Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World (9 page)

Elizabeth
stayed a few minutes in Pandora's stall, talking nonsense and patting her neck.
She would have liked to stay longer, but the stable boys would have wondered at
that. Slowly she trudged past the long line of stalls.

It
was a far cry from the corner of the barn that held Longbourn's two horses. Her
mind thus occupied, she was startled to hear her name spoken when she stepped
out into the watery grey daylight.

It
was Georgiana, dressed in an elegant riding habit which accentuated her height
and womanly figure. Behind her a groom held a finely boned horse,
nervous-looking and easily two hands taller than Pandora.

"Georgiana!
I had thought you would be resting after your travels."

Elizabeth
tried to ignore how the horse threw his head and stamped his feet impatiently.

"I
miss my horses so much when I am away. I can never wait to go riding when I
come home. "

"I
hope you have a lovely time." Elizabeth could not imagine ever wanting to
ride such a horse.

Georgiana
cast her eyes down Elizabeth's dress, obviously unsuited for riding, then glanced
into the stables. "What brings you here?"

Elizabeth
smiled ruefully. "I was visiting my horse. She is new, and I try to stop
by when I can so she will become accustomed to me."

"You
have a new horse?" For the first time in their brief acquaintance, Georgiana
sounded truly interested in what Elizabeth had to say.

"Your
brother gave her to me." She did not know why she felt as if she should
apologize for having a new horse.

"May
I see her?"

"Of
course." Elizabeth did not understand Georgiana's excitement, but if this
might prove a way for the girl to be more comfortable with her, she would try
it. She led the way back to the stall. "This is Pandora." The little mare's
ears flickered, clearly surprised to see Elizabeth again so soon, and pushed
her head against Elizabeth's shoulder, as if hoping for another treat.

Georgiana's
expression was blank. "This is your horse?"

Elizabeth
almost winced at the disbelief in her voice. Small, sedate Pandora was nothing
like Georgiana's horse. Elizabeth moved a little closer to Pandora, remembering
what Wickham had said of Georgiana's pride.

"Yes,
she is."

"She
is lovely," Georgiana said a moment too late. "Who are her sire and
dam?"

"I
do not believe your brother mentioned that to me. But I should not keep you
from your ride." Elizabeth stepped outside the stall. This humiliating
conversation could not end soon enough.

Georgiana
suddenly looked awkward. "Yes, of course. If you will excuse me." She
hurried out of the stable.

Elizabeth
followed more slowly, emerging just in time to see Georgiana mount and trot out
of the stable yard, then urge her horse to a canter. She cut as fi ne a figure
on horseback as her brother did. Elizabeth watched as she raced toward a fence,
and closed her eyes involuntarily as the horse leapt into the air.

After
dinner the following day, Darcy asked Georgiana to play for them. Elizabeth was
unsurprised by the agility with which Georgiana's hands moved over the keys.
She had already learned how far the quiet girl's education outstripped her own
haphazard one. When the music ended, Elizabeth smiled and applauded, joining
her praises to Darcy's.

As
Georgiana began a second piece, Darcy turned to Elizabeth. "You did not
ride this morning."

"No,
I did not." Elizabeth had not felt inclined to display her own lack of
ability after Georgiana's show of horsemanship. She had been glad of her
decision that afternoon when she had seen Georgiana and Darcy cantering across
the hills, and later listened through the open door to their happy conversation
when they finally returned from their ride.

Darcy
appeared to choose his words with care. "Is there anything I can do to
make riding more pleasant for you?"

"I
cannot think of anything, thank you." She was uncomfortably aware this was
their first even partially private conversation since Georgiana's arrival.

"If
you should feel inclined to try again another day, I would be happy to
assist."

"There
is little point."

"As
you wish." Darcy lapsed into silence as Georgiana's music continued to
flow past.

Elizabeth
felt unaccountably near tears. She did not know what she wished he might say;
she would likely have resented it had he pressed her further. She wondered if
he would sell Pandora now, rather than bear the cost of keeping a mount best
suited to a child.

His
voice interrupted her thoughts. "If I have done something to off end you,
I hope you will tell me, as I appear to be singularly incapable of divining it
by myself."

She
turned to look at him in surprise. "No, I am not off ended." How
could she be off ended that he loved his sister, or that Georgiana rode and
played better than she ever would? "But I would be appreciative if, the
next time you are expecting company, I might be informed in advance."

"Ah."
Darcy's brow cleared. "If you are referring to Georgiana, I had no notion
she was coming. I would certainly have told you otherwise."

Elizabeth
was more relieved than she wanted to admit. "I thought I heard her say you
had sent for her."

Darcy
glanced at the pianoforte, a grim look settling around his mouth.

"There
was a situation with my aunt. Georgiana is painfully frightened of conflict,
and wished to leave. She told my uncle I had sent for her."

"I
find it hard to believe she would ever feel intimidated."

"Georgiana?
She is frightened of almost everything except horses and her music, and that is
only because she practices constantly and has ridden almost since she could
walk."

Elizabeth
blinked in surprise. If he was correct, and presumably he was, then she had
misunderstood Georgiana as much as she had misread him initially. Still, she
could not shake the image of him laughing with his sister as their horses had
hurtled along the landscape. "She is an excellent horsewoman. Even if I
rode every day for the rest of my life, I would never ride like that."

"I
am happy to hear that. Georgiana can be somewhat reckless on horseback."

A
few minutes earlier Elizabeth had been hard pressed to find amusement in
anything; now she found a smile creeping onto her lips. "It must run in
the family, then."

He
frowned, and then seemed to realize he was being teased. "Perhaps it
does."

Elizabeth
congratulated herself on Darcy's look of surprise the next morning when she
stole a moment to announce to him her plan to ride again. He recovered quickly,
immediately setting out with her, though she doubted his valet would thank her
for taking him to the stable yard without even a change of coat. Still, she was
glad of his company; it meant she did not have to pretend to a boldness she did
not possess, as she would have to with a stable hand.

He
led her around the stable yard again, and Elizabeth counted it as progress that
her terror abated enough that she could worry about whether Georgiana would see
her foolishness. She was determined to manage three circuits, but by the end of
it, her chest was so tight she could not breathe.

After
she dismounted, she leaned against Pandora's side until her dizziness passed.
Darcy said nothing, but she could feel his close gaze on her.

As
they walked back to the house, Elizabeth said, "You are very kind to
assist me with my riding, but I cannot imagine you are comfortable doing a
groom's work."

"My
father did it for me when I was first learning to ride. It does not make me
uncomfortable. Once I could go beyond the stable yard, my mother gave me
lessons."

"Your
mother taught you to ride?" Elizabeth was startled by this unusual
behaviour. Perhaps the Darcy family was not as tradition-bound as she had
thought.

"Yes,
and Georgiana as well. She was an avid horsewoman. That is why

it
is so difficult to put restraints on Georgiana's riding, since she is riding as
our mother did."

"Yet
you seem to enjoy riding with her, even when she takes risks."

Darcy
paused, dislodging a small rock in the path with his foot and pushing it to the
side. "I should not, I know, but sometimes when we are galloping over the
grounds, it is as if ... "

Elizabeth
waited for him to continue, but instead he resumed his normal quick stride.
"As if?"

"It
is of no importance. You are correct. I should not encourage her."

Hurt
by the dismissal in his voice, Elizabeth said no more. So his civility went no
further than the surface. She should not have expected anything else. He had no
reason to trust her or to wish to confide in her. At least it was civility;
that was progress of a sort.

Chapter 9

Mrs.
Reynolds ran the household at Pemberley so seamlessly that Elizabeth was rarely
called upon for decisions beyond menu selection, so she was surprised when the
housekeeper asked to speak with her privately.

"Mrs.
Darcy, I have a concern which is beyond my purview. I hope you will not think
me interfering."

Elizabeth
laid aside her embroidery. "Of course not. Please, continue."

Mrs.
Reynolds folded her hands in front of her. "I have a concern for a family
here, tenant farmers, not that their farm is producing anything.

They
appear to be in rather desperate straits. Usually Mr. Dunstan, as steward,
would attend to this--he is most dutiful about these matters--but in this
particular case, he cannot, as Mr. Tanner refuses any assistance. He does not
even allow his wife to speak to her family or friends. From what the children
say, there is not enough food, and many of their possessions have been sold to
pay for--forgive me, madam--drink. Mrs. Tanner is approaching her confinement,
and may be ill. No one knows for certain."

"A
disturbing situation, indeed. Is there a way I might be of assistance?"

Elizabeth
felt for the unknown woman, at the mercy of a drunken husband, with little
recourse. The fingers of her right hand unconsciously sought out her wedding
band. A cruel husband could so easily destroy a woman's life, and her
children's as well. She had been fortunate in that regard, at least so far.

Mrs.
Reynolds looked approving. "It strikes me that the husband could not
easily refuse to allow the wife of his landlord to visit or to offer aid."

It
would be a way to be of use, something she otherwise lacked. The days wore
heavily on her since Darcy had stopped spending time with her apart from her
morning ride, and Georgiana's company was uncomfortable at best. "I could
certainly try. Would it perhaps be better if I called on other families in need
as well, so as not to single the Tanners out?"

"An
excellent idea, madam. I am certain Mr. Dunstan would have some
suggestions."

Over
the next hours, Elizabeth found herself being organized by Mrs.

Reynolds
as efficiently as the rest of the household. She set out in a phaeton
accompanied by one of the footmen, baskets of food and other sundries beside
her. She was grateful for the footman's company. The task, which had sounded
simple enough when first mentioned, began to make her more nervous as she
considered the uncertainty of her reception, and the necessity of retaining her
authority as Mistress of Pemberley no matter the circumstances. Perhaps she
should have sought Darcy's advice before undertaking the effort.

She
chose to visit the tenants with simpler situations first, a new infant, an ill
child, a recent death. She had made similar charity visits at Longbourn, though
it seemed odd to call upon complete strangers. It helped her regain some of her
old assurance. To the Pemberley tenants, her connections did not make her
second-rate, and they were proud to have Mrs. Darcy call. It had been so long
since anyone had been glad to see her, Elizabeth could not help but find some
comfort in their pleasure. The newborn babe, his baby hair soft against her
cheek and bound in coarse swaddling, did not judge her. The tenants were
charmed by her smiles and her easy ways.

Her
trepidation increased as they approached the Tanner cottage. Signs of poor
maintenance showed even on the outside: ragged thatch, cracks in the timbers, a
path growing over with weeds. Only the small vegetable garden appeared cared for.
Summoning a mantle of confidence, Elizabeth knocked at the ill-hung door.

It
was opened by a girl of perhaps six, clad in a faded and stained dress, with
signs of careful mending along the seams. Her eyes widened when she saw
Elizabeth, and she scampered back inside without a word. A moment later a woman
appeared in the doorway, her hollow cheeks a contrast the roundness of her
body. It was clear she was not far from her confinement. She glanced nervously
over Elizabeth's shoulder, as if watching for someone.

Elizabeth
introduced herself while the footman carried in a basket of food and sundries.
The tenant homes she had seen so far were small, but well kept. This one offered
little in the way of furniture, and that in poor state.

Two
little boys toddled up to her curiously. Elizabeth spoke to them in a friendly
tone. "Do you like gingerbread?"

The
older of the two, who could not have been above four years of age, glanced
uncertainly at his mother. Elizabeth could not help but be disturbed at the
degree of anxiety in such a small child.

"When
I was your age, I adored it, so I brought some along in case you liked it as
well." She produced several pieces and held them out. Each of the boys
snatched one, and the older girl crept cautiously closer until Elizabeth offered
her one with a smile. The children stuffed the treat into their mouths as if
they expected to have it snatched away at any moment.