Chapter 5 #4
He demonstrated how to hold the reins in her hands and use them to guide the horse.
“When astride, I would use my heels to indicate the direction I want the horse to go, but when riding sidesaddle, you must rely on the reins to guide the horse,” Mr. Darcy explained.
“Let’s try it at a walk. You want to keep your back straight and shoulders back.
Now, use the reins to indicate you want the horse to walk.
Remember that if you pull them tightly, the horse will think you want to slow down or stop. Hold the reins more loosely.”
Elizabeth remembered enough to make a credible attempt. Walking was easy enough, and she soon graduated to a trot. After demonstrating the basic knowledge, all four decided to leave the paddock and take a short ride across the fields.
With William beside her, Elizabeth found she enjoyed riding immensely. Pemberley was beautiful, and she enjoyed seeing more of it than she had been able to see on foot.
“William, what was the colonel alluding to earlier with his comment, or lack of comment, about riding?” Elizabeth blurted when the two of them were a safe distance away from Richard and Georgiana.
Darcy’s entire face turned red with embarrassment. “Elizabeth,” he gasped. “This is something not to be discussed until after the wedding.”
“Was it so terrible, then?” she asked innocently.
“It is not appropriate for a maiden, to be sure. Richard is far too used to the company of men, not all of whom are gentlemen. I would have been tempted to challenge him had Georgiana heard such a comment, and your uncle quite took him to task when we arrived at the lake,” Darcy told her.
“I love your curiosity and your natural inquisitiveness, my dear, but in this area, we simply cannot speak of it at present.”
“So, men are expected to know about marriage, but not ladies? That is quite a double standard,” Elizabeth protested.
“It very much is, my love, but know this—the only knowledge I possess is what I had heard when I was in school and at the club, but I have no, umm, practical knowledge myself. When we come together, we will be learning together. That is another reason Richard teases me so often in this area,” Darcy explained.
She smiled beatifically at him. “I am pleased to know that, William. While society’s expectations are unfair, it is good to know that we will be equally ignorant and have the chance to learn this together.”
He groaned. “Please, love, temper your curiosity in this matter until we are wed. I will answer any questions you may have then.”
“I have some knowledge,” she told him. “I do live on a farm, and I have seen animals mate.”
“Elizabeth, please,” he cried, his voice sounding strained.
She looked at him oddly. “Are you all right, William?”
He stopped his horse and reached over to bring her horse nearby.
“I do not know how to explain this gently, so I will be frank. This conversation is difficult for me because of my desire for you. When we discuss things like this, it only makes me desire you more, producing a physical reaction that makes riding a horse particularly difficult. So, it is best if we do not discuss these types of things until after we are wed and not on the back of a horse.”
She looked at him again, cocking her head to one side as she scrutinized him. As she did, she noticed the bulge in his breeches. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, doing this two or three more times before she finally simply nodded.
He sighed. “Two months is a long time, my dear.”
“And getting longer,” was her reply that made his ears turn red once again.
They arrived back at the stables soon after, and William held back with his cousin after the two ladies began to walk back to the house.
“I could pummel you right now, Richard. Elizabeth asked me about what you implied at breakfast, which may have led to one of the most uncomfortable rides in my life,” Darcy growled quietly.
Richard laughed uproariously. “She’s not a meek one, that is for sure.”
“She will be my wife soon—be respectful. You have single-handedly made it that much more difficult to wait two very long months before the wedding will take place. I cannot ask her to advance the date without having a difficult conversation with her father since we have already suggested October. Fortunately, we did not mention a specific date, so we can at least discuss early October without too much being said about it. I hope.” Darcy groaned again and then punched his cousin on the shoulder.
“You have chosen to live like a monk, and now you are paying for it,” Richard said haughtily.
“Not a joking matter, Richard.” Darcy groaned. “And I had good reason for the choices I have made.” Richard, recalling those reasons, stopped laughing to frown before nodding and beginning to walk back toward the house.
They all met back in one of the parlours after changing out of their riding clothes.
Tea was immediately ordered and quickly brought to a sitting room where they enjoyed a light repast. Richard entertained the group with his stories once again, and Darcy and Elizabeth sat together on a settee, holding hands while listening to Richard’s tales.
Occasionally, Darcy interrupted with a detail that almost always drew a glare from his cousin, but it was obvious that these two were as close as brothers.
After some time, Darcy asked Elizabeth if she would like a book from the library. He took her arm to escort her, and when they entered, instead of directing her to the bookshelves, he led her to an armchair by the large windows at the back of the room.
“Elizabeth,” he began, then chuckled. “It occurs to me that neither time I proposed to you was I intending to do so.
At Hunsford, I, well, honestly, I am not entirely certain what made me speak at that time or in the manner I did, but I knew I could not leave without speaking to you of my feelings for you.
While I did a terrible job of expressing my love for you then and, in fact, insulted you dreadfully, what I felt for you was honest. That feeling has only grown over time, and I can say that I love you more for rejecting me than I would have considered possible.
“The second time, I had come across you so unexpectedly, and I never dreamed you would have agreed to marry me then. I did a much better job of expressing my feelings for you, I think, but I still was not fully prepared and blurted out what was on my mind. Since then, I have remembered that I meant to give you this—I dreamt of it on your finger long before I encountered you again in Kent. I think it was at Netherfield when I first imagined you with this.” With these words, he removed a velvet bag from his inside pocket and withdrew a large diamond and sapphire ring.
He knelt in front of her. “Elizabeth Rose Bennet, I love you more than life. Will you do me the honour of accepting my hand in marriage? Will you be my most treasured wife?”
A tear ran down her cheek. “Yes, William, I love you so much. Thank you for this third, most perfect, proposal.” She smiled at him gently. “I hope you know there is no one else I want to spend my life with.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her hand before lightly kissing her lips. He stood, pulling her with him, and pulled her into his embrace. They stood that way for several minutes until a cough drew them back.
Richard noticed the ring on her finger. “Ahh, now I know what you were up to. Georgiana asked for you, and I told her I would look for you. Did you find a book?”
“In fact, I did,” Elizabeth said, choosing a book off the nearby shelf. “Shakespeare’s sonnets—or would you prefer a play?”
The three entered the parlour laughing. William took the book from Elizabeth’s hand as they entered. “We have a bit of time before dinner. Would you care to hear me read for a bit, Georgiana? Elizabeth?”
Both ladies agreed, and William read until it was time to dress for dinner.