"Can you give me a little hint? I promise I will not tell anybody you aided me," Elizabeth pouted to her father.
"That you coerced me into aiding you, you mean. Or at least tried to. It is shameful, Elizabeth Hurst, shameful. Trying to take advantage of your poor soft-hearted papa who can deny you nothing." Mr. Hurst enjoyed these light moments with Elizabeth as the carriage took them toward Clessondale and the surprise Mr. Darcy had planned for her.
"It is most frustrating. Why was I told to wear something I did not mind getting messy? It is too cold for a good ramble; if we were to ride, I would have been told to wear my new habit. I cannot account for it at all. Are we to clean the attics?" Elizabeth thought she would rather like a good root around the attics of both homes, maybe the cellars too.
"Patience, my girl, patience."
"Never my strong suit," Elizabeth huffed.
The carriage soon pulled up to her grandparents' home where they were greeted by Mr. Lee. "Wes, will you be joining us in our efforts today? You are not dressed for it."
"No, I have been catching up with my steward and now I have some catching up to do with yours. I shall leave you to your labors. Too many cooks, you know." He grinned knowingly at his father.
"You are doing this to provoke me. I know it." Both gentlemen just smirked at her. Elizabeth decided to give up and turned her attention to what else her father had said. "Catching up? You have spent so much time and attention on me these last weeks. I am sorry to have disrupted work that needed to be done. Are you very far behind?"
"Hush, I could think of no finer disruption. You are my favorite little distraction." He put an arm around her and gave her a quick kiss to the head. It was casual, something he did often. Elizabeth loved the father she grew up with, but Mr. Bennet showed affection with humor and was much less physically demonstrative. She relished this closeness with her father now, and with every kiss and embrace she felt her bond with Wesley Hurst grow a little bit stronger.
"Thank you, Papa. I think. At least you have been spared from helping Tessa and I with David's present."
"So many surprises these days. We are blessed they are all so welcome." Mr. Hurst said.
"I can only assume the surprise intended for me is welcome. I assume it will be revealed soon. I also assume I will see Mr. Darcy today."
"Tired of our company already, Zibby? Very well, I shall take you to him." Mr. Lee led Elizabeth to a part of the house she had not yet been to, the kitchens. And there Mr. Darcy was. The very sight of him made her blush, for the last time she had seen him was at the Twelfth Night ball. She could not help but remember how the evening ended. And though he was less immaculately dressed than he usually was, Elizabeth thought he was a vision to behold.
It was only when they greeted her that Elizabeth noticed Georgiana and Mrs. Lee were present as well. Elizabeth was even more at a loss as to how a visit to the kitchens related to her surprise. Then she saw the bushel of apples by the table. She looked at Darcy to see him smiling back at her. He took her aside so they could speak without being overheard.
"I had a fleeting moment where I thought, if only we were in London, I could court you properly. Nights at the theatre, visits to the museums, rides through the park. Then almost immediately, I realized, while entertaining, those activities are hardly unique. I wanted to give you something no other man would think to do for you, something that has meaning only for us. We are going to learn how to make an apple tart." Darcy held her gaze as he quoted her own words. "One may enjoy desserts in general but prefer an apple tart in particular."
"Am I an apple tart, then?" She responded back to him.
"Miss Hurst, this is a most inappropriate conversation."
"Yes, yes, it is," Elizabeth laughed as they recreated their conversation from a time that felt so long ago. "Do the others know the significance behind what we will be doing today?"
"No, they are curious, but they are really here as chaperones. And of course, I do not want to be rude and exclude my hosts or sister from what Georgiana thinks sounds like 'great fun'."
"It will be great fun." Elizabeth's eyes were shining bright. "And you are wonderful to think of it."
"Will you two be joining us or shall Georgie, Rachel and I get started without you?" Mr. Lee winked at Georgiana, making her giggle.
"You must not tease the lad, Mr. Lee," a willowy woman with pale blonde hair pulled into a very tight bun, scolded him good naturedly. "Mr. Darcy is being very thoughtful, and it does my heart good to see. I do not know if you remember me, but I am Lane, Miss. I do the baking for the house. And the young gentleman thought you might like to learn how to make an apple tart, seeing as you are both so partial to them."
"You are lovely to indulge us. I hope we will not be upsetting your schedule."
"Mrs. Lee has given me leave to teach you and I have one of my girls taking charge of the day's work. You will not be upsetting us so never you mind about that."
Lane supplied them all with aprons which they donned happily, though Darcy and Mr. Lee, looked very comical as the apron appeared quite tiny on their tall frames. The ladies could not help but laugh. "Mr. Darcy, I think we amuse them," Mr. Lee said.
"Oh no, not at all, dear, you both look very fetching. It is just not often one sees the masters of great estates wearing aprons and occupying themselves in the kitchens," Mrs. Lee replied, still laughing.
Mr. Darcy stood up to his full height, his posture rigid, and put on an exaggerated expression of affront. "Are you questioning our aptitude in kitchen pursuits? I assure you, madam, we will prove quite capable." He looked at Mr. Lee, who nodded in agreement. "After all, is not the kitchen a repository of the implements of masculine endeavors? There are knives and fire and…these things." He picked up a large rolling pin and weighed it in this hand.
"Now you just use that knife to peel some of those apples," Lane swatted at him affectionately and took the rolling pin from him. She had come to think well of the young Darcys. Miss Darcy was a pleasant girl and the staff from above stairs said she was very sweet. Darcy endeared himself to her by not only asking for her assistance, and in doing so, showing his respect for the job she did, but also for wanting to make a fine memory for his young lady during their courtship. She was happy to help with his romantic gesture even though it struck her as odd.
As they all seated themselves at the table and equipped themselves accordingly, Georgiana challenged her brother. "It has been a long time since we have done this, I believe last time I was the victor." She turned toward the others to explain, "When I was little, we would go on picnics and William would peel my apples for me. I was always fascinated because he could peel an entire apple in only a few long strips. When I was old enough, I would try to beat him and make the longest strip. Last time, I finished with the whole thing in one piece."
"Well, we shall see who wins today. I warn you. I shall not be easy to defeat. I have a lady's favor to win, after all."
As Darcy and Georgiana took their time, carefully peeling their apples, the others watched. Mr. Lee cheering for Georgiana while Elizabeth encouraged Darcy's efforts. Lane and Mrs. Lee looked at each other in amusement. "There will be an extra something in your pay packet this quarter, I think. At this rate we will keep you occupied the entire afternoon."
"As I said, it is no bother. I am sure we will have fine tarts to grace the tea tray." They were interrupted by a loud whoop and saw Darcy hold up his peeled apple in one hand and a single continuous peel in the other. "I never would have imagined a man like Mr. Darcy being so delighted with such a simple thing."
"I know, but is it not wonderful? He will make our Zibby very happy."
Lane spent the rest of the afternoon showing them how to make dough and cut and season the apples properly, as they each made their own small tart. Many discoveries were made, such as Elizabeth liked to sneak apples slices to nibble on, there was not an apron large enough to protect Georgiana for she proved to be a messy baker, and Darcy had a heavy hand with the cinnamon.
Finally, the tarts were ready, and tea prepared. They remained in the kitchen so Lane could serve as judge to determine the best effort.
"If I had known we were to be evaluated I would have taken this more seriously," Elizabeth said, her own competitive streak emerging.
"You mean you would have left more apples for your pastry as opposed to snitching them aforehand," Mr. Lee chuckled.
"Well, I am accustomed to taking apples for the horses at Longbourn. My habits have been redirected, I suppose."
"Because you do not have a horse?" Mr. Lee asked rather intently, embracing the change of subject.
"Oh, there are many horses in Raber Hill's stables, I have just not claimed one yet. When the weather is better, I shall let you and Papa decide the best animal for me."
"Were you sad to leave your horse at Longbourn, Elizabeth?" Georgiana was distressed at the thought of having to give up her own horse, now snug in Pemberley's stable.
"Not so very much. Jane and I shared a horse, while my younger sisters shared one as well. I did not ride often, though. I do remember when I was eleven, my greatest wish was for a grey Connemara pony. I had seen one in London while visiting the Gardiners and fell in love with it." For Elizabeth it was a casual remark but for her grandfather it was an idea forming.
"Begging your pardon, I am ready to name a winner." Lane interrupted, then paused dramatically. "Congratulations, Miss Darcy."
Georgiana gave a quiet squeal of delight as she looked smugly at her brother and Elizabeth, "Of course, I had not the same distraction others did." She had noticed their smiles and whispers, not to mention the covert touches as Darcy and Elizabeth worked side by side.
"I prefer my distractions over victory," Darcy conceded.
"Should I be concerned that twice today I have been referred to as a distraction?"
"Not at all, my dear, though you have always been excessively diverting, even those many years ago." Mr. Lee reassured her. "And if I may be so bold, you were distracted in equal measure, so all is as it should be. I declare the day a great success."
They all agreed, and Mr. Hurst finally came to retrieve his daughter to return her to Raber Hill. As he went out to the carriage, he left Elizabeth and Darcy alone in the foyer to say their goodbyes. Since there was a footman a bit too close for comfort, Darcy could only offer a swift kiss to Elizabeth's cheek, though he yearned for more.
When he pulled away Elizabeth saw a white smudge on his lips. "Oh, have I had flour on my face all this time and nobody told me?" She took her thumb and ran it lightly across his lips. He closed his eyes and sighed in response, his warm breath causing her to shiver. She brushed her finger over his lips again even though her first pass had removed the offending mark.
"I confess, I did not notice anything but, as noted before, I was quite distracted today. Your grandmother would surely have alerted you." He, in turn, ran the heel of his palm gently over her cheek. She leaned her face into his hand for a few brief seconds. He held up his hand to show only a very light dusting of flour. "I think I got it all but perhaps I should check the other cheek." As he reached for her again, the footman cleared his throat to remind them of his presence.
"Papa is waiting. I should go. But thank you. Today was so special. I will remember it always."
"It was my pleasure. I will remember this day as well and I will also remember that in the future we shall be able to repeat it whenever we desire. Good night, my Elizabeth."