Rather than receiving the newcomers at Longbourn, the Bennets visited the Darcys at Netherfield Park. Though usually never one to inconvenience himself, Mr. Bennet believed this would be more practical. He felt this was the best way to ensure William and Elizabeth had an opportunity to speak outside the watchful eyes of their mothers. Even Mrs. Bennet would not barge into another gentleman's study, and Lady Anne, as hostess, would be seeing to her guests. Luckily, Mr. Bennet did not need to resort to contrivance to fulfill his promise to William, as an opportunity to converse with Elizabeth presented itself by necessity.

"Thank you, Mrs. Nichols. And thank you, Lizzy, for attending us." Mr. Bennet had asked the housekeeper to send his daughter to William's study. The gentlemen were standing at a table with a number of documents upon it. "I am relying on you to assist Mr. Darcy and I with some estate business."

Elizabeth demurred. "I am happy to help but I am sure Mr. Darcy is well-trained in estate management from his fath—family, the gentlemen in his family. I fear there is little I could contribute." Elizabeth did not know much of his family background but could not remember the elder Mr. Darcy ever being spoken of, so she quickly adjusted her reply.

"I have benefited greatly from the training of my grandfather and uncle, but is my aunt Catherine who has taken charge of that aspect of my education. She is quite formidable," William smiled fondly at thought of his aunt's rigorous teaching. "My cousin Anne and I were quite put out at receiving so much instruction but now we are prepared to handle any eventuality a landowner might face…in theory. However, Hertfordshire is unfamiliar to me, as is Netherfield, so I rely upon the kindness of neighbors to come to my aid."

"We are hoping to call upon your memory as mine has failed me. Do you remember when the yellow sitting room and terrace were added. The plans are not dated, and the steward did not know." Mr. Bennet gestured to numerous scale drawings of Netherfield before them. "I thought it was quite recently."

"It was ten years ago. The Milners added it not long before they left for Bath. I remember because Mrs. Milner let Sophia and me select the wall coverings and fabrics. We were eight years old and took it very seriously." She turned to William to explain. "As you know, the Milners own Netherfield Park. Their youngest, Sophia, and I were great friends. They left due to Mrs. Milner's ill health. The room was built to take advantage of the sunlight, in hopes it would be more comfortable for her. If you do not like the décor, I guess I am partly to blame but I love that room." Elizabeth laughed.

"My mother loves it too. It has a very different aesthetic than the rest of the house and we did wonder about it. I shall be pleased to tell my mother that the mystery is solved."

"Sophia and I wanted the room to be bright and cheery even on the darkest of days. Even on those dark days, a nice fire makes it so pleasant and cozy. I think every house should have such a room."

"It is a very attractive room. You and Miss Milner should be proud that your efforts still give such pleasure."

"Ah, you have hit close to Lizzy's philosophy. What is it, now, 'pleasure is necessary for thinking on the past' or 'think only on memories if it gives you pleasure'?"

"My father teases. However, it is true that I like to say, 'think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure'."

"Do you think we should ignore the past if it is not pleasing?" William asked sincerely, such a curiously optimistic sentiment was foreign to him. "Forgive and forget, and all that."

"Not at all, we must allow for differences in circumstance that would not make that possible. I just know that often in life the only things we can control are our reactions to the things that are out of our control." Elizabeth could see William silently mouth her last statement as if trying to imprint it into his mind. "As I cannot change the past, I choose not to punish myself with unpleasant memories, rather I acknowledge any lessons learned and try to act on them moving forward."

"Extraordinary," William said absently. "And have you been successful in doing so?"

"Not as much as I would like but enough to nourish my belief that this course of action is correct for me."

Mr. Bennet had found himself nodding in agreement as his daughter discussed the futility of punishing oneself with the past. However, he was quite unacquainted with the latter part of her statement. He wondered how it was that his daughter, at such a young age, was so much wiser than he. He was now more determined than before to make changes in his life. In his moment of contemplation, he had not noticed the conversation had shifted back to questions about Netherfield. There was no need for him to serve as intermediary, so he sat back and listened.

"Mr. Milner also brought sheep onto the estate, maybe two years before that. There were a few years of poor yields, beyond that I could not tell you, but he did not want to be so reliant on the land."

"I knew of the sheep, but I have yet to see them."

"They graze on the lands near Oakham Mount." Elizabeth had noticed the telescope set up by the large French doors when she had entered the room, now, she walked over to it. "We should be able to spy them from here. May I?"

"Of course."

Elizabeth looked through the instrument in its current position, pointing toward the sky. She then considered the view outside the window. "Cygnus, the swan?"

"How could you possibly know that?" William asked in amazement.

"I have observed these skies for years. Based on the time of year and the position of your glass, it was an educated guess. Cygnus is quite prominent this time of year." Elizabeth was pleased to have impressed William. She turned the telescope towards Oakham Mount and scanned the gentle incline for the sheep. "There they are." She stepped back so William could have a look.

"So many, that is splendid. I shall have to make my way there soon," William said.

"I walk there frequently when the weather is fine. Perhaps we shall meet there one morning."

"If we happen to meet there, I shall consider it a fine morning, indeed."

Mr. Bennet was suddenly more attentive and cleared his throat. "Wonderful, I just might have to join you. It has been some time since I have been to the mount." He chuckled when both young people looked disappointed.

William recovered first and returned to an earlier conversation. "You are a student of astronomy, then?"

"I like to think so, but my education on the subject is nothing compared to yours, I imagine. But I have always found it fascinating," Elizabeth said. "I particularly appreciate how the science is so often intertwined with mythology. Further, those myths, including the story of Leda and the swan, are explored by all the greats - Homer, Virgil, Ovid. These are worlds that open upon one another. A lady's world is so small it is imperative to broaden it wherever possible."

"That is very commendable." Despite his words, a blush had spread across William's face as he recalled the specific story of Leda and Zeus. Enraptured, Zeus had taken the form of Cygnus, the swan, to get close to the beautiful Leda and seduce her.

"Yes, is it not curious that society criticizes ladies for the reading of novels, calling them silly and melodramatic, begrudging their readers a chaste kiss and embrace. Meanwhile, entire curricula are built around the rather bizarre wickedness of the ancient myths for the ton's heirs and countless scenes are depicted in paintings that hang upon the walls of prominent museums."

"Lizzy, that is an astute observation, but I believe we are off topic," Mr. Bennet interrupted.

"Yes, Mr. Darcy, I do consider myself a student of astronomy as well as a plethora of other subjects," Elizabeth said with a cheeky grin. "Student of many things, master of none."

"Just enough to be dangerous," William recalled Elizabeth's comment from the night they met.

"Quite," she laughed. "Let us turn our conversation to other things. You mentioned an aunt instructing you on estate management. I admit to being curious about her. That is not a common occurrence."

"My aunt Catherine is my mother's sister. Her estate is Rosings Park in Kent. My aunt has managed it for some fifteen years, following the death of her husband."

"How fortunate it is that the estate remains in her possession. And that it remains under her control is most remarkable. So seldom do females have the luxury of even staying in their home after the death of their husband."

"If anything, it is more prosperous under her than my uncle. As she has fulfilled the responsibilities of both master and mistress for so long, she proved to be an excellent teacher. However, once my cousin returns from her wedding trip, its management transfers to Anne and her new husband, and Aunt Catherine moves to the dower house."

"I imagine that will be difficult for her after all these years."

"Not at all. I think she quite looks forward to it. And she and my mother have discussed plans for travel and other entertainments."

"I hope she will be able to visit you here. I would like to meet her. It must be very agreeable to be settled within so easy a distance to family."

"The journey from Hertfordshire to Kent is certainly much preferrable to that from Derbyshire. I do believe I will be able to persuade her to visit. She will want to make sure I am employing the vast store of knowledge I gained under her tutelage. And when she does visit, I will make sure you meet. I think she will like you."

"I shall look forward to it." Elizabeth said. She liked Mrs. Darcy very well and she imagined she would like Lady Catherine as well, but then she was prone to feel warmly about any mother who took responsibility and supported her family. It was not a novel circumstance, just one she experienced far too rarely. So far, her own mother had been stymied in her efforts to bring Jane back from London. So, it seemed Elizabeth would have her dance with Mr. Darcy. Yet another thing for her to look forward to and, by far, the one utmost in her mind.