compliments she received, yet even the faults in her performance could not lessen her happiness. She was at Pemberley, and she intended to enjoy every moment.

Towards midnight, Mr and Mrs Gardiner retired, declaring that they would never forget the day. Elizabeth was reluctant to follow them. Although she would see Darcy again in the morning, she still wished to speak with him, even if she could think of no particular subject. She would have liked a walk, but suggesting one at such an hour, alone with a gentleman, was out of the question, so she prepared to follow her relatives.

“Tomorrow, we shall take a long drive through the park,” Georgiana told her with a smile. “Do not be worried. My brother told me that you have little experience of riding, so we have arranged for a phaeton.”

“Thank you!” Elizabeth laughed. “That is very thoughtful of you. I can ride a little, but horses make me nervous. Besides, I have few opportunities to practise at home. We have only two horses, and my father often needs them for work.”

“You may practise here if you wish! We have several gentle mares,” Georgiana offered eagerly.

“Indeed,” Darcy added with a smile, “if Miss Bennet wishes to do so, we shall be happy to help her.”

“You are both very kind. We shall see, but I look forward to exploring more of the estate, whether by phaeton or on foot.”

“Oh, not on foot, Miss Bennet. You would need days to see all the park and woods.” Elizabeth stole a glance at Darcy, whose expression suggested that he would have no objection to her staying for days, or even weeks, and she returned his smile, feeling that they understood one another without words.

Finally, a maid led Elizabeth to her chamber, as another had done for the Gardiners. The house was so vast that with every step she felt farther from Darcy, even though she remained under his roof.

Her chamber, an elegant, comfortable room in shades of green, sat on the first floor. The bed was much larger than the one she had shared with Jane at Longbourn, and looked inviting, but she was not yet ready to sleep.

Instead, she opened the balcony doors. Beneath the stars lay the lake, its still surface reflecting the moon and the pale outlines of the surrounding landscape.

Elizabeth stood admiring it and gradually grew calmer, finding as much pleasure in the quiet lake and clear sky as she had in the gardens during the day.

The summer night was warm, yet the heat was easier to bear here in the North. But at Pemberley everything seemed more beautiful. She listened to the sounds from the gardens and woods and felt little desire to go indoors.

For a time, she walked about the room, unable to settle. When she returned to the balcony, she noticed a figure standing at the edge of the lake. She knew who it was despite the darkness, broken only by the light of the stars above. She considered going down to join him, but good sense and the late hour persuaded her to stay where she was.

She drew the curtains, changed into her nightgown and went to bed, though she did not fall asleep until nearly dawn.

∞∞∞

The following morning, Elizabeth woke early and dressed without calling a maid. She heard birds outside and was too happy to stay indoors. A walk that she had hesitated to take in the middle of the night seemed quite permissible in daylight.

A servant showed her downstairs to a stone-paved courtyard. Passing through a large archway, she reached the lake, with a flight of steps to her left leading towards the gardens.

Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the fresh air, until a voice called to her.

“Miss Bennet?”

She turned to see Darcy approaching with a broad, warm smile, a man she had only just begun to discover.

“Are you well?” he asked, hoping the pleasure in her expression came from seeing him.

“Very well, I thank you,” she replied, certain he could see how glad she was to meet him.

“I trust you found your chamber agreeable?”

“Indeed, very much so. But even the most comfortable room could scarcely persuade me to remain indoors when I might walk through Pemberley’s park and gardens.”

He nodded, smiling at her evident pleasure.