Page 10

L izzy, honey, how’s that inventory coming along?” Dr. Gardiner called from the hallway.

“Almost finished.” She reviewed her chart of medicinal supplies. “We won’t need much this month.”

“Okay, total it up and—”

He was interrupted by men’s voices yelling from the big treatment area out back. In the span of a moment, Ed was outside, opening the big barn-like door and adding his voice to the chorus of urgent shouts.

She hurried back to see what had happened but halted at the door, stunned by the scene in front of her.

A large, wild-eyed horse was rearing and snorting as he stomped around in a panic. A farm hand dodged the horse’s hooves and shut the horse trailer door, banging on it to signal the other man it was safe to drive off.

Dr. Gardiner tossed the farm hand a blindfold for the horse and turned back to the frantic animal. “What in the world…?”

“Barbed wire cut him.”

“Hold him still, Darcy!” Her uncle shouted over the noise. “I can’t even see the wound.”

“I’m trying. He’s—” Darcy broke off.

Elizabeth was taken aback when she turned to look at him.

He was more disheveled than she had ever seen him—dressed in khakis and a shirt that was open at the collar.

Mud stains marred the trousers, and he had rolled up the shirtsleeves to his elbows.

His forearms were corded with the strain of trying to hold the horse’s head still.

He leaned in and began murmuring to the giant beast in low, resonant tones.

A lock of his dark, wavy hair had fallen over his forehead, giving him a rugged, dangerous look, like the handsome villain in a picture show.

“Whatever happened?” Ed asked loudly as he tried again to inspect the leg.

“Snake spooked him,” Darcy answered.

“Snake? This time of year?”

“He was moving slow, but he was there.” Darcy raised his voice so he could be heard above the noise.

“Horse threw me and took off like a shot, tried to jump a barbed wire fence—almost cleared it too, except for this scrape. He calmed down by the time they brought the trailer around, but getting him in and out of the thing was an ordeal.”

“Good lord! You’re lucky he didn’t break a leg. You’d have lost him for sure.” Ed reached for a magnifying glass. “You all right?”

“Yep. Landed on my backside, fortunately.I managed to scramble clear before he kicked me.Be sore tomorrow, I’m sure.”

Ed frowned.“Ah, I see the problem now—there’s a tiny piece of wire stuck in there.Just let me…”

The horse screamed and reared once more.Thankfully, Uncle Ed had kept himself away from the path of the kicking leg. Startled by the commotion, Elizabeth dropped the metal tray she was holding.It clattered noisily on the cart beside her.

Darcy whirled around. “Get the hell out of here!” he shouted in a harsh voice.“Before you get trampled to death!”

Elizabeth picked up her tray and dashed inside, leaning back against the door frame and trying to calm her pounding heart.

“Don’t scare off my niece, young man,” her uncle said, amused. “She’s the only office help I’ve got right now.”

“Sorry, Ed, she startled me.”

Dr. Gardiner called, “Lizzy, dear?”

Elizabeth stuck her head back out the door, not looking at Mr. Darcy. “Yes, sir?”

“Can you get me some carbolic acid to clean this?”

She nodded, then, realizing he wasn’t looking at her, said, “Right away.”

“Atta girl—thank you.”

Elizabeth went to the supply closet and with hands still shaking, she retrieved the bottle of carbolic acid.

Without a word, she strode into the treatment area, red-faced and fuming about Mr. Darcy yelling at her as if she was a child or a servant.

She spared him a glare as she left, not caring if he stared at her the whole way.

She had adopted a new outlook where Mr. Darcy was concerned: her courage would rise with his every attempt to intimidate her.

“Unca, we already been to Mr. Charles’s store this week. Mama took us yesterday.”

Maggie Darcy’s singsong voice rang out over the doorbell at Netherfield’s Dry Goods, and although Elizabeth found the child precious, she was in no mood to put up with the uncle after he scolded her about the horse yesterday.

She peeked around the corner of the aisle and stopped, surprised at the scene before her.

Maggie trotted in, sporting a pretty red dress and a big red bow in her hair, charming as always.

But it was William Darcy that gave Elizabeth pause.

He was dressed as usual in his trousers, dress shirt, and jacket, and in his arms was a bundle of towheaded energy, wriggling and giggling as she tried to put her fingers in his mouth.

He pretended to devour them with lip-covered teeth, and little Ruth squealed with delight.

He set her down and she took off toward the display of stick candy in the corner.

“Watch after Ruth, would you please, Maggie?” he said. “I need to pick up a couple things.”

The little girl heaved a dramatic sigh and headed toward the counter. “No Ruth! You can’t have all those.”

Caroline Bingley moved toward the girls, pasting an artful smile on her face. “Good morning, Margaret,” she said in a sticky voice. “And hello to you, too, little Ruth Anne.”

“Hullo, Miss Caroline,” Maggie answered. Ruth stopped in her tracks and looked wide-eyed at the woman towering over her. She put two of her fingers in her mouth and twirled her hair with the other hand.

“Would you like a piece of stick candy?” Caroline asked, bending over Ruth. “Hmm?” she demanded.

Maggie looked back at her uncle, who was perusing the housekeeping aisle. “We don’t have permission, ma’am.” She turned back to her sister and gasped. “Ruth! Put your dress down!”

Ruth had picked up the front hem of her dress and was covering her face with it. Miss Bingley looked horrified as Ruth revealed her underthings and belly button to everyone in the shop.

Maggie reached over and pushed Ruth’s hands down. She looked apologetically at Caroline. “She’s not ’apposed to do that. It makes Great Aunt Catherine really mad.”

Caroline was speechless. A chuckle escaped Elizabeth’s mouth before she could stop it, and Darcy whirled around in surprise before approaching the clique gathered at the candy counter. Caught, Elizabeth stepped out from behind the soap display.

“Miss Bennet!” His face broke into a wide smile.

“Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth smiled back, surprised. Underneath that stern demeanor, Mr. Serious had been hiding an adorable set of dimples.

Maggie ran up and grabbed Elizabeth’s hand. “Hi! I didn’t know you were here.”

“How are you this morning, sweet pea?”

“I’m fine. Mama’s at the drugstore. We came over here with Unca.”

“I see that.I’m glad you did. That way, we get to meet with each other today.”

Caroline watched this interchange with a frown. She cleared her throat to get Darcy’s attention. “Is there something I can help you find, William?”

“Ah, yes. I’ve put the gloves I need up at the counter. Georgiana asked for some of those hooks and eyes for the girls’ dresses, but I don’t know what size. Could you find the right ones for me, please?” He turned to Maggie. “You may pick out some candy for you and Ruth.”

“But Mama said we’re not ’apposed to have too much—”

“It’ll be all right with Mama. Tell her I said you could. You like the root beer kind, right?” He picked up several sticks in various flavors and handed them to Caroline. “We’ll take these also.”

Maggie muttered under her breath but still loud enough for everyone to hear, “And Mama said you need to have your own children, so you stop spoiling us with so much candy.”

Elizabeth bit her lip to keep from laughing and wondered how Mr. Darcy took to being reprimanded by a four-year-old. He looked hastily at her and said nothing, although his cheeks turned bright red. He scooped up Ruth and nodded to Elizabeth before turning abruptly and heading to the cash register.

Elizabeth followed them, holding her own purchases—which was quite a feat, as Maggie was pulling on her hand and telling her about Unca losing his work gloves in the woods yesterday.

Caroline Bingley stopped and slowly turned toward Elizabeth with an announcement loud enough for the entire shop to hear.

“Oh, Miss Bennet. I just remembered. I’m supposed to send some empty flour sacks home with you.

Your mother asked Jane if we had any extra.

I think Jane said something about making dresses or aprons or something out of them.

She’s so frugal, your mother. But I suppose that has been very helpful since you came here, from… where was it again?”

“Chicago.” Darcy opened his wallet and counted out his payment. “Frugality is a good trait to have in this day and time.”

“Of course, you’re right. So many need to cultivate that skill.” Miss Bingley turned a smug smile on Elizabeth.

She clenched her jaw and lifted her chin in defiance.

The nasty pettiness of Caroline Bingley had caught her off guard this time, but she would not let the shrew have the satisfaction of seeing she had hurt her feelings by reminding Mr. Darcy just how beneath him the Bennets were.

She cared nothing for Miss Bingley’s good opinion anyway.

“Thank you, ma’am,” she said primly. “I’m sure my mother is most appreciative of your… generosity.”

Darcy picked up his gloves and handed the candy to Maggie. Ruth had already gotten a piece from him and was rubbing sticky fingers in her hair. He looked intently at Elizabeth, but what thoughts lay behind that expression were a mystery. “Good day.”

“And good day to you too, William,” Caroline cooed.

Elizabeth returned to digging in her purse for coins. “Goodbye,” she replied, not looking up. She didn’t want to see the disdain she predicted would appear in those dark eyes.

The Darcys exited the shop, but seconds later, the door reopened, and a little red blur came running up and pressed a stick of candy into Elizabeth’s hand. “Bye!” Maggie grinned, turned, and was gone before Elizabeth could thank her.