Page 76
Book 3 Chapter 6
“May we speak freely this morning, Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth had taken to visiting her Aunt Philips in Meryton twice a week. What she had first taken as a coincidence, Mr. Darcy also being in the town and offering to escort her home, had settled into a routine. Elizabeth had a maid and a footman with her, so was appropriately chaperoned, and so they took advantage of relative privacy to talk without interruption.
“I am intrigued at such a tantalising opening question, Mr. Darcy. You know me capable of speaking freely, do you not?”
It was an easy jab and Elizabeth smiled at his flushed face.
“I will stop being so cheeky. Yes, let us speak freely, although I am unsure what we are to speak freely of.”
“Thank you. I am struck by your poise and confidence Miss Bennet. And this is the part where I have to tread carefully, you appear to guide your parents.”
Another smile. Elizabeth knew what he was saying. He was being diplomatic with the use of the word guide, she knew that she, with support from Jane and Sir David, managed her parents. There was a problem however.
“I would be happy to talk of this, I suspect I would benefit from being forced to consider everything and present it coherently for a stranger, or a comparative stranger. However, the tale will take longer than the length of this walk. It is not that we can walk slowly to try and complete it in 40 minutes. A true recounting will take several hours I think.”
Darcy saw the problem. He could not sit, appropriately but lightly chaperoned, with Miss Bennet for several hours. Equally gauche would be to ‘accidently’ meet Miss Bennet every day in Meryton and walk her home. That would never do.
Then Fitzwilliam Darcy had a brainwave and smiled a deep happy smile. What he did not realise was the transformative nature of such a simple act. Elizabeth Bennet had turned into a formidable young woman, presenting a tough demeanour to the world at large. But she was also a young woman of only 20 years, faced with tall handsome man, now displaying a deeply dimpled smile upon his face. It was fortunate for her that Darcy was thinking of his plan for a moment and missed her blushing countenance.
“I understand Miss Bennet. I have a potential solution to the problem and when I return to Netherfield Park I will send an express to see if it is possible.”
He said no more and Elizabeth did not press. He left her at Longbourn with a sweeping bow and rather than walk directly to Netherfield Park, he retraced his steps.
“Why is Mr. Darcy going back to Meryton?”
This was to the footman who had accompanied her.
“I saw him ride into Meryton so I believe he is returning to collect his horse.”
Elizabeth was entirely unsure what to make of this revelation. Time for a talk with Mary.
“I do wish you would not drag me out on these cold autumn days.”
Elizabeth changed direction and guided them to the stables.
“Where are we going now?”
“Nowhere, we will survive the odours for a few minutes and it is warmer than sitting on the bench in the garden.”
Mary was not sure which would be worse, the cold or the smell but in fact the stables were fine, they had some privacy at one end of the block, and it was much warmer than sitting or even walking outside.
“This is a good idea. We have a place where we can talk without the risk of Lydia sneaking at the door.”
An ever more pressing problem, especially since she had been ignored and Kitty allowed to visit Jane.
“Has there been a letter from Jane that I am unaware of? Did Aunt Philips have news? Why are we here?”
“Patience, this is confusing for me.”
Mary waited, now intrigued.
“Mr. Darcy escorted me home from Meryton.”
Expecting more she waited but there was a lengthy silence.
“We know him to be a gentleman, or he can be with a modicum of effort. Why are you troubled by this?”
