Bingley laughed. “I was never nearly as enthusiastic about learning as you seem to be. I was always more interested in other things, like running about being a pirate or fishing, or trying to get my father to let me ride a horse.”
Looking over towards the stables, Kiernan added, “Oh, I like horses too. That is why I came early so I could say hello to Crumpet and his friends before I meet with Mr. Johnson, my tutor.”
Patting him on the shoulder, Bingley said, “Then I will not stop you. The poor horse might go into a decline if he misses your visit.”
Kiernan gave a little bow and then jogged off to visit the noble horse that he called a friend. It still tickled Bingley that the boy was so fond of the nickname that Georgianna had given the extra-large horse. At least Cadmus seemed accepting of the name Crumpet and the affection that Kiernan lavished on him.
Watching the boy disappear into the building, Bingley remembered what he had been about before he became distracted. Taking a well-worn path around the outside of Pemberley, Bingley made his way to the kitchen gardens. He knew Jane often spent mornings either in the still room or in the garden caring for the medicinal herbs.
While Bingley had agreed to accompany Darcy to inspect the fields that were to be readied for planting in an hour, that did not mean he had to sit around and wait to leave. He had already changed into work clothes and still he had more time on his hands. He felt compelled to seek out Miss Bennet’s presence for all that he had no idea what he might say to her. After only a few more steps, Bingley’s hopes were rewarded, and his anxiety multiplied. He had hoped to come up with what he wanted to say on the way to finding her, but so far, he did not know what words should come out of his mouth.
“Mr. Bingley, you startled me,” Jane spoke with her hand on her chest. She had been so focused on weeding around the chamomile bed that she hadn’t heard him approach. It was growing well, but it would still be some time before harvesting any. The feverfew in the bed nearby was especially prolific and might be ready to work with soon.
Clearing his throat, Mr. Bingley said, “I am sorry to disturb you. I was…just going to say hello.”
Jane watched Mr. Bingley blush slightly and rub at his furrowed brow with a single finger. The poor man truly did try. “No harm done, Mr. Bingley. I was paying more attention to my herbs than to my surroundings.”
“Darcy went to check on Mrs. Darcy. Do you know if she is well?” Scuffing the ground with the toe of his boot, Bingley looked at Jane with eyebrows raised.
Jane nodded while putting down a handful of weeds and replied, “Yes, I think she is. She might just need more time to rest. Unless anything else develops, I do not think we should worry.” Tilting her head, Jane considered his hopeful yet lost expression. She had decided just that morning that she wanted to discern whether he looked merely at her appearance or whether he recognized her true self. In order to do that, she would have to spend time with him. Maybe it would give her the opportunity to see him in action, so to speak. It would not be a struggle, for she rather enjoyed his company. With a smile, she asked, “Would you like to help me with my herbs?”
“I would love to be of use.” Kneeling on a mat adjacent to Jane, he appeared to study the vibrant new growth before him. Turning his gaze back to her, he inquired, “What are you cultivating here?”
Running a delicate finger along the spine of one of the plants, Jane’s smile widened. It always felt as if she were spending time with old companions when she worked in the garden. Turning to Mr. Bingley, she explained, “This is chamomile. It makes a lovely tea, but I prefer to use it in compresses for inflammation or rashes. Over there is feverfew which, as you might guess, is helpful in fighting fevers. It also helps with megrims.”
Mr. Bingley turned out to be an enthusiastic student, willing to get his hands dirty and follow her direction. He was humble enough to listen to her willingly, without hesitation or the desire to show her up. Her father never would have been disposed to work and get his hands dirty or listen to her mother’s directions. Jane was grateful for the company and more than happy to tick one thing off her list.
Finding his wife had been a simple matter of checking a few of her favorite rooms. Darcy really was worried about her unusual exhaustion, though perhaps it was not exhaustion. She was not necessarily that level of tired, but still, he was worried. He had never seen her this tired before. Spotting her at a window in one of the upstairs sitting rooms, he came up behind Elizabeth, and looked over her shoulder to see what she was observing with such interest. Down below in the herb garden, Jane and Bingley were working with the plants. It seemed like they were enjoying themselves, though Darcy could not be certain from this distance.
An enormous grin crept across his face, tempting his dimples to come into play. His poor wife wanted his friend and her sister to realize how perfect they were for each other so badly. Darcy leaned over and put his chin on his wife’s shoulder. “I never would have thought to catch you spying on your sister.” Laughing faintly, he added, “You should come away from the window, Elizabeth. Spying on them will not help them along.”
Leaning back into his muscular figure, Elizabeth sighed. “I only want them to be as happy as we are.”
“You cannot force things, my love. Everything will progress or not as it should.” Darcy wrapped his arms around Elizabeth, holding her to him. He was glad to be able to spend some time alone with her. He could not help asking, “Are you sure you are all right?”
Turning in the circle of his arms, Elizabeth turned her back on the window and gazed into Darcy’s eyes. Then, leaning up on tiptoes, she kissed his cheek. “Yes, I am fine. I was just unusually tired. I would let you know if there was something to worry about.” Settling back into his arms, her head in the crook of his neck, Elizabeth hummed under her breath.
Darcy closed his eyes, savoring the connection they shared. He was not entirely sure that his wife would tell him if there was something wrong. She was always trying to look out for him and would not want him to worry, in her opinion, needlessly. He would have to keep a close eye on her, but for now, he would simply enjoy having her in his arms.
Chapter Five
Mrs. Bennet looked around the room at all her merry girls, and of course she included Georgianna in the number. Spring was always a busy time on the estate. Fields were being readied for planting, and the farms would soon be overrun with new little lambs and calves. Things seem to be progressing apace. The ladies of Pemberley were primarily concerned with more mundane things, like the health of the tenants and the need for baby clothes and blankets.
“I cannot convey just how adorable the new colt is, all clumsy legs and spirit. You will all have to go down and see it,” Lydia spoke, her face shining with excitement as she worked her knitting needles at a fast-clicking pace.
Looking up from the small desk in the corner where she was writing, Elizabeth asked, “Does the colt look anything like Cadmus?”
Tilting her head, Lydia paused in her knitting in apparent thought before finally describing him, “He is dark like his sire, but has a splash of color on his forehead. As gangly as he is at this point, it is hard for me to picture him as a great strong beast like Cadmus, but who knows, anything is possible.”
Fanny could not help but look at her energetic daughter with fondness. Of all her daughters, Lydia seemed the least affected by having grown up in an oppressive environment. She was almost always enthusiastic about what she was interested in, whether that be her love of children, flowers, or the latest colt in the stable.
Georgianna bit off a piece of thread and held the little garment out in front of her, smiling at her work for a moment. Laying the garment down, she leaned over and began searching through the basket beside her, commenting, “I am sure William will be happy that he has another male from Crumpet’s line. He is an exemplary horse.” The more she searched in the basket next to her, the deeper the furrow on her forehead became, a sign of her increasing perplexity. “I thought we had more little ribbons. I was hoping to add some pretty bits for this gown.”
Jane looked up from her own needlework and said, “I think we have used up most of our little odds and ends. What were you making?” Leaning over, she looked at the little gown that lay on Georgianna’s lap.
Smoothing the gown out, Georgianna smiled softly as Jane admired her work. With a blush, she said, “Oh, it is nothing much, just a little gown for one of the babies we are expecting this spring. In the coming months, three tenant families are expecting babies, and I want to make each of them a little outfit and cap. I just wanted them to have something a little special. You know how many hand-me-downs these children inherit.”
“Every child deserves something nice, and every mother loves to dress their child nicely. Your little gown will be well appreciated, Georgie.” Setting down her own work—a pair of baby booties—Mrs. Bennet smiled and added, “I propose we take the carriage into Lambton later today. We can restock our supplies, and maybe even visit the bookshop and tearoom.”
Fanny watched as the girls all started excitedly chatting about the trip. It appeared that her suggestion was well received. Watching their animated faces, Fanny smiled. They were such good girls; it was so nice to see them all at ease and busily working on projects that they enjoyed.
Lydia clapped her hands with a soft laugh. “Brilliant! I am sure that we can find all the little bits of ribbon and the like at the shops there.”
Mary was quick to join in the merriment. Reaching over, she clasped Georgianna’s arm. “What do you think of looking for new sheet music, Georgianna? Perhaps we could find a new duet to work on.”
Watching Kitty chat excitedly about a paint set and canvas with Elizabeth and Jane, Fanny mused that the enthusiasm of six women offered the chance to go shopping could not be suppressed. Nodding her head, Fanny had to raise her voice to be heard above the enthusiastic chatter. “It is settled—we will go to Lambton.”
Riding next to Darcy, Bingley looked over the land, appreciating the view. They were approaching a quaint two-story building built on a slight rise. There were cows in the yard and a smattering of chickens. Something about the scene felt comforting in a way that Bingley had not expected. “Is there a problem with the home farm?” asked Bingley.
Shaking his head, Darcy said, “No, not really. I just wanted to check in with the Andersons. They are one of the families that have come from Longbourn, and I have been trying to make sure that they have all that they need.”
Bingley was curious to hear how the families that had been so misused by Mr. Bennet were fairing. Looking over at his friend on his dark steed, Cadmus, he asked, “How has everyone settled in?”
