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P emberley was quiet when Elizabeth arrived in the company of the Darcy siblings, such that there was no need to endure Miss Bingley’s presence, or even the rest of that party.

Having some idea of the state of affairs between the siblings, Elizabeth did not need to ask, nor did she wish to know more.

When the carriage drew to a halt before the house, Elizabeth alighted with her hosts, and at Mr. Darcy’s suggestion, they opted for a brief tour of the formal gardens, of which she had seen only a little the day she and her aunt and uncle visited the estate.

“I must say, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth as they strolled through the gardens, “the image Pemberley projects differs greatly from Mr. Collins’s account of your aunt’s estate in Kent.”

Mr. Darcy regarded her through knowing eyes, suspecting what she would say, or Elizabeth was no judge of the matter at all. “In what way?” was all he said, though she could see the hint of his humor tugging on the corners of his lips.

“Why, that the gardens are not so extensive as I might have thought, given the size of your estate. When Mr. Collins spoke of Rosings Park, he did not stint in regaling us with accounts of her ladyship’s gardens, which are quite extensive, or so I understand.

Furthermore, he spoke of several fine topiaries at great length, Lady Catherine’s pride and joy—according to Mr. Collins, they are proudly displayed to all who pass by on the lane. ”

“Lady Catherine’s tastes are far too sterile,” said Georgiana, her nose wrinkled in aversion.

“Georgiana is correct, of course,” allowed Mr. Darcy. “Lady Catherine believes that man should imprint his presence on nature and prefers gardens and topiaries to the more chaotic but natural state in which we found the land.”

“Then you disagree with her ladyship,” replied Elizabeth.

“I do. Gardens can be beautiful, of course, but I prefer to leave nature to its own devices, unfettered by the awkward taste of man. That is not an uncommon stance in the north, but it has always been our practice at Pemberley.”

“Then I commend you, sir, for I cannot agree more.”

Elizabeth looked out at the garden and the tangle of trees beyond and sighed.

“Your estate is exquisite, sir. Were I able to stay for more than just a few days like your excellent guests, I have little doubt I would explore the estate to my heart’s content and not see everything it offers in a lifetime. ”

“A lifetime might be enough, Miss Bennet,” grinned Mr. Darcy, “for Pemberley is not that extensive. The true boast about the beauty of Pemberley is that one could see the same scenes many times over and not tire of them.”

“That, Mr. Darcy, is a boast, indeed. As it has more than a shade of truth in it, I cannot but allow your opinion to be appropriate.”

Thereafter, they walked on in silence, each enjoying the warm summer day, the Darcys pointing out locations of interest to Elizabeth’s eager eyes.

It was a matter of some regret that she would depart the following day, though given Mr. Darcy’s stated intentions, she might have a lifetime to explore them if he provoked her love.

The notion that might have been unfathomable only a few weeks before was now intriguing, such that Elizabeth wondered how the gentleman would go about his courting when he returned to Hertfordshire.

At one time, Elizabeth might have wondered if her mother’s continued eccentricities, coupled with her father’s disinterest and her youngest sisters’ wildness, would put him off; now she was convinced he would ignore such concerns in favor of his determination to have her.

Perhaps all was not lost, she mused. Should Elizabeth follow in Jane’s footsteps and marry, they might take some thought about how to reform Kitty and Lydia’s characters by removing them from Longbourn and taking them in hand.

Jane was not the sort to treat them with the firm hand they required, but Richard would not suffer any silliness and would understand the need to take action to curb their behavior.

For that matter, Elizabeth knew Mr. Darcy would understand it too, and given what he had determined to ignore, she thought he would not complain at all should she suggest it to him.

Now was not the time to raise such things, for he was not even officially courting her, but it was something to keep in mind when the time was right.

When they had walked for perhaps thirty minutes, the Darcys led Elizabeth into the house and put her in the care of Mrs. Reynolds, who led her to a bedchamber where she could refresh herself.

The housekeeper, who appeared to approve of her, even put a maid at her disposal to tidy her hair.

To Elizabeth’s eyes, the housekeeper was rather knowing about the whole thing, and from what she had observed, she was a retainer of some length, a woman who cared for the concerns of her master.

Given Miss Bingley’s presence, it was also possible that Mrs. Reynolds wanted no part of any notion that Mr. Darcy would offer for a woman of her character and approved of Elizabeth on that basis alone.

Whatever the case, Elizabeth knew she did not need to worry, as Mr. Darcy would never make Miss Bingley an offer.

“Miss Eliza,” said Miss Bingley when Elizabeth entered the sitting-room with Mr. Darcy and Georgiana only a few moments later. “I see you are still underfoot.”

The way Mr. Bingley’s nostrils flared, Elizabeth suspected he was not about to endure his sister’s continued poor behavior. Eager to avoid unpleasantness, Elizabeth inserted a response before the gentleman could master his anger enough to respond.

“If by underfoot you mean I am present because of Georgiana’s invitation, then you are correct.”

Regarding her with equal parts vinegar and salt, Miss Bingley said: “I might have thought you would remain closer to the inn today, as it is your last day to enjoy Lambton.”

“That is a reasonable assumption. As Georgiana wished for my company one last time, I could not disappoint her.”

“How shall we occupy ourselves?” asked Mr. Bingley, choosing a diplomatic changing of the subject. “The day is fine, but you have already sampled the gardens. Or are you willing to be out of doors again, Miss Bennet?”

Elizabeth grinned at the jovial man. “You know enough of my character to understand that I do not suppose one can spend too much time out of doors.”

“Shall we have some lawn games?” asked Georgiana. “Do you enjoy bowling, Elizabeth?”

“I do,” replied Elizabeth with a smile for her young friend. “My sisters and I also enjoy pall-mall.”

“Then perhaps we can retire out of doors again after luncheon,” said Mr. Darcy. “If you suppose your coiffure, which I note you have repaired, can endure the indignity of the wind yet again.”

“I have no objection, Mr. Darcy.”

Luncheon proceeded with very little discord, for Miss Bingley sat next to her brother, who appeared alert for any unkind comments she might think to make.

Elizabeth, near the Darcys, directed most of her comments to them, though the company was intimate enough to allow for general conversation.

Mr. Hurst concentrated on his food, Mrs. Hurst was silent, and as Mr. Bingley was engaged in watching his sister, the meal was a peaceful and enjoyable time for Elizabeth.

After lunch, they went outside as the Darcys had designed for the games that were already set out for their enjoyment.

Besides pall-mall and bowling, there was a space set aside for quoits, and even some equipment for the gentlemen to indulge in cricket if they desired.

Elizabeth had played cricket with her sisters and some of the neighborhood boys when she was a girl, but she did not suppose she would escape Miss Bingley’s judgmental eye if she suggested such an unladylike game, and the company contented itself with the more sedate activities.

Though Elizabeth enjoyed herself with Georgiana and Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley often nearby with a cheery comment or a transparent attempt to foster pleasant relations between them all, Elizabeth could feel Miss Bingley’s eyes on her most of the afternoon.

Several times, Elizabeth thought the woman would approach her, likely with some caustic comment or veiled insult a woman of half of Elizabeth’s acumen could understand.

Yet her brother was always there, watching her, almost daring her to disrupt the harmony of the company, or Elizabeth was engaged with Mr. and Miss Darcy.

In time, the servants brought out pitchers of cool lemonade and platters of fruit for the company to enjoy.

The games at an end, Elizabeth sat with Georgiana, their glasses near to hand, eating succulent grapes and crisp, red apples, and sampling some of the more exotic fruit from Pemberley’s conservatory.

“Your home is a lovely place,” said Elizabeth, looking about, a little wistful that she would leave Derbyshire the following day and not see it again, perhaps forever. “I might have wished to spend a few more days here to explore the area.”

“There are many places we could show you,” said Mr. Darcy, who sat nearby.

It had not escaped Elizabeth’s attention that the gentleman had stayed close to her the entire day, nor was it a mystery to Mr. Darcy’s guests.

Again, Mrs. Hurst showed no visible sign of her feelings on the subject, while Miss Bingley appeared quite put out.

Mr. Hurst was the genuine surprise, for rather than his usual practice of focusing on nothing other than his meal or whatever amusement in which he was engaged, the man appeared to find it all diverting.

What this meant, Elizabeth was uncertain, but it seemed he was not sympathetic to Miss Bingley’s mounting frustration.

“Can you describe it?” asked Elizabeth. “If I cannot see it with my eyes, perhaps I can experience all Derbyshire offers through yours.”