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The two women gathered their bonnets, gloves, and shawls before meeting at the front door.

Charlotte spoke to the chambermaid and left lunch for the young woman on the table in the kitchen.

The walk to the village was only two miles, and for once, Charlotte Collins kept pace with Eliza Bennet’s quick steps.

The distance was covered quickly without exchanging many comments between the two women except when Charlotte admitted she had received few letters from her parents since arriving in Hunsford.

Thinking about her visits with the neighbours around Meryton since Christmas, Elizabeth commented, “I remember that Freddie and Maria seemed to enjoy the biscuits at the breakfast after Jane’s wedding. ”

“In the letter from my father, he admitted he did not have money to pay for Maria to travel with you on this visit. I worry how he paid the taxes and tithes this quarter.”

“Sir William sold a heifer to Mr Bingley to raise the funds to pay his taxes,” Elizabeth revealed. “Jane desired more butter at Netherfield, and of course, Charles resolved his wife’s wishes. My father paid the church tithes for all the neighbours who do not have funds this spring.”

Charlotte remained silent, and Elizabeth asked, “How is it that Mr Collins has not lost weight this winter while you have?”

Mrs Collins blushed as she revealed, “Mr Collins has a large tea at Rosings Park almost every afternoon with Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh.”

Incensed and not disguising her ire at this injustice, Elizabeth asked, “Tea with Lady Catherine? And he does not arrange for you to attend and share the bounty of Rosings Park?”

The two friends walked the last quarter mile without further comments.

Arriving at the village, Elizabeth took a moment to observe the area more closely than when she arrived earlier in the day.

The small village of Hunsford consisted of two dozen buildings along a simple muddy street under some trees bearing the first hints of green.

The surrounding pastures were bright green, with flocks of sheep grazing under the watch of teenage boys.

Lambs played beside the ewes, and their antics, leaping and chasing each other, made both women smile.

“The livery is at the end of the street,” Elizabeth said. “The man keeps a cart to rent to carry things. The pony can deliver our purchases without any problem.”

The mercantile was a pleasant shop with the smells of spices filling the room.

There was no heat from a fireplace in the store, but sunshine poured into the interior from the open door and windows facing the street.

When Charlotte and Elizabeth entered the store, the proprietor dealt with an elderly customer.

“I need a few tea leaves, Mr Jones,” the woman informed the man.

“My granddaughter from Folkstone is to call tomorrow on her way to Ashland to visit with her parents for a fortnight. Madelyn’s baby is six months old, and my son is anxious to meet his first grandchild.

I shall serve fresh tea before they travel on to Ashland. ”

Patiently dealing with the woman who had been a client for over thirty years, the proprietor wrapped a number of fresh tea leaves in brown paper.

In return for a penny, he handed the package to the woman.

Tottering out of the shop, the old woman talked with Mrs Collins, the parson’s wife, and shared the entire story again.

Elizabeth spoke quietly with the merchant while Charlotte fulfilled her duties as the parson’s wife.

Quickly, the proprietor provided bags of flour, salt, some sugar, and tea.

After talking with Charlotte, Elizabeth added a measure of pepper and asked for a sack of potatoes.

They would eat some potatoes, and Charlotte would plant the ones with sprouts in her garden.

As a treat, a small crock of honeycomb was added to the order.

As her final purchase Elizabeth bought two candles for use in her bedchamber.

The merchant sent a boy to the livery to ask the blacksmith to send the cart to his shop.

While they waited, the two ladies walked out of the store just as a large carriage with a team of four horses passed them on the street.

~~~

‘That carriage looks familiar,’ thought Elizabeth as a face appeared in the window momentarily.

The coachman pulled back on the reins to halt the team and vehicle before they were too far down the road.

Her heart thundering, Elizabeth watched the door open, and Fitzwilliam Darcy appeared.

The tall man stepped down onto the muddy street and placed his hat on his head before he looked toward the two ladies on the street.

The man smiled broadly, something not seen by the ladies previously.

Elizabeth blushed happily as he stepped closer but feared she could not speak.

Thankfully, Mr Darcy removed his hat, lifted Elizabeth’s hand to his lips and gently pressed his lips against the back of her hand.

His voice was the same when he said, “Miss Elizabeth, I am surprised and pleased to see you in Hunsford.”

Elizabeth found her voice and replied, “I am with Mrs Collins today. We came shopping for some food staples for her pantry.”

Now, Darcy turned his attention to Charlotte and greeted her kindly, lifting her hand but not touching his lips to her skin. Charlotte echoed the man’s words and inquired about Mr Darcy’s destination.

“I am returning to Rosings Park. The problems that called me to London have been resolved. My duties with my cousin’s estate will require my attention for another fortnight.”

“And why did you stop in Hunsford, Mr Darcy?” asked Charlotte, wondering if the man stopped solely because of Eliza’s presence.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Darcy explained his practice of stopping for a moment while some distance from his destination. “I find it helps to stretch the legs for a few minutes before arriving at my journey’s end. Such as stop contributes to my comfort at my destination.”

“Would you care to walk with us?” asked Elizabeth. “The trip to the parsonage is two miles, and you are welcome to accompany us.”

“Certainly,” replied Mr Darcy.

Once the cart was loaded, the pony set out for the parsonage, with Elizabeth walking in the centre with Charlotte on her right and Mr Darcy on her left.

The couple spoke of the books they had read during the winter, the wedding of Charles Bingley to Miss Jane Bennet, the prime minister’s speech regarding the Royal Navy’s blockade of Europe, and the weather.

‘I shall call at the farms and purchase more butter,’ Charlotte decided as they walked along. ‘If Eliza will provide the coin, I shall bake shortbread biscuits before Mr Darcy calls at the parsonage.’

Certainly bemused, but keeping his opinion to themselves, Mr Darcy’s valet remained inside the coach while the coachman allowed the horses to walk and follow the party back to the parsonage.

~~~

“When I saw you at the inn in Gravesend, I wondered where you travelled,” Darcy said. “I was pleased when you said that would be here in Hunsford.”

Elizabeth stated, “Charlotte invited me to visit, and travelling on the stagecoach proved an adventure.”

Darcy agreed and said, “If we had not met in Gravesend, I would have seen you on Sunday during church services.”

“Or along the beautiful paths around Rosings Park. I try to walk out each morning,” Elizabeth replied. “The perfume of the blooms is everything you hinted it would be.”

Glancing at Mrs Collins, Mr Darcy added, “And I assure your hostess that I shall be a gentleman if we meet during such a walk.”

Charlotte said, “I believe you will be Mr Darcy, but I ask both of you to say nothing to Mr Collins. He would venture into preaching on sin and dwell on the possible evils with Lady Catherine for the rest of your visit.”

“Sin, Mrs Collins?” asked Darcy.

“My husband believes that we must all resist temptations of the flesh,” she replied. “However, I fear he has begun to worship the idol of gold. He speaks often of his investment with Mr Wickham’s New World Tea Company.”

There was silence along the road for a minute, but then Elizabeth directed the conversation to questions about Mr Darcy’s sister and her music lessons. As they walked toward the parsonage, a second carriage approached them on the road, and the coachman stopped to allow the passenger to step out.

Immediately, Darcy greeted the gentleman, “Fredericks, it is good to see you this spring.”

Turning to Charlotte, Darcy asked, “Have you met Mrs William Collins?”

The young man–the same man Elizabeth had seen in the gardens at Rosings Park the previous day–bowed to Charlotte. Fredericks replied, “Mr Darcy, I have met Mrs Collins at the chapel on Sundays when the weather permits attendance.”

“Good day, Mr Fredericks,” Charlotte replied as she curtseyed. As the hostess for Elizabeth, she introduced her guest to the man. “Mr Fredericks, this is my good friend and my husband’s distant cousin, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She is visiting with us at the parsonage this month.”

“Miss Bennet,” Fredericks said, bowing his head to her. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Elizabeth curtseyed and replied, “The pleasure is mine, sir.”

Darcy asked, “Might I call on you, Fredericks? I believe the fences between Rosings Park and your estate need repair.”

“Call at the house any afternoon, Darcy. But I worked with Mr Jackson to make the repairs last autumn.”

The young man took his leave and climbed into his carriage.

The horses were set in motion, and the man was not mentioned again.

The trio continued their walk, and the parsonage appeared too soon for Elizabeth.

While they stood outside the door, the stable boy tied the pony to a tree and helped Mrs Collins move the items from the cart to the kitchen.

Mr Darcy moved the sacks of flour and potatoes into the kitchen without assistance from anyone before turning to say farewell.

Charlotte said nothing when the man tipped the boy for bringing the items from the mercantile.

Before he climbed into the carriage, Mrs Collins invited Mr Darcy to call for tea the next day.

“Thank you, Mrs Collins. I should be pleased to take tea with you,” the man replied.

Back in his carriage, the gentlemen looked out the window, watched as Elizabeth smiled again, and waved.

~~~