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Starting her walk later in the morning, Elizabeth decided to limit herself to the road to Rosings, a quick turn through the gardens, and return to the parsonage.

Her mind was distracted by the opportunity to speak with Mr Darcy again in the afternoon.

As a consequence, the young woman covered the distance quickly and only paid close attention to the gardens, where the scent of the blooms made her stop for a moment.

Elizabeth heard a feminine giggle behind the shrubbery, and the woman’s voice said, “Mr Fredericks, your company brings great pleasure to my secret walks.”

Turning around again, Elizabeth returned to the parsonage with the same determined pace she had used earlier to return only moments before Charlotte served lunch.

Charlotte served peas and toast for lunch.

After the maid washed the dishes from lunch, the two ladies prepared the tea service, cups, saucers, and spoons.

Charlotte added new tea leaves to the small pile of chopped leaves drying since brewing their tea to break their fast that morning.

In the parlour, the pair of friends spent the afternoon sewing new curtains to close off Charlotte’s bed from the worst of the cold next winter.

At two of the clock, Charlotte rose to add wood to the coals of the kitchen fire.

Then, at half past the hour, she swung the kettle over the fire to heat the water.

When the clock chimed three, they folded the curtains and placed them to the side, turning their attention to handkerchiefs they sewed for Mr Collins.

After only a few minutes, there was a knock on the door.

As the mistress of the house, Charlotte answered the door and found Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy standing there.

He was well-dressed, and his face remained solemn, though he did speak politely to Mrs Collins.

She invited him inside the parsonage, and after handing his gloves, hat and cane to the maid who had appeared, Charlotte led him into the parlour where Elizabeth waited.

“Mr Darcy, welcome,” greeted Elizabeth as the man’s face brightened with a small smile.

“Mrs Collins, I am pleased to visit with you and Miss Elizabeth this afternoon.”

“Will you sit, Mr Darcy?” asked Charlotte. “Eliza and I have busied ourselves with sewing this afternoon.”

They sat in the parlour, and Mr Darcy asked, “Are you sewing screens or pillows?”

“No, sir. I continue to set my house to rights before I have time for more pillows for the sofa,” answered Charlotte.

“We sew new curtains to surround my bed using the material that was the draperies in this room. Your Aunt Catherine provided material for new draperies here in the parlour when Mr Collins first became the parson here in Hunsford.”

She motioned toward the curtains hanging beside the windows and continued, “When I arrived in December, my first task was to stitch these new draperies.”

Then Elizabeth joined the explanation, saying, “And when I arrived for my visit, Charlotte shared that she wanted curtains around her bed, and I undertook to help her with the seams. We lined the curtains with a second layer of drapery to insulate the space and keep her warm.”

“Excuse me for a moment,” Charlotte said as she left for the kitchen. She left the door open to observe proprieties while she made the tea, but Darcy and Elizabeth were left alone for a moment.

“Are you enjoying your visit with Mrs Collins?” he asked, unable to stop himself from gazing at the young woman intently.

Blushing under his stare, the woman replied, “Very much. She has been a friend for many years, and we enjoy animated discussions amid our household tasks.”

“I suppose her winter was lonely here with just Mr Collins.”

Not wishing to reveal any confidences, Elizabeth replied, “I believe they are adjusting to life as man and wife. During the winter, we exchanged a few letters, and I believe Charlotte wrote to her mother.”

Nodding his head, Darcy asked, “And have you been walking about Hunsford?”

“You know my reputation, Mr Darcy. I have been to the gardens at Rosings Park twice, and the woods are lovely,” the young woman replied. “When I walk, my mind explores possibilities, discards worry and imagines the beauty of the coming summer.”

Darcy took a deep breath and asked, “Would you be so kind as to walk with me tomorrow morning?”

Caught off guard, Elizabeth stared but then replied, “I should be pleased to walk with you.”

Before more could be said, Charlotte returned to the room with a tray bearing a teapot, cups, plates, and biscuits.

Elizabeth rose to close the door to the kitchen behind her hostess and then returned to her seat to allow Charlotte to pour and fix each cup.

Having overheard Mr Darcy’s request for the walk and Elizabeth’s reply, the hostess encouraged the gentleman to pursue her friend.

“Mr Collins leaves the parsonage just after nine of the clock each day,” Charlotte informed Mr Darcy. “I do not know how long it takes him to walk to Hunsford, but he never returns before five in the afternoon.”

Surprised by this news, Mr Darcy asked, “I did not realize…does Mr Collins spend every day with Lady Catherine?”

“Yes, he spends every day at Rosings Park except for Saturday when he practices his sermon and Sunday when he delivers the sermon in our chapel here in Hunsford.”

“Does it disturb you that Lady Catherine takes all your husband’s time?” the man inquired.

Charlotte smiled as she replied, “My husband believes that Lady Catherine depends upon his counsel and spiritual guidance. I am pleased that he can be of service to his patroness.”

Before the gentleman could speak again, Charlotte asked, “Mr Darcy, how well do you know the gentleman who stopped on the road to greet you yesterday?”

“Mr Fredericks and his family have been neighbours of the de Bourgh family for several generations,” Darcy replied. “He is a gentleman farmer with an estate half the size of Rosings Park.”

“And Jackson? Whom did Mr Fredericks mean?” Charlotte asked.

“Mr Jackson is the steward who works miracles with Rosings Park. My cousin’s estate would collapse without the man’s efforts to curtail Lady Catherine’s orders.”

Mrs Collins replied, “I am glad for Miss de Bourgh’s sake that she has a good neighbour and a faithful steward. I shall make certain to commend Mr Fredericks to Mr Collins.”

Then Charlotte offered the plate of biscuits to her guests, and the gentleman recognized the offered shortbread. Taking three biscuits, Darcy complimented her, “I remember these biscuits at your mother’s home last autumn, Mrs Collins. They were always delicious.”

“Thank you, Mr Darcy,” Charlotte said as she placed three shortbreads on her saucer. “Now, if you are going to walk out with Elizabeth, I insist you guard her reputation, sir. She is my dear friend as well as cousin to my husband.”

Elizabeth did not insert herself into this short conversation where Mr Darcy assured Mrs Collins that he would behave in an honourable manner with her guest. He said, “We shall walk along the garden paths, and roads in Hunsford where anyone walking past can view us without hindrance.”

The time allowed for a social call was consumed as quickly as the tea and shortbreads.

When the half hour passed, Mr Darcy rose to take his leave of the two women.

After thanking his hostess, he received his gloves, hat, and cane, tipped his hat to the ladies, and departed the parsonage to walk back toward Hunsford.

Elizabeth lingered at the door to watch the man walk away and remembered how his hand felt in hers and how it thrilled her when his lips touched her hand. Then she allowed her mind to imagine what his lips would feel like if he kissed her–when he kissed her.

~~~

The same evening as Mr Darcy’s call at the parsonage, Mr Collins returned home excited and never thought to inquire if Mr Darcy had called. As he entered the dining room, he shared his news with his wife and cousin. “We shall receive a great honour tomorrow!”

“What do you mean, Mr Collins?” Charlotte asked her husband.

Mr Collins smiled and explained, “Lady Catherine has invited us to take tea with her and Miss de Bourgh in the afternoon. And her nephew, Mr Darcy, will be present as well.”

“What time does Lady Catherine take tea, Mr Collins?” asked Charlotte to keep her husband’s attention from noticing the look of surprise on Eliza’s face.

“Lady Catherine enjoys a long tea beginning at three of the clock, Mrs Collins. Her servants bring the tea trays into the parlour each afternoon.”

“Then we must walk out at two of the clock to allow us to make our way to Rosings Park,” Charlotte told her husband and saw Elizabeth nod in agreement.

“Why would you leave our home so early, Mrs Collins?”

“We must not arrive with our hair mussed by the wind, our hems torn, or our shoes muddy because Eliza and I were forced to hurry along the road.”

Mr Collins could only agree with his wife. Then he turned to his cousin and said, “Do you have an appropriate dress to wear, Miss Elizabeth?”

Surprised by the question, Elizabeth replied, “Mr Collins, I am certain I have a gown suitable for a gentleman’s daughter to wear to tea with Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

I should never claim to dress as fine as Lady Catherine or Miss de Bourgh, but my father provides adequate clothing for all his daughters. ”

“Does Longleaf…Longbourn provide enough funds to clothe everyone?” asked Mr Collins, suddenly interested in hearing about his future estate though he continued to misname it.

“Yes, the income from Longbourn’s farms meet my father’s obligations.

The land produces sufficient corn, wool, and livestock to fund taxes, tithes, and other items. We purchase books, candles, and cloth to sew our gowns and leggings,” Elizabeth added.

“My father manages Longbourn properly, and we grow most of our food. Our servants and tenants in my family are well-fed and properly clothed throughout the year, sir.”

The statement about everyone at Longbourn being well-fed embarrassed Charlotte but was not noticed by her husband.

For a moment, Charlotte worried about her family but knew the food stores in the pantry when she left in December.

Her parents, brothers and sister were fed adequate meals this winter.

Around the table in the parsonage, Mr Collins did not mention the fresh tea, butter, or potatoes served with the black pudding and toast as part of their supper tonight.

His focus remained on the particular attention shown to him and his family with the invitation to tea.

“Mr Darcy will be there for certain,” Mr Collins reminded both ladies. “Do you remember the man from last autumn in Meryton? Of course, you do because we spoke of him last evening.”

Lifting her teacup, Elizabeth sipped from the cup before replying, “I do remember the gentleman, Mr Collins. We had many engaging conversations.”

“Conversations?” Collins asked as he remembered seeing the man talking with his cousin at several gatherings. “Cousin Elizabeth, I must insist that you not put yourself forward with your opinions here in Rosings Park. Mr Darcy must not be made to endure your ideas here with his family around him.”

“As you wish, Mr Collins,” the young woman replied. “I shall allow Mr Darcy to initiate and direct any conversation.”

Charlotte informed her husband, “Mr Collins, this afternoon, Mr Darcy called at the parsonage. He was here perhaps twenty minutes, drinking tea with Eliza and me.”

“Here? Truly, Mrs Collins? I had forgotten…what was his conversation?” the parson asked, the surprise evident in his expression and tone of voice.

“He inquired after my parents, whom he met many times last autumn,” replied his wife. “And your cousin was a well-behaved young lady during his visit.”

Mr Collins was silent for a moment before he said, “Lady Catherine and her family favour us with much attention. We shall endeavour to be worthy of their notice.”

He hesitated for a moment before he added, “But we shall not mention the visit to her ladyship tomorrow.”

~~~

Before he left for his daily appointment at Rosings Park, Mr Collings needlessly reminding Charlotte and Elizabeth to follow at the appropriate time.

He insisted, “Walk carefully and do not dirty your shoes or wrinkle your gowns. Lady Catherine notices every little imperfection. And remain silent unless addressed by her ladyship.”

He paused before he asserted, “I shall guide your responses to all her questions this afternoon.”

“Yes, Mr Collins,” Charlotte replied, gently pushing him out the door.

~~~