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Elizabeth began laughing again and explained, “The other afternoon, Mama was regaling us with all the changes she planned for Netherfield—no mention of Jane’s wishes, mind you!

And then, she assured me that once she was finished with that house, she would come to help me do the same for Pemberley.

Can you imagine? And Caroline was sitting there, grinding her teeth to nubbins.

I’m not certain if jealousy or disgust won the day, but she left the room as quickly as she could. ”

Darcy’s thoughts had taken a new direction. “Have you noticed anything odd about Miss Bingley? She seems to be spending a great deal of time in her rooms this visit, and when she does join the party, she appears more quiet than usual.”

Elizabeth giggled. “I would suggest that you simply appreciate the fact that she is no longer spending all her time in pursuit of a certain gentleman from Derbyshire.” Observing her husband’s embarrassment with some amusement, she offered, “I did notice a change in her demeanor, but I assumed that it was due to the absence of her sister or any Society acquaintances. Aside from Miss de Bourgh, Caroline has been the oldest single lady in the party, and that cannot be good for her opinion of herself.”

After some further discussion and not a little laughter, the Darcys eventually began walking in the direction of the house.

Curling both hands around her husband’s arm, Elizabeth rested her head against his shoulder.

“I feel as if we haven’t had any time alone together in weeks.

” Her husband’s heated look made her blush.

“Outside of our rooms, that is. In the daylight, sir, where we might talk. What do you think of books?”

Will gave her a cheeky look. “Oh, I could never speak of books at such a time. My mind is always occupied by other things.” Laughing, the pair continued on the path until it led them out of the woods.

Catching sight of the stables across the lawn, Darcy was struck by an idea. “Would you like to go riding? The snow is not so deep, and we could have Mrs. Reynolds inform our guests that we must visit tenants in some distant part of the estate.”

Seeing that his wife was considering the notion, he added, “You really should spend more time getting acquainted with your birthday present, after all.”

Elizabeth could not help but laugh at his eagerness. “Very well, sir. You have convinced me! ”

Darcy’s enthusiasm was contagious and the pair detoured by the stables to visit the bay mare he had chosen for his wife.

Dubbed “Robin Redbreast” because of her bright reddish brown coat, the pony was easily coaxed to the stall door with a handful of oats and delighted the lady by raising her muzzle to Elizabeth’s face and blowing out a few puffs of white vapor, pricking her ears forward as if pleased by the lady’s laughter.

Smiling, Elizabeth rubbed the mare’s velvety nose and patted her on the neck. “She is so fuzzy! Our horses in Hertfordshire don’t usually grow such a thick winter coat.”

Darcy smiled and rubbed the mare on the chest. “Just wait until she begins to shed in a few months. I remember coming into the house after grooming my pony as a boy—I was covered with horse hair and my mother was horrified… I suppose there might have been a little mud as well,” he added rather sheepishly.

Luckily, his wife was much more inclined to laugh at such matters. “Well, I suppose you might have gone in through the kitchen door, but few of us can remember such things as children.”

Sharing a grin, the pair bid farewell to Robin and headed toward the house while Elizabeth continued along her line of thought; “Not only was I always finding mud puddles to traipse through and trees to climb, but I never thought to check if I was dirty before letting Mama see me. And dear Jane was always so very… clean. Truly, even when she went outdoors, not a speck of dirt ever seemed to cling to her. My habit of puttering in the garden and its effects on my clothes quite appalled our poor mother.”

Smiling down at his wife, Darcy pulled her close. “Ah well. I shall have to inform her that a woman unafraid of getting a little dirt on her petticoats in order to ensure the success of my farm was just what I was looking for in a wife.”

Looking into one another’s eyes, both were warmed by the sense of having found a kindred spirit; a friend as well as a lover.

After a lengthy kiss during which Will left most of his wife’s curls loosened from her hairpins, the couple moved arm in arm toward the front door.

Elizabeth sighed slightly when they reached the steps.

“Courage, dearest. Only two more days,” murmured Darcy.

Elizabeth smiled and attempted a sinister look; “What if I dosed the soup with laudanum this evening?”

Mrs. Reynolds was relieved to see Mr. and Mrs. Darcy laughing at some private joke, clearly returned to their usual harmony. She merely nodded when they informed her that they would be spending the remainder of the afternoon in their rooms and were not to be disturbed unless some emergency arose.

Neither of the Darcys was aware that their actions had also been observed by a bitter woman nearing spinsterhood who had been spying on them from an upper window.

Miss Bingley nearly rent the velvet drapes from their hooks at the sight of her former quarry displaying such unseemly affection for the detestable country nobody.

He had kissed the little chit! Outdoors !

In full view of anyone who cared to look!

Losing sight of the couple, Caroline turned away from the window and, making a disgusted noise in her throat, returned to the letter that she had been writing.