Page 7 of Honor Requires

The shade provided welcome relief from the strengthening sun. From their vantage, the curve of the bay stretched gracefully along the horizon, dotted with small boats that bobbed gently upon the water.

“Darcy, you say?” Mrs. Gardiner asked. “I hail from Lambton. Are you any relation to the Darcys of Pemberley?”

“The very ones!” Georgiana beamed. “My brother is master of that estate.”

“How very coincidental. I met your mother in passing—such a kind, elegant lady.” Mrs. Gardiner smiled kindly. “You look very like her.”

This pleased Georgiana, and the two fell into discussion. Mr. Gardiner in turn exchanged pleasant conversation with Darcy and Miss Bennet. Darcy learned the couple had come to Ramsgate on holiday, bringing their niece along.

“I have five nieces, sir. We often invite one or two along with us when we travel about. My brother by marriage does not like to travel and prefers to stay at his estate. Last year we took Lizzy’s elder sister, Jane. Next year we shall take Mary, the third in line.”

“Five daughters! I can scarcely imagine.” Darcy glanced at Georgiana. It was all he could do to care for one sister.

“Yes, it is a shame, according to my mother.” Miss Bennet raised a brow. “I shall now disregard all propriety, sir, and tell you that my father’s estate is entailed to a distant cousin. Having five daughters of whom she must dispose has vexed my poor mother’s nerves for years.”

Her tone held a note of dry amusement that did not escape Darcy’s notice. He found himself smiling in spite of the frankness of the remark.

Darcy sympathized. Pemberley was not entailed. The estate was a fee simple—it could be left to whomever he wished. Until he married, his will stipulated that everything would go to Georgiana upon an untimely death, though he hoped that would never be the case.

The conversation flowed easily thereafter. Mr. Gardiner spoke of the fishing along the coast and the bustle of London trade, while Miss Bennet listened with lively interest, occasionally offering observations that revealed both wit and intelligence. Georgiana, for her part, had grown thoroughly charmed by Mrs. Gardiner’s gentle manner.

Meanwhile Bruno stretched himself upon the sand at Miss Bennet’s feet, gnawing contentedly upon his stick, his attitude reflecting his opinion that the entire morning’s adventure had been arranged solely for his entertainment.

They spoke for another half hour before the Gardiners needed to depart. Eager to be in their company again, Darcy exchanged cards with Mr. Gardiner.

“I shall send around an invitation,” he said, bowing to the ladies.

“That would be most enjoyable. We have yet to make friends in Ramsgate, and I am certain Elizabeth would enjoy spending time with Miss Darcy.”

Miss Bennet inclined her head with a smile. Darcy could see genuine pleasure in her countenance and granted her a grin in return.

They parted ways, and Darcy could feel Georgiana’s excitement in the way his sister gripped his arm.

“Such charming people! When shall we invite them to dine, brother?”

“As soon as may be, dear one.”

He cast a brief glance back toward the retreating figures along the shore. Miss Bennet had paused to throw the stick once more, and Bruno bounded after it with joyful abandon.

Yes, soon. Darcy could scarcely wait to see the beguiling Miss Bennet again.

Chapter Two

Elizabeth Bennet stood at the window of her aunt and uncle’s lodgings, her hands resting lightly upon the sill as she watched the street below. Ramsgate had already begun to feel pleasantly familiar. Gentle breezes carried the scent of salt and seaweed inland, and the distant cry of gulls mingled with the rumble of carriage wheels along the cobbled road.

It was a cheerful town, lively without the suffocating press of London society. Ladies strolled the pavements in bright walking dresses while gentlemen lingered near shopfronts or paused to admire the harbor beyond the rooftops. Elizabeth found it all vastly agreeable.

But it was not the town that presently occupied her thoughts.

Mr. Darcy.

The name drifted through her mind with a persistence she could neither explain nor quite dismiss.

She had liked the Darcys very much—far more than she had expected after their sudden introduction upon the beach. It was difficult not to smile when she recalled the moment.

Poor Mr. Darcy had been knocked quite unceremoniously into the sand.

And he never scolded me once.