If Fortune shined on him, at some time during the ride into the Peak, he would have a few minutes to talk to Elizabeth. He was not going to propose marriage until they could be alone, but he did intend to seek assurances that she would be receptive to an offer. With only Georgie and Belling, the groom, accompanying them, surely he would be able to have a private word with her. It must happen tomorrow, as she had informed him that the following day she would be leaving Derbyshire to return to Longbourn. It was his last chance to touch her heart.
If Darcy had been the soul of discretion, Bingley had decided to throw caution to the wind. Since he might not have an opportunity to visit with Elizabeth on the morrow, he had to act tonight.
“Miss Elizabeth, you mentioned your sister, Miss Bennet, is in good health,” Bingley said as soon as she had finished her song.
“I know of no complaint, sir.”
“The last time I saw her was at the ball at Netherfield, and she was in good health at that time.”
“Mr. Bingley, please forgive me for being forward, but if you have something you wish for me to communicate to my sister, please speak freely.”
“Do I have something to communicate? I have volumes to communicate. And I would begin with an apology for leaving Hertfordshire so abruptly without a note or letter. Oh God, here’s Caroline! Quickly, if I return to Netherfield Park, would I be welcomed at Longbourn?”
Caroline was too close to make any comment, so Lizzy did what she could to assure Mr. Bingley that his attentions would be warmly received.
“Although I make no claim to be a musical historian, I believe that ballad originated in the West Country. But thank you for your compliments. Such kind words are always welcome, especially from old friends.”
Those words were encouragement enough. In a matter of days, Charles would be in a position to begin to repair the damage he had done, and he could only hope that Miss Bennet would be willing to forgive him. It was his intention to leave Pemberley in advance of his sisters. One of Darcy’s men would see them to Leicester, where he would arrange to have one of George’s men meet them at the coaching inn.
Seeing that Charles was talking to Miss Elizabeth, Caroline had intended to inject herself into the conversation when Miss de Bourgh asked if she had heard anything new about the scandal involving Mrs. Clarke. The mistress of the Duke of York had been accused of soliciting bribes from the military in exchange for commissions from the Duke. If Caroline had a weakness, it was her love of gossip. Before leaving London, she had purchased a pamphlet detailing Lord Wardle’s complaint against the couple, and in Caroline’s eagerness to share the latest “dirt,” Anne had successfully diverted her attention. But even if Caroline had known of the purpose behind her question, she would not have cared. Since tomorrow was to be Miss Elizabeth’s last day in Lambton, Caroline only had one more day to keep her rival at bay, and then Mr. Darcy was all hers.
Chapter 35
Mrs. Gardiner and Lizzy were waiting outside the inn when the Darcy carriage, with Mercer at the reins, arrived promptly at 9:00 to take the two ladies to Pemberley. After stopping at the manor house, so that Mrs. Gardiner might join the other guests, Mercer went right to the stables where Mr. Darcy, his sister, and Belling were waiting for Lizzy.
Dressed in a riding outfit that Miss Darcy had given to her the previous evening, Lizzy was as ready as she was ever going to be. Apparently, the Darcys intended to leave as soon as possible, as Sugar, a dappled gray, was already saddled and waiting for her. Belling, a strapping lad of sixteen, gave her some advice as how best to handle the mare.
“Now, miss, Sugar needs only the lightest touch with the whip to get her moving in the right direction. I’ve never known her to go off the trail, and she’s used to following Miss Darcy’s horse, so no worries.”
With Mr. Darcy assisting, Lizzy stepped up on a wooden box to get on Sugar. She hated riding sidesaddle. The weight distribution was all wrong, and she always felt as if she was going to fall off the horse. This time was no different.
“Miss Elizabeth, you need to flex your ankles and keep your heels below the toe,” Darcy instructed her. “You are holding the reins too loosely; they have to be held evenly. Correct posture is essential, so you need to square your shoulders and hips and keep your spine in line with Sugar’s.” After checking her alignment, he handed her a whip.
“Will, let’s have Miss Elizabeth ride about the yard for a few minutes,” his sister suggested. “She has not been on a horse in a long time.”
Belling led Sugar about the yard on a tether, and Lizzy felt comfortable enough to take the reins. She thought she had done well, but Mr. Darcy was of a different mind.
“Sugar needs very little direction, but she does need some. You are still holding the reins too loosely, and you have to cue her with your left leg.”
“Mr. Darcy, I was completely honest when I told you that I did not ride well, and riding once around your yard is not likely to make me an expert, no matter how masterful the instruction. As you know, my preference is to walk.”
“Of course I know your preference is to walk. You arrived at Netherfield ankle deep in mud because of your love of walking, but surely it is possible for one to both ride and walk.”
This was the Mr. Darcy she remembered from Hertfordshire. Do it my way because I know best. “I know you did not approve of my walking to Netherfield, especially since it had rained that morning. However, I came to see how my sister was faring, not to pay a social call.”
“I can assure you that my statement was not meant as a criticism. I thought it showed a deep affection for your sister, but you must own to it that you would have been better served if you had ridden.”
“But that would have meant taking one of the horses off the farm, which I did not want to do.”
Georgiana came over and told her brother that Miss Elizabeth’s skills were sufficient to ride a well-traveled trail and whispered to him, “Your tone does not serve your purpose.” She walked over to Lizzy to tell her that Belling would take the lead and she would follow him. Miss Darcy would be immediately behind her, and her brother would bring up the rear. And off they went, clippity clop, just as Mr. Bingley had said.
There were few places on the trail where two horses could ride in tandem, but when they had reached such a spot, Georgiana spurred her horse to come up next to Lizzy.
“Once we get to the top, we shall have a little something to eat. Mrs. Bradshaw packed some bread and cheese, I believe. On our way back, we will go by a different trail that leads directly to a perfect spot for a picnic. Mercer will bring our friends there, and we shall all have a nice time.” Turning back to see if her brother could hear her, she added, “Do not mind my brother. He excels at everything that interests him, but he was not interested in learning German nor ice-skating. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.”
Lizzy smiled at this news. Most winters a small pond near Longbourn froze, and the children would go sledding or ice-skating. Unlike Mr. Darcy, Lizzy skated very well.