A/N - Ive got back in front of my computer to find 100 reviews! yay. thanks everyone. I am sorry for the angst, but really it would be a pretty boring story if everyone was happy all the time! not much longer and we will get back to our HEA!
Chapter 44
The next day saw people split in to three parties. Those who wanted to ride were provided with mounts and offered a guide in the form of Darcy and Georgiana. Many of the older ladies and gentlemen elected to remain in the house and find a book in the famed library or just converse. Jane and Charlotte attended these ladies acting as hostess. Elizabeth took those wanting some exercise out for a walk. She was to walk the perimeter of the formal gardens first allowing people to head back after, then for the more adventurous she was to go further up in to the woods.
Elizabeth started off talking to the other Mrs Darcy and her daughter about their home. When they moved off to go to the maze she found herself walking alone until Mr Pelham came up beside her
"Well Mrs Darcy, this is quite the gathering you have organised."
"Thank you Mr Pelham, but perhaps you should save your comments for after the week is over. It is still early days and all sorts of its could go wrong."
"I have no doubt that you could handle any mishaps"
She only smiled in return, not one for too many compliments to herself. He noticed and changed tack
"How have you enjoyed your summer so far? It must have been nice to have a sister and a friend stay. Miss Bennet is a very nice young girl, although she was somewhat shy when showing me around"
"Oh. You would not have said so if you had met her a year ago with my younger sister. But I was interested to find out what the differences in the tours were. Georgiana for example spent about half an hour telling people about the music room. How old the instruments were and the history of who played what in the family. She is so fond of music after all. Was there any aspect of note to Kitty's tours?"
"Well now at you mention it she did seem to like the views from the windows. Always wanting us to look at the different angles of the gardens and the way the light fell. I found it most entertaining. Is she artistic by any chance?"
"Ah yes at would make sense. She has lately spent time with an art master. She is quite proficient at sketching and her watercolours are coming on well."
"It is funny how different people can give a different perspective on things. Why, look at the gentlemen from Cambridge each would have a different story about things they did or did not enjoy during our time there."
"That invites me to beg the question of what did you find most enjoyable. I could not in good conscience ask about your dislikes."
Mr Pelham went on to describe some amusing incidents of the antics of young men at Cambridge. He of course avoided the less gentlemanly persuits and focused on some of the harmless pranks. Elizabeth was laughing gaily when they came upon the party of riders led by Mr Darcy. He noticed her laughing before they were spotted and gritted his teeth. She was only enjoying the company of her guests. There were a group of them together, it was not like she was walking with him alone.
Caroline was riding next to Mr Darcy and the other side of lady Victoria and when she saw Elizabeth whispered to Victoria in a voice loud enough for Darcy to hear
"I say Lady Fitwilliam, can you remember earlier last week we saw Mrs Darcy with a gentleman on the edge of the grounds at that abandoned building, does that not look like him?"
"I cannot say miss Bingley" came the reply "they were both of them too far away" Victoria moved away not liking the conversation. She had been riding with Caroline the day the Elizabeth had met Mr Wickham and had seen her talking to the gentleman. Victoria thought she did not look happy, but it was a distance and she had since shut down any attempts that Caroline had made to speculate on the gentleman and the meaning of the meeting.
Darcy tried not to hear the comment but it could not be unheard. He schooled his features in to their old mask and did not look in Caroline's direction and so missed the look of satisfaction on her face, for she recognised the stiffness of his posture for what it was.
The mounted party greeted the ones on foot and when Elizabeth addressed her group as to who would like a tour of the woods she found only Mr Pelham willing to walk so far. She demurred stating that if there was no interest perhaps he would care to join the mounted party?
"No thank you Mrs Darcy, I rode a large portion of the way here. But you are correct we should not wander the woods alone. Perhaps the rest of the party would care to walk back towards the house by way of the lake?"
The proposal was met with more enthusiasm and the group set off. Elizabeth had not noticed the look on Mr Darcy's face and so continued on next to Mr Pelham, although she did also strike up a conversation with Miss Forsyth, whom she had barely spoken to. Mr Pelham obliged the ladies with more amusing stories of his boyhood days with his brother and the rest of the walk passed pleasantly.
Darcy found it difficult to find time alone with Elizabeth over the next few days. She was busy dealing with the kind of problems that arise when there is a house full of guests. There were a number of children sharing a governess and they had got up to some mischief already. One of the lady's dresses had been damaged on the journey and Elizabeth arranged for the local modiste to visit and spend a day fixing and fitting up various outfits. Once it was known she was there Elizabeth was inundated with requests.
There was a successful picnic trip. There was a local group of performers that Elizabeth had arranged to give a performance of a Shakespeare play one night and a circus type performance the next afternoon. This was met with much enthusiasm. Music evenings were also greatly appreciated. The ladies who played all wanted to perform and over the two evenings Elizabeth made sure that everyone got their turn. She managed to convince Georgiana to play twice. The non-musical guests were invited to dance in the adjoining hall, when the music allowed. Or to just enjoy the performances. Elizabeth had been dancing with a variety of the gentleman, rarely sitting down without a partner. She had hoped Darcy would ask her to dance but he seemed to be unwilling.
The summer party was going very well. Everyone was warm in their praise of Mrs Darcy and her hostess abilities. Even Lady Digby had been overheard remarking that she was tolerably impressed. Some of the groups naturally kept to themselves. The local families attended some or all the events depending on their own interests
