Dear reader here you go for this week. Hope you enjoy until next week. Best regards Janie(mj)

Chapter 22: Meeting at Rosings

Elizabeth was glad she decided to come and visit with Charlotte. She was happy to see her friend again. Even though it had only been a month since Collins and Charlotte were married, she found that she missed their daily chats and time spent together. While it was true that Kent wasn't very far from Meryton, Elizabeth found herself so busy over the past few weeks that she hardly had time to stop and draw breath. It was always like that in the summer time. Her business always picked up with graduation portraits, engagements, and weddings. Now that she was here she could put her mind at ease and see that her friend was in fact very happy. Charlotte had her own home to take care of, her mother was no longer nagging her, and she didn't have to continue working at a job she hated. She could see her friend was very content.

Elizabeth looked around; it was such beautiful morning. She was glad that she had taken Georgiana's advice and come to Rosings this last week of June. The weather was perfect. Lady Catherine's estate was beautiful. Even Collin's own little garden that he tended was very pretty. The surrounding landscape was beautiful, with the property set back from the road some distance, and the thick forest offered privacy. It gave the illusion that you were out in the country even though you weren't. The area was so quiet and relaxing. Elizabeth could understand why Charlotte was happy to live here. She walked down the path back toward the house; she felt much better after getting some exercise. I nice quiet walk was exactly what she needed to unwind.

Elizabeth thought about her first meeting with Lady Catherine and how very accurate Georgiana's description of her aunt had been. Lady Catherine was a very opinionated person, and she made it very clear she expected those around her to take her advice regardless if it was asked for or not. After spending just a few hours with the woman, Elizabeth realized that comparing Mr. Darcy's behavior to his aunts wasn't fair. Mr. Darcy was opinionated but far less critical than his aunt was. During the time Elizabeth spent with Lady Catherine so far, she found her to be overly critical of everyone and everything they talked about. It was clear that nothing was good enough for her.

As Elizabeth walked further, her thoughts turned to Darcy. She wondered if he spent much time here at Rosings as a child. "Perhaps he did," she said to herself. "Maybe this is where he became so difficult to deal with. Seeing the example his aunt set for him must have had an influence," she sighed. Elizabeth shook her head and took in another long deep breath. "Remember Lizzy," she told herself. "You are not going to spend your time thinking about Mr. Darcy again."

She had no sooner reminded herself of her resolve not think about Darcy when she saw two men on horseback riding across the field towards her. She didn't recognize the first man, but the other she knew at once, it was Mr. Darcy. She rolled her eyes and tried to smile. She was determined not to be rude for Charlotte's sake. "Hello Mr. Darcy," she called out to him unable to hide her surprise at seeing him. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Miss Bennet, it's good to see you again," Darcy told her as he climbed down from his horse. As soon as he heard from his Aunt Catherine that Elizabeth Bennet was visiting her friend, he came directly out to see her. "This is my cousin, Richard," he said turning towards him. "Richard, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Bennet, although I feel like I already know you," he told her as he got down off his horse. "Georgiana has spoken of you often."

Elizabeth smiled, "I have heard a good deal about you too. Georgiana speaks very highly of you."

Richard left Darcy standing there with the horses as he took Elizabeth's hand in his and began walking toward the house with her. "Do you think the Collins will mind this early morning visit? I don't want to intrude on them."

"No, I don't think so. Charlotte is the only one home, Mr. Collins is working I believe," she told him. "Lady Catherine called him up to the house early this morning."

Richard laughed, "Yes, I think she was looking for someone to give her advice about a painting she has recently purchased." He looked back at Darcy who was still standing there with the horses looking rather annoyed, "Darcy tie the horses to the fence post and come in so we can chat for a bit." he told him as he followed Elizabeth into the house.

Darcy was frustrated, but he did as his cousin suggested, then made his way inside. Once in the house, he saw that Richard already had Elizabeth all to himself in the corner chatting away about the countryside and asking after her work. He greeted Charlotte and congratulated her on her recent marriage, then looked for an opening to speak with Elizabeth himself. Finally, after several minutes of watching Richard talk to her, his cousin turned toward him and said, "It's all settled."

"What's all settled?" he asked trying not to sound as annoyed as he was feeling. He had only overheard some of their conversation as he was trying to speak with Charlotte at the same time as he was listening to the two of them.

Richard stood up and walked over toward the window near the back of the house. "Elizabeth has agreed to do the new PR photos for us while you are here at Rosings," he told Darcy.

"What?" Darcy asked, taken completely by surprise.

Elizabeth laughed, "I told you, Richard, he would not be pleased with the idea."

Darcy Industries recently acquired a new manufacturing company in one of the smaller communities to the north and Richard was after him to do a photo shoot. Richard came up with the idea that it would be better for the company's transition if Darcy looked less formal and more approachable as the new boss. While he saw the merit in the idea, it had not occurred to him to hire Elizabeth to do the job. Darcy looked over at her; he didn't miss the fact that she was already calling his cousin by his first name and yet still refused to call him by his given name. "No, it's not that I disapprove of your work, quite the contrary," he said trying to make sure she didn't misunderstand him. "It's just that I didn't want to make you work while on your visit here with your friend," he told her. "I would hate to intrude on your free time."

Elizabeth smiled, "Oh don't worry about that. Charlotte knows me well enough to know I always have a camera with me," she teased her friend.

"It's true, Elizabeth does always have a camera very nearby. I believe we have all grown so accustomed to seeing it that we think it's a part of her now," Charlotte told him. "Besides I really don't mind. I would never want to deny her this chance at such a prestigious opportunity."

"If it really is not an imposition, then I would be very happy to have you do the photos," he said to her. "You did such an amazing job with Georgiana's portraits."

Elizabeth was surprised by how sincere he sounded. "Really, you actually liked them?" she asked. "I wasn't sure if you did, you never said anything about them."

Darcy smiled, "I did like them very much. I'm sorry, I haven't said so before now," he told her. "You did an excellent job."

Richard smiled and took that as his cue, "Charlotte my legs are a bit stiff from riding this morning would you show me around your garden so I can stretch them. I'm curious to see some of the improvements since I was last here," he told her. "My aunt said she has made several changes to the property."

Charlotte smiled. "Of course," she said as they two went out the back door. She felt bad for leaving Elizabeth on her own with Darcy but didn't want to be rude. "We won't be long."

Darcy waited a few moments then moved over closer to Elizabeth. He wasn't sure what had sparked the sudden interest by Richard in his aunt's changes to the property, but he wasn't complaining at the chance to spend some time alone with her. "When did you arrive at Rosings?" he asked her.

Elizabeth cleared her throat just a little, "I got here the day before yesterday. In the afternoon."

Darcy nodded and tried to think of what to say next. "I didn't get to ask, how is your family doing?"

"They are doing well," she told him. "It's been a busy summer so far for all of us."

"I imagine in your line of work summer is probably a very busy time of year," he commented.

Elizabeth smiled, "It can be," she said. "With weddings and engagements happening all the time. Every girl wants to be a June bride."

Darcy laughed, "Is that true, do most couples who come to you want to be married in June?"

Elizabeth smiled, "I do find that often to be the case. I guess there is just something about getting married at the beginning of summer that appeals to some."

Darcy found himself captivated by her smile, without really thinking he asked, "And you Elizabeth, would you prefer to be married in June?" he asked her.

She wasn't sure what to say. "I guess I haven't really ever thought about it."

Darcy laughed, "I just assumed most women thought about their wedding day. I thought that they planned them for years before they got married," he admitted.

She laughed and arched her brow, "So you have fallen into the trap of believing the stereotype thinking that all women dream of their wedding day? I suppose you believe that we all sit around planning each little detail and can think of nothing else," she teased him.

He smiled, "I guess I have," he told her. He loved the way she arched her brow when she teased him. He loved the way her eyes lit up and sparkled with laughter. As he looked into her eyes, he realized there was a great deal about her he loved. "Do you do very many weddings yourself?"

"Sometimes," she said. "Although, this summer I have not done as many as I normally would."

"Oh, why is that?" he asked her.

"I took another job with a magazine this summer instead," she told him, then explained further, "I'm doing a summer long piece, it consists of several layouts for them of older homes in the area. I'm going to be taking some photos of Rosings this week while I'm here."

Darcy remembered overhearing her conversation with Caroline when they stayed at Netherfield. "I know how you like getting early morning shots, if you don't mind I would be happy to meet with you in the morning and take you out to some of my favorite parts of the gardens," he offered. "It might help to have someone show you around. The gardens are rather large and can almost become a maze to get around."

Elizabeth was going to decline his invitation, but she couldn't come up with a reason for doing so. "Thank you, that would be great."

"What time would you like to meet with me?" he asked her.

"Oh, I don't know. I don't want to make you get up early on my account," Elizabeth said.

"I'm always up early," he assured her. "What if I meet with you near the main gates of Rosings at 7:30, would that be all right with you?"

She nodded her head and smiled, "That would be fine," she agreed then said without thinking, "I'm an early riser myself."

It was just at that moment that Richard and Charlotte came back inside. "Collins has done a lot to improve the landscaping around the cottage," he was saying.

"Thank you; I will tell him that you said so," Charlotte said.

Richard noticed that Darcy moved closer to Elizabeth and the two of them seemed to be getting along. He smiled, perhaps Georgiana was right after all. Looking at the way Darcy stared at Elizabeth it was obvious he was attracted to her. It was also obvious that his mood changed since hearing Elizabeth was here. Once their aunt mentioned her name, he couldn't wait to come and see her. It was clear that his cousin was very attracted to the lady before him.