AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mary and I were going to race to the oak yonder.” She gestured to the far side of a field. “If you care to join us, the loser buys cake at the tea shop.”
Her smile was infectious and I could not help but return it. Before I could respond at all, her sister called out and the two of them were off, flying across the field. My hands had a mind of their own and snapped the reins before I could think about whether or not this was a good idea. The ladies had a good head start on me, and they knew the terrain, but I pushed as hard as I dared after the morning’s ride. Miss Mary shouted something to her sister and Miss Elizabeth responded, gaining on her when Miss Mary had previously had the lead by half a length. They laughed merrily and I found myself joining them.
I finished shortly behind Miss Mary, who had reached the oak only a second behind her sister. They were laughing and gasping for breath, their cheeks flushed with exercise and their eyes bright.
“Mary is the more skilled rider,” said Miss Elizabeth, “but I am more reckless.”
Her sister laughed at this.
“Thus I gain unfair victories,” she finished with a broad smile.
Miss Mary shook her head. “It was perfectly fair, Lizzy, and you know it. You can hardly be blamed for my timidity.”
“You? Timid? Ha!”
I could only smile at their banter, thinking they reminded me of the way I was with my cousin Richard. He was the only person I could speak to in such a way and know he would understand my true intent and not be offended by my clumsy delivery.
“Well, Mr. Darcy, are you a man of your word?” said Miss Elizabeth saucily.
“Of course.”
“Then I believe you owe us cakes.” She smiled like the cat who got the cream and turned her mare towards Meryton.
“Very well. I believe I have a few coins with me, though you may have to share a cake.” Was I making jokes? Bad ones, but some form of humor nonetheless? I was not generally the man who made jokes or laughed with ladies. I was usually the man who stood back and wondered how my cousins managed to be so effortless with everyone while I constantly felt as if I was chewing on leather.
The ladies laughed and led the way, calling out to Jane and Bingley to join us in town.
“Mr. Darcy has graciously offered to buy a cake for us to share between us!” cried Miss Elizabeth. “If you do not hurry, Mary and I shall eat it all before you arrive.”
I smiled and pulled up so I could ride beside her. There was something about Elizabeth Bennet that made me want to be closer to her. I ought to question such a sensation, but for the moment I decided to enjoy it and not think it to death. I could hear my cousin Fitzwilliam in my head telling me it was about ruddy time.
“You are an excellent rider, Miss Elizabeth,” I said.
“Thank you. Our governess was quite insistent I become proficient. She is rather horse mad herself, you see, and she could not understand why anyone would prefer to use their own two feet to move about.”
“You did not enjoy riding at first?”
“Not particularly. Being thrown from a horse is not a favored pastime of mine.”
The look she gave me made me smile. “But you got back on, that is the important thing.”
“Yes, I suppose it is. Once I mastered the basics, I enjoyed it much more.”
“For someone who did not take to it easily, your seat is excellent.” I flushed as soon as I realized what I had said and looked away. I knew I would find a way to make a cake of myself before this exchange was over. It was always thus. If I was not offending others, I was embarrassing myself.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. Your seat is excellent as well.”
I whipped my head around, meeting her laughing eyes and pursed lips that tried to hold back a smile. She lost the battle after a moment—or after seeing my stupefied expression—and grinned brightly, then pulled ahead to ride alongside her sister, mercifully sparing me from having to think of something to say after that.
9
Elizabeth
Ididn’tknowwhathad come over me. Why had I flirted with Mr. Darcy? I could lie to myself and say that I was only being friendly, but I would know it was not the truth. I had flirted blatantly and enjoyed every moment of it. And now he would think me nothing but a country flirt, when I was anything but.
He held the door to the tea shop open for us and acted every bit the gentlemen while I wondered what on earth had provoked me to provoke him. Of course, it was Mr. Darcy. I had a feeling he could make a great many women behave out of character. I could hardly be the only one.
We settled in at a table and he ordered a pot of tea and a selection of cakes for us, far more than we could possibly eat.
