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Elizabeth tuned out the world and embraced the stillness of the moment.

The birds were silenced, the breeze no longer plucked at her hem, and she brought her breath under her control.

With her thumb at her ear, Elizabeth waited for a moment and then released the arrow to fly toward its destination.

The thunk was barely audible from thirty yards away.

She always got a rush of satisfaction when she heard the triumphant sound of success.

“No matter how hard I try, I can never hit the target as accurately as you.” Kitty’s melancholy and lack of confidence dwelt just under the surface of her words.

“You only just took up archery less than a year ago, Kitty. Though you do not see it, you are improving. Your grouping is well-clustered, and you have fewer outliers when you shoot. Your form is excellent. Besides, hitting the bullseye is just the icing on the cake. Archery is about being able to settle yourself and focus on a goal. I have found that archery helps my balance and awareness of the world around me, which helps me look graceful on the dance floor.” Elizabeth strode across the field, the wind blowing against her skin as she went to collect her arrows.

Kitty trailed behind, fiddling with her bow. She bit her lip as she considered what Lizzie said. “Do you think I will learn those things from archery?” She gathered her arrows from their target.

Elizabeth and Jane were teaching their sisters various skills, so they would be prepared to navigate the world with confidence.

She still spent time with Jane, but her growing relationships with all of her sisters made Elizabeth exceedingly happy.

She knew how much Kitty struggled with confidence, and she hoped that learning archery would help her.

“Yes, I think we can learn a lot of things from archery. You have already learned patience. You used to release the arrow before you had aimed effectively and would miss the target completely. Confidence will come when you recognize that you have improved and continue to do so. You will not only have confidence in archery, but in all areas of your life because you will know you can work toward a goal and succeed.” Elizabeth collected the remaining five arrows and gestured for Kitty to go first.

Kitty took a few deep breaths, feeling the tension in her shoulders, then let her arrows fly one after another. Only one of them hit the bullseye, but all the others were close. Kitty’s joy was palpable as she let out a triumphant squeal, jumping up and down after taking the last shot.

“That was marvelous, Kitty. You are coming along well.” Elizabeth let her first arrow fly after steadying herself.

“I am working on things myself, you know. When Father is at his worst, I find it almost impossible to keep my emotions in check. I know that lashing out will not be to anyone’s benefit, so I have to push the vexation inside me down.

But if I do not let it go, I will explode.

Instead, I come down here and remind myself that I am more than his opinion of me.

” A thud sounded in the field as she released her arrow, punctuating her point.

“Father is not as superior as he would want us to believe.” Thud.

“Mother is neither foolish nor silly to care for our futures.” Thud.

“There are good people in the world, and we can make things better.” Thud.

The arrows were all tightly grouped in the center of the target.

Kitty watched her sister’s skill with admiration.

“I never thought about doing anything like that. I will admit that I rarely know how to cope with my sensitivities. It feels like I am always afraid when he is there. I feel so powerless.” Kitty rubbed her arms as she spoke, as if she had experienced a chill.

“I think you are forgetting about something, Kitty. For as smart as Father thinks he is, or as much power that he has over us, he is far below us in some things.”

“What do you mean?” Kitty asked.

Elizabeth put her bow down and faced Kitty.

She needed her sister to hear her. Gripping Kitty’s hands, Elizabeth looked into her eyes, willing Kitty to see her sincerity.

“Father has never been fond of physical activities. He has never even attempted archery. He would never have the patience to work at something as you are. More than that, you have more compassion for people and put more heart into the things you do. In everything that counts, you are a better person. It is not the money or property we have or the things we know that are important. It is how we love those around us.”

“Oh, Lizzie.” Kitty laid her head on Elizabeth’s shoulder as she hugged her, tears wetting her cheeks.

It had been a bad day yesterday, wrought with so many big emotions.

Fear of her father weighed heavily on her, and she felt a constant need to shrink into the background.

She never thought much of herself and always focused on her failures.

To know that this was how Lizzie saw the situation they were in meant a lot.

That this was how Lizzie saw her meant so much more.

Elizabeth gave Kitty one last squeeze before whispering to her, “You mean so much to me, dear girl. I just hope that someday you will see the great things in yourself that I see in you.” Leaning back, she checked the time and grimaced.

“I don’t mean to end our time so soon, but it is Mama’s at-home today.

We are already running late, but I would love to help you dress and fix your hair.

It will mean that we can chat more.” Elizabeth walked across the field to retrieve their arrows.

“You are right. We have little time to change.”

Darcy looked around the parlor he sat in.

Had this been a week ago, he would have stood and looked out the window to better protect himself from having to interact with people he did not know.

However, his recent revelations had changed him.

He was noticing things he would not have before.

On closer inspection, he saw that the furniture was perfectly polished despite being worn and out-of-date.

It was a restful room. The chairs were both visually appealing and comfortable.

The paintings on the walls were not by famous artists, but the colors were all soothing and went well with the natural theme of the space.

He paused and scrutinized what he saw, forming an opinion of Mrs. Bennet.

Though she couldn’t afford the latest fashion, she kept the room tidy and gave it a cozy feel.

She also cared a great deal for the comfort of her visitors.

The knowledge that she did this while under the strain of her husband’s apathy and antagonism strengthened his regard for her.

“How do you take your tea, Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Bennet was presiding over the tea service. The Netherfield party had come to call, and she hoped it would go smoothly.

“Cream and sugar, Mrs. Bennet.” Though he was readjusting the way he thought, Darcy was still fighting to get words to come out of his mouth on command.

Mrs. Bennet could recognize Mr. Darcy’s struggles from where she sat across from him.

His hand trembled, a faint but noticeable sign, and the tension in his jaw was unmistakable.

The poor boy was attempting to be polite and take part in the conversation, but she could sense his discomfort.

“How do you like Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy? Do you find it much different from Derbyshire?” She gave him a supportive smile as she passed him his cup.

“It's both different and the same,” Darcy began, but was cut off before she could finish.

“Oh, you are so droll, Mr. Darcy.” Caroline’s annoying titter abruptly halted Darcy’s attempt at conversation.

She was adamant that Mr. Darcy would not fall into the clutches of the insignificant family before her.

If there was one thing that she had taken away from the dreadful school she had attended, it was how to school people in the art of humiliation.

Caroline went on. “How you could find anything in this village in the back of beyond comparable to Derbyshire, the location of your grand estate of Pemberley, is beyond me.” Caroline forced a smile calculated to charm.

How her brother had convinced Mr. Darcy to come and rusticate here and visit these nobodies, she would never know.

Mrs. Bennet watched her guest’s behavior with a blank face.

If her guest was going to act like a petulant child and insult people, she would treat her like one.

“You were saying, Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Bennet attempted to make Mr. Darcy feel welcome, despite Caroline’s lack of etiquette.

She peered over to make sure her daughters were content.

She saw Jane was in an animated conversation with Mr. Bingley and Mary was working on getting Mrs. Louisa Hurst to converse.

Mrs. Bennet felt a sense of ease knowing she could manage until Elizabeth’s arrival.

Darcy had to look away from Caroline to avoid smirking at her stunned expression.

She had obviously never dealt with anyone like Mrs. Bennet.

The matron’s ability to make him feel relaxed while ignoring Caroline left him in awe.

“Yes, I was going to say that the hills of Derbyshire will always be home. However, I am fascinated with the agricultural possibilities of having flatter fields. Everything I have seen while on my rides has been quite picturesque. As for similarities that some cannot see, the town of Meryton is quite similar to Lambton, which is the town I frequent near my home. I believe it results from communities having the same fundamental needs.”

“My sister-in-law has often commented on the similarity of Meryton to Lambton,” Mrs. Bennet disclosed.