Chapter 5
Tying the bonnet strings under her chin, Elizabeth moved away from the little mirror, and walked to stand by the window. Looking out she saw the clear blue sky, with one big white puffy cloud. The sun's rays were streaming in to the little room and there was a faint breeze steering the trees.
After a few minutes she moved away from the window and towards the door. Opening it she stepped out in to the kitchen and found Anna playing on the floor with her doll. She picked up the little girl and held her close. It had taken her almost an hour to get the squirmy girl in to her church dress and making sure she stayed clean.
Walking over to the kitchen table, Elizabeth opened the picnic basket, and checked to make sure everything was there. Anna reached a hand towards it and she quickly grabbed it, putting a small kiss to her little hand. "You cannot reach your hand in there Anna. This is our lunch for when church is over."
She tilted her head, hoping to hear Will's footsteps, but heard nothing. I wonder where he could be. We have to leave in five minutes.
Elizabeth set Anna on the table and tied her bonnet under her chin. She tweaked her nose and smiled. "Do you know where your Uncle is Anna? We are going to be late for church if he doesn't come in soon."
"I am right here, Beth." A voice said from behind.
She picked up Anna, turned around, and frowned. "How long have you been there?"
Will gave her a slight smile before answering, "Long enough." He walked closer and reached to grab the picnic basket. She took a small step backward when she realized how close he was and her back hit the table.
He straightened his posture and held the basket by his side. Seeing her wide eyes, he asked, "Are you alright, Beth?"
"I'm fine." She squeaked and cleared her throat. Holding Anna closer she asked, "Are you ready to go? We don't want to be late."
He gestured for her to go ahead of him and watched as she walked out the front door. Hefting the basket to his other hand, he followed her out of the house and to the waiting wagon. He set the basket in the back and walked over to lift Elizabeth in to the wagon.
She had already put Anna on the wagon seat and turned to him when he approached. "Do you think Doctor Bingley would like to join us for lunch?"
Will put his hands on her waist and lifted her in to the wagon. Once she was seated and had Anna on her lap, he strolled around to the other side and climbed in. Grabbing the reins, he clucked to the horses, and started them down the path.
"I am sure he would be happy to join us. The Reynolds usually has a picnic at the pond on most Sundays. I can see if they want to join us too. If that is alright with you?" he asked and glanced at her.
Elizabeth smiled. "I would like that." She said and looked ahead. Yesterday she had seen a side of him that was different from his usually quiet self. Wrapping her arms around Anna more securely, she let her thoughts stray.
I wonder if I will get a chance to meet some of the young ladies that are around my age. She glanced at her husband's face and gave him a shy smile when he caught her looking at him. Elizabeth turned away and looked ahead. I wish Jane could be here.
The rest of the ride to town was quiet. She glanced at him every once in a while, but wasn't sure how to get him to open up more. Elizabeth sat up a little straighter when they rode in to Pemberly and she looked around her.
There were people walking along the boardwalk towards the church. She noticed that Pemberly was a smaller town than Meeker, but it still had a lot of people walking about. The doctor's office and the post office were on the left of the street, while the mercantile, café, and boarding house were on the right.
Looking ahead she saw the church where her and Will had married a few days ago. That day had gone by in a blur and it didn't sink in that she was married until the ride back to the farm. She felt the wagon slow and waited for Will to set the brake, and walk around to her side.
Will climbed down from the wagon and tied the reins to the hitching rail. Making sure they were secure, he strolled around to the other side, and lifted Anna down. Setting her on the ground, she clung to his leg. He reached up and lifted Elizabeth down.
She had set her hands on his shoulders to steady her and felt the muscles through his shirt. Lifting her eyes to meet his, she saw an unknown emotion swimming through them; her heart starting beating faster when he lowered his head.
Elizabeth thought he was going to kiss her, but he stepped back abruptly, and lowered his hands to his sides. She saw him rake his hand through his hair and bend to pick Anna up. What just happened? Does he not want to kiss me? She had remembered his quick kiss when they married and she wanted to feel his lips on hers again.
Will held out his arm for her and sighed with relief when she took it. He lifted Anna closer as they made their way in to church. Once they found a pew, he sat down, and stared ahead. Services wouldn't start for a few more minutes and he could feel eyes on him and Elizabeth. They are all probably wondering where she came from and why she married me.
His thoughts drifted from the people sitting around him to when he had lifted her down from the wagon. Why did I almost kiss her? Her lips had looked so warm and inviting, her was sure he wouldn't have been able to stop from kissing her until he realized where they were.
He shook his head slightly to rid of the thoughts and tried to turn his attention to the preacher. Usually he was able to pay attention, but today all he could hear was the preacher's monotone voice. Will get your thoughts together and stop thinking about the beautiful young lady sitting beside you. Think about the man you need to find.
That thought only led to his blood going cold and his lips setting in to a firm line. He was sure he knew who killed his brother in law, but wouldn't have any proof until he found the man. I need to find him.
A hand on his arm, pulled him back to earth, and he looked down to see Elizabeth looking up at him. "Are you alright? The service is over and everyone is exiting the church."
Will looked up and saw that everyone was leaving the church. He had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts and troubles; he hadn't paid any attention to the sermon. "I am fine. Shall we go and find Bingley and the Reynolds?"
He picked up Anna and held out his hand for his wife. Will gave her a slight smile and led her out of the church. Once they were outside, he led her over to the preacher and his wife. "Mr. Collins that was a very nice sermon," he said and turned to Elizabeth. "You remember my wife."
"How are you, Mrs. Darcy?" Mr. Collins asked.
Elizabeth didn't really get a good look at the preacher when she married, but now she did. He was a short man, with a portly belly, and thinning hair. She gave him a small smile, "I am fine, Mr. Collins."
"May I introduce my wife Charlotte? Charlotte this is Mrs. Darcy."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Darcy. I hope you are coming to like our little town." Mrs. Collins said.
"I am. Thank you." She saw Mrs. Reynolds out of the corner of her eye. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Collins, but we must go. Have a nice day."
Grabbing Will's hand, she pulled him over to where Mrs. Reynolds was standing. "Mrs. Reynolds how is you?"
"I am doing well. How are you enjoying our little town? Have you gotten the chance to meet the other young ladies?"
She shook her head slightly, "I am enjoying Pemberly and no I haven't gotten the chance to meet any other young ladies yet."
"I will take you around right now and introduce you. Will can go and find my husband and son. Right, Will?" Mrs. Reynolds asked and gave the younger man a questioning glance.
"I will go and find you husband for you, but first I have something to ask you. We are going on a picnic after we stop at the mercantile and would like for you to join us."
"That sounds lovely. I can get to know your wife better." She linked arms with the young woman and led her to a small group of women.
Will watched them walk away and glanced at Anna. "It seems Beth has found a new friend already Anna. Shall we go and find Mr. Reynolds? We have to also find Bingley." He walked to where he had last spotted Bingley talking to Mr. Reynolds and his son.
"Darcy I see you were able to tear yourself away from your wife to come and talk to us." Bingley said and slapped his friend on the back.
"I came to ask you something. Would you like to join us for lunch? We are having a picnic once Mrs. Reynolds returns my wife."
"Yes I will join you for lunch. My horse is over at the livery, but it won't take me long to grab him."
"That is fine. We need to stop at the mercantile first, so you have plenty of time. We will be having a picnic by the pond. Mr. Reynolds your wife already agreed to join us too."
"George is going to spend the afternoon with his friends, so I will need someone to talk to and fish with." Mr. Reynolds said as he glanced at his son. George was sixteen and reached up to Will's shoulder in height.
George said a quick goodbye to his father before walking over to join his friends. Bingley turned to Will when George had left. "I could see most of the town folks staring at you and Elizabeth. There has been a lot of talk around about who she is and where she came from."
"I noticed that too when we walked in to church. I am not surprised that people are talking. There haven't been a lot of newcomers to Pemberly in a while. I would prefer if no one knew where she came from. I don't like to be the center of attention."
Mr. Reynolds and Bingley both saw how he was closing himself up. Glancing at each other, they turned back to their friend. "Don't worry. There will soon be another item to get them talking and they will forget all about you."
Will only nodded hoping his friends were right. He saw Elizabeth and Mrs. Reynolds walking back towards them. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes I am. We will see you out at the pond, Mrs. Reynolds." Elizabeth said and took Anna from her husband.
Bingley and Mr. Reynolds tipped their hats and said they would see them soon. Will led his wife back to their wagon and lifted Anna in before helping Elizabeth in to the wagon. He walked around the horses, untied the reins, and climbed in to the wagon.
Turning the horses on to the road through town, he drove to the mercantile. Pulling them up to the store front, he set the brake, and turned to Elizabeth. "Would you like to go in by yourself or do you want me to come in with you?"
"I can go by myself and I will only be gone a few minutes." She grabbed her reticule and climbed down from the wagon.
Walking in to the mercantile, she was greeted by Mr. Hobs. "How are you today miss? Can I help you with anything?"
"I am looking for some flower seeds and seeds for a vegetable garden."
"You will find what you are looking for right over there. If there is anything else you need just ask." He said and gestured to a small rack by the door.
Elizabeth walked over and selected the seeds she wanted to plant in the vegetable garden. Looking the seeds for different kinds of flowers, she selected some that would look nice by the porch and give it color. Walking over to the counter, she set the packets on down. Looking at the jars filled with assortments of candy, Elizabeth decided to buy some taffy.
When Mr. Hobs said the total, she grabbed the few coins she needed and handed them to her. He handed her the purchases, "Have a nice day."
She held the bag tight in her hand. "I hope you have a nice day too."
Walking back out in to the sunshine, she climbed back in to the wagon, and put the bag under the seat. "Did you find everything you were looking for, Beth?" her husband asked as the wagon started down the street towards the road that would lead them to the pond.
Elizabeth glanced at him and gave him a smile. "Yes I did. Now let's hurry and get to the pond. I want to spend as much of today with you and Anna."
Will chuckled at her remark, "You have spent the last few days with us. Don't you want to talk to Mrs. Reynolds?"
"I do want to talk to Mrs. Reynolds, but I also want to spend time with you. You are always outside during the day and I feel like I don't know anything about you."
He glanced at her, but said nothing. I hope I can tell you about myself and hopefully learn something about you too.