"Why did you drag me out into this damn near dark, Bingley?" Mr. Hurst asked irritably as they crested another bird-free hill. "You know it's no good for shooting this late in the day."
Bingley made a show of looking for game.
"I could have sworn I saw a fine flock of pheasants just over there," he said. "Come man, you're as fond of shooting as anyone. Let's find them."
Hurst hrmphed and hoisted his gun. "One more hill, Bingley, and if we don't find anything, I'm like as not to shoot you."
Bingley nearly invited him to do so, but again swore that there must be fine quail or pheasants or anything he liked just over the next rise. Luckily, the dogs did flush a few quail hastening for cover under a bush, and a few shots brought them a bag full of the small birds.
"You see," Bingley said as the servants hastened forward to secure their prey. "Dusk is a fine time for sport."
"It wasn't worth getting our boots on for, Bingley," he said.
"Well, then, let's look for some rabbit. If we bag two we could have lapin au vin for dinner tomorrow."
"That would go well," Hurst admitted, and the rabbiting dogs were brought forward and the men headed into the trees.
Elizabeth and Darcy had wandered far in their perambulations, speaking of nothing of importance, until they had perceived that they were near Netherfield's gates and night was falling. She worried aloud that her family might be concerned for her. Darcy, who was intoxicated with her ease in his presence and the magical aspect of their afternoon together, responded lightly.
"What, you did not wear them out with worrying about your every escapade, walking over the countryside alone, before you were 11 years old," teased Darcy.
"My father has enough confidence in my sense not to worry, but Mama —" At this, unwilling to criticize her mother, Elizabeth fell silent. Darcy took her arm.
"Never fear, we can be back to the house and then have you safe at Longbourn within a half-hour."
She smiled engagingly at him and they turned toward the house. A moment later, they heard gun-shots quite close by, and Elizabeth started in fear.
"What the devil?" Darcy swore, clutching Elizabeth to him.
At that moment, a carriage clattered into view behind them, just as Bingley and Hurst came through the trees, Hurst grasping a dying rabbit by its hind legs.
"Good sport, Bingley," Mr. Hurst cried, but fell silent as his eyes fell upon the shocked pair.
"Brother?" Darcy and Elizabeth turned to see the Colonel and his ward descending from the carriage.
"Georgiana," Darcy cried upon seeing his sister. She started forward to greet her brother. Bingley and Hurst had drawn near to greet the visitors, but just then the rabbit gave one last, great kick, spattering blood down Hurst.
"Wretched thing," he cried, holding it away from him. Georgiana, upon observing this, dissolved into loud cries, hiding her face in her gloved hands.
A servant hastened forward to take the rabbit from Hurst, and he started back with him, unsure, but thinking something he had done had upset the young lady.
Darcy reached his sister and began to comfort her.
"It was only a hare, dear Georgie, why should you be upset? Here now, it's nothing to cry about." Georgiana sputtered through her tears. "It — oh, I am so silly," she said, weeping freely.
Elizabeth, who had been just behind Darcy, moved forward to help. The colonel drew near her and whispered of what they had seen of Wickham, for he correctly assumed that this was the real cause of his cousin's distress. Concealing her own shock at this report of Wickham's unhappy circumstances, Elizabeth judged a distraction the thing.
"Miss Darcy," she said, moving to greet her sister-in-law. Georgiana caught sight of her and a quick glance up to her brother confirmed that this was the object of his affections.
"Miss Bennet — I mean, Mrs. Darcy, how do you do?" She eagerly reached for Elizabeth's hand. The owner of that hand greeted her warmly.
"I hardly know which to call myself, so it is no wonder when others have trouble. I expect it will be some years before Mr. Darcy's friends think of Mrs. Darcy as anyone but your dear mother."
Georgiana smiled, liking her instantly. The colonel, who had been quietly conferring with Bingley, invited the pair to join them for the short ride up the house. They accepted with thanks, and Bingley said he and Mr. Hurst would join them once they were once again presentable. The colonel greeted Darcy enthusiastically, and his cousin returned the attentions with equal fervor.
Ensconced in the carriage, Elizabeth brought all her powers to bear to entertain Miss Darcy, which did not prove difficult.
"Netherfield has a very fine pianoforte," Elizabeth said, smiling warmly at her sister-in-law. "I shall be very glad to hear you play it, for I have heard your musical talents praised most highly."
Georgiana demurred, but Elizabeth persisted. The colonel could do nothing to help his cousin.
"She will not be a harsh critic, for she spoke very slightingly of her own talent at Rosings," he said, casting a sly eye at Darcy. Georgiana, who caught this while trying to evade Elizabeth's praise, looked wonderingly from one man to the other. Fitzwilliam smiled and described the incident: Elizabeth's revelation about Darcy's shocking behavior at the assembly room and the resulting speech regarding practice.
"Brother, you have trouble speaking to strangers, too?" Georgiana asked, incredulous.
This brought them to the house, and there they found Bingley's sisters waiting for them.