Page 21 of Through the Eyes of Love

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”

“Iamleaving now; I thought I might enjoy the sunshine.” She should not think he was going outside simply because shemade the suggestion. “I have grown tired of reading in my sitting room.”

He stopped. Her lavender scent once again captivated him, and when he observed her from the left side, she was quite pretty. It was a pity that he could never allow himself to be attracted to her very fine eyes and her light and pleasing figure. She was a gentleman’s daughter born with a birthmark on her face, and if that was not bad enough, she had been forced into service. Hers was a sad story indeed.

Already aware of Miss Bennet’s intelligence, Darcy had also come to admire her musical skills. Even today, the sounds of the pianoforte and her voice were like a siren’s song, and every bone in his body was on alert. Even though not classically trained like his sister, she played and sang with emotion. She had the voice of an angel—but he would never let her know he had been listening to her. How it would lift his spirits to hear her play the pianoforte every day. He sighed.

As Darcy lay in bed that night, his mind was engaged in a review of his time with Elizabeth Bennet. How could he stop thinking about the way her eyes twinkled with mirth when she laughed?

* * *

Elizabeth was staggeringunder the weight of a large stack of wood when Mr. Darcy appeared and offered to help her.

“Oh no! I thank you sir, but you cannot carry such a load while using your cane.”

“I shall hold what I can using my left arm. I cannot abide a gentleman’s daughter struggling under the weight of such a load.”

“Very well, I see no use in arguing with you.”

“Where are the footmen? Is this not their responsibility?”

“Mrs. Reynolds mentioned we needed more wood, and they were busy elsewhere, so I volunteered. I was eager for the excuse to be outside.” They both smiled as they walked towards the cottage. He had referred to her as a gentleman’s daughter, not as a maid! Was Mr. Darcy thinking of her more as an equal rather than a servant? She should stop thinking those things!

“What did you do before you came to work at the cottage?”

“My first position began shortly after I arrived in Derbyshire a few months ago. I was hired as a temporary companion for Mrs. Murray while her aide was away visiting relatives. Do you know who she is?”

“Indeed, I do. Her late husband had the bookshop in Lambton, and she was often there to help him. I heard she had a terrible accident earlier this year.”

“Yes, and recovering in bed for so long left her in a weakened state. I helped her learn how to strengthen her muscles, and she can now walk on her own and feed herself.”

“I doubt anything could helpme.”

“Mr. Darcy, when I worked for Mrs. Murray, I used the specific exercises Mr. Barton suggested, and they worked quite well. Your recovery should be easier than hers because only your right leg was injured. That, and you are much younger.”

“I realize that is not why you were hired, but would you consider helping me as you did Mrs. Murray? I barely have the strength to walk to the garden and back, even with a cane to help me.”

“Has your leg injury healed?”

“Barton removed the last of the bandages weeks ago.”

“Then yes, I would be eager to try.”

* * *

The next morning

Mr. Darcy asked if she would walk with him, and she did not hesitate to agree. It was the first day on his road to recovery, and she was pleased to help him.

They started walking short distances and then they sat together on the stone bench in front of the cottage. She demonstrated the movements he needed to do to improve the function of his leg muscles. He tried to hide the pain, but his agony was obvious. In an equal way, she sucked her breath in through her nose so she would not show her sympathy on her face. When away from him, she dwelt on how it hurt her to see him in anguish. Much of the time, while trying to do the exercises, Mr. Darcy’s discomfort made him short tempered, but Elizabeth attempted to be sensible and reassured him that he would get stronger in time. It did not take long until he began to show signs of regaining the strength in his injured leg. It raised a sense of pride within her to be a part of his improvement.

“After Mrs. Murray was strong enough, we walked longer and longer distances every day, and you should consider doing the same.”

“Will you walk along with me? I mean, in case I lose my balance.”

“Of course, as long as I am not needed in the cottage.”

“You need not fret about that. I shall make the arrangements with Mrs. Reynolds.”