Chapter 4
Four
The outing to Poole’s Cavern was even more exciting for Elizabeth, if Darcy could accurately read her expressions.
Of course, in the cavern, she could not dash about nor see for miles; instead, she was constrained to walk quite slowly with the guides, keeping her steps to the spots of lantern light, as the rough, uneven, ground inside the cavern would otherwise trip her up.
Darcy took turns with Gardiner carefully lending hands and arms for stability to the ladies until they could all stand still at a designated spot while the guides held their lanterns aloft and revealed cave formations.
Her eyes widened to see what looked like a large rock chair, named after the robber-outlaw John Poole, who was said to hide in the cave between robberies.
She gasped when the Flitch of Bacon was illuminated; it was a huge stalactite, with folds of rock that resembled the meat.
She covered her mouth, possibly stifling laughter, as one of the guides related an apocryphal story explaining why an impressive stalagmite was named Mary Queen of Scots Pillar.
It was the first visit for all other than Mrs Gardiner and Darcy, but everyone—not just Darcy—seemed to focus more on Elizabeth than on anyone else.
She was so lively and expressive, her own enjoyment added to everyone else’s.
Both of the Gardiners oohed and ahhed at each new revelation, but then rapidly turned to enjoy Elizabeth’s transfixed stares and beautiful smiles.
Georgiana, too, turned to her with her own eager gazes, as if Elizabeth’s joy increased her own.
Even the older guide, who spoke about the geology of the cave formations, praised Elizabeth’s questions, and at the end of the tour asked how she had come to know so much of geology.
“Extensive reading,” was her answer. She shot a smile at Darcy as she said the words.
The other guide was such a young man that he likely qualified as a boy.
He stared at Elizabeth as though she was a goddess, and Darcy felt quite irritated that the boy hovered so near to her.
The good news was that the guide solicitously ensured that she had enough light to walk safely.
Unfortunately, he seemed unaware that he was making her uncomfortable.
Darcy stepped up every time the boy encroached enough that Elizabeth cast nervous glances at him, and Elizabeth seemed very happy to have Darcy step between herself and the guide.
When they emerged from the cavern, everyone had to stand still for a few long moments before their eyes became once again used to sunlit environs.
They took a short carriage ride to one of Buxton’s public houses, which was located near the southern road they would take back to Pemberley.
During their luncheon, Elizabeth happily discussed her favourite parts of the cavern and asked several questions about Devil’s Arse, another cave they planned to visit during their second outing.
The road from Buxton back to Pemberley went quite close to Mam Tor, and Darcy asked if anyone wanted to take a walk up or partway up the mountain.
“The alternative, of course, is for us to make only short stops to refresh ourselves and return back to Pemberley more quickly. However, Mam Tor does not fit well with the other sightseeing trip we have planned.”
Elizabeth said, “I would love a walk to break up the carriage ride, although I am of course willing to go without if others do not wish it.”
But there was a general murmur of agreement, and at Darcy’s rap on the carriage roof, the driver pulled out near a trail.
“From here it is far enough to the very top that only the very quickest walkers would have time to walk all the way.” He glanced at Elizabeth, and then he said, “But I have done this walk before, and there are lovely views from every elevation.”
Mr Gardiner asked, “Should we try to assemble back at the carriage in two hours? Then we will have plenty of time to reach Pemberley before it is dark, given the current length of day.”
Darcy nodded.
Elizabeth stepped up to him and said, “I believe you threw a glance at me as you said, only the very quickest walkers. Sir, am I to take those words as a gauntlet thrown down? If so, I assure you that I will take the challenge, and I shall conquer.”
“Well said, madam. I will be by your side every step.”
He wrapped a bag around one shoulder and his chest, and he put a bottle of water into the bag and said, “After you.”
They did not speak as they walked, but their hurried strides quickly gained them some privacy. They did not slacken as the slope steepened, but Elizabeth began to breathe more heavily. “Are you well? Should we slow down?” Darcy asked her.
“Of course I am well. And you may certainly reduce your speed; I will not.”
Georgiana strolled with Mr and Mrs Gardiner, and they returned to the carriage to eat a small snack even as Darcy and Elizabeth reached the top, enjoyed the sights, and started down again.
When they finally reached the carriage, the two were laughing and teasing about who had reached the top first, offering the last sips of water to one another, chattering to the others that, not only were they able to better enjoy the high moorland of Kinder Scout, but they were also able to spot the Welsh mountains and the ruins of Peveril Castle.
Darcy thought that Elizabeth had never looked better.
He was reminded of noticing how beautiful Elizabeth was when she had walked to Netherfield to care for her ill sister, months ago; now, as then, many of her curls had been blown from their restraining pins, her cheeks were flushed with exertion, and her eyes sparkled with challenge.
Oh, how he longed to be assured of seeing Elizabeth thus many more times in a shared future!
Naturally, Darcy had duties to perform the following day at Pemberley; he dove into his work with every motivation to do well by his estate and his tenants, but also to accomplish all that needed doing at speed.
He was delighted to see that Georgiana exerted herself to attend to Elizabeth and the Gardiners while he worked.
The group took advantage of another beautiful day to tour the rose garden and to walk around the lake.
Every time he caught a glimpse of his guests from a window, or when he consulted with his steward near the stables, Darcy longed to be walking alongside Elizabeth, seeing her face as she discovered each new viewpoint.
However, he did not begrudge the growing happiness his sister enjoyed in acting as the hostess of a beautiful estate rather than as the nearly-ruined young lady who hid from society in her rooms.
Pemberley is large enough that I will be able to introduce Elizabeth to many more prospects. I hope.
When his duties had been met, Darcy joined his sister and guests in the green parlour for afternoon tea. Elizabeth had stored up several questions for him, and he delighted in answering them:
He explained that Pemberley’s lake was man-made, constructed by his grandfather, and that the depth varied from seven to ten feet.
He shared that his mother not only loved roses, as Georgiana had said, but she had hybridised several varieties; those all had “Lady Anne” as part of their names.
He listed the various gardens Pemberley offered in addition to the parkland and pleasure grounds.
They included the rose garden, the American garden—which featured plants that required peaty soil, such as rhododendrons—the rock garden, the kitchen garden, and the walled sculpture garden; there were also fruit orchards, a conservatory, an orangery, and the home farm.
Darcy was delighted when Elizabeth voiced his own wish: “I certainly hope, Mr Darcy, that your duties will allow you time to show me some of what you describe!”
“After our tea I would delight in taking you—and anyone else who wishes to join— on a tour of the conservatory.”
Elizabeth gifted him with one of her most dazzling smiles, and he was equally glad that everyone else begged off on the grounds that they had already walked too much that day. And so it was that he set off, not long after, with Elizabeth on his arm.
Darcy had always adored the conservatory, and as a youth he had worked hard to cultivate exotic plants.
He was established as the first person in Derbyshire to cultivate chrysanthemums, then newly arrived from China, and he had been thrilled to grow flame azaleas, using seeds from America.
Now, more than a decade later, he was proud to show off his efforts to foster new varieties of each flowering plant.
Elizabeth asked shrewd questions about cross pollination and was visibly excited with the stories of his successes.
Of course, there were many other native and exotic plants, and the pair spent an enjoyable hour exploring before finally emerging into the sculpture garden.
Elizabeth’s joy in viewing the various sculptures gave Darcy a renewed sense of wonder for pieces that were very familiar to him.
She spent a long time studying a statue of two women wearing medieval mourning garb, including hoods and veils.
She said, “I have seen so many beautiful statues in London, and now here, but I am still stunned to see how a sculptor is able to make stone look like fabric—and here, stone looks like sheer fabric—even though it is solid and opaque.”
“It is remarkable,” Darcy agreed. He felt a pang as he realised how many times he had walked past this sculpture with barely a glance.
“I have done some wood carving, which in some ways resembles carving marble in that one takes away material in an attempt that the remainder depicts a figure or idea. I feel that it must be easier to sculpt with clay and add more and more clay to form details or additional figures and features.”
“I should love to see any of your wood carvings!” Elizabeth said.
Her eyes seemed to light up, as if she was looking forward to a treat, and he blushed. “I truly should not have mentioned my poor attempts out here amongst all these pieces of true art.”
“If I faithfully promise to have low expectations, will you show me?”
Darcy chuckled. “I suppose, in that case, that I should. This way, madam.” He led her to Pemberley’s still room, where he pointed to a long shelf mounted above the windows.
On that shelf were an entire row of wooden birds, including some very rough attempts, displayed at one end, and detailed and proportional carvings, at the other.
“Oh!” Elizabeth said. “How charming! What age were you when you carved these first ones?”
“Eight.”
“You seemed to have developed the skill, sir,” she said as she inspected the last of the carved birds.
His cheeks still pink, he shook his head. “It is as nothing to an artist’s.”
“I disagree on two points. First, you carve wood and depict some of the loveliest creatures on the planet—and that makes you an artist, does it not? Second, I do not believe your skill is as high as that of many others, but it is far higher than some. It is not nothing—because, if it were, then many people’s efforts would be considered less than nothing, which is ridiculous. ”
Darcy just laughed. “I love it when we disagree. I do not believe that I have ever before so enjoyed being shown to be wrong.”
His words made Elizabeth laugh, as well, and the tail end of their laughter caught the attention of Georgiana and the Gardiners as they approached the green parlour to await the dinner bell.
“Are you still laughing with Elizabeth, Brother?” Georgiana asked with the smirkiest smile that had ever graced her face.
“Yes, I am,” is all he said in response, but he realised that they had spent several hours together in what seemed like just a few minutes.
He leant towards Elizabeth and whispered, “We explored so long, we never changed for dinner. But I think you look lovely as you are; shall we just pretend as if we meant to remain in these clothes?”
More bell-like laughter caressed his ears, and she nodded, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “You are the host, sir. I am certain that, in your own home, you can do no wrong.”
Her hand on his arm, they followed his guests into the parlour.