Elizabeth entered the stables feeling a little off kilter. She was not afraid of horses, but she preferred having the ground beneath her feet. Miss Bingley would be maneuvered more easily if Elizabeth had all her wits, and the horse would engage more than a little of her concentration. She was already wearing a borrowed habit from Miss Bingley, who was taller and less curvy. The stable master greeted her, and after she had given him short explanation of her abilities, he left to find and prepare a suitable horse.
Elizabeth smoothed nonexistent wrinkles on her dress while she looked out at the trees and rolling hills in the distance to calm her nerves. She would never admit to nervousness, especially around Caroline. She was distracted when the stable master brought out a beautiful gray mare. Elizabeth smiled as she appreciated the animal's beauty. With determination, she walked up and stroked her face and cheeks before offering the horse an apple pilfered from the kitchen. She was still petting and getting to know the horse when Caroline entered.
The stable master sprang to attention and sent a stable boy off to fetch Caroline's horse immediately. Caroline huffed in annoyance that she would have to wait. She turned to find Elizabeth petting her own horse. "You would be a friend to a horse. They are bred to serve us. The distinctions must be preserved. You would befriend the tenants if it suited you."
"Of course, I would. The children of my tenants are some of the happiest people I have ever met, without artifice or guile. We played together many times as children, and I am happy to see their families when I get the chance. I am certain Mr. Darcy could say the same. He was not always the forbidding master he is now."
Without waiting for Caroline's reply, Elizabeth motioned for the groom to move her horse to a position by the mounting block. She took her seat and claimed the reins so that she could pace a little to get used to the horse, and for it to get accustomed to her commands. When Caroline was ready, they left the stable. They were not half a mile away when Mr. Darcy caught up to them. Caroline immediately slowed her horse so that they could talk before he went off again. She also made sure to aim the horse so he could see her perfect profile.
"Good morning, ladies. I see you are on your way." He paused to look at Elizabeth, in her too-tight riding habit looking entirely too fetching on a beautiful horse. Returning his focus to her face, he said, "You are not used to riding often. Your hands are too tight, and the reins should come in above your smallest finger." He sidled up to her and adjusted her reins, despite her ferocious stare.
"This would not be the preferred method of the Doma Vaquera. Could you imagine holding a long pole and herding cattle with only one hand on the reins?" To demonstrate, she shifted the reins into one hand and mimicked holding a pole in the other. "It would be terrifying."
"And rather deadly, if one is not proficient. My understanding is that it requires complete harmony between the horse and rider. Thankfully, we are neither Spanish nor cattle herders." He made the mistake of looking directly at her and noticed the fire in her eyes. Too tempting. He unconsciously licked his lips before turning away.
Elizabeth was not finished with her knowledge of distant horse riders. "With even more harmony, the Natives in America ride without saddle or reins. They use their feet and calls to direct their horse. That would be an impressive sight." Elizabeth smiled as Mr. Darcy huffed in annoyance. He looked down at her hands again, which were gracefully handling the reins the way he had shown her. He smiled that her words spoke of resistance, but her true opinion was in line with his.
"I shall keep to the traditional British style of riding, as should anyone of any sense. You are dawdling, and your horse grows restless." He sounded perturbed, but Elizabeth thought she detected a small quirk to his lips that might be an indication of pleasure.
As if on cue, her horse snorted and shifted her feet. Elizabeth feigned displeasure. "You are supposed to be on my side. Do not forget who gave you an apple."
"A distinguished rider, Miss Eliza, would not need to bribe her horse." Miss Bingley huffed indignantly. Her horse snorted as well but kept still. Elizabeth had to bite her lips to keep from laughing.
Mr. Darcy's faint quirk of the lips shifted into a broad smile. "I shall be off ladies. Enjoy the remainder of your day." He turned quickly, taking another path and shifting into a canter as soon as he passed the first trees. Within seconds, he was galloping through a field and out of sight.
"Shall we continue?" Elizabeth prompted Caroline. The sooner this was over, the sooner she could get off the horse. Without waiting for a response, she lightly kicked her horse. Caroline followed behind her, but whenever she thought Mr. Darcy might see, she would hurry her horse into the lead and sit taller than was her usual wont, only to drop back again when she found he was not there. It kept Elizabeth well diverted and distracted from her uncomfortable position on the horse.
Their first stop was not too far away. The footmen held the horses' reins as Elizabeth and Caroline dismounted next to a fallen log that had been shaped into a bench. Elizabeth thanked a footman for caring for the horses while Caroline scoffed at the idea of thanking a person for doing what he or she was paid to do. Elizabeth took their basket and refrained from rolling her eyes.
"Remember, the goal is not to prove yourself above the tenants. They know that. The goal is to show your care for them. Happy tenants work harder and earn more. They are less likely to drink and be violent with those in their care. Many will also accept paid work on the home farm, earning better profits on the estate. While we are not the true owners of Netherfield, we can bring our concerns to the steward, who I know is a reasonable fellow when approached the right way."
"What is the right way to approach a steward?" Caroline sniffed at the indignity of having to speak to someone of such a lowly position.
"Easy. Simply find someone in trousers over the age of twenty to give the message for you." Elizabeth laughed at her own joke, knowing Caroline was too dignified to laugh. At Caroline's small smile, Elizabeth decided her quip had been successful. "If we must be in each other's company, we might at least have some fun. "He and many others are of the opinion that women have no ideas worth listening to, so he is polite but impassive. My father has always been willing to approach him so that concerns reach a willing ear."
"Why would your father care about the Netherfield tenants?"
"He cares because I care, as do my sisters, and it is the right thing to do. My father cares little for anything outside his library and his tenants. He enjoys being idle, but he cannot abide suffering if he can do something about it, whether they are his tenants or not.
"You must learn what is expected of the mistress of an estate. Every tenant of Longbourn is respected and cared for. My mother visits each tenant at least once a month, and my sisters take turns so that each tenant is visited at least once per week. My father does not visit the tenants regularly, but he listens to our reports of our visits and ensures any need is addressed. We know the names of every person on our land, and their aspirations. The servants we hire from their families are the most dedicated, for they respect us as much as we respect them. The only gossip that spreads from Longbourn comes from my mother and younger sisters." She paused as she knew that this was not much of a prevention of the spread of gossip. Quickly adding before Caroline could finish the likely unpleasant remark she was forming, "As for Netherfield, it is a simple enough task to call the steward for a discussion."
Elizabeth looked at her companion and noticed she seemed to be contemplating her words. She continued, "I can walk alone all over Longbourn land and beyond because I know everyone's disposition and I know where I can find safety if a vagabond seeks to cause trouble or if I am injured. This matters."
Caroline chose not to reply and instead smoothed her skirt, brushing off any bits of dirt that might have settled. Elizabeth trudged on, giving the names of the people they were to visit, hoping that Caroline would not be rude to them.
"She simply walked up and knocked on the door!" Caroline tutted to her sister that evening after supper. They were perched on a settee in the music room, hoping Mr. Darcy would ask them to perform on the pianoforte. Instead, he was writing to his sister. Elizabeth worked on a small embroidery sample.
Elizabeth smiled at the ladies, before she replied, "Should I have stood at the door waiting for them to come out on an errand?"
"We should have had another footman there to knock for us. It is unseemly that we ought to dirty our gloves." Caroline huffed in annoyance that anyone would consider dirty gloves anything but a heinous offence. She looked to Mr. Darcy to see if he would corroborate her opinions, but he seemed not to be paying any attention.
"That is silly." Elizabeth laughed openly. Mr. Darcy paused his writing for the briefest moments to enjoy the sound.
"Miss Bingley, I must congratulate you on your efforts. You entered three homes today and only offended one of them. You will learn how to be a mistress of a great estate in no time." Elizabeth nodded to Caroline to prove her sincerity. It could have been much worse. Knowing that she ought not speak of Caroline's defects, she turned to Mrs. Hurst. "Have you had many interactions with the tenants at your husband's estate?"
"Mr. Hurst has no need for tenants. His house in town is all we require because he inherited money from his mother's dowry. The interest keeps us at the levels of society we are used to."
Especially by living with her brother most of the year, Elizabeth finished Mrs. Hurst's comment in her head. "Have you heard from Mr. Bingley? Are his meetings in town progressing?"
Mr. Darcy answered for the Bingley sisters. "I received word that he plans to return before the end of the week, if I deciphered his letter correctly."
"My brother is so inept when it comes to writing legibly." Miss Bingley chirped, happy that Mr. Darcy had finally joined the conversation.
"I remember he said his thoughts flow too rapidly for his hand to keep up." Elizabeth smiled at the memory of her first stay at Netherfield.
"Will you defend him while he is absent? I would prefer to have a legible letter that my audience does not have to decipher."
"Perhaps he needs someone who is willing to write for him." She smiled, knowing that Jane loved writing and would be only too willing to be a scribe. They were a perfect match, if the trio of naysayers would leave Bingley to propose.
"I would prefer to join him in London." Miss Bingley spoke softly, but everyone could still hear her. "I will miss the season because he needs me to host an invalid."
"As is the duty of the mistress of any estate." Mr. Darcy surprised everyone with a louder voice than usual. They looked up to see he was angrily staring at Miss Bingley, his letter entirely forgotten. "If a woman cannot put the needs of her guests ahead of her own, then she ought not to consider herself eligible for a match with a landed gentleman." Realizing how rude he had been, he turned, grabbed his letter and rose from the seat. "It would appear that I am too tired to be in company. My apologies, Miss Bingley. I shall retire."
With a glance at Elizabeth to see her confused eyes watching him, he departed.
"All of my guests have everything they require." Miss Bingley's pale face belied her confident tone.
"It is late, so I shall retire and allow you to catch up on your duties. We were away from the house for much longer than is your wont. Thank you for taking your lesson so well." Elizabeth hurried out of the room, not lingering at the door. She had no desire to hear how the sisters recovered from that breach of propriety.
She was halfway up the stairs when Mr. Darcy startled her. "How do you keep your equanimity in the face of such disparagement?"
Turning to find he was standing just a few feet away; she sighed in relief that his question was so simple. Though, perhaps it was not simple for a man accustomed to everyone fawning all over him. "I gain nothing by speaking without civility. While they do not like me, they cannot injure me by speaking freely. My character is not defined by them or their barbs. My father taught me that long ago. Perhaps you missed that lesson when your father died too soon."
Mr. Darcy looked away at the reminder of his loss. "He died too soon; you are right. I do not believe that is a lesson that he ever learned."
"Such is the case for many born into the elite." Elizabeth smiled slightly. She looked carefully at the man she had always thought mocking her. His gaze was earnest, and she could not detect any malice. He was clearly more complex than she had given him credit for. "I am happy to be where I am. I shall not swoon or cry because I am not liked by someone who thinks they are better than me. Their opinion does not sway me."
"You are the better person for it, even if society would not agree." He stepped forward until there was barely a foot of space between them. "There is very little about you that is not beautiful. Perhaps Miss Bingley is not the only one who needs to come to you for lessons." Before he could think better of it, he grasped her hand and pulled it to his lips. Their eyes held each other's gaze, and Elizabeth was shocked to notice he looked at her admiringly.
A door shutting behind them brought them back to their senses. Mr. Darcy dropped her hand and wished her a hasty farewell before he hurried up the steps and disappeared through the door at the end of the hall. Elizabeth watched him go, confused as to what she had just observed. She had been certain he did not like her. She was surprised. That had to be why her heart was racing. To calm her thoughts, she moved to Jane's bed, sat beside her and read a book of children's verses aimed at distracting them both.
Jane was not fooled. When Elizabeth stopped for a sip of water, she enquired. "I hate to see you so out of sorts. What is troubling you?" she asked gently.
Elizabeth sighed, wondering how she could explain everything. "It has been a trying day."
"You have had more trying days and not been so out of breath." Jane admonished.
"Oh, Jane! You know me too well. It seems that I might have been mistaken in my judgment of Mr. Darcy."
"You mean he is not the distant, proud gentleman you first claimed him to be? I always said Mr. Bingley would never be his friend if he were truly disagreeable." Jane gently reminded her sister.
"Disagreeable or not, he insulted Miss Bingley, and I fear tomorrow shall be more taxing because of it." She paused as her mind flitted back to the scene in the music room. "I was very surprised that Mr. Darcy apologized as soon as he said it. I had most certainly thought him too proud to admit to being wrong. Yet, I cannot list it as a failing. I doubt even our father would apologize to our mother if she were to catch him in error." She quickly recounted the events of the evening. Jane pushed for details until Elizabeth had to recite everything, even where everyone was looking when they said what they did.
"I feel as though you do not trust my account." she finally said, crossing her arms over her chest and sitting up as tall as she could.
"Oh, Lizzy! As much as I trust you, I believe you are a little too close to the matter to be unbiased enough to give a true account. I ask for these details so that I might see it with my own eyes."
"And what do you see? For I have been struggling with my own comprehension. I look forward to your opinion. Show me how you can make everyone appear to the best advantage."
"For one, and I doubt you shall like to hear it, but I believe Mr. Darcy was as upset as he was because he felt anger on your behalf."
"What has he to be angry for? I could not care less knowing Miss Bingley does not wish me here." Elizabeth felt too much energy to sit on the bed, and so she began pacing around the bed.
"He likes you." Jane said quietly. Elizabeth paced quickened, so Jane allowed her sister time to process the thought.
"You sound as ridiculous as Charlotte. He could not like me. He is simply surprised that I am not affected by him or his sister." She then related their conversation on the stairs, leaving out the surprising ending. She was not ready to reflect on that.
"Do you really believe he does not like you? How many compliments will he need to give before you realize that he is not looking at you to categorize your many imagined faults?" Jane said patiently. "He is intelligent and thoughtful."
"So thoughtful he hardly speaks." Elizabeth murmured.
"And yet, it sounds like he has plenty to say when he wants to. You sounded very engaged when speaking of your debate on poetry."
"He has also spent a half an hour alone with me in the library where we did not say anything to each other."
"When was that?" Jane asked, surprised.
"While you were here recovering from your illness the first time. You really need to stop getting ill while visiting Netherfield. It must be the expensive furniture catching you off guard."
They both laughed heartily. "I am not ill now, but I wish I could leave this room." Jane said when she had calmed down sufficiently.
"Perhaps the footmen could assist you into the sitting room tomorrow." Elizabeth said, glad the subject had moved on.
"Very well, Lizzy, I shall let you change the subject. I am tired. Will you read to me again? Perhaps a book on farming practices I saw you reading earlier will put me to sleep."
Elizabeth looked at her sister, thrilled that she knew her too well. "Thank you, my dearest Jane. I think I can make the poetry book more entertaining while also letting you fall asleep." The sisters fell asleep together, nestled in a warm embrace. Elizabeth was still in her evening dress, but she had discarded all the pins in her hair.
AN: So sorry for the long delay! School ended, I taught summer school to incoming freshman. I have now had 2 weeks free of work, so I went into work 3 days per week. The life of the person for the school animals (chickens, fish, turtles, etc.). I love running our garden club and seeing it expand so much, but it does take a bite out of time off. As it stands, I am writing this quickly because I really should be heading in. Other than that, all is well, or as well as it can be. Next school year begins August 1st. We start earlier than most because of the heat (poor families are less likely to have AC, and starting school early has reduced the number of child fatalities from heat stroke).
The next chapter is written and already returned from my editor, so it should be posted soon. Also, I will be removing my story, Close Quarters, tonight from ffn. If you have not finished it, today is your last chance to read it for free. You have been a lovely audience.