Page 25

J ane rode Nellie to Purvis Lodge with a purpose in mind. She was aware that her sister liked to ride out at an ungodly hour, but if she was to prove her sincerity to Elizabeth, she had to make an effort and partake in some of her favourite activities.

As Elizabeth and Charlotte were being assisted into the saddles of their mounts, she was greatly surprised to see Jane Millar arrive at Purvis Lodge’s stables. As far as she knew, her older sister did not leave her bed until just before it was time to break her fast.

“Good morning, Lizzy, Miss Lucas,” Jane sang. “Would you object if I joined you for your ride this morning?”

“I am not sure that Nellie will be able to keep up with Jamil and Pluto.” Elizabeth did not miss the way Jane’s face fell.

It looked genuine to her. Based on a conversation with Mary, Elizabeth knew her younger sister did not object to Charlotte riding Aphrodite, especially as Mary had decided to eschew this morning’s ride.

“Charlotte, will you agree to ride Mary’s mare? If so, then Jane may ride Pluto.”

“You know I would love to ride Aphrodite,” Charlotte declared.

“Jack,” Elizabeth called out to one of the new grooms, “please saddle Miss Mary’s horse for Miss Lucas.”

“Aye, Miss Bennet,” the groom responded with a doff of his cap.

Understanding her half-sister had not been refusing her company and that she would ride a horse far better than Nellie, even if it was only a cob, Jane relaxed.

The groom made quick work saddling Aphrodite with Mary’s side-saddle.

He led Pluto to the mounting block and held the horse while Miss Lucas climbed down.

He walked Aphrodite forward and positioned her.

He handed the reins to the lady once she had mounted.

As soon as Miss Lucas urged the horse ahead to be next to Miss Bennet, Jack led Nellie from the block and made sure Miss Millar was seated on Pluto.

He then mounted a gelding and, with a footman, fell in behind the three ladies.

The footman rode ahead and opened the gate which led to the open fields.

Waiting in the field were two men on stallions.

Charlotte glowed with pleasure when she recognised Anthony, while Elizabeth’s cheeks pinked from seeing the Duke next to Charlotte’s suitor.

A little behind them was another footman, this one enormous, riding on a gelding.

Jane did not miss the reactions to the two men.

As much as it irked her that the wealthy man preferred Miss Lucas to herself, she was fully aware that nothing good would come of her throwing herself in his path.

She was very inquisitive about Elizabeth’s reaction to a man who seemed to be of an age with Mr Bennet.

He was a good-looking man, but she had never seen him before and knew nothing of him.

“Good morning, Your Grace and Mr Barrington. What pulls you from your beds so early this morning?” Elizabeth enquired impertinently.

‘ His Grace ! ’ Jane screamed in her thoughts. ‘ How can this be? He has not looked at me, yet he seems enamoured with my sister! ’ Aloud she said, “Lizzy, will you introduce me to your friends?”

“Jane,” Elizabeth hissed, “it is for His Grace to make that request, not you.”

“Oh, please pardon me. Your Grace,” Jane said as she batted her eyelids at the Duke. “I was overcome, as I have never met a peer before, especially not one as highly ranked as you are.”

Hertfordshire was very good at detecting insincerity, and he was hearing it dripping from Miss Millar’s words.

He debated leaving without gratifying the woman with an introduction, but if he did, it would take away from being in the fascinating Miss Bennet’s company.

“I have heard all I need to know about you, Miss Millar. I am the Duke of Hertfordshire,” he stated curtly.

Suddenly Jane realised that she had allowed her mask to slip.

“Please pardon me, I am intruding,” she stated diffidently.

“We are still in view of Purvis Lodge, so I will ride back to the stables and collect Nellie.” She turned to her half-sister, fighting to keep a pleasant look on her face.

“We will catch up at Longbourn later.” She wheeled the cob and headed back through the gate still being held open by the footman.

It was lucky her back was to the riders because she could not keep the scowl from her face as she rode.

How could the Duke know about her? What had he been told that he seemed to hold her in such low regard?

Once Jane was through the gate, Elizabeth nodded to the footman who closed and latched it. “Shall we?” She proposed as she wheeled Jamil towards the open fields and Oakham Mount.

The Duke brought his stallion next to Miss Bennet’s mare while his nephew rode next to Miss Lucas, a little behind them. The two footmen and groom followed.

“I thought she had changed, but it seems that Jeremiah 13:23 is correct: a leopard cannot change his spots . It is sad; I thought I could build a relationship with my older sister,” Elizabeth lamented.

“Better that she shows her true colours now,” Hertfordshire opined.

“I suppose that is correct,” Elizabeth agreed, “however, it does not reduce my disappointment. It must be that all of her mother’s inculcation is harder to escape than she thought.”

“Are you truly sanguine, ascribing Miss Millar’s behaviour to her mother?

” Hertfordshire probed. “You are too intelligent to believe that entirely. Did our creator not endow us with free will? Are not each of us, Miss Millar included, able to choose how to behave? I am told it has been more than a year since the lady has been separated from her mother, so why now?”

“It could be I was ignoring that which I did not wish to see,” Elizabeth owned. “I am usually more sceptical, but Jane shares blood with me, so I suppose I hoped that her change was genuine.”

“That just shows what a good and compassionate person you are, Miss Bennet.” Hertfordshire was not upset to see the way she blushed at his compliment.

“That is kind of you to say, Your Grace; however, you have experienced my sharp tongue more than once. When I am pushed, I can be rather stubborn, and I have a tendency to jump to conclusions and can be slow to change them…at least with regards to people. As you know, if I am presented with empirical evidence that I am in error about facts, then I will accept that without delay,” Elizabeth said in self-assessment.

“Unlike most, you are aware of your perceived faults, which means that you are willing to correct them,” Hertfordshire concluded.

Charlotte, riding next to Mr Barrington and a little behind Eliza and the Duke, was watching the interactions between them.

It did not take much for her to see that there was a spark between the two ahead of her.

“How would you feel if your uncle marries and produces a son and heir?” Charlotte felt like she knew the answer, but it was important to her to ask the question.

She had no interest in marrying one—if things progressed to that point—who would be resentful because of what he did not get.

“Somewhat relieved,” Anthony replied without delay.

He did not miss Charlotte’s, Miss Lucas’s raised eyebrows.

“I have never desired to be a peer, and especially not a duke. If there is a need, I will do my duty, but I much prefer to be untitled Anthony Barrington, the heir to Rivington. By the by, if Uncle Archy marries and has a daughter, that too would remove me as the heir presumptive.” He saw the questioning look and explained how the patents had been written.

His reply made Charlotte smile. She would do her duty if there was no choice, but she did not believe she was meant to be a duchess.

Eliza, on the other hand, would fill such a role like no other.

“That is a very good answer,” she stated in a way she hoped he did not find condescending.

“If he marries and begets a son or daughter, will you return to live at your father’s estate in Surrey? ”

“Although I protested it was not necessary, Uncle Archy will transfer Netherfield Park into my name if he in fact marries,” Anthony reported.

“That way, I, and if I am fortunate enough to be married by then,” he looked at Charlotte pointedly, causing her to blush scarlet, “my life will be independent until the sad day my father is called home to God. You know my parents will arrive in a few days, do you not?”

Charlotte nodded that she was aware of the fact.

“Unfortunately, Loretta, Marjorie, and their families will not be with Mother and Father. I can tell you that they are all looking forward to meeting you.”

“I can only pray that I make a good impression when I meet your parents,” Charlotte said. “My mama and papa already think very well of you. More importantly, Franklin, Johnny, and Maria all like you.”

Before he could respond, Anthony noticed that his uncle and Miss Bennet had increased their speed and were soon as close to a gallop as one could be while on a side-saddle.

He cocked his head towards them and looked at Charlotte questioningly.

She nodded, and they pushed their horses forward to match the Duke and Lizzy’s speed.

As soon as his uncle increased his speed, Anthony noticed that Biggs did as well and maintained his distance behind his master.

The riders kept their fast pace until they were less than a mile from Oakham Mount.

At that point they slowed down eventually to a walk.

After the two men dismounted, each one assisted the lady he was interested in out of her saddle.

There were becoming blushes from each when they felt the hands on their waists through their layers of clothing.