Their first stop was at an overlook, where Mr. Darcy explained that humans had inhabited the valley for thousands of years, leaving behind their primitive tools and evidence of fire. Fire had been used to burn vegetation in order to spur the growth of the grasses that would eventually provide forage for Pemberley’s sheep and cattle centuries later. After allowing only a ten-minute respite, Mr. Darcy hurried the ladies back to their mounts, and they were again on the trail.
It was another thirty minutes before Belling came to a stop and dismounted. They had finally reached the overlook that provided a panoramic view of the Peak. Darcy had wanted to share this view with Elizabeth from the time he had seen her venturing off a well-traveled path at Rosings to go exploring on her own, not knowing where the trail might lead her.
Darcy was impatient for her to dismount, so he lifted her off the horse without waiting for Belling. Taking her by the hand, he led her to the edge of a precipice, and from this prospect, Lizzy looked out at the grandeur of the Peak. There was no one word that could possibly describe what lay before her. A marvel, magnificent, breathtaking, majestic did not do it justice.
“Now, do you understand why I insisted that you ride? Do you see why you could not walk?”
She merely nodded and watched as a passing cloud transformed the landscape, its shadow concealing and revealing the colors of the hills and dales below.
“As a boy, I climbed these hills and rode across these valleys. While on foot, I came upon limestone caves and huge stones with evidence of mound graves and remnants of circular structures, and Georgie and I often came here to search for minerals, which we would bring back to show the Duchess of Devonshire, our neighbor and an amateur mineralogist. I was with Belling’s grandfather when I found my first axehead,” and turning around, he called for Georgie and Belling, who had been laying out a blanket so that they could have a light repast, to come and enjoy the view. But what Belling saw was entirely different from what his master and the ladies were seeing.
“Sir, I think we got a storm moving our way,” and as if on cue, the wind picked up and a swirl of clouds emerged over the distant peaks. After mumbling “Damnation!” under his breath, Darcy immediately began giving orders.
“Miss Elizabeth, Georgiana, you need to return to Pemberley immediately. Georgie, go by the south trail; that is the quickest way.” And after Darcy had helped Lizzy onto her horse, he said, “Sugar likes to move at her own pace, so you will need to be a little firmer with the whip to get her to follow Georgie. Remember, hold the reins evenly and squeeze the saddle with your legs if you feel as if you might fall off. Now, off you go,” and he slapped Sugar’s haunch.
“Belling, never mind about the food. Pack up everything else,” and with that Darcy started to gather up the plates and linen. The ladies should be fine, he thought, but with the storm moving in so quickly, he anticipated that Belling and he were going to be drenched by the time they reached Pemberley.
Apparently, Sugar did not like bad weather. Instead of using the whip, Lizzy had to rein her in, or she would have plowed right into the back of Georgiana’s horse. Except for riding through a bracing wind, the two ladies reached the stables without so much as a drop falling on them. Darcy and Belling were not as fortunate. They were in the open when the storm burst upon them. Fortunately, the groom had packed a coat for his master, but poor Belling was soaked through. Darcy rode into the stables, and immediately ordered the groom to change his clothes.
“Will, I think you are bad luck,” his sister said, laughing as her brother shook out his coat. “This is exactly what happened to us the last time we rode up to that promontory.”
“If I were not a gentleman, Georgiana, I might say you were the source of our bad luck.”
“If you will excuse me, Miss Elizabeth,” Georgiana said, continuing to laugh, “I shall see to my horse.”
“Georgie has always preferred to groom her own horses,” her brother explained. “When she was young, she would come down here early in the morning and brush their coats and plait their manes, and on occasion, muck stalls. She would have much preferred to have been a boy.”
“I certainly can understand that. She would not have to ride sidesaddle.”
Darcy made a face, and so she continued. “We must not quarrel, Mr. Darcy. I hope we shall always be friends.”
Without truly being conscious of what he was doing, he placed his hands on Elizabeth’s waist and turned her so that she was facing him. “Don’t you understand that I don’t want to be your friend,” and he ran his fingers along her cheek. Believing that he was going to kiss her, she closed her eyes and waited. But, instead…
“What the devil?”
“Excuse me!” Lizzy said, opening her eyes.
Coming toward them at full gait was Colonel Fitzwilliam. When he had dismounted, he said, “Hope I am not intruding, Darcy. Miss Elizabeth,” he said, bowing, “I had no idea you were here. How good it is to see you again.”
“Colonel, it is a pleasure. I am quite surprised to see you so far from Kent.”
“That makes two of us,” Darcy grumbled.
Chapter 36
As soon as Georgiana saw her cousin, she went running to him and practically jumped into his arms. Although Darcy shared her guardianship with Colonel Fitzwilliam, her brother took his role so seriously that there wasn’t anything for Richard to do, and so he was the lovable cousin, who was a lot more fun than the strict brother.
“Richard, what are you doing here?” Georgiana asked.
“Once I had learned that you and Will were at Pemberley and that Anne had joined you, I felt left out. So here I am. And now I find the lovely Miss Elizabeth Bennet is also a guest. There is no comparison to be made between you lovely ladies and that of a regiment of redcoats, who are in ill humor because of too many parades.”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, I am actually staying at the inn at Lambton with my aunt and uncle who are now at the manor house. We were just waiting for a break in the rain so that we might join them.”
“We have other guests as well, Richard,” Georgiana added. “Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst.”
Richard looked at Darcy, and he could not help but smile at the thought of Miss Elizabeth, whom Darcy wanted, and Miss Bingley, who wanted Darcy, being together at Pemberley at the same time.
“Such a fun group. I am sorry I did not get here sooner.”
“Georgiana, Mercer is coming with the umbrellas. The rain has lightened considerably, so I would ask that you go up to the house and see to our guests as soon as you have changed. Miss Elizabeth, my sister will see that you get a pair of dry boots.”
“Very well, Mr. Darcy, I shall do exactly that as I am familiar with your opinion regarding muddy footwear.” The two ladies made their way to the manor house with Mercer assisting them over any puddles.
Darcy smiled at the memory of Elizabeth’s arrival at Netherfield on that misty morning. If he had to fix a time when he had fallen in love with her, it would have been that day.
“Sorry to intrude, old boy,” Richard said, interrupting Darcy’s thoughts. “I had no idea Miss Elizabeth was in Derbyshire. She said nothing of it when she was at Rosings.”
“Nor did I know of her plans. Our shy cousin from Kent arranged for Elizabeth and me to be here at Pemberley at exactly the same time. I would have been impressed if you, with all of your military experience, had pulled off such a scheme, but to have Anne accomplish such a feat, it is nothing short of remarkable. I might add there is no need to apologize. These past few days have been a farce, so I welcome you to the play.”
“Is Caroline Bingley also one of the players?”