Chapter 18

Of course Darcy wakes up a boy once again. The whole thing repeats itself, only today Elizabeth wears a beautiful white blouse on the riding skirt, it really looks like a skirt when she stands still. And Darcy will ride his tall black gelding, his most sensitive horse, the one he feels can teach him the most.

Elizabeth wants to saddle Daisy herself under Peter's guidance, as Hugo the coachman saddles Darcy's nameless black. Darcy has never named a horse after coming of age, his horses are distinguished by description, unless he bought one already named. This one, the black, didn't have a name, Hugo bought it from a horse-dealer, and they don't care about such nonsense.

Hugo comes along for safety, though Darcy doesn't expect them to need any help. Elizabeth mounts without help and finds her seat immediately, already striding in nice large circles before Darcy has even mounted.

But since yesterday he has been a bit distracted, he lost control in the most horrific way possible, felt he had wronged Elizabeth beyond forgiveness, and she didn't even mind. She said she trusts him not to harm her, and of course he didn't really. But could he have stopped if she had cried out, or protested?

Peter is talking, he'd better listen or make a bad impression on Mrs Darcy. Setting his horse to stride the same circles as Daisy, but on the opposite side of the paddock, they are instructed by Peter, very politely of course, to shorten their horse's stride by tensing up a little, then lengthen it by relaxing once more. It works, and the black flicks an ear at him as if wondering how he managed to get that after years of pulling reins.

Of course Peter rides the black when Darcy doesn't use him, exercising the horses is the part of Peter's job that takes most time and that he seems to like best, so Darcy is the one needing the lesson here, the black already knows it.

The instruction continues for half an hour, Peter leads them through different exercises to connect to their horses. Darcy has little time to see how Elizabeth is doing, he's hard at work himself, and strangely enough, his legs ache with the effort it takes to ride this way.

After a little rest for horse and rider, they do exercises while trotting, and here Elizabeth needs Peter's attention for she still has some trouble to find the rhythm at which to move along with her horse. But she seems to improve rapidly, and she does so well that Peter tells her how to go to a canter, which is clearly a relief after the teeth-rattling trot. Somehow Elizabeth's former lessons must have an influence on this different way of riding, for she couldn't learn so quickly from scratch, could she?

After the lesson, Peter politely suggests they let the sweating horses walk themselves dry on a little tour of the property, outside the paddock.

Darcy leads and Elizabeth follows, Daisy behaves well, of course, and they stride all around the house and gardens. Then they leave the horses at the stables and go back to the house, to freshen up and read a little before lunch. After lunch they repeat the bathing, except this time Darcy gets in the bath too, or his legs will be stiff tomorrow with the precise control Peter's exercises demand.

And they even repeat the reading of Pierre's memoires, the next chapter, college, teachers and fellow students, a few maids, everything female is put through their paces. This time, Darcy manages two lustful scenes before he puts away the book and starts their loving very tenderly, in control all the time.

In the afternoon Elizabeth receives the seamstress as Darcy secretly reviews what Nathan has found out about securing an independence, and visits Peter in the stables after having had word there is something the young servant found that he wants to show the master.

When Elizabeth is done, they ramble, following another path to where it joins a public road, getting home just after dark once again. It is getting cold outside, there may be frost soon.

As they walk, Elizabeth tells him about the seamstress: 'She took my measurements, and I chose patterns from a book with drawings of fashionable ladies, and fabrics from a book with pages of cloth instead of paper. I've never seen that before.

Then Mrs Reynolds came in and suggested I have two or three really fashionable dresses made, 'For London, Mrs Darcy, everyone there will be sizing you up, the master was well liked and coveted among the ladies, that's what Simon, his valet, told me. All those ladies will be scrutinizing you, and with a really superior dress it is much easier to be above those petty jealousies.'

Since she was right, I let her convince me, and the seamstress showed me the latest in fabrics and styles, and helped me choose three.

But Mrs Reynolds was not finished with me by far, she strongly suggested I order a long winter coat, as well as a short one, to ride in. She said they needed to be fashionable as well, for I was going to want to wear them in London, too.'

Somehow, Darcy has a feeling his love is not yet done, there is still more to come.

'Of course I objected that I couldn't ride in London, without mentioning why to prevent gossiping by the seamstress. But that didn't foil Mrs Reynolds, for she observed: 'But the master will be wanting to ride in London too, I thought you might want to have one of those dresses made that old Mrs Darcy wore in the painting.'

Elizabeth becomes very intense now, and she says: 'She was right, Fitzwilliam, if we are to spend the entire winter in London, I don't want to sit indoors all day. I'm afraid I'll have to bow for convention and overcome my fear, and ride like a lady there. So I took her hint and chose a fashionable fabric for a riding dress, the seamstress showed me a picture of what it would look like and the style is surprisingly similar to that which your grandmother wore. It is quite becoming actually.

So you see, I'm turning out quite an expensive wife after all, despite being from the country.'

He is almost touched, Elizabeth agreeing to a new wardrobe? And to continue riding in London despite the sacrifice to propriety she'll have to make? She does not show any signs of having been pushed into this, she must really want to make the most of her stay there.

'You don't mind, do you?' she asks. His silence has made her uncertain, she is of course not used at all to spending such amounts on clothing, but Mrs Reynolds is totally right and very attentive to her situation. Ordering all that in London would expose his love to the seamstresses there, who would not understand her reluctance to go all out on lace and ostrich feathers. Starting here with what must be a toned down version of fashion is much more sensible, once she is used to London she will choose her own style.

'I am very happy that Mrs Reynolds thought of this. A London seamstress would eat you alive, dress you up like those ladies we saw at the theatre without consulting you. Though this seamstress' idea of high fashion may be several months out of date, Elizabeth. We live far away from town, you know. Still, if you see a style you prefer you can always order that. Though very rich, I'm also very spoiled, and you deserve some compensation for the hardships you suffer.'

He takes her in his arms and whispers: 'Do you really want to do that, overcome your fears? You can ramble in London, you know, there are some beautiful parks. There is a space in my London stables for Daisy, and I suppose she is very suitable for city-life, but wouldn't you feel humiliated? I don't want to see you diminished in any way, I love you so much, and I admire your independence more than anything. I don't think I can bear to see you bow for anyone or anything.'

His concern obviously touches her, but she has an amazing answer for him: 'Your grandmother inspires me to try, beloved. On the portrait in the gallery she sits that horse with such dignity, she must have been a very strong woman indeed and I will not be diminished by being like her. I'm going to honour her memory by being as dignified as she sits that horse.'

Her bearing is so proud as she tells him this, and then she is back to down to earth Elizabeth: 'Of course I'll have to practise a little before we move, it won't do to show fear in town. I'll have to do that here, in the paddock, where Peter can help me figure out a way to stay in control despite lacking the use of my one leg. Daisy and I will just have to put up the effort.'

'My dearest Elizabeth,' Fitzwilliam breathes, 'I admire you so much.'

He kneels before her and rests his head in her lap, and for a very short moment Elizabeth is reminded of him at his most prideful, not long ago at all, slighting her, looking down on everybody, insulting her during his first proposal. Where did that man come from? Mrs Reynolds never saw him, Elizabeth will never see him again, this is the true Fitzwilliam Darcy, a great man, respected by all, and he kneels before her to profess his love. It is almost unbelievable, but he is real, she can feel his short hair, his manly jaws, covered in very short stubble at this time of the day.

He looks up at her and they kiss, overcome with love for each other, such intense feeling.

When that kiss is done he is back to his usual sedate self, and he says: 'I do admire you, and I propose we have Peter's missus involved as the true expert. She'll relish the challenge and the excitement. But not yet, first I want you to have more experience with Daisy. There is not very much time, but the last four days of our honeymoon will do for what you plan. I want you to spend the rest of the time riding as it should be done, with the use of both legs. Do you agree?'

'I do,' Elizabeth affirms.

That night after dinner they sit by a roaring fire reading decent literature for a change, and Elizabeth wants her beloved to read a few paragraphs to her to see if he's as good when reading superior material. And of course he is, but since it takes up a lot of time they decide to read on for themselves.

Suddenly Elizabeth looks up, and remarks: 'I didn't even ask you what you did this afternoon.'

Fitzwilliam replies with a certain satisfaction: 'I went to see Peter in the stables, he had braved the spiders and rooted out something I was of two minds to see. But with our conversation just now in mind I'll have him spend some time on it, it's an heirloom from the old Mrs Darcy, as Mrs Reynolds calls her.

It needs a good clean and some oil, then plenty of buffing, and then Hugo will have to re- stuff it with lambswool to fit it to Daisy exactly. But when all that is done, you will be the proud owner of one of the most beautiful lady's saddles in the country. The London belles will look at you and grit their teeth, for not one of them can match you in...well, in anything.'

'How do you know it's hers?' Elizabeth asks, also of two minds.

'It had her name on it, but when you see it, you'll instantly recognise it. One might say it looks like the mirror, stylish, of the very best quality, and above all, timeless.'

The next two days they have a very busy honeymoon again, getting up rather early but not without some passionate loving, having breakfast, riding in the paddock for an hour, having lunch, soaking their punished muscles, reading Pierre's story and loving each other again as a result, then rambling, riding out to a village, visiting neighbours, dining, talking and reading, possibly loving each other one more time that day. Or just snuggling or cuddling until they fall asleep. Then they repeat that the next day.

But on the third day, Peter suggests they ride in the paddock for half an hour, then ride out, he has confidence that Elizabeth can handle gentle Daisy, and Darcy agrees wholeheartedly.

And now he has another wish come true, they start by striding over the road, crossing the bridge without problems, then entering the park straight across a large flat grassland. Darcy proposes they try a canter, and Elizabeth consents. They start out slowly, and soon she calls out that he can go faster if he wants to, she is not scared since she has excellent balance riding astride.

They cannot hold hands, of course, but riding is a whole different way of being together, Darcy starts with showing Elizabeth a fabulous view over the farmed fields just beyond his park. They have covered so much ground in such a short time, he can see Elizabeth is amazed at the speed at which everything flies past, even at a trot or a canter.

They have a fabulous ride, everything Darcy ever dreamed of, he really needs to force himself to keep it short, or Elizabeth will suffer muscle aches again. But of course there will be tomorrow, and a whole week after that, no need to rush things.

After their lunch, and their bath, and the things that usually follow that bath, Darcy proposes they try fishing, and Elizabeth wholeheartedly consents, though it is rather cold and the water will be freezing. They walk by the stables to find the hunts-master, hoping he is in and not doing his rounds on the estate.

Though it is a bit of a gamble, they are lucky, for he is just back from inspecting the southern end of the park, and very pleased to set them up with tackle and bait. Darcy can teach Elizabeth how to cast, they're not likely to catch many fish anyway in winter, but practise makes perfect, and it is a suitable activity for a honeymoon.

'Do you mind being active all the time in our honeymoon?' he asks Elizabeth, 'wouldn't you rather laze about? We could, you know.'

She smiles and replies: 'If we laze about in bed, we'll only become active again in a different way, giving the housemaids even more reason to gossip. And besides, I like sharing your sports with you, will you teach me to handle a gun as well?'

'Sure, why not. I'd like to keep the mornings for riding, but in the afternoons we can do whatever pleases us. Do you want to drive to town some day? It's not London, but there is some amusement, music, theatre.'

Elizabeth doesn't even have to think before she says: 'I suppose we'll have plenty of that in London, I'd like to enjoy the country as much as we can. We'll be without all winter.'

'If you get fed up with town, Elizabeth,' Darcy says seriously, 'we can be back here in three days. I won't have you unhappy.'

'We'll have Jane's marriage anyway, that will put us back in Hertfordshire for at least a week,' Elizabeth observes, 'I think I'll manage, if your staff there is as liveable as the people here.'

'I've never noticed any difference, Theo, the butler, runs the household, there is no housekeeper there, and there is just one maid who hires help to do the cleaning and washing. Then there is Simon, my valet, but he only lives in my house when I'm in town. I suppose I'll have to let him go, having him around all the time just doesn't feel right now we're together.

The stables are much smaller, with only one pair of very sedate carriage horses trained for city traffic, stable, but not very fast. It's difficult to exercise the spirited carriage horses in town, Bob does that, but I'll probably send him back to Pemberley once we've arrived, and have him pick us up for Bingley and Jane's wedding. Of course there is a boy to keep the city team.

If you wanted a maid I'd hire one, though Simon would do as well, the few times Georgiana really wanted to make an impression he has helped her dress up, he's good at it. He has no interest in ladies, so he's safe around a maiden, though that is not something that should become common knowledge, he'd be in deep trouble.'

Darcy can see Elizabeth has no idea what he means by his valet having no interest in ladies. She may be highly intelligent, and educated to an incredible level for someone home-schooled, she is a typical country girl in the ways of the world. Never mind, a winter in London will remedy that altogether. She'll catch on quickly.

By now they have reached the river and Darcy is ready to explain how trout fishing works, and his beloved is soon practising her cast. She doesn't have much reach yet, or much speed, but that is no problem, fish are slow in winter so they need plenty of time to strike the bait.

After ten minutes of instruction Darcy can make a few casts of his own, and he is lucky, he catches a reasonable size trout almost instantly. Since he doesn't know how Elizabeth will handle him killing a fish, he releases it back into the river, they probably won't catch enough for dinner anyway.

Casting a rod is very tiring when one isn't used to it, and it's rather cold, with a slight drizzle slowly drenching their coats, so after an hour Darcy is ready to call it a day. But Elizabeth really wants to catch a fish, and they stick it out another quarter of an hour before she decides to give up and try another time.

'I had a great time nonetheless,' she says, 'next time I'll catch one.'

The next morning they ride out again, Elizabeth is now so used to riding that she doesn't need a bath anymore to loosen her muscles, so they just wash and change afterwards, and yes, read a little in Pierre's memoires, by now he is travelling across the island in search of commissions and instruction to improve his art as painter of portraits. But those exploits are sketched superficially, only his quest to improve his skills in his true art, as lover, is described in great detail, and it must be said that the techniques he learns are often very stimulating, as well as the way in which he acquires them, taught directly by married ladies, light women, anyone female that he can convince to give him 'lessons'.

Of course their reading is usually followed by more physical exercise, of the kind almost exclusively practised in the bedroom, though Pierre would certainly object to that statement since he manages very well in parks, bushes, against trees and his favourites, in the labyrinths and follies of the rich and noble.

And then Fitzwilliam tells Elizabeth he has a visit in mind for the afternoon. Before long they take the carriage to visit Peter's missus, as everyone apparently calls her. The young couple live in a picturesque cottage just outside a small village, rather close to the boundary of the park, but due to the size of the park it must be a good half hour walk to get there.

There are no horses around the house, nor any other livestock except a few chickens, but behind the house there is a large paddock and there are several fields, suggesting that she usually does keep a few of her father's horses there.

Peter's missus' actual name is Sarah Norman, and even with a huge belly she is quick on her feet and rather slim of limb. She has dark red hair pinned to her head tightly, lively grey eyes and a snub nose. Elizabeth finds her oddly attractive, she can imagine what Peter sees in her, there is so much energy in his sturdy young wife.

Mrs Norman is not as humble as Peter, she shows Fitzwilliam the respect he is due as her landlord and the master of her husband, and she is very nice and outgoing to both him and Elizabeth, but it is clear she has the independent spirit of a farmer's daughter, that certain awareness that everyone in the world needs food, and farmers provide it. Elizabeth likes her a lot.

Of course Mrs Norman loves talking about horses, she knows a lot about them, even about Fitzwilliam's horses. She has one skirt all ready, and says: 'Peter said you ride every day, so I asked my mother to help to get it finished as quickly as possible. We made it exactly as Mrs Reynolds told Peter to, I hope it fits perfectly. The other two will follow next week, I'll give them to Peter.'

Fitzwilliam tells her: 'Thank you very much, Mrs Norman, you have made me very happy by enabling Mrs Darcy to ride with me. With your permission Mrs Reynolds will give your payment to Peter to take home to you, as well as the skirt you lent Mrs Darcy.'

Mrs Norman smiles charmingly and replies: 'My pleasure, Mr Darcy, and please let me thank you as well, for allowing Peter shorter working days, I'm often lonely being unable to walk much or ride at all. It's so good to have him around when I'm having difficulty with the work here. I can't wait for the baby to be born, and be able to move properly again, and do my own duties. I'm used to taking care of myself.'

Fitzwilliam proposes they step outside, which is a rather strange suggestion, but Mrs Norman accedes to it as if they have an arrangement of some sort. And when they do go outside, to the paddock behind the house, Elizabeth realizes they actually do, even though they have never met before.

For in the paddock she can see a horse that must be Daisy, from the colour and the markings on her face, and Peter is just removing her usual saddle and replacing it with another, a beautifully made lady's saddle. Before Elizabeth can become nervous that they want her to just get on, Peter is finished and says: 'All right, I sure hope Daisy remembers, for I've never ridden like this and it scares me half to death. Like those spiders I saw when searching for it in the attic.'

That probably means he is looking forward to doing it, and his expression seems to confirm Elizabeth's opinion. Fitzwilliam asks Elizabeth: 'Since neither of us knows how to use one of these, Elizabeth, will you instruct Peter in mounting? Then Mrs Norman will take over the instruction.'

He's really going to do it, try whether Daisy still remembers carrying a sidesaddle! Elizabeth searches her memory, and pictures how one gets on, and is supposed to sit. Peter is undoubtedly very nimble, and not very heavy, so she cups her hands and stands next to Daisy, and tells him: 'If you'll just mount astride, then move your right leg to the opposite side without changing your seat. Your seat should remain right above the middle of Daisy's back, facing forward.'

Of course humble Peter has real trouble using his mistress as a mounting block, but the only alternative is use his master, and that idea daunts him even more, so he takes a good hold of the saddle, then quickly and lightly steps in Elizabeth's hands and finds his seat.

Elizabeth moves his leg to the right position, Peter's other foot already has the stirrup, and he has Daisy just stand still for a moment to feel the correct way to sit. It doesn't even look too ridiculous to see a man on a lady's saddle, but that is also because Peter doesn't seem to feel awkward at all. He's busy.

Daisy doesn't move an inch, or a muscle, and Peter picks up the reins. 'How do I get her to move, Mrs Darcy?' he asks, and she tells him, adding: 'Though I've learned in a very unsubtle way, you might want to adapt that to your own style.'

Which he does, since Elizabeth only sees his heel move a little, and as Daisy indeed sets off, Mrs Norman falls into stride with horse and husband, and they talk a lot. Fitzwilliam smiles at Elizabeth, and she cannot help kissing him, he is so very attractive.

When they look back towards the action, Peter is showing just how good he is with a horse, for even in a totally unfamiliar position he has Daisy striding perfectly, and happily, she seems really content as she is.

Mrs Norman calls out a few words, and Daisy performs an exercise they have practised, Elizabeth cannot see Peter doing anything, but he must have. After a few more laps he clearly thinks it is time to make some speed, and Daisy trots off. Trotting is not pleasant without two legs to use as springs to catch the movement of the horse, his teeth must be rattling, Elizabeth remembers the feeling, and also never managing to get her father's horse in a canter. That is so much easier astride.

But Peter now moves his leg back slightly and Daisy changes to a canter, which looks just awesome, even with a guy in trousers on the beautiful saddle. For a short moment, Elizabeth imagines herself there in that beautiful dress she ordered, and she almost feels eager to try this in a few days.

After riding a few figures, and speeding up and slowing down, again without obvious signals to the horse, Peter, being a man, has to try a full-blown gallop as fast as the paddock allows, then halts Daisy, unhooks his legs and slides down the saddle.

Then he just puts his foot in the stirrup and mounts again, and Daisy stays rooted to the ground.

As he slides down again, Elizabeth applauds him, and says: 'Bravo Peter, you really are a superb rider!'

Peter smiles shyly, and adds: 'And Mrs Darcy, Daisy is a fabulous horse. She did everything I asked, I didn't miss the use of my right leg very much. It wasn't scary, except trotting is something one needs to practise, in very tiny portions, that is very tiring.

I'm very sure you will be able to enjoy riding in London, despite having to use a lady's saddle.'

Mrs Norman observes: 'She is a truly great horse for this. And I thought it looked very elegant, I can imagine why a lady would choose to ride like this, in a proper riding dress the image is just so charming. Even Peter looked almost elegant in a canter.'

So Mrs Norman teases her husband too, and apparently he likes it as much as Fitzwilliam likes to be teased.

Peter having exchanged the saddles once more, Fitzwilliam shows Elizabeth the lady's saddle, it is indeed a marvellous piece of work, dark brown leather with leaf-like ornamentation in a lighter shade. 'We're going to leave it here, Peter will work with Daisy and his missus for a few days, until he has found the perfect way to guide Daisy with just one leg. And then he'll teach you, so you'll be safe.'

That arrangement gives Elizabeth a twinge of excitement, with such training she will not feel afraid to ride on old Mrs Darcy's saddle, she will feel like she has accomplished something. On their way back they snuggle a little, and talk about Mrs Norman's little house and her love for horses. 'She has no staff at all, Fitzwilliam, how will she find the time to ride with a newborn baby claiming constant attention?'

'I suppose her parents will mind the little thing, love, remember, her dad really wants her to work with his horses, so he will have to free her to do so. Or pay someone with less talent to train his horses. Somehow I'm certain that Mrs Norman will not be stuck at home with a baby, no, that is not her purpose in life at all.'