Page 77 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Miss Elizabeth, are you suggesting that you might catch my sister’s gown should she venture too near?”

She laughed. “No, sir, but I had intended to teach her how to cast a line, and now I am afraid to do so. I once caught a neighbor boy by the scalp when I was learning to cast.”

The siblings laughed.

“Well, we shall at least have a very entertaining time of it, even should her gown not survive the excursion.”

Chapter 30: Reconciliation

They set off down the very path Elizabeth had trod that morning. She became silent as she remembered the events of those early hours.

Mr. Darcy must have noticed, for he said, “Georgiana, I saw a linnet’s nest at the edge of the moor in the scrub. It is easily seen from the path. See if you can find it. It is a fine specimen for your collection.”

The girl looked to Elizabeth. “I have more than twenty nests that we have collected over the years, Lizzy. It is one of the things we look for when we walk upon the moor.”

She hurried off.

Elizabeth felt the significance of the girl’s dismissal. Mr. Darcy wished to say something he did not want his sister to hear. Was he going to continue his scold? She hoped not, for he had appeared cheerful when he arrived that morning.

She kept her eyes upon the path and prepared herself for his censure.

“Miss Elizabeth, I must apologize for this morning. I did not mean to be so severe as to bring you to tears.”

She raised her head and met his eyes. She would not permit him to speak of her humiliation.

“Please, sir, I was not overset.”

“Miss Elizabeth, I know my censure upset you. I saw it in your face as I spoke, and when I brought Georgiana to you later, your swollen eyelids told me how deeply I had distressed you. I meant only to warn you. You are an innocent and cannot possibly understand how a hardened man might behave should he come upon you alone and unprotected.”

He stood very straight, and his expression was solemn. “If I instilled in you a little of the caution you ought to feel under such circumstances, then I am glad of it. But I did not mean to overset you. I feared you might rebel against my censure. It never occurred to me that I might drive you to tears.”

Elizabeth felt the heat rise in her face and kept her head lowered.

“Miss Elizabeth. I could never forgive myself if you came to harm here in Derbyshire when a simple warning from me might have prevented it.”

He stopped walking, and she did the same.

“Miss Elizabeth?”

She raised her eyes.

“Am I forgiven?”

“Yes, sir. I understand now that you spoke only out of concern for my safety. But this morning I feared my conduct and my dress had so lowered me in your estimation that you would break off the acquaintance. I even wondered whether you would permit your sister to visit me again.”

His lips pressed together, but he said nothing.

She continued. “It was very broadminded of you, sir, to allow Georgiana to remain with me all these hours in study. If anything could assure me that you do not think me a... a wanton, sir, it is that.”

His complexion darkened, and he made an apologetic sound. “I am sorry, ma’am. I should not have used that particular word. I did not mean to suggest that you were a wanton, but that some unscrupulous man might mistake you for one and use you badly. Do you understand the distinction?”

“Yes, sir. I hoped that was your meaning, though I was so overset that I was not entirely certain what you had said or what you thought of me. I am no wanton, sir. I am a decent, well-behaved woman, though I see now that my father allowed me, indeed, all five of his daughters, too much freedom and imposed too little restraint. Running alone upon an open moor in trousers did not seem improper to me, provided I was not discovered at it. Now I know better. One never knows when one may be caught wearing a shockingly improper costume, nor what harm it can provoke.” Her eyes were unguarded, earnest as she watched his face.

“Miss Elizabeth, your contrition is so affecting that I am almost of a mind to laugh, but I shall not. This is a serious matter, and I would not have you mistake my amusement for permission to expose yourself to some future danger.”

“I understand, sir.” Again, she averted her eyes.

“You look unhappy, ma’am. Have I injured your feelings?”