Chapter Ten
Elizabeth woke slowly, her situation returning to her by degrees.
Rain still pattered at the windows, but it seemed less violent now than it had been.
That was at least something. But as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her eyes found the chair where Mr Darcy must have spent the night.
Their conversation replayed in vivid fragments in her memory and she groaned and covered her face with her hands, half tempted to hide under the bed clothes for the rest of the day.
A sudden vision of her mother played in her mind.
She took a deep breath and stood straighter.
Elizabeth Bennet was not formed for idleness and she was especially not formed for another day confined to these four walls.
As she stood, Martha bustled in with a tray, smiling at Elizabeth as she entered.
"Mrs Darcy, you be lookin' ever so much better.
Mistress will be pleased, oh and the master of course, and Jenny who works in the kitchen and you haven't met, but we've all been ever so...
" She blushed as she set the tray down. "Sorry, ma'am, Mrs Goose is always sayin' that my tongue is running away with me. "
"It's quite alright, Martha," Elizabeth said. "I am feeling much better." Well, at least physically, she thought. "Is that porridge with honey?" she asked more brightly than she felt. And Martha once again fell into steady chatter that required little response from her.
???
After breaking her fast, Martha helped her into a comfortable day gown and dressed her hair simply.
Elizabeth submitted to the brushing and pinning quietly, though she could not help glancing occasionally towards the window.
The rain had dwindled to little more than a fine drizzle and, through breaks in the low cloud, she could just make out pale strips of blue sky.
"It'll be fair by dinner," Martha announced confidently, following her gaze. "My father watches the birds, and he always says the swallows know better than any weather vane."
"I hope your father is correct."
"So do we all, ma'am. Everyone's wanting to be off home." She paused thoughtfully. "Though Mrs Goose says she'll miss the custom."
Elizabeth laughed. "I imagine she shall." She thanked the girl and made her way downstairs, determined that she would find something useful to occupy herself.
The taproom was already crowded despite the early hour.
Several gentlemen sat over newspapers and coffee discussing the state of the roads with great confidence, although none of them appeared to have left the comfort of the hearth that morning.
A few families clustered near the fire keeping children occupied with games of cards and carved wooden toys.
Mrs Goose moved briskly amongst them carrying a teapot in one hand and directing the servants with the other.
The moment she caught sight of Elizabeth she planted both hands upon her hips. "And where do you think you're going?"
Elizabeth stopped obediently. "Good morning to you too, Mrs Goose."
Mrs Goose came close enough to inspect her properly, turning Elizabeth's face first one way and then the other as though examining a horse she was considering purchasing.
"I have improved."
"Hm."
Elizabeth smiled. "I feel entirely myself again."
"Hm."
Elizabeth folded her hands together and took a step back. "I should like to help. The inn is overflowing. Your poor servants have scarcely sat down in days. I cannot in good conscience remain idle while everyone else works."
Mrs Goose looked gravely offended. "A lady of quality helping in my establishment. I think not, madam. And only just recovered! No, another day of rest for you. That is what your husband said this morning, and I quite agree with him!"
Elizabeth huffed in exacerbation. Then quickly covered her mouth to disguise the unladylike sound.
Mrs Goose put down the teapot on a nearby table and folded her arms across her chest.
She tried her most conciliatory tone. The one she used to placate her mother, and occasionally her father. "I promise I shall attempt nothing heroic. I merely wish to make myself useful."
Mrs Goose considered her for several moments before her expression softened. "You don't much care for sitting still, do you?"
"No."
Mrs Goose tucked her apron more firmly about her waist. "Very well. I won't have you carrying coal or hauling buckets, but there are plenty of gentler tasks needing done."
"I shall be delighted."
"You may not be when you've finished."
Within a quarter of an hour Elizabeth found herself seated in the little parlour with two enormous baskets of freshly laundered linen before her.
The task proved unexpectedly soothing. The great household sheets smelt faintly of lavender and woodsmoke and there was something quietly satisfying in turning the untidy piles into neat orderly stacks.
Every so often Martha appeared to carry one basket away and replace it with another, while Mrs Goose drifted in and out, pausing only long enough to inspect Elizabeth's progress before disappearing again to settle some fresh difficulty elsewhere in the inn.
By the time the second basket was finished, Mrs Goose seemed satisfied that Elizabeth was unlikely to collapse if trusted with something rather more adventurous.
"You may carry those across the courtyard to Meg who is refreshing the smaller rooms," she said, nodding towards the neatly folded pile. "Only mind you don't try taking all of them at once. You are still recovering and your husband shall have my hide if you overtax yourself."
Elizabeth gathered up a sensible bundle and smiled. "You have my solemn word, I shall take care, Mrs Goose."
???
Elizabeth crossed the yard and almost immediately caught sight of Mr Darcy.
He stood near the entrance speaking with a group of labourers and a soot-stained man who appeared to be the village blacksmith, a rough sketch spread across the back of a cart.
His coat had been discarded despite the chill and his shirtsleeves rolled haphazardly above his wrists.
One sleeve bore a streak of mud that suggested he had not merely been giving instructions but lending his own hands to the work.
One of the men pointed towards the road and shook his head.
Mr Darcy listened without interruption before bending over the sketch and making some alteration with a carpenter's pencil.
Whatever he suggested seemed to satisfy them all, for the blacksmith folded the paper, tucked it beneath his arm and strode away calling for the men to follow him.
Mr Darcy remained where he was for a moment, his expression thoughtful, before turning towards the stables.
An elderly gentleman intercepted him. His clothes were respectable but worn and he held his hat in both hands with evident embarrassment.
Elizabeth was too far away to hear their conversation, but she saw the old man shake his head several times before Mr Darcy quietly slipped something into his palm and closed the man's fingers over it.
The gentleman protested, but Mr Darcy smiled slightly and said something that caused the other's shoulders to relax.
He bowed, replaced his hat and walked away with considerably lighter steps than he had approached.
Mr Darcy watched him go only a moment before turning back towards the stables as though the matter had already passed entirely from his thoughts.
Elizabeth stood looking after him for several seconds before remembering the linen in her arms. Feeling faintly foolish that she had allowed herself to stand gawping across the yard, she shifted the bundle against her hip and continued towards a smaller building that served as a lodging house for guests with smaller purses.
She had scarcely taken more than a few steps when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Miss… Mrs… that is… Madam"
She turned to find Mr Darcy approaching, removing his gloves as he walked. He looked tired and hesitant as his dark eyes bored into her own. Her breath caught in her throat.
"I hope Mrs Goose has not entrusted you with anything too strenuous," he said, his voice low.
Elizabeth felt herself flush under his gaze and looked down at the bundle in her arms, "I have recently been promoted."
His brow furrowed.
"I began with folding sheets. I am now considered equal to carrying clean linen from one building to another. Mrs Goose informs me that if I distinguish myself there is every possibility I shall eventually be trusted with towels."
To her delight, he laughed. Just a small, almost nervous laugh.
But the thawing of relations after the previous night was very welcome.
Something released in her chest and she wondered why his impressions of her mattered at all, why it should be that this man—that she had disliked so much just days ago—should have such sway over emotions.
It was the situation she supposed, that and her illness.
It was a strange situation and therefore a strange emotional response was to be expected.
"I congratulate you on your advancement," he said with a small smile. His dimples were gone almost as quickly as they appeared.
"I confess I had hoped for something a little more exciting. She informed me this morning that if I overtaxed myself my husband would have her hide."
Mr Darcy closed his eyes briefly, and then once again his gaze found and locked with hers. Who was this man? This apparently kind, useful but infuriating man. He stepped towards her, just a small movement, but she felt the reduced distance between them acutely.
The rain had almost ceased altogether now and the inn yard was alive with activity. Men carried heavy timbers towards the road, stable boys hurried backwards and forwards with tools, whilst somewhere beyond the gate the steady sound of hammering rang through the damp morning air.
Elizabeth nodded towards the cart where the rough sketches still lay, weighed down with stones. "You appear to have found yourself another occupation."
Mr Darcy followed her gaze and shrugged. "There seemed little purpose in waiting for someone else to improve matters."
"So you have decided to improve them yourself?"
"I have merely tried to organise those who actually know what they are doing."
"You looked remarkably authoritative from where I was standing."
"I assure you the blacksmith has forgotten more about repairing bridges than I shall ever know."
"Yet they all appeared content to let you direct them."
"They were all attempting different solutions at once. It seemed quicker to persuade them to settle upon one."
"And have they?"
"I believe so."
He looked towards the road where several wagons stood waiting.
"If we can shore up the bank before nightfall we should be able to get supplies across on foot tomorrow. It will likely be able to carry coaches in a day or so, perhaps longer, but at least food and medicines can be moved. We cannot know what is happening at the bridge closer to Barley Cross, but I am sure that is being managed as well. We shall hopefully have word from the Frosts and be able to retrieve your father’s carriage before long. "
Elizabeth listened with growing interest. "You have thought of everything," she murmured. Her eyes wandered towards the elderly gentleman she had seen earlier, now seated comfortably upon a bench outside the taproom with two small children climbing happily over his knees.
"And him?"
Mr Darcy looked across the yard.
"That gentleman?"
"I saw you speaking to him."
He hesitated and looked at his boots. "He had exhausted his travelling funds. I lent him enough to see his family safely home."
Elizabeth looked at him for a long moment.
"You did not wish anyone to know."
"It would have embarrassed him."
She studied him thoughtfully. "I was quite wrong about you."
His expression changed. His face was open, hopeful, even boyish for a moment. "I beg your pardon?"
"At Netherfield I thought you watched everyone because you were looking for faults. I was entirely convinced you spent every waking hour judging the rest of mankind."
A look of genuine surprise crossed his face. "I wondered why you appeared so angry whenever I looked in your direction."
"You always looked so terribly serious. But now, I see you are always assessing, wondering, finding ways to put wrongs right."
For a few moments neither spoke. Around them the inn carried on with its noisy business, but the bustle seemed strangely distant.
At length Mr Darcy said quietly, "My father always maintained that an estate was not measured in acres but in people.
He used to tell me that if one wished to manage anything properly, one must first pay attention.
Truly pay attention. Most difficulties become obvious long before they become disasters.
It helps to have Burke with me, he makes my powers of observation look childish in comparison.
I truly think he could manage empires if given half a chance. "
Elizabeth's smile broadened. "I have noticed. He also appears to possess a remarkable talent for managing you."
Darcy gave a resigned nod. "He has enjoyed that privilege for nearly twenty years."
Their eyes met again, and for a moment neither seemed inclined to look away.
"I am sorry," Elizabeth said quietly.
"So am I."
He drew a slow breath. "I cannot alter how I behaved. I wish very much that I could."
She shook her head gently. "But I think we may both stop apologising now."
"I should like that."
"So should I."
She hesitated only a heartbeat before freeing one hand from beneath the bundle of linen.
"Friends, then?"
Mr Darcy looked at the hand she held out as though it were an extraordinary gift and one he scarcely dared accept. When he finally took it, his fingers closed around hers with a gentleness that made her pulse quicken.
"I should like that very much, Miss Bennet."
Elizabeth smiled. "So should I, Mr Darcy."
Their hands remained joined for a moment longer than propriety allowed and his thumb gently circled her palm.
Feeling suddenly bold, and unable afterwards to explain what possessed her, Elizabeth stepped a little nearer.
"I think," she said with a shy smile, "that perhaps one apology still remains.
" Before he could ask what she meant, she rose lightly onto her toes and pressed the briefest kiss against his cheek.
Neither of them was aware that Captain Henderson had emerged from the stable yard only moments before. He had approached intending to enquire after Mrs Darcy's health, but stopped as the last few sentences drifted across the quiet courtyard.
"Friends, then?"
"I should like that very much, Miss Bennet."
"So should I, Mr Darcy."
His gaze rested for a moment upon Mr Darcy's astonished expression and the unmistakable blush upon Elizabeth's cheeks.
A slow smile spread across his face and he sucked on his pipe with satisfaction.
"So," he murmured to himself, turning quietly away before either of them saw him. "That explains a great deal."