Elizabeth slept most of the day but the next morning she was up early and hurried to the ballroom to nurse Euphrosyne before anyone could think of sending more milk to them, only to find the ballroom empty. How could this be? She walked in looking around as if doubting the evidence of her own eyes. She would have questioned whether she had retraced her steps correctly but there could surely not be two ballrooms at Pemberley. Mr. Darcy must have been moved.

There was a tap at the window.

"Georgiana!" Elizabeth let her in and said, "Since you are not with Mr. Darcy am I correct in thinking has improved?"

Georgiana indicated this was true.

"I am glad." It would be selfish to be disappointed that Mr. Darcy was well enough to be in his own room where she could not see him.

Once Euphrosyne was done nursing, Elizabeth stopped a passing maid and learned where she was to go for breakfast. She suddenly felt very lonely walking these hallways, despite all the servants she passed going about their work. Euphrosyne made a comforting sound and Elizabeth smiled, "Of course, dearest, we have each other." But at Longbourn there had always been someone else around, and during the journey, there had been Mr. Darcy, it had only been a short journey but she had grown accustomed to his being nearby. But now that they were here she would not see him so often. Even once his health improved he would be busy with the estate business and he had brought her here for the Griffin's sake not to entertain her. As she entered the breakfast room thinking she might only see him at meals and perhaps not even then she stopped short to see Mr. Darcy sitting there eating his breakfast.

"Mr. Darcy!"

He stood to bow and said, "I usually breakfast at this time."

He must have thought she meant to avoid him.

"I was only surprised, pleasantly surprised, because I did not expect you to be well enough to be here today. I am… am glad you are, I mean I hope you are feeling better?" she felt her face warm as she stumbled over her words.

He smiled, "Much better, I thank you."

They stood for a moment in awkward silence and then both spoke at once. Mr. Darcy gestured to the sideboard saying, "Please…"

And Elizabeth, "Please do not stand on my account, I…"

Elizabeth went over to the sideboard.

"If there is anything you would like that you do not see please let Mathew know," said Mr. Darcy indicating the footman who was attending him. "Anything at all."

With so many choices before her Elizbeth could not have thought of anything to ask for if she had tried. She assured him she was more than happy with what was on offer and made her selections, including a pastry that Mr. Darcy mentioned was one of his favorites.

Luke saved her from wondering where she should sit by pulling out a chair to the right of Mr. Darcy's place. She took her place and Mr. Darcy asked, "Has Euphrosyne eaten this morning? Does she need more milk?"

"Georgiana nursed her already; she met us in the ballroom."

"Good. If that is agreeable to you both I know Georgiana prefers to nurse her."

"Euphrosyne prefers it as well, but I am happy to take her to Georgiana."

"I will leave that to the three of you to decide."

Euphrosyne poked her head out and made a mewing sound.

"You are welcome." Mr. Darcy responded, "It is the least I could do after your ministrations to me."

She made another sound and he said, "A great deal. I am entirely improved."

"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth asked him, "Have you changed your mind?"

"In regards to what?"

"In regards to Griffins. You replied to Phrosy as if you were sure she had thanked you for the milk and asked after your health, which in fact she did."

"I… did I?"

Elizabeth suppressed a laugh at his look of surprise.

"Are you sure you did not tell me? No, I know you did not. I did seem to understand what she meant. Perhaps it is because she is Georgiana's offspring."

"Have you ever heard of someone being able to understand the offspring of their bonded?"

"I have not."

"And yet you find it easier to believe than that Griffins make sounds people can understand?"

He appeared to be giving her question serious consideration before saying, "I am willing to entertain both hypotheses. Perhaps spending time with other Griffins will help to clarify things."

"Like Eleos?"

"Yes, but I have another two in mind."

Mr. Darcy dismissed Luke and said, "I have been considering our situation. I have some estate business I need to take care of that will take a week or so, but after that, I wish to consult with my uncle, the Earl of Blankshire, and, if you are agreeable, I think the four of us should stay with his family until a suitable companion can be arranged for you. I rushed into hiring Mrs. Younge and I do wish to make the same mistake again. With my aunt and cousins, we will not need a chaperone."

Elizabeth had nearly forgotten they needed a chaperone, "I have no objection to the visit, but do you think it safe for Euphrosyne to travel?"

"It will be if we fly there directly. If Georgiana agrees, are you willing to fly for a half day's journey?"

"Oh, yes!" To think she would have the opportunity of flying again so soon almost overcame her disappointment at leaving Pemberly. "Will I have time to have a flying habit [i] made?" It was one thing to wear the makeshift split skirt Rachel had made her in an emergency, but she did not like to think of appearing that way in front of Mr. Darcy's family.

"There are several my mother left, that can be altered for you if you do not object to an older style."

"I would appreciate that, thank you, but are you sure you do not mind my using something that belonged to your mother? Especially if it needs to be altered?" If he had kept his mother's things this long, they must have sentimental value to him.

"Of course not, she would want you to have them, that is, because you are bonded with the granddaughter of her bonded. They ought to be put to good use. I will tell Reynolds to have someone go through them with you."

Elizabeth wondered how Mrs. Reynolds would feel about her using Lady Anne's things, but she was too touched by the offer to reject his generosity. Besides it would save her the cost and hassle of having something made.[ii]

She said, "I am only sorry not to have more time to explore Pemberly. I hope the weather will hold so that I may make the most of the time I am here."

"If you are intending to walk. Please bring a footman with you. Any of my servants are available to you at any time."

She frowned and he continued. "I am aware of your love of solitary walks. I do not ask this of you lightly, but it is for Euphrosyne's safety as well as your own."

He had mistaken the reason for her frown. "Do you think Mr. Wickham would be so bold as to come here?"

"I do not think so, but neither would I have expected many of the things he has already done. It is best to be safe."

"Of course." She would not risk Euphrosyne for anything.

"Unless you would accept me as a walking companion instead."

"Glady, but do you not have business to attend to?"

"Yes, but I often take a walk after breakfast before turning to business."

0v0

While Miss Bennet went to get her things, Darcy sent a note to his Steward to let him know he would be meeting with him later than planned. He had not lied; he did often take a walk after breakfast. He had not originally meant to take one today, but a few hours would not make a difference to his business, on the contrary, the exercise would make him better suited for his work.

"Glady." She had said. He cautioned himself not to read too much into it, not to hope. For now, his priority must be stopping Wickham. For now, it was enough to sit at breakfast with her, debating communication with griffins, enough that she was willing to walk with him, "gladly".

He met her in the hallway. Did he imagine that she came tripping down the stairs as if she were eager for their walk? Her delight in the grounds was everything he could have wished and her pleasure in seeing them increased his own in showing her his favorite haunts, his mother's rose garden, the places he had played as a child where he must not allow himself to hope their own children would play one day. He felt as if no time at all had passed before he consulted his watch and realized he ought to have returned to the house some time ago.

Miss Bennet signed but refused his offer to find her another escort saying, "I had better return as well. Mrs. Reynolds told me she would have the habits to show me this morning."

"Did she? She must have gone to you as soon as I told her." This was quick action even for Mrs. Reynolds.

"Yes, she spoke to me before I came downstairs. Will you be walking after breakfast tomorrow?"

"If the weather permits it, yes. Will you join me?"

"Yes."

They walked on in companionable silence for some time before Miss Bennet said, "Mr. Darcy I am glad we are becoming friends." Friends.

"As am I."

OvO

The week passed quickly. In the mornings Darcy joined Miss Bennet and the Griffins in the Ballroom while Euphrosyne nursed and then the two of them had breakfast and took a walk together. Then he would spend the rest of the day attending to business and looking forward to dinner when he would see Miss Bennet again. After dinner, they would move into the drawing-room, where they would talk, or read, or Miss Bennet would play the piano-forte with Euphrosyne sitting on her shoulder and Georgiana perched outside with her head in the window.

They spoke of music and books. She spoke of her family, with such humor and affection that he began to feel something like affection toward them himself. He told her of his parents, his cousins, his friends at school. He would only need another day or two before they could travel to Blankshire. A flying habit had been altered for Miss Bennet. She had, according to Reynolds, only chosen one, and that the easiest one to alter. But it was only the one trip. Hopefully, by the time she had a use for more, she would not mind taking them. He had not had a letter from his uncle. If the situation were less serious he would have been tempted to use that as an excuse to put off their trip, to have a bit more time for just the two of them, he was resolved to fly to his uncle's on Thursday whether he had heard back from him or not, but such a measure proved to be unnecessary. As they were walking on Wednesday morning they were alerted by Georgian's cry of delight as she took off into the air, to the approach of two Griffins.

He heard Miss Bennet catch her breath as Georgiana joined the other two and the three Griffins performed a series of circles and dives before coming to a landing.

Darcy's cousin Lord Dashton, the younger son of the Earl of Blankshire, leaped from the back of one of the Griffins. "Darcy!" He exclaimed as they exchanged a hearty handshake, "My father sends us in reply to your letter. And Prometheus[iii] is willing to carry one of you so that you need not take it in turns with Georgiana."

Georgiana mewed. Miss Bennet made a low curtsey, and the two Griffins bowed their heads.

Dashton raised an eyebrow. "This must be Miss Bennet. Would you do me the honor?"

Feeling as if he were only repeating what Georgiana had already done, Darcy said, "Miss Bennet would you allow me to present my cousin, Lord Dashton, Plutus[iv] his bonded, and Prometheus, bonded of my uncle, the Earl of Blankshire."

They exchanged the usual pleasantries and then Georgiana invited Plutus and Prometheus to hunt with her. As the three Griffins took off for the sky Darcy invited his cousin to take some refreshment, and Miss Bennet joined them as they returned to the house.

"My brother," said Lord Dashton to Miss Bennet, "is sorry to miss your visit."

"I hope Colonel Fitzwilliam is well."

"He is well, but he had to leave for Newcastle a few days after we received Darcy's letter, so will miss the opportunity of renewing your acquaintance."

"I hope you left Lady Dashton well," Darcy spoke more sharply than he had intended.

His cousin raised an eyebrow but smiled as he answered in the affirmative. They continued to talk of this and that as Lord Dashton nourished himself. It was not long before Darcy felt Georgiana's exultation as she brought down her prey. Soon after that, both gentlemen yawned.

"I believe I will join Plutus in the aviary for a nap," said his cousin.

"Reynolds can give you a room if you would like a bed."

"No, I thank you, I prefer to snuggle with Plutus."

"I wish I could join you all," said Darcy yawning again, "but there are some things I must attend to."

"I will see you later then. Miss Bennet," he said before making his bow to her, "I look forward to getting to know you better."

It would be foolish for Darcy to be annoyed that his cousin was here. He was grateful, of course, that Prometheus was willing to carry one of them, that Miss Bennet would not need to fly alone. But this was to have been their last evening alone.

i A lady's riding habit for a Griffin was similar to that worn to ride a horse except that it is warmer and instead of a long skirt, a "split skirt", more similar to wide-leg trousers than a skirt, is worn. There is no way to ride side-saddle on a griffin.

ii Griffin riding habits were expensive.

iii Greek god of forethought and crafty counsel, and creator of mankind.

iv Greek god of wealth, prosperity, abundance, and agriculture.

AN: Thanks for reading and thanks to everyone who reviewed, thanks especially for sticking with me.