Page 41 of His Dark Heart
“I was just informed that a land skirmish is taking place a little farther north. Apparently, they need a royal arbiter to settle it. It is part of an ongoing feud between two families and, frankly, I am tired of dealing with it. I have half a mind to claim their territories for the Crown and toss them off their lands.”
“I should like to go.”
“My sweet, it is no place for a woman.”
“I am a princess now, or so ye keep saying. A princess tends to her people and her people live on her lands, do they not? I want to go. I want to learn what ye do and how ye do it.”
“We cannot take a caravan of carriages.”
“I take less time preparing myself in the morning than ye do, my lord. I think I might be able to travel lightly.”
“I am speaking of horseback, Elizabeth. Living out of a pack.”
“It sounds as though ye are trying to convince me not to go.”
“It is cold outside. I fear you becoming ill.”
“I am not a fragile, sickly thing, my lord.”
“You want to travel with me that badly?”
“I do, but on one condition.”
“What would that be?”
“I shall wear breeches.”
Darcy crossed his arms over his chest. “Wherever would we find breeches to fit you on such short notice?”
“The stable boy is no bigger than I am.”
“I doubt that child has trousers to spare.”
“There must be breeches somewhere about the place.” She stood and began to pace. Suddenly, she became aware she was nude and quickly pulled a blanket around her body.
Her husband laughed.
“What?”
“You are brazen enough to want to ride north wearing breeches yet you will not go about nude in your own bedchamber with the man who spent most of the last few hours inside your body.”
She raised an eyebrow, sensing his challenge. He would not ruffle her feathers, though. “Do ye not have aught better to do? Should ye not be planning our departure and finding me breeches?”
“You will have the whole of Pemberley knowing that I allow my wife to run about in breeches?”
“One of us must be the man here, my lord, and if it falls to me then so be it.” Playfully, she winked at him and giggled when he scooped her into his arms and pressed a thousand kisses to her mouth. She squealed. “Go find my breeches!”
“Yes, my lady. I am your servant.”
Her eyes followed his form as he quit the room. She was excited about their trip, so she rang for Heather to ready a quick bath. By the time she was finished, and her long hair was tucked into a firm, neat plait, Elizabeth had worked herself into a state of intense excitement and agitation. She returned to their bedchamber and found buttery kidskin breeches and a fine linen lawn shirt folded neatly on the bureau. A note accompanied them.
My liege:
I hope these are suitable. I have rolled the only other known set into your pack. We shall depart as soon as you are prepared to leave.
Darcy, Squire
Elizabeth laughed at the note and dressed as hastily as she could, having dismissed Heather already. She fumbled with the fastenings on the breeches and was disappointed to find her boots were hardly made for riding.
