The Shrubbery
Nothing further had been seen overnight. Richard’s men still watched the southern boundary, and the carriage road had been checked before Sir Alexander ordered the horses brought round.
Sir Alexander’s carriage had been waiting for nearly half an hour on Easter Monday before Anne came down carrying Catherine.
“I should like her home before evening,” Anne said, adjusting the baby’s blanket as Sir Alexander took her. “And Alexander has neglected his estate for long enough.”
“I have been away three days,” he said.
“Exactly.”
Anthony and Lewis showed no concern at being left behind. Anthony had already taken the wooden Bucephalus into the garden, while Lewis stood beside Darcy with one hand closed around his fingers.
“You will mind Nurse,” Anne said.
Anthony nodded.
“And Grandmama.”
He considered this until Lady Catherine looked at him. “Yes, Mama,” he said.
Anne kissed Anthony, then bent to Lewis. “You are staying with Grandmama.”
Lewis tightened his hold on Darcy’s hand.
“And Fitzwilliam,” Anne added.
That appeared to satisfy him.
Sir Alexander settled Catherine against his shoulder. “Two days,” he told Anthony. “Perhaps three.”
Anthony looked towards the garden. “Bucephalus will need me.”
“I had assumed as much.”
Sir Alexander addressed Darcy. “Fitzwilliam.”
Darcy met his gaze.
“You know where to send word.”
“Yes.”
“Then do so. Whatever happens.” He glanced at the house. “Anne will want to know.”
“She will know.”
Sir Alexander nodded once and held out his free hand. Darcy took it.
Anne embraced her mother last. “You will send word if anything changes.”
Lady Catherine drew back. “I always do.”
Anne studied her for a moment, then climbed into the carriage. Sir Alexander handed Catherine inside before following her. Anne leaned from the window towards Lewis, still holding Darcy’s hand, then Anthony, who had paused his mapping to watch the departure.
“Lewis, you will be good.”
Lewis considered this. “Dragon.”
“Yes,” Anne said. “Mind the dragon.”
The carriage moved. Anthony watched until it turned beyond the gate, then addressed Darcy.
“Can we go to the stream now?”
“No,” Lady Catherine said from the steps.
“The south field?”
“No.”
Anthony looked at Lewis. Lewis gave as much of a shrug as a child not yet three could manage, and Anthony raised his stick.
“Then we map the terrace.”
Lady Catherine watched them go. “He takes after his mother. She always found the available territory and worked within it.”
The carriage disappeared beyond the trees. Anthony had already begun marking the edge of the terrace with his stick, while Lewis followed him with considerably less purpose and considerably more enthusiasm.
“The stream remains forbidden,” Lady Catherine called.
“Yes, Grandmama.”
“The south fields are forbidden.”
“Yes, Grandmama.”
Lady Catherine turned to Darcy. “You look thoughtful.”
“Do I?”
Richard laughed.
Lady Catherine continued as though she had not heard him. “I have correspondence to attend to. Richard is pretending to do the same. Nurse has informed me that she intends to remain within sight of the boys and requires neither assistance nor interference in accomplishing that object.”
“That sounds very like Nurse,” Richard observed.
“It does.” Lady Catherine put on her gloves. “Elizabeth is walking this morning.”
Richard laughed again.
“What?” Lady Catherine asked. “I have merely observed her habits. One cannot live successfully if one refuses to notice what is in front of one. The shrubbery remains precisely where it was yesterday.”
Then she turned and went inside.
Richard waited until the door had closed. “I should point out that I have never known anyone to survive a direct assault from Lady Catherine’s matchmaking.”
“I do not believe I am being matched.”
“No?” Richard smiled faintly. “That is unfortunate. She appears to believe otherwise. It is a pleasant morning for a walk, Fitzwilliam.”
Then he too went inside. Darcy remained where he was.
Anthony had reached the end of the terrace and was explaining that Bucephalus required an escort if he were to inspect his territory properly.
Lewis appeared willing to undertake the office, provided it required no greater exertion than occasionally pointing at things.
Nurse sat beneath a tree with her sewing, entirely unconcerned by either boy. For the first time in many weeks, nothing immediately required Darcy’s attention, and the shrubbery remained precisely where it had been yesterday.
A walk could scarcely be considered imprudent. He found Elizabeth near the turn in the path, standing beside a bed of late daffodils. She glanced past him towards the house.
“Have you been sent?”
Darcy stopped. “Sent?”
“Lady Catherine informed me yesterday that the shrubbery was safest before noon. I begin to suspect she has views upon its proper use.”
“She has views upon everything.”
“Yes.” Elizabeth turned back to the flowers. “That is what makes the suspicion difficult to dismiss.”
Darcy came to stand beside her. “For what it is worth, I came of my own accord.”
“That is worth something.”
They walked together for some moments without speaking.
Silence with Elizabeth had never required managing.
The gardens at Rosings were beginning to soften into spring.
Somewhere beyond the trees, Anthony could be heard announcing a discovery of considerable importance, though whether he had discovered it himself or Bucephalus had done so on his behalf was less certain.
Elizabeth smiled faintly. “I believe Rosings has become considerably louder since I first arrived.”
“It has.”
“And happier.”
“Yes.”
“You are thoughtful this morning.”
“So Lady Catherine informs me.”
“Then I am glad to know I am in such distinguished company.”
He laughed. “It is dangerous to find oneself in agreement with my aunt.”
“Is it?”
“Very. One generally discovers she has reached three further conclusions whilst one was occupied agreeing with the first.”
Elizabeth laughed. “And?”
“And?”
“You are omitting something, Fitzwilliam.”
“Am I?”
“Most certainly.”
“Yes,” he said quietly. “I believe I am.”
Beyond the trees, Anthony began announcing that Lewis had become lost and required immediate rescue. Lewis objected loudly to both assertions.
Elizabeth laughed again.
“Elizabeth?”
“Yes?”
He had faced Wickham with greater composure than he presently possessed.
“May I kiss you?”
Her expression changed, though she did not look away. “I was beginning to wonder whether I should be obliged to ask first.”
Darcy stepped closer and kissed her gently. The kiss was brief and careful, and when he drew back, Elizabeth remained close enough that he could feel her breath against his cheek.
“Elizabeth?”
“Yes?”
“Lady Catherine is going to be intolerable.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “I believe she already is.”
“Mr Darcy!”
They stepped apart. Anthony stood in the middle of the path with Lewis beside him, staring at them with delighted discovery.
“You found Miss Bennet,” Anthony said.
“Found her,” Lewis agreed.
Anthony looked between them. “Grandmama will wish to know.”
“I am sure she will,” Darcy said.
Anthony turned towards the house and discovered Richard standing at the edge of the terrace. His cousin took in Darcy, Elizabeth and the children. The smile arrived slowly.
“Have I missed something?”
“We found Miss Bennet,” Anthony said.
“So I see.”
Lewis pointed at Darcy. “Kissed.”
Richard’s smile widened.
“That was not finding her,” Anthony informed his brother.
“No,” Richard said. “Though it appears to have followed naturally.”
“I shall leave you to explain it to Lady Catherine.”
“You will do no such thing,” Darcy said.
Anthony considered them. “Why does it need explaining?”
The sound of wheels came from the drive.
Anthony stopped. “That is not Mama.”
“No,” Darcy said quietly. “It is not.”
The carriage appeared between the trees a moment later, travelling too quickly for an ordinary arrival.
Richard’s amusement disappeared as he turned towards the drive.
Lady Catherine came out onto the steps behind him, removing her gloves as the carriage approached.
It drew up before the house, and the footman had barely reached the door when it opened.
Georgiana stepped down. She was still dressed for travelling. Dust marked the hem of her pelisse, and one hand remained closed around a leather packet. She saw Darcy and stopped. “Fitzwilliam.”
He crossed the gravel towards her. “Georgiana?”
“I am well,” she said at once. “The children are safe.”
“What has happened?”
Her fingers tightened around the packet. “I found something.”
Lady Catherine stopped beside them. “You travelled safely?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Then we shall discuss the remainder indoors.”
At the edge of the terrace, Elizabeth stood with Anthony and Lewis beside her. Lewis had taken her hand, while Anthony still held his stick, though he had lowered it.
Elizabeth met Darcy’s gaze. “Go.”
He hesitated only long enough to understand that she meant it.
Anthony looked from Darcy to Georgiana. “Are we coming?”
“No,” Lady Catherine said.
“Why not?”
“Because you are four.”
Anthony considered this. “That does not seem a very good reason.”
“It is nevertheless the reason.”
Lewis tightened his hold on Elizabeth’s hand as Lady Catherine addressed Nurse.
“You will remain with them.”
“Yes, your ladyship.”
“Keep them in the gardens. No south fields, and no stream.”
Anthony raised his stick. “We are mapping it.”
“Then I expect a complete account before luncheon.”
Lady Catherine turned towards the house, and Richard followed her. Georgiana waited beside Darcy, one hand still resting upon the leather packet.
“I should have written first,” she said quietly.
“No.”
Across the terrace, Elizabeth smiled at him. Together, he and Georgiana went inside.