Chapter Nineteen

Two days later Elizabeth was glad to have a little time to herself. Georgiana was accompanying Lady Catherine to visit an old friend and Elizabeth had been told that her presence was not required.

"You would do well to spend some time in improving your mind, Miss Bennet," Lady Catherine had said as they left.

It was advice Elizabeth was not about to follow. It was a beautiful day and she wanted to take the opportunity to get out of the gloomy house. She sincerely hoped that Pemberley was not as dark or gloomy or she would have to resign her post and return to her mother and sisters at Longbourn. Being at Rosings was making her feel quite miserable and although normally she tried to see the best in every situation she was finding it almost impossible to do so. Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam were arriving later that day and she hoped their presence would make the household seem a little more cheerful.

Elizabeth had reminded Georgiana that her brother would be arriving, but she had shown little interest. In truth, she had shown little interest in anything and several times had disappeared without telling Elizabeth where she was going, leaving Elizabeth wondering if she really was suitable to be a companion. Georgiana was polite but she had shown no willingness to confide in her again and Elizabeth was worried that she was hiding something.

Elizabeth fetched her bonnet and once out of the house headed through the formal gardens into large walled garden into a large field which she had been told was all part of Lady Catherine's land. Her mood soon lifted when she was away from the house. Apart from the birds and wild creatures scurrying around in the undergrowth she was completely alone. Wild flowers and grasses swayed in the gentle wind and the sun was catching odd sheaths of corn. Picking up her skirts Elizabeth started to walk a little faster and then she even tried running, feeling the slight breeze on her face. Lady Catherine would have been appalled at her unladylike behaviour, but she didn't care. She even started to sing as she ran.

Tis the last rose of summer…

It was some time since she had sung and her voice was a little shaky, but very soon the words and tune came back to her and standing in the field her voice soared. She was singing when something caught her eye and she abruptly stopped and peered more closely. It was nothing, just a couple of birds fighting over some worms. Once they had got their prey they took off and Elizabeth was relieved there had been no one to witness her singing. She decided before she returned to the house she needed a little rest.

Elizabeth looked around, there was no seat and no grass to sit on, but there were several oak trees. She noticed one seemed to have been damaged and was growing bent to one side and there was a thick branch low enough for her to pull herself up onto it. There was no one around and it would be nice to cool off under the leaves.

Elizabeth got up on the branch quite easily. It was nice to be away from the direct sunlight but enjoy the fresh air.

She opened her mouth and continued with her unfinished song.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one!

To pine on the stem;

Since the lovely are sleeping,

Go, sleep thou with them.

The song was one of her favourites with words from Thomas More, an Irish poet. As unsentimental as she was, she found the words rather moving.

So engrossed was she that Elizabeth almost missed two men who were approaching. She was just hitting a high note when she saw them and looked in horror. It was Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. They were coming towards her. A feeling of panic ran through her. Where could she go? She could hardly run away even in the opposite direction. They would be sure to see her. Perhaps if she stood up and moved carefully along the branch she would be hidden by the leaves and they would pass without noticing.

As so often before, Elizabeth acted immediately, but she was not as careful as she might have been and the next moment, she slipped and she screamed as she fell to the ground with a thump, completely winding herself.

"Are you alright?"

Elizabeth gingerly turned her head and looked up into the face of Colonel Fitzwilliam who was anxiously kneeling over her.

"Are you alright, Miss Bennet?"

"Yes… I…" Elizabeth tried to move, but her foot was caught up on a small branch. She tried to tug it, but somehow she was stuck. She must look ridiculous.

"Lay still," said the colonel and getting up, untangled her foot and the hem of her dress which was also caught.

Elizabeth was mortified. The colonel gently laid down her leg and Elizabeth sat up.

"Miss Bennet, are you hurt?" he asked.

"No sir… I don't think so." Elizabeth blinked hard several times. No, she wasn't hurt. Perhaps she would have a bruise. She felt foolish.

"What were you doing?" asked Mr. Darcy curiously.

Elizabeth looked to her left. It was difficult to see him properly. All she was aware of was his well-shod boots and very long legs.

Before Colonel Fitzwilliam could offer her an arm, she scrambled to her feet, adjusting her bonnet which was a little squashed, and flicking some dirt off her dress.

"We heard you singing," said Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Elizabeth's cheeks grew red. "You were not meant to hear. I thought I was alone," she said quickly, wishing they hadn't.

"We did not wish to disturb you," said the colonel hastily.

"Do you always climb trees when you wish to sing?" asked Mr. Darcy.

Elizabeth glared at the speaker. There was no doubting the disapproving tone to his voice.

"I was not climbing, I was simply shading myself from the sun and resting on the branch."

"And yet somehow you managed to fall on the ground with your legs in the air and your dress caught?"

Elizabeth could not answer him. She suspected he was deliberately trying to make her feel awkward.

Colonel Fitzwilliam was much kinder. "Darcy, you should not tease Miss Bennet. I am sure we should accompany her back to the house. Someone should look at her in case she is hurt."

"I am not hurt, sir, but thank you," said Elizabeth, who didn't want to spend any more time in the company of the unsmiling Mr. Darcy, "and I can find my own way back to the house."

"Miss Bennet, I insist." Colonel Fitzwilliam held out his arm and she reluctantly took it. She was embarrassed, but it would be churlish to refuse his assistance.

"We have just arrived from London," said the colonel as they set off, "and when we learned that Lady Catherine was not at home we decided to take a walk."

"Lady Catherine has taken Miss de Bourgh and Georgiana out on a visit. Mrs. Jenkinson has gone with them and her ladyship said my presence was not required." Elizabeth did not want them to think she was not fulfilling her duties.

"I am pleased to hear that my aunt has not been working you too hard," said the colonel. "She can be a little intense, can't she, Darcy?"

"Lady Catherine expects certain standards to be met. That is not something which she should be criticised for."

Colonel Fitzwilliam looked confused at the censure in his cousin's voice. "You are right, of course… but…" He did not complete the sentence and they continued to walk towards the house in an awkward silence.

Elizabeth made a vow to herself never to go near another tree or sing while Mr. Darcy was in the vicinity. He could not have made it clearer his disapproval of her.

"I shall ask my aunt to call her physician," said the colonel. "We must check that you are unharmed."

"Please don't," pleaded Elizabeth. She did not want to cause any fuss and she knew Lady Catherine would not approve. "I assure you I am perfectly well. I thank you for your concern, but I do not want anyone to be put to trouble."

Colonel Fitzwilliam looked uncertain, but he was fortunately distracted by the arrival of Lady Catherine herself, with Miss de Bourgh, Georgiana and Mrs. Jenkinson.

"Fitzwilliam, my dear boy."

"Hello, Aunt," said Mr. Darcy, dutifully bowing and kissing Lady Catherine's hand.

Lady Catherine suddenly turned her eyes to Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth.

"What is going on here?" she demanded.

"Miss Bennet fell. I was just saying that I thought a physician should be called."

"And what exactly has Miss Bennet done to fall?" asked Lady Catherine.

"Tree climbing," said Mr. Darcy.

Elizabeth's heart sank as Lady Catherine looked enraged. "Tree climbing… I cannot believe this. How could she do anything so unladylike? I told you, Richard, that she was not a suitable companion."

The colonel as ever was the peacemaker. "My dear aunt, she was not climbing, she fell over a stump, that is all. It could have happened to anyone who was walking in the woods."

"Well, how very careless. She should not have been walking. Miss Bennet, this is what happens when you are idle."

Elizabeth's head was beginning to ache from the fall she had had. It was not pleasant standing in the hallway being berated by her ladyship.

"My dear aunt, we have only just arrived from London. I am certain you are eager to spend some time with Fitzwilliam."

"Yes, you are right, dear boy. Come Richard, Fitzwilliam, I would talk to you. Anne, it is time for your rest. Georgiana, it is time you practised your pianoforte."

Georgiana looked as if she would like to rebel, but she muttered, "Yes, Aunt."

However, Mr. Darcy was not so easily organised as the rest of the party. He smiled at his sister. "I would rest before I talk and then I want to spend some time with Georgiana. Aunt, I will see you at dinner." And before anyone could say anything Mr. Darcy turned, and taking the stairs two at a time, quickly disappeared.

Elizabeth hid a smile at Lady Catherine's shocked expression. There was one person at least who was not afraid of her nor prepared to indulge Lady Catherine's outrageous demands. It seemed the arrival of the two men would liven up their hitherto miserable party.