Page 13 of A Different Impression

Thus agreed, the three gentlemen separated to attend to their various duties. Bingley returned to his study, no doubt to write to his aunt and his solicitor, while Hurst went to arrange their departure before noon.

Darcy retreated to his chambers with his correspondence; already, several letters had arrived for him to deal with. Before settling at his desk, he ensured a footman was stationed nearby and instructed the man that if Miss Bingley approached, she was to be kept from his rooms by whatever means necessary.

Fortunately, he was left undisturbed for several hours and completed his business.

Darcy was seated before the fire with a book when his valet answered Bingley’s knock, admitting him to the room.

“It is done,” Bingley said with a sigh. “Caroline argued until the end, but Hurst forced her into the carriage and threatened to beat her if she did not cease her yelling.”

Setting aside his book, Darcy rose to greet him and sighed heavily at the report.

“I know she is your sister, Bingley, but I am exceedingly glad to know she will no longer continue to pursue me while I am here. I want you to know that I will cut her if she ever approaches me again. I have written a letter to Lady Matlock informing her of what Miss Bingley attempted last night. If she tries to spread any stories, Lady Matlock will be able to counter them.”

Bingley nodded, his shoulders sagging. “I do understand, Darcy. What she may not realise is that anything she says will only serve to ruin her own reputation. It is well known that you merely tolerate her presence due to your friendship with me, and most are aware of her reputation as a shrew. Few would find fault with you for anything she may say, and most will assume she made the overture.”

Darcy agreed. “So, Bingley, we are a bachelor’s establishment for now. What will we do? Begin your lessons in estate management, or did you have something else in mind?”

“What would you say to luncheon first, Darcy, then a ride around the estate where you can tell me all I need to know?” At the raised eyebrow, Bingley revised his statement. “Fine, then, you can begin telling me a tiny bit of what I need to know about running this estate, despite the fact that it pales in comparison to the wonder that is Pemberley. The housekeeper must know that my sisters are gone, and I probably should speak to her about our plans for the coming weeks. I also have a few more letters to write, but I would prefer to wait until after we ride.”

The gentlemen performed their plans for the afternoon. After dinner, they gathered in the billiards room and arranged an early ride to inspect the areas of the estate they had not yet seen. When their conversation turned to the intended call at Longbourn, Darcy found himself anticipating the visit with an eagerness he had never before associated with such an occasion.

CHAPTER 6

A Second Meeting on Oakham Mount

The following morning, Darcy headed out for his early morning ride towards the hill where he had met Miss Elizabeth the previous morning, hoping to encounter the lovely woman once again. As luck would have it, he did encounter her as he reached the hill.

“Good morning, Miss Elizabeth,” he called, dismounting from his horse and tying him off before arriving at her side.

“Good morning, Mr Darcy,” she replied. “It is another lovely morning, although I expect that to change soon.”

“Why do you say that?” he wondered.

She laughed. “November tends to be very wet here in Hertfordshire, although we rarely get snow. With luck, I will be able to continue my early morning walks for another few weeks, but soon, the rain will likely prevent it.”

“Ahh,” he said. “So, when it rains, what do you do for exercise?”

“Pace and drive my family quite mad,” she teased. “I do read quite a bit when the weather is bad, but I… I need to get out and walk frequently. I am not afraid of a little mud on my dress, although my mother does not understand my need to walk out so often. I simply cannot sit still and sew for days on end; I need to be outside and moving.”

“I understand the feeling, Miss Elizabeth,” he said. “I ride nearly every morning and sometimes walk through Pemberley, especially when I need to work out a problem. Somehow moving helps me to think better. There is a well-worn path in my study both at Pemberley and at my house in London.”

“Exactly—none of my family understands this need to move, especially when I am concerned about something,” she replied eagerly. “Something about the movement helps me to… I do not know… think better. I fidget if I do not walk, which annoys Mama nearly as much as my walking.”

Darcy laughed at the picture. “I have been told I was often reprimanded for fidgeting in my formative years, and I know that I drove my tutors quite mad before I went to school,” he told her. “I eventually learnt to deal with the need to move in public, although I still pace frequently in my study as I am working out a problem.”

“Mama complains about her nerves when I pace,” she laughed. “So, I must always be careful to do it away from her.”

The two continued to chat for several more minutes, and Darcy attempted to coax Elizabeth to greet his horse. “I brought an apple to share with Erebus if I can convince you to meet him today.”

“Erebus?” she enquired. “The Greek personification of darkness?”

He looked at her in surprise. “You are familiar with Greek mythology?”

“Yes, for my father does not restrict my reading, I have read nearly every book in his library. He has treated me as he would a son, and we regularly discuss history and philosophy, as well as literature,” she replied. “When I would visit London as a child, my uncle would frequently hire masters to tutor me in languages and the sciences. He encourages my reading by sending me books that he hopes to discuss with me when I visit.”

Darcy nodded, impressed with the apparent breadth of her knowledge. “Will you meet Erebus then?” he asked.

Elizabeth considered for a moment and then cautiously nodded. Darcy offered his hand, which she took as he led her to the tree where he had tied off his horse. Both had removed their gloves as they approached the horse, and the same jolt raced through Darcy as had struck him at the dance. For one dizzying moment, he felt as though he had finally found where he belonged.