Page 69 of Shields and Roses

They learned the bridge had been wiped out during some recent flooding. The local villages were still working out who should pay for a new one and, while they did, all traffic along that part of the road had come to a halt. It was a topic of much discussion in the taproom, with the most likely answer being that several villages in the area would share the expense and, later, the proceeds of the tolls they would collect for use of the new bridge. It seemed a reasonable solution to Darcy when he learned there were no large landowners in the area likely to take on the task themselves.

As soon as the horses were reasonably rested, they started on their way using what Hadley deemed to be the best route among those he had been given by the locals. Once again, Darcy checked but saw no sign of anyone following them. If all was as it appeared, they had succeeded in eluding his aunt. Both men hoped they had also succeeded in deceiving her regarding their intended destination.

They had finally reached the main road and were moving along at a good clip when Darcy suddenly remembered where he had seen a box like the one Richard had given to Anne with her wedding present. The memory also sparked a few other ideas.

"Richard," he said. "A few years ago, you sent Georgiana a necklace packaged in a carved wood box like the one you gave Anne today, did you not?"

"Yes, I did," Richard answered. "There was a woodcarver in a Portuguese village my unit was quartered in for a time who made those little trinket boxes. I purchased a few of them because they made such perfect containers to hold the gifts I discovered for the women I care about. I had that one containing the necklace for Anne tucked away in my bags for a few years. I was always finding something or other of interest in the places I stayed, and I made what purchases seemed reasonable at the time."

"Tell me, did you by any chance send a similar box to Miss Elizabeth containing a certain necklace that you so readily identified from my description?"

Richard raised an eyebrow as he stared at his cousin. After a few seconds he said, "Of course, I did not send it to Miss Elizabeth. I am an unmarried man and she is an unrelated, unmarried woman. It would not be at all proper."

Darcy mirrored Richard's expression and stared back at him. Both remained silent, each challenging the other to speak. Finally, as the carriage hit a bump that caused them both to sway in their seats, Richard broke into a grin.

"I sent the necklace set in the box to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner so that they could present it to Miss Elizabeth on the occasion of her sixteenth birthday," he said. "It was so perfect for her that I could not resist it. I do not know if she is aware that it originally came from me."

"I think I am feeling jealous again," Darcy said. "Or incredibly stupid. At any rate, whether she knows it came from you or not, it is clear she treasures the gift. And it does seem a perfect match for her. When we danced, I asked her about it, and she told me that the shield reminds her of all the people who care about her and wish to shield her from harm and she loves the roses because she is very fond of them. At the time I thought her name was Rose, so it seemed quite appropriate."

Richard laughed. "Have I ever told you about the day I learned the proper way to cut roses?"

"I hadn't realized there was a proper way to cut them. If I had any need for roses, I would ask the gardener to cut them for me and assume he knew how to do it."

"I seem to remember saying something similar when the subject came up," Richard said. "I only learned for Miss Elizabeth's sake, or rather Lizzy's. She was only around seven at the time."

Richard gleefully told Darcy about arriving at Longbourn to find a battered rosebush and a worried father. He described how he had examined the scene of the crime and set off to find Lizzy somewhere on the estate. Darcy burst at laughing at Richard's description of the rocks flying over the hedge accompanied by a cry of "stupid Lady Catherine!" He did not say so out loud, but he approved of how Mr. Bennet had shielded young Lizzy from her mother's displeasure by having the housekeeper get her cleaned up and how he allowed Richard to help her gain the bouquet she had wanted for her new aunt.

"She told me later that the bouquet was very much appreciated and was the start of the friendly and loving relationship she and Mrs. Gardiner still share," Richard finished.

"I am certain you have many other fun tales I would have enjoyed hearing over the years if I had not been so stubbornly certain our aunt was all-knowing and always correct."

"You were a nasty little prig at times," Richard agreed, "but you were also my only male cousin and a good companion when the Bennets or George Wickham were not under discussion, so I had to allow you some slack. You have definitely improved with age."

"Age and some well-deserved humiliation," Darcy said.

"That as well."

"We are not going to make it to Meryton tonight," observed Darcy.

"No. Although I still maintain that we would have if the bridge had not been washed out."

"There is no way of telling that now," Darcy said. "We will probably have to rest the horses again soon. Before we head out after that, I will tell Hadley to go as far as he can this evening, then stop at the first likely inn."

"Good idea. Then, if we get an early start, we can probably reach Meryton before noon."

"I hope Mr. Bennet was able to neutralize any threat George posed. If he is with the militia, then his commanding officer would be able to keep an eye on him, would he not?"

"I am hoping so. I just wonder what purpose he is there for. Spying is definitely something he is good at, but I know Mr. Bennet would have recognized his name. It has come up a few times over the years, after all."

"I guess we have to wait until tomorrow to find out."

"I suppose," Richard said reluctantly.

"Well, since we need something else to think about, tell me more about some of the places you have visited. I know your time was not all spent sightseeing and shopping for necklaces."

"No," Richard said soberly. "Not all of it. Not by a long shot. I can tell you some of what I did, but there is much I would rather leave unspoken. Not for security reasons, mind you, but simply because I am doing my best never to think of it again." He dropped into silence for a moment, looking down at his hands, and Darcy waited. Finally, Richard looked up again and there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Let me tell you about the time my unit and I mistook a herd of stampeding cattle for the regiment of soldiers we had been hoping would relieve us..." He launched into a tale that Darcy sensed could have been heartbreaking had it not been told in so amusing a manner. With gusto, he described a time when his unit was outnumbered, outgunned and fearing the worst only to have their courage lifted and their energy revived at the thought they were about to be joined by another full regiment.