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“Another walk!” Mrs. Bennet cried happily upon learning of this plan. “And Mr. Madison going as well. This is excellent. You must go too, Mary. No more nonsense about requiems. And I assume Mr. Bingley’s sisters will also be joining you.”

She was surprised to learn that they were not expected, but then it occurred to her that such elegant ladies must prefer carriage rides over walks about the country.

They would very likely invite Jane to join them the next time they partook of that activity.

And what an excellent opportunity that would be for intimate conversation, which could not be so easily achieved at evening engagements.

After breakfast Mrs. Bennet divided her time between watching out for the arrival of the walkers or any other visitors, and surveying the vast quantity of birds which inhabited her garden. There was a red one which she thought very handsome, and a black one whose piercing gaze was mesmerizing.

The three Miss Peacocks on their way to Meryton were not worthy of her attention. But a cluster of small birds with the sweetest expressions was well worth watching.

And there was Mr. Charlton, probably doing some parish visiting. A worthy man, but a common sight.

But Susan Partridge bolting down the lane was unusual. Had the chickens escaped? Had there been an accident? Or was she chasing after the curate?

She rapidly disappeared, leaving Mrs. Bennet with much to ponder. Was Susan setting her cap at Mr. Charlton? That could be a good match. They were similar in nature, both of them humble and desirous of doing good works.

But had Susan the ability to manage on a small income?

It was well known that she did not care about spending money on herself, but did she know anything about household economy?

That subject wasn’t likely to have been taught at her fancy school.

Mrs. Bennet felt little satisfaction in having perceived a flaw in Mrs. So-and-so’s Academy.

She had certainly never heard of Susan helping in the kitchen like Charlotte Lucas did.

And what about her charitable endeavours?

Mr. Charlton couldn’t afford such a generous wife.

No, it wouldn’t do Susan any good to set her cap at a poor man. It was a pity there wasn’t another wealthy man for her. She was such a nice girl that Mrs. Bennet would be happy to see her engaged. After her own daughters, of course.

A flash of green suddenly caught her eye. Another handsome bird?

No, it was Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. Turning about, Mrs. Bennet discovered that Mary had left the room.

***

The walk began with the group talking and laughing all together, which was very enjoyable, but Elizabeth’s happiest moment of the morning came when their path narrowed, leaving only enough room to walk in twos, and Mr. Darcy immediately looked to her.

Smiling up at him, she thought that Charlotte could be right.

Perhaps caution should not stand in the way of discovering how deep her feelings might run. And his.

As they ambled along behind the others, their conversation turned toward family, and Elizabeth learned that the tyrannical aunt went by the name of Lady Catherine.

So Mr. Darcy had a connection to the nobility.

Considering his distinguished air, she was not particularly surprised, but this piece of information was unsettling in her current state of wishful thinking.

She was happier to hear him speak on doting upon his only sibling, a younger sister, to whom he enjoyed giving presents and treats.

“Georgiana says that I spoil her excessively, but I cannot agree. I think it reasonable for her to enjoy the pleasures of life, and I am wary of excess, which cannot be good for anyone’s character.”

“You think a great deal about character, don’t you?”

“I was brought up to always be thinking about principles and fairness. And applying logic to make the best choices. And being generous where appropriate. These are the qualities of a good landlord and master, and I was made aware from a young age that this would be my future responsibility.”

“Which probably was the making of you,” she observed.

“Now, if somebody told me that I had responsibilities to prepare myself for, I might have been more attentive to my lessons. And if my playing the pianoforte in a way affected my father’s tenants, then I would have felt an obligation to practice diligently, which sadly was never the case.

Your sex has the advantage of knowing that you must be ready to take on important duties. ”

“But not all of us choose to pay heed to that.”

“No, I suppose not. It is the same with ladies. Some of us neglect our studies and frown at our needlework, while others learn half a dozen languages, play as many instruments, read a vast quantity of books, and paint masterpieces. And they still find time to embroider exquisitely.”

“As well as covering screens and netting purses,” he said with a grin. “Mr. Bingley recently mentioned these accomplishments. I’m not sure where he got his information. I don’t know anyone who has ever done either of these things. Do you?”

“As it happens, I do. One of my neighbours covered a screen last winter, and another once netted a purse. Since neither was satisfied with the result, I shall not give any names. But you must be acquainted with many accomplished ladies.”

“A few, but none who know six languages, nor anyone who plays more than two instruments. I am not aware of them painting masterpieces either, and I doubt that any of them read as many books as I think they should.”

She laughed. “Mr. Bingley said that you are a great reader. I suppose you applied yourself diligently to your studies.”

“I did. A great value for learning was instilled in me from a young age, and I was also eager to excel. Perhaps a little too proud of my accomplishments, in retrospect, and too desirous of achieving perfection. Sometimes I wish that I had occasionally been naughty.”

“Yes, you should have been,” she replied merrily. “For I do believe that a little naughtiness also contributes to the building of character.”

“Is that the part where you get caught and openly confess to your wrongdoing?”

“Get caught!” she cried jocularly. “I was too clever for that. Or perhaps too naughty. But as to the effect upon character, I think it better to see the wrong for oneself and then inwardly form a desire to correct it rather than doing so under compulsion.”

“You make an excellent point. All the more reason why I should have misbehaved. But you might be interested to know that one of my cousins was always getting into mischief. There was one time when his father caught him red-handed. In quite the literal sense—he had red paint all over his hands. Lady Catherine, who was the victim of this prank, was furious. And so was Lord Matlock, although my other cousin swears that he saw his father turn around to hide a smile.”

A lord as well. Elizabeth had wanted to think the titled lady an anomaly who had only married into the family.

But as Mr. Darcy told her more of his family, she learned that he was also connected to other members of the aristocracy.

Even among his untitled relatives, he was able to count a great many men of influence or other achievement. An illustrious family indeed.

He was obviously accustomed to the most distinguished company.

And he must know many more than just a few accomplished ladies.

Their abilities would easily surpass her own, and they probably read more than he had admitted.

Out of kindness he had made the effort to keep her from feeling inferior.

But she could not doubt that he knew a great many ladies far superior to her in every aspect of accomplishment.

Oh, that her mother had thought to hire a governess!

But instead, Elizabeth had only been told that she must cultivate the art of attracting a man. Her mother had never considered that education might form the basis of that attraction. It was always about smiling and flirting and being as pretty as one could make oneself.

Despite disagreeing with these ideas, she had failed to apply herself to more important arts.

In fact, she had been living in a half-hearted dream, in which love would either come along or it wouldn’t, but she hadn’t thought of preparing herself to earn it.

Now here she was, in all her ignorance and ineptitude, admiring a man who had been raised to think of perfection and duty, and to know himself distinguished; and who had probably been told he must marry one of those superior ladies. He wasn’t going to choose her instead.

Elizabeth had no doubt that he liked her, but only in the way of friendship.

She would do well to think in the same terms, and then they could enjoy a few weeks of pleasant diversion while he was in the neighbourhood.

Charlotte’s advice had been well meant, but this was a case in which she ought to guard her heart; otherwise, after he returned to his real world, she would also be playing requiems.

And her disappointment would be discussed in every drawing room in the neighbourhood for months. No doubt with plenty of comments about the foolishness of setting her sights too high.

So when Elizabeth attended another party that evening, she was resolved upon not seeking out Mr. Darcy’s company. She did not mean to slight him, or to deprive herself of interesting conversation; however, that pleasure must be limited, with equal attention being given to her other new friends.

And when they did talk, she should also be careful in her expressions, so that the world would only see her enjoying the company of another pleasing new acquaintance. No one must guess that she considered Mr. Darcy by far the most engaging of them. Indeed, the most engaging man she had ever known.