Chapter 6

Finally, after several days trapped indoors, Elizabeth was able to go on her morning walk. She hoped that Mr Darcy would also venture out and wondered what he had been doing during this time.

The ground was still damp and muddy in places, and while normally, she would not care, she did make a little extra effort on this day to avoid puddles. She would likely arrive with her hems muddy, but she would do her best not to be completely filthy when she met with Mr Darcy again.

Then, she laughed at herself. "What difference can it make?" she said out loud and then was surprised when a voice answered.

"It depends on what it is," a low, resonant voice replied.

"Mr Darcy," she turned, startled. "I did not see you."

He grinned at her. "Might I persuade you to join me atop my horse? It would undoubtedly keep your skirts and boots from getting so filthy."

"Scandalous, sir," she quipped with a grin but raised her hands toward him as he approached.

He grinned back as he leaned down and helped her scramble up in front of him. She settled herself in front of him and wrapped her arm around his waist. "This is the most improper thing I have ever done," she confessed.

"Me as well," he replied huskily in her ear. "This was perhaps not my best idea, but it is too late to reconsider now."

She looked up at him in surprise. "I am not certain I take your meaning, sir, but think perhaps that is for the best. I am glad you came today; I worried you would not. I missed speaking to you and found I have much to say."

"I have missed talking with you, Miss Elizabeth. Netherfield felt like a gaol, and I must speak to you about some things that happened there. I will depart for London on the morrow; had I not wanted to speak with you, I would have already left," he told her.

"Are you well? Your family?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

"I am, but things happened at Netherfield that necessitate I depart sooner than planned. I am afraid things have happened that have led to Bingley and I parting ways," Darcy replied coolly.

"That sounds rather ominous," she replied. "But, my news was that I am also to depart for London. I wanted to see my Aunt Madeline…" She stopped speaking abruptly and put her hands to her mouth. "Oh," she cried and buried her face in his chest.

"What is it, dearest?" he asked, slowing the horse and wrapping her more firmly in his embrace.

"I did not mean to startle you," she replied. "It just occurred to me that my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner are not truly my aunt and uncle. Mr Gardiner is my mo … is Mrs Bennet's brother. I am not related to them at all. They are … were my favourite relatives."

"It must be difficult for you to know those you thought were family are no longer. Your parents are your aunt and uncle; your sisters are your cousins; your parents are gone; all of these are significant changes to what you once believed, and you have no one to speak about these things with. I do not understand why Mr and Mrs Bennet were not more open about the relationship from the beginning and why they claimed you as a daughter and not a niece. Mr Elliot wrote further of what he knows, and none of it makes sense," Darcy crooned as he held her.

For a few moments, she relaxed into him as she sobbed; she had never felt so cherished nor protected. However, after the tears abated, she felt suddenly bashful and a little foolish for giving in to her emotions.

"I am sorry," she said as she pulled away and used her handkerchief to dry her eyes. He offered her his own, and she dabbed at his waistcoat. "Have I ruined it?"

He looked down at the damp spot on his chest. "Not at all, and even if you had, I would not be upset at the opportunity to demonstrate my care for you. I do, you know, and I am pleased you could let down enough in my presence to express your emotions. You have had many changes suddenly come upon you, and I think you must wonder who, if anyone, in your life you can trust."

"I do. I cannot speak of this with Jane, as she would feel it necessary to discuss it with her parents. I am not ready to face the Bennets—they should have been honest from the beginning. They obviously knew I would have to learn it someday. Why could I have not always been a niece? What purpose was there in claiming me as a Bennet? I have so many questions, but I am concerned about how they might react if I were to ask them. Mrs Bennet has become much more hateful of late—I think she despises me and only tolerates my being in their family."

"Do you fear for your safety there, Elizabeth?" he asked worriedly.

"I do not think so," she replied. "Besides, Mr Bennet permitted me to visit London, and I can stay there for some time. Is Mr Elliot in London? Can we speak with him? I would like to visit Briarwood and begin to learn more about it."

"Some of the estate's books are actually at my townhouse," Darcy responded. "I make a point to visit a few times each year, and a competent steward is in charge. The house itself is in excellent condition, though it's currently rented out. An Admiral of the White leased it for the summer and decided to extend their stay into the autumn. Luckily, they have no children, which I found to be an ideal situation when my solicitor presented the offer. The estate generates an annual income of approximately six thousand pounds and operates on a four-crop rotation system. I have noticed that the stewards of Longbourn and Netherfield appear to follow a similar approach."

"Yes," Elizabeth confirmed. "I managed to persuade Mr Bennet to adopt this system several years ago, and those at Netherfield followed suit once they saw the success at Longbourn. Convincing the tenants was quite an effort initially, but after a few of them agreed to give it a chance, it became easier to sway the others."

"I am not surprised to learn you led that charge," he teased. "What else have you done to improve Longbourn?"

As they made their way to Oakham Mount, they continued to speak of the estates. She was a fast learner and asked good questions, which impressed Darcy as he was unfamiliar with women taking such an avid interest in such typically male pursuits. He said as much to Elizabeth, accidentally offending her.

"I meant it as a compliment, Elizabeth," he quickly replied. "I am impressed with the breadth of your understanding in these matters. Many of the women of the ton would never dream of speaking or thinking of such matters, and I am pleased that you are unlike them. I always hoped for a wife who would be concerned about more than fashion and the weather."

"Oh," she replied, realising she had misunderstood him. They had reached the base of the mount, and he helped her dismount. After offering her his arm, they approached the top to watch the sunrise. "Forgive me for assuming you meant it differently," she said after several moments. "I supposed I am not used to compliments. Mrs Bennet was more likely to scold me for my interest in such things even though I have increased the estate's income. Of course, she does not realise that."

She paused for a minute. "I have been helping Mr Bennet with the books for years and have noted the three hundred pound payment each quarter and have wondered about it. I know what it goes for—books for Mr Bennet and dresses and such for Mrs Bennet and the girls. My allowance is the same as my sis … cousins', not that I resent them for that. I have wondered, though, are there stipulations about how that money should be spent? If Pa … If Mr Bennet will not agree to our courtship, can you threaten him with anything since he has not been doing as he should?"

"I have wondered the same. It is obvious that the money has not been spent on you as it should—have you had masters for music and languages as he told Mr Elliot?" Darcy asked.

"When I would visit London, my uncle, well, Mr Gardiner, would hire a master for the duration of my visit, usually a month or so at a time. This probably occurred from the time. I was twelve until I was fifteen or so, because then, after that, I was 'out' and no longer needed masters in any of those things, according to Mrs Bennet," Elizabeth replied, a little bitterly, Darcy thought.

She continued after a moment. "I had a piano master who would come once or twice a week and a language tutor who came once a week. My sisters were offered the same opportunity, but I was the only one who ever accepted them. Jane would come to London with me but never wanted to participate. I am certain the only times I ever received new dresses during the last several years were when I visited the Gardiners, and I am almost certain the Gardiners paid for them. At Longbourn, I most often received remade dresses, usually ones Jane could no longer wear or that were out of fashion. On rare occasions, Mrs Bennet would take me to the dressmaker and purchase me a gown, but it was with a fair amount of complaints and insults for requiring one."

"I will have to speak with Elliot to see if there were any specific requirements regarding the funds for your upkeep. Surely, at least a portion of them should have been spent on you, but it seems that was not the case. Longbourn will suffer significantly when you gain your majority and come into your inheritance. Surely, Mr and Mrs Bennet cannot expect you to choose to remain with them," Darcy replied.

"I think they hoped to keep me ignorant of the fact and that my trustees would prove uninvolved. They will be unhappy when they discover I now know all this. I would like to go to London before they find out—does Mr Bennet have a right to force me to return to Longbourn until I reach my majority?" Elizabeth asked, suddenly worried about the next year.

"It is another question we will need to ask Mr Elliot. I confess I have done what I was tasked with because it was one of the responsibilities passed down by my father, but I have not paid careful attention to the particulars that did not seem to concern me," Darcy said. "I have a vested interest in learning all I can now. I will also have to speak to Mr Elliot about us."

They both stood there for several minutes as they considered all that had been discussed. Suddenly, Darcy turned to Elizabeth with a question. "How will you get to London, dearest?" he asked.

She blushed at the endearment. He had used it several times that morning, and she enjoyed hearing it from his lips. "Normally, Mr Bennet sends me in his coach halfway, and Mr Gardiner sends his to meet Mr Bennet's to convey me the rest of the way. I was going to ask if you had an alternative plan and vaguely wondered if I could somehow travel with you, that is, if you would not mind taking me."

He grinned broadly. "I would enjoy travelling with you. If we can find a companion for you, someone who can be trusted, we can continue to speak of these things as we go."

"I had the same thought. I wondered if Mrs Hill, the housekeeper at Longbourn, could be spared, but I am uncertain Mrs Bennet would allow her to go," Elizabeth offered.

"What about Mrs Nicholls?" Darcy suggested. "She likes you apparently and seems trustworthy."

Elizabeth laughed. "She and Mrs Hill are sisters and are both wonderful women," she told him. "Do you think the Bingleys could spare them?"

"I need to tell you about Bingley," he said, telling her what had happened at Netherfield during the rain. "Mrs Hurst would agree to anything I suggested at this moment as she does not want to risk my displeasure. I do like the Hursts, and I appreciate how they acted in my interest during my brief stay. I will ask Mrs Hurst and Mrs Nicholls what can be arranged. Can you be ready to leave this afternoon?"

"I can, but how can we explain how things were arranged for you to convey me to London?" she asked, then looked at him again. "Mrs Hill," she answered her own question.

"Mrs Hill?" he asked, confused.

"Mrs Hill wrote to her sister about my trip, who has some errand to complete in London. You had offered to convey Mrs Nicholls to town, and Mrs Nicholls offered to accompany me to save both my … Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner the expense of using their own carriages. You can come to Longbourn later this morning with the offer, and Mr Bennet will surely not turn it down."

"That is an excellent idea, dearest, and I will see what I can arrange as soon as I return to Netherfield. You are brilliant," he replied, kissing her forehead, causing them both to blush with his impromptu gesture. After a moment, he regained his composure and offered to escort her back to Longbourn atop his horse. She agreed and once again rode in front of him with her arms wrapped tightly about his waist.

He dismounted and let her down just before they reached Longbourn. He helped her down, and this time, he held her slightly longer than he had earlier. Slowly and deliberately, he bent toward her, pressing a light kiss to her lips, retreating almost before Elizabeth realised what he had done. "I will see you soon, sweetheart," he whispered before he mounted the horse again and took off.

Elizabeth was a little dazed as she walked the rest of the way to Longbourn's garden. She spoke briefly to Mrs Hill about her plans before retreating to her room to pack for her stay in London.