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“Oh,” the young woman said, “I’m Georgiana.

Georgiana Darcy.” She began walking backward toward her family, and with a broad smile, she turned around, striding swiftly away.

Elizabeth watched as the man gave Georgiana a quick embrace.

Georgiana then turned and gestured toward Elizabeth, obviously telling the story of the missing Ruth.

The man frowned, and Elizabeth instantly recognized him from the passenger car, three rows behind her family.

It was that grim, dour banker! The one who scowled at her and then retreated behind his paper.

Amazing how a smile had transformed his haughty expression.

The family turned to go, and Georgiana held up a hand to Elizabeth in a friendly farewell. Lizzy waved back.

What a sweet little family.The children are precious, and the mother seems nice, if a little shy.But the father! Goodness, he’s rude!

Elizabeth turned away, finding her way back to her family.

From the looks of things, her father had found the luggage.

It was piled all around the bench, and she could hear her sisters quibbling over who would have to carry it.

Her mother was lamenting that they could not afford a porter to perform that service for them.

Her father’s face looked tight and strained, the way it always did when he spent any significant amount of time with his wife and two youngest daughters.

“Come, Lizzy,” he called. “Uncle Ed’s brought the wagon and his car to carry us to the house.”

She hoisted up her suitcase with both hands. Just beyond the station exit, she saw the tall, grinning form of her uncle Ed beside his car, his arm around her aunt Madeline, both of them waving.

“Here we are,” he called. Both aunt and uncle sprang forward, arms outstretched. Ed drew Mrs. Bennet into a bear hug.

“Oh, Ed!” she wailed, hugging him tight, tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what we would’ve done without you to help us.”

Ed looked embarrassed. “There, there, Fanny.” He turned and extended his hand to his brother-in-law.“Good to see you, Thomas.” The two men shook hands, clapping each other on the shoulder in a gesture of brotherly affection.“How was the trip down?”

“Well, we’re all here. Didn’t lose anyone on the way.”

Ed laughed.“Glad to hear it, glad to hear it. We’ve brought the horse and wagon and the car so we could fit everything for the trip home.

Madeline can drive Fanny and some of the girls in the car, and we can take the rest in the wagon with the luggage.

It’ll be slow going, but that way, we won’t have to leave anyone waiting here while we make two trips. ”

“Excellent. Thank you,” Dr. Bennet said. “Jane, Lizzy, Mary, as the oldest three, I suppose you can take the back seat of the car.

A chorus of protests went up from the two youngest Bennets.

“Papa, that’s not fair!” Lydia complained. “They shouldn’t get to ride only because they’re older.”

Kitty chimed in. “We should at least draw straws.”

“We can probably fit four of the girls across the back seat,” Ed mused.

“So, who gets to ride in the wagon?” Lydia asked. “I volunteer Mary.” She snorted and giggled behind her hand.

Mary looked scandalized at the thought of riding in the hot sun among the suitcases and the hay.Jane opened her mouth to volunteer, but Elizabeth put a restraining hand on her arm.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’ll go in the wagon.”

“Lizzy!” her mother interrupted. “You’ll get all sunburned.”

“I have a hat, Mama. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Jane asked. “I don’t mind at all.”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’d much rather ride in the wagon than play peacemaker all the way to the farm. You’re much better at that anyway.”

Jane’s lips twitched into an amused smile. “Now you’ve managed to make riding in a wagon sound appealing.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I’ll see you at the house.”

Elizabeth surveyed the view from atop her mother’s large trunk.

The sun was hot—she felt the heat through her hat, and sweat trickled down her back and between her breasts.

The wagon didn’t go fast enough to kick up a breeze, and afternoons in the South could be brutal for a Northern girl.

She heard her uncle yell, “Whoa!” and the horse slowed down and finally stopped.

Muffled voices were heard, and then her uncle shouted again. “Thank ye kindly, Mr. Darcy.”

The horses began walking again, jostling Elizabeth from her perch and nearly sending her to the wagon floor.

She scrambled trying to keep her balance, just in time to see the Darcys sitting in their open roadster, waiting for the wagon to pass by.

A little dark head popped up from the back seat, pointing at her and shouting excitedly.

“Mama! Look! It’s Elizabeth!”

Maggie waved, bouncing up and down on the seat. Georgiana also smiled and waved, but Mr. Darcy only watched her, a serious, forbidding look on his face.

Ed turned back and spoke over his shoulder. “You know the Darcys?”

“I met them at the station while we were waiting for you. Is Mr. Darcy the banker here?”

“Banker?Oh no, Darcy’s no banker. He owns the biggest farm around these parts. Lots of livestock. Big, nice house about two miles that way.” He pointed.

“Oh.”Elizabeth was embarrassed to be caught riding in a luggage wagon by a family who, from the looks of their car, rarely had to use such humble transportation.

But she shrugged her shoulders and tried to put her self-conscious thoughts out of her mind.

This was her reality now, and the sooner she accepted it, the better off she would be.

Pride in appearances was a luxury she could no longer afford.