Page 41 of Hidden Desires

“Your father suggested pruning the deadwood and clearing the vines that had robbed the trees of nourishment. Mr. Bingley agreed and set the gardener to work. The change, though only beginning, is remarkable. Some fruit has started to ripen. I have not tasted it, but William has and says it is somewhat sour. The gardener expects improvement with each season.”

“Let us keep going. There is more I want to show you,” Georgiana said, taking Elizabeth’s hand and leading her from the orchard.

They spent the afternoon exploring the property, from the fields of ripening grain to the shaded glens scattered across the grounds.

“This reminds me of Longbourn,” Elizabeth said as they followed the path back to the manor. “The houses are similar in size, though this one is somewhat larger. Each estate supports the same number of tenants, and the crops do not differ much from those at home.”

Georgiana laughed. “Then I hope the resemblance ends there. Mr. Bingley takes great pride in the improvements he has made, though he might be flattered to hear they remind you of Longbourn.”

Elizabeth nodded, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Mr. Bingley deserves credit for his efforts, but Papa wonders if it was wise, as he does not hold title and may never see the benefit. Most of the improvements will bear fruit only after next season, and such investments are usually made by the owner, who expects a return.”

Georgiana leaned closer and lowered her voice.

“I overheard Mr. Bingley tell William he plans to make an offer for the estate,” she said, glancing behind them.

“When I asked, he said the beauty of the neighborhood and the kindness of its residents gave him the idea.” She smiled. “But you did not hear that from me.”

“I promise not to breathe a word,” Elizabeth said with a quick smile. “Though I wonder if he knows what he is taking on. Papa has managed Longbourn for years and still finds himself puzzled at times.

“Mr. Bingley has offered little more than suggestions about paint and plaster. If he thinks that makes him a landowner, he will be in for a rude awakening.”

“William had the same concerns,” Georgiana nodded. “He warned Mr. Bingley to be certain before making an offer.”

She laughed, prompting Elizabeth to tilt her head, her brow lifting in silent inquiry.

“Either your sister gave him the idea, or Miss Bennet spent so much time at Netherfield while he recovered that now he sees the neighborhood through her eyes. They seem quite taken with each other.”

“I hope this is more than a passing fancy. Unlike Mr. Bingley, Jane does not fall in love every other day. I would hate to see her heart bruised if he were to lose interest.”

Georgiana shook her head. “Pay no mind to what Miss Bingley says about her brother. I have seen his expression when Jane is mentioned. He is, at the very least, smitten.”

“But that alone cannot justify buying the estate. I wonder if he views it as a way to impress her rather than a true commitment.”

“I cannot say, but I can tell you this. Mr. Bingley has changed since coming to Netherfield. His manner is more composed, and he speaks with greater care than before. William has noticed as well.

“Mr. Bingley said that without your father’s help, he might have listened to his sister and gone back to London.

He would not have known where to begin. With Mr. Bennet as his neighbor, he believes he could manage well enough.

He is grateful for the guidance, especially when he was under no obligation. ”

Elizabeth ran her fingers along a hedge, the leaves warm and pliant in the sun. “Knowing my father, he wanted to ease Mr. Bingley’s recovery. He may have felt guilty about the injury as well.”

Georgiana paused beside a cluster of flowers and leaned in to breathe their scent, her fingers brushing a petal. “Mr. Bingley does not blame him. When William asked, he said it was his own clumsy nature.”

“He told Papa the same,” Elizabeth said. “But my father believes he must help Mr. Bingley improve Netherfield, no matter how often he denies it.”

“Mr. Bennet is an honorable man,” Georgiana commented while plucking a flower and tucking it into her hair. “Mr. Bingley says he has never met anyone who keeps his word without complaint and feels he owes a debt he cannot repay.”

“Papa does not think Mr. Bingley owes him anything,” Elizabeth said. She shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. “He believes it is important to maintain good relations with one’s neighbors.”

Conversation faded as the path ended and Netherfield came into view. Darcy and Bennet stood near the entrance, as though awaiting their return.

“There you are,” Darcy said. “I was beginning to wonder if something had delayed you.”

“You worry too much, William,” Georgiana said with a laugh. “We were not gone long enough to warrant a search.”

“So the truth is revealed,” he said, a faint pink rising in his cheeks. Still, Elizabeth thought she saw concern in his eyes. “I believed it was getting late, but Bennet assured me Miss Elizabeth would not let anything happen to you.”

“We had a lovely time exploring,” Georgiana said, “but there is still much to see and one afternoon is not enough. Promise you will come again soon?”

“If you can spare another day,” Darcy said, cutting off Elizabeth’s reply, “I should like to speak with you again. Most of the work on the estate is finished, but there are still a few matters where your knowledge would help.”

“Is two days soon enough?” Bennet said upon entering the carriage.

“That is perfect,” Darcy said, closing the door and giving the driver a nod to set the horses in motion.

Elizabeth stole a glance at Mr. Darcy as the carriage turned through the sweep and entered the lane.

To her embarrassment, he looked up and caught her gaze, as though he had known she could not resist looking.

She dropped her eyes and fixed them on the floor until they reached the first bend in the road, at which point she raised them again to watch the trees pass on either side.

The man was a puzzle. His love for Georgiana had been evident from the moment he first spoke of her at Longbourn. When he introduced her to Elizabeth, his manner reflected a quiet concern for her comfort, as though the slightest unease would send them back to Netherfield.

His devotion was endearing, if difficult to understand.

Elizabeth, with no brother of her own, could not relate to such a fervent attachment.

The love she bore her sisters was a mixture of family loyalty, pride in their better qualities, and irritation at those habits unlike her own.

She had never felt a deep compulsion to shield them from the world’s hardships, however, Darcy seemed to carry one on Georgiana’s behalf.

To Elizabeth, that protective nature appeared excessive, perhaps stifling some of Georgiana’s enjoyment of life.

But perhaps she was too quick to judge him. She recalled, almost as an afterthought, his mention of a distressing experience Georgiana had endured. Had he minimized the matter? If the event had truly shaken her, then perhaps his caution was not only understandable but necessary.

In many ways, she reminded her of Jane. Both girls hesitated to share their true thoughts, fearful of mockery.

But like Jane, Georgiana proved warm and caring once her shyness lifted.

In the short time they had known each other, Elizabeth had come to value her friendship and looked forward to their time together.

To see a man so unafraid to show affection for a family member struck her as admirable.

Such tenderness deserved recognition and a man who possessed that quality, who dared reveal such emotion, might well earn her regard.

She had thought herself immune to those sentiments, but now felt otherwise.

The man who won her heart must possess that same quiet strength.

Of the eligible men in Hertfordshire, none met that measure. Perhaps, as she had said to Georgiana, she would never marry.

The remainder of the ride passed in silence, her thoughts turning to imagining the face of the man she might someday call her husband, a face that, to her surprise, bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Darcy’s.