Page 79 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

It was the day of the picnic, and Elizabeth stood looking out the bedchamber window when she heard the bedsheets rustling behind her.

“Will it be a dry day, darling?” She dropped the edge of the drape.

“It is a lovely day, Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth turned and saw her husband partially covered with the sheet.

He was watching her. Her eyes traced down the length of his legs before rising to his face.

She sighed. “You are so beautiful, Fitzwilliam. You could have been Michael Angelo’s David.

” She crawled onto the bed and ran her fingers through the wayward lock that hung over his left brow.

He shifted to his side and gathered her against him, his kiss deepening until they were lost in each other’s embrace.

The drive to the stream required but a quarter of an hour in the Darcys’ two carriages, and upon arrival, the party dispersed to the several fishing holes indicated by Fitzwilliam.

“Darcy, Lancaster mentioned your plan for a charitable fund to cover the expenses of the indigent in this parish. I have not taken the opportunity to thank you, but I am most grateful.” Colin Rutledge extended his hand, and Darcy shook it.

Darcy prepared his rod. “You are a fine physician, Rutledge, and we wish to support your efforts with the indigent of our parish. It is an injustice to allow you to shoulder that burden alone.”

Elizabeth heard no more because she walked out of hearing. She climbed a large boulder and caught the sound of Georgiana giggling. Hugh Rutledge stood at the edge of the stream, instructing her in the art of casting.

“Oh! The hook has caught in my gown, sir.” Georgiana tugged at the rod, and the skirt bobbed up and down each time she pulled.

Hugh laughed. “Never fear, Miss Darcy. I shall release it, but you must cease tugging, or it is my finger that will be caught next.”

Elizabeth lingered a moment, uncertain whether she ought to remain with her sister to serve as a chaperone. When Georgiana’s gown was freed, the young girl asked, “What is the most interesting thing you have seen this summer?”

He secured her line and paused before replying.

“I witnessed a gallbladder operation in London, performed by my brother. A woman had been suffering from stones, and he removed the gallbladder surgically. Did you know he has established a surgical theatre on the ground floor of his house here in Meryton?”

Satisfied that the pair conducted themselves with propriety and that they remained well within sight and sound of the rest of the party, Elizabeth moved on.

She drew near the spot Fitzwilliam had indicated as a popular fishing hole and climbed over the rocks and small boulders to reach it. Elizabeth had just begun to prepare her rod when the rector approached.

“Mrs. Darcy, may I join you? Mr. Darcy directed me here, assuring me I was certain to catch something in this very pool.”

She smiled at him. “It is my pleasure, Mr. Roberts.” As she spoke, she secured her line. “Do you have family in the area, sir?”

He opened his box of flies and bait. “No, ma’am. My father’s estate lies in Surrey. I moved here when a curacy became available and now I have fallen in love with this corner of England and its people.”

Further down, Charlotte stood at the edge of the stream, her small wooden fly box set upon a flat stone. She was examining its contents, weighing which insect to imitate against both the time of day and the season, when Mr. Seton drew near.

“Forgive me, what has you so intent in that little box?”

Charlotte looked up and then grinned. “I am choosing a fly, sir. The fish are rising near the bank.”

He leaned closer and saw the neat rows of tiny, feathered flies. “Where did you acquire such a fine collection?”

“I tied these, Mr. Seton.”

He lifted one, examining it between his fingers. “These are remarkably well-made. Where did you learn the art of dressing flies?”

“My father was an avid fisherman. We spent hours upon a stream that runs through our estate. I learned everything I know from him.”

“And you, sir? Do you have much experience?”

He chuckled. “Very little. My father sent us to school at a young age; by the time I was ten, I was sent away and remained at school until I completed my studies at Cambridge. Afterward, I established myself in London as a barrister. I have been a city-dweller these past six years.”

Charlotte watched him while he spoke. “May I teach you to cast?”

His eyes were laughing. “Yes, I would like that.”

“I will demonstrate the proper technique, and then you shall cast the line yourself.” She set up her rod and stepped closer to the stream.

Mr. Seton watched as she cast her line across the water with a motion so fluid it seemed nearly effortless. The fly landed upon the surface as lightly as milkweed. On the third cast, a trout rose to strike, and with a swift flick, she secured it.

“Your skill is impressive, Miss Lucas. In your hands, fishing is an art form.”

“Sir, you are too kind. What has impressed you is years of experience.” She smiled at him.

He held up the creel, which contained the struggling fish. “I will take this to the footman, and then you may begin to teach me how to cast a line, that I might one day impress you.” He gave a playful wink, and she laughed.

Mr. Seton and Miss Lucas passed the morning together. As she instructed him in casting the line, in the choice of lure, and in other fishing lore, their conversation turned to the many concerns that weighed upon him. He spoke of the difficulties he had encountered in managing his estate.

Charlotte, whose own experience in estate matters was considerable, proved a valuable source of knowledge. When he confessed his ignorance of soil enrichment, she explained what she had learned of its practice. When he inquired about crop rotation, she described the system used in Hertfordshire.

He told her about two low-lying fields that were prone to flooding, and she asked questions that sparked ideas for a mitigation plan.

At last, he spoke of his tenants and of the conflict between two of the families.

Charlotte listened, seeing that this distressed him more than any other problem he was facing.

As he answered her questions, he began to discern a possible way to resolve the quarrel.

Later that evening, Mr. Darcy relayed to Elizabeth that Mr. Seton had sought him out privately.

“He asked to call upon Miss Lucas later in the week, but I did him one better,” Darcy replied. “I invited him to dine with us the day after tomorrow.”

Elizabeth arched a brow. “And tell me, Mr. Darcy, who is playing matchmaker now?”

That night, after dinner, Darcy entered the drawing room and joined Elizabeth and her friend.

“Miss Lucas,” he said, “Mr. Seton has expressed a wish to call upon you later this week, and so I invited him to dine with us the day after tomorrow.”

Charlotte flushed and smiled first at Mr. Darcy and then at Elizabeth. “That is very gratifying news, Mr. Darcy. Thank you so much for inviting him to dinner.” She took Elizabeth’s hand in her own. “I cannot begin to tell you how happy this makes me!”

Later, as the Darcys lay together in her bed, he said, “I think your friend may soon become a resident of Derbyshire.”

Elizabeth smiled into the darkness. “Yes, Fitzwilliam, I am so very happy for her. I know it is too soon to speak of marriage, but they passed the entire day together and never seemed to exhaust their conversation.”

He nipped the hollow beneath her ear. “Why did you not tell me what an expert angler you are? You first caught the rector’s attention, and then the physician ceased speaking, pointed toward you, and asked if I had been your tutor in the sport.”

Elizabeth giggled. “I did not wish to give you jealous pangs, Fitzwilliam. Alexander was the first to teach me how to cast.”

He grinned. “You have thrown down the gauntlet, my darling, and now I shall prove why I am the better catch.”