Chapter 6 Morning Rides with Mr. Darcy #2
On the next curve in the track, Springvale House appeared in the distance.
Bother, I could no longer delay fulfilling my promise to Cassie.
Yesterday, she had bemoaned to me that thus far, her attempts to put herself in Mr. Darcy’s company had been fruitless.
At her enquiry, I had fibbed and told her that I had not yet had the opportunity to laud her to the gentleman.
With a bit of affected cheerfulness, perhaps I should avoid revealing my reluctance.
“I believe Cassie intends to call upon Mrs. Hayward later today.” And she hopes to see you.
“My cousin and I have been like sisters since childhood, and I admire her very much. Not only is she beautiful, but she is jovial as well.” There, Cassie could not expect me to say more than that. I let out a deep breath.
“It is fortunate that you and Miss Barton have a close kinship. As a child, I often wished for a brother or sister near my age. Still, I am grateful to have Georgiana. She is considerate and sweet—an ideal younger sister.” He twisted at the waist to regard me.
“I received a letter from her yesterday. She will be joining me here in a few days.”
“Oh, that is welcome news.”
“At fifteen, she is not yet out, so she will be restricted to small gatherings. With your agreement, I should like to introduce her to you.”
“I should be pleased to make her acquaintance.”
His response, a winsome grin, had an entrancing effect. “I appreciate that.”
For a long moment, I could not help but take in the handsome picture he made until I wrested my gaze away.
Of course, once Miss Darcy arrived, she would be riding Lily, so our current arrangement would come to an end.
My mouth tightened, and I braced myself to keep from frowning.
“I appreciate this time you have given me with Lily. I imagine Miss Darcy will be eager to ride her. If it pleases your sister, I should be happy to accompany her on Thea.”
His head whipped towards me. “Oh no, I did not intend…I want you to continue riding Lily. My sister may join us on her mare, Shadow.”
I stared at him. What a tempting proposition! Yet it did not make sense. “But you must want Miss Darcy to become accustomed to Lily.”
“Yes, but there is no hurry for that. My sister will spend time with Lily and may ride her at other times. For now, though, Lily much prefers to be ridden by you, and I shall indulge her for as long as we remain at Springvale.”
“Oh, I see.” He could not have made a more generous suggestion.
What an extraordinarily kind and patient man he must be to afford such time and care to Lily’s comfort.
In a handful of days, my affection for Mr. Darcy had flourished from one or two scattered sparks to a blazing bonfire.
For my own sake, I must learn to quell this sentiment, for we could never be anything more than friends.
Back at Knight’s Manor House, I spent an hour in the music-room playing the pianoforte.
I practised my latest undertaking, another challenging piece by Herr Beethoven: the second movement of Grande Sonate Pathétique.
I caught Noah’s entrance near the edge of my vision and broke off after the next measure. “Good afternoon, Noah.”
He halted in a rigid bearing. “Forgive me, I did not mean to interrupt you.”
“Not at all. I welcome the respite.” I stood and approached him. “Is anything wrong?”
“No, all is well.” He gestured to the sofa. “Will you sit there with me?”
“Yes, of course.” I sat in the centre of the sofa. He settled at my right and faced me. “I saw you riding with Mr. Darcy this morning.”
Caught off guard, I froze for a moment but soon recovered, giving him what I hoped to be an easy smile.
“Yes, we took the meadow path that skirts the border of Knight’s Manor.
” Why did Noah deem this worthy of a discussion?
I straightened my spine. “I do not suppose there is anything improper in our riding together.”
“That may be true, yet I question whether you are being wise.”
“Why? What troubles you?”
His fingers brushed over his mouth. “It pains me to broach this subject, but Mr. Darcy is one of the most sought-after bachelors in London. No one doubts that the lady he chooses to marry will be wealthy and well-connected.”
“Why should that fact concern me?” I did not bother to moderate my voice, and my chin inched higher. “Cassie is the one who is keen to attract his notice.”
“Yes, she has made her preference for him clear.”
“Whereas I go to Springvale to see Lily.” Yet my declaration did not reveal the entire truth. Did not Mr. Darcy comprise another inducement for going there? Flames crept up from my neck.
“That does not explain how you came to ride with Mr. Darcy.”
My hand fluttered in a dismissive signal. “He is keen upon giving Lily time to adjust to him at her own pace. He suggested we ride together as a means of allowing her to grow accustomed to him in a gradual way.”
“Huh.”
When Noah failed to continue, I gave him a pointed look. “You have declared that you are disposed to think well of him. Has your opinion changed?”
“No.” My cousin’s weight shifted as he leaned nearer to me. “Still, I met a few men at university who hid their base natures well enough that most of their acquaintances would have been shocked to discover their predilections.” He grimaced.
The words I had been prepared to utter next died on my tongue. “You seem to be implying that Mr. Darcy is one of those men.”
“Not exactly. I have no reason to accuse him of that.” His index finger tapped my wrist. “But as an unmarried lady, you ought to be vigilant any time you are alone with an unfamiliar man.”
So, he meant to caution me in a general fashion. “That is sound advice.” Oh yes, I could ease his mind by informing him of Miss Darcy’s expected arrival. “At any rate, Mr. Darcy’s fifteen-year-old sister will come to Springvale soon, and she will be riding with us.”
“That is welcome news.” Noah rested his arm upon the back of the sofa. “Have you become…reconciled”—his voice softened—“to losing Lily?”
“No, and my continuing to ride her is a double-edged sword. But whilst she remains in the area, I cannot forgo the opportunity to spend as much time with her as possible.”
“Yes, I can understand that.”
Wednesday, 25 September
Springvale
Darcy
When I knocked at the door to my sister’s guest chamber, she bade me enter.
Since her and Mrs. Annesley’s arrival, this would be our first opportunity to speak in private.
Georgiana had changed from her travelling attire to a yellow muslin gown, and she occupied a chair at a table near the window.
I gave her the scarf from the haberdashery, and she showed every sign of approving of it, thanking me with apparent enthusiasm.
I sat across from her and studied her appearance.
Without doubt, my earlier impression upon greeting her had been correct: in comparison to our last meeting, a healthier glow enhanced her skin, and she sat erect, meeting my gaze.
She seemed to have escaped her earlier state of dejection.
Thank Heaven. “I appreciate that you came despite your earlier disinclination.”
Her blue eyes flickered and widened. “When I read your letter, I decided at once to join you and do whatever is in my power to be of assistance. This is such an unusual predicament, and Lily must be an exceptional horse!”
“Yes, without question.” I could not help but smile; she had not been this animated in many months.
“May we go to the stables before dinner? I am eager to see her.”
“Yes, but…” I adjusted my seat nearer to Georgiana. “Take care not to become attached to her. Even if my initial plan goes awry, I hope to devise another method to reunite Lily with Miss Bennet.”
“Oh, you need not be concerned. I am even more keen to meet Miss Bennet. To my knowledge, you have never lauded a lady this way before.”
A burst of heat invaded my neck and face. I could not deny her assertion.
“It will be a pleasure to help bring her and Lily together again.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
Georgiana tensed, and her hands formed a ball on her lap.
“However, you know that I tend to be…awkward and shy with new acquaintances, and Miss Bennet is older than me. Have you considered she may find me tedious and uninteresting? Maybe she will not want to befriend me.” Her mouth hardened to a flat line.
My sister’s disquiet prompted an ache in the back of my throat.
How could I dispel her anxiety? I put my hand upon hers.
“One of Miss Bennet’s most admirable qualities is the gracious way she engages with those around her.
She possesses a genuine curiosity for the interests and concerns of her friends and acquaintances.
I am certain she will treat you with the kind consideration she has shown to others. ”
The tension in her posture abated. “Thank you, that is reassuring.”
Thursday, 26 September
Springvale
Elizabeth
I spotted Mr. Darcy’s familiar figure in front of the stables.
He stood with his head inclined near a tall, blonde lady as the two conversed.
My teeth clinched together. Why did he stand so close to her?
But in the next moment, the answer came to me: she must be his sister, despite the lack of an overt family resemblance, at least from this distance.
He straightened at the sound of Thea’s hooves thudding the hard dirt and turned towards me, as did the pretty young lady, who regarded me with undisguised interest. He came closer, and we exchanged greetings.
I removed my left leg from the stirrup and freed my right one from the hook in preparation for my dismount.
“Pray allow me to assist you.” He held out his hands. Although I did not need the help, I had grown accustomed to accepting his aid and could not bring myself to refuse him.
With my hands in his, I reached the ground with ease.
I schooled my expression; by now I ought to have grown inured to this physical contact, yet that familiar pleasant shiver shot through me again.
When he released me, a tingling sensation persisted in my fingers.
I fussed with my bonnet to obscure my face in case I wore a telltale flush.
Mr. Darcy took his sister by the arm and introduced her to me. She rose from her curtsey with her shoulders bowed inwards, and her sight lowered to her boots, though she gave me intermittent glances. She must be a timid creature.
I offered her my warmest smile. “Did you have a pleasant journey from town?”
“Yes, I travelled with my companion, Mrs. Annesley, and we stayed overnight at a charming inn near Basingstoke.”
“Will she not ride with us?”
“No, Mrs. Annesley does not share my love for horses and has no interest in riding.”
Tim came to take Thea’s reins from me. He eyed Mr. Darcy. “Sir, the horses are saddled.”
“Thank you, Tim.”
We entered the stables. When Miss Darcy approached a handsome bay horse, I followed her. “Miss Darcy, if you would like to ride Lily, I should be content to mount my grey mare, Thea.” I allowed the bay to sniff my hand, then stroked the steed’s slightly Roman nose.
“Oh no, thank you. As impressed as I am with Lily, I am in no hurry to ride her. My brother explained the exceptional bond you share with her, and I agreed to allow her this time with you for the remainer of our stay.”
“Very well. That is generous of you.” I made a quick turn and stopped short of colliding with Mr. Darcy. He raised his brows in a way I took to mean, I told you so, with an affable connotation.
I greeted Lily with a pat and gave her a piece of carrot. Before long, the three of us set out together with our horses. At Mr. Darcy’s suggestion, I chose our destination. For a time, we all rode abreast, with Mr. and Miss Darcy on either side of me.
“Miss Bennet.”
Miss Darcy’s soft, silvery voice drew my sight.
“My brother mentioned that you trained Lily yourself.”
“Yes, that is true.” I shot him a quick look. “During the first hour after her birth, I introduced myself to her. Over the next week, I spent time with her each day and gained her trust. After that, she grasped every subsequent lesson with a minimum of strife.”
“That is fascinating.” Miss Darcy beamed at me and gestured to Lily. “I notice that she perks up when you speak, as though she is waiting to hear a command from you.”
“Yes, I believe that is the case. She is more responsive than most horses.”
“I wonder if my brother”—Miss Darcy flashed a smile at Mr. Darcy—“would allow me to train one of the foals at Pemberley in a like manner.”
He nodded. “Yes, as long as you agree to follow my guidance or that of our grooms.”
She beamed at him, then redirected her gaze to me. “I should be obliged if you would further describe the methods you employed with Lily.”
“Yes, of course. In those first weeks, I observed her with the goal of determining her nature.” I continued my account of Lily’s training, including the advice I received from Noah and Joe. Soon, the route narrowed, and Mr. Darcy reined Regal in to ride behind Miss Darcy and me.
My observations of Miss Darcy’s horsemanship provided reassurance; she demonstrated skill and confidence as a rider, guiding her mount with a gentle touch on the reins and subtle leg cues. She would treat Lily well.
Throughout our discourse, I peeked at Mr. Darcy now and again.
He appeared content to remain a silent observer to our conversation, in which Miss Darcy gradually grew more enthusiastic in her address.
She continued in the same vein when I urged her to describe Majesty, the horse whom Lily resembled.
She regaled me with her fond memories of the mare, and Mr. Darcy contributed a couple of his remembrances.
By and by, Miss Darcy and I moved on to discuss music and our favourite composers.
I parted from the Darcys and rode home with unsettled emotions. For although I took delight in forming a tentative friendship with Miss Darcy, I missed the verbal exchanges with Mr. Darcy I had come to expect on our unaccompanied rides. What a strange effect that man had upon me!