Chapter Twenty-four #3
“Precisely,” Mama said, staring at her husband with narrowed eyes. “I really must insist that you write him and make certain he knows he is welcome here.”
Lizzy watched her father’s lips tightened.
He could be as stubborn as his wife. In her estimation he would delay writing until the last possible moment before the delay turned into an insult.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Mary’s lips twitch.
Her sister knew that at least she would not need to countenance a marriage proposal from their cousin. Then, dismay entered Lizzy’s heart.
Kitty and Lydia are too young to marry…that leaves only me…but what about Mr. Darcy? Is he toying with my affections?
Love, D.
Love, D.
That valediction must mean something. We will dance together tomorrow night…I must take comfort in that. God-willing, Mr. Collins will find none in this house to attract him.
Lizzy stood abruptly and looked at her father. “May I be excused? I wish to take Harry out…and it is such a fine evening.”
“It is dark, Lizzy,” Jane pointed out. “And the moon will give no light tonight.”
“I will not go into the home wood,” Lizzy promised. “I will stay within the close proximity of the house.”
Her father nodded, and she made her escape.
Lizzy went upstairs and changed into one of her work dresses, donned a Sardinian blue spencer in case she became chilly, and tied on a simple cloth bonnet of a matching color.
She kept her walking shoes in the orangery, so she hurried down there, where she also found Harry.
Her dog saw her enter and immediately stood from where he had been lying on the mat in front of the glass doors.
“Good evening, everyone,” Lizzy said, smiling at the fox, the fawn, and the host of other creatures who lived in the orangery.
“It must be odd to not have Jeffry here any longer.” She spied Jack twitch his nose and turn his back on her.
“Very well, perhaps he will not be missed by everyone. I am going for a run with Harry. Does anyone need water?” Lizzy hurriedly checked everyone’s water dishes.
“Good, plenty of water. I will be back in an hour or so. Come, Harry.”
The minute the glass door shut behind her, Clive, the fox, yipped, saying, “I wish I could go running. I’m tired of sittin’ in here everyday.”
“You said you wanted to be a pet,” reminded Carl, the fawn.
“I’ve changed my mind,” Clive explained.
The door opened once more, and Lizzy entered the orangery. She walked straight up to Clive’s enclosure.
“You know, Clive, it just occurred to me that you are ready to leave us, too, my friend,” she said, lifting the gate to his pen out of the way. “I have warned Harry not to chase you, but you had best get yourself hidden so he is not tempted.”
Clive hesitantly moved toward the opening.
“Are you really going, Clive?” Jill, the rabbit, asked. “We’ll miss you.”
“I won’t,” Jack grumbled, though he turned around to watch Clive slink through the orangery.
“I’m a hunter,” Clive said by way of warning to all the creatures around him who would normally be prey.
“We know,” squeaked Dash, the house mouse, from where he sat shivering on the shelf above Lizzy’s desk.
“So do we,” chorused the squirrels. “We’re never leavin’. It’s safe here.”
Clive sneezed in disgust and carefully exited the orangery, his gaze searching for the dog. Harry sat next to the rock wall and chuffed, but made no move to intercept him. Keeping one eye on the danger, Clive padded to the wall, leapt over it, and only then raced away into the home wood.
I’ve gotta find a den, I’ve gotta find a vixen.
Lizzy kept Harry beside her as they traversed the paths along the edge of the home wood. She heard several loud barks from Clive as he announced his presence to the vixens in the surrounding area.
“He is rather keen, is he not?” she said to Harry, who whined. “I know, you would rather run hither and thither, but we must give Clive a chance to find his way. Tomorrow is soon enough for you to race about like a mad creature. Besides, it is quite dark beneath the trees.”
Lizzy turned them toward a path that stretched between their paddocks.
Sheep baa-ed and goats bleated at her as they jogged past. Clover, the enormous reddish-brown and white bull, spied her coming and lumbered over to the stone fence of his paddock.
He rested his head on the top of the fence and snorted at her as she approached closer.
“Feeling better?” she asked, reaching out to scratch him between the eyes.
“I see you are. I have just released the fox I told you about. He is in the home wood at the moment, so Harry and I are getting our exercise away from it. Do not stomp on Clive if he should enter your paddock, if you please.”
Lizzy received the impression that Clover would make no promises.
She chuckled, gave him a pat, and began to walk more cautiously.
Jane had been right. The sliver moon gave no light.
She could see the lanterns lit near the stables and they started in that direction.
When they reached the path next to the orchard, to Lizzy’s surprise, Harry stopped beside her and began to growl.