Darcy was so weary that his muscles ached, and every bump in the road to Hertfordshire caused him to wince. But he wasn’t the only one. Mercer, who was sitting across from him sleeping, was feeling unwell but had refused to remain behind at Pemberley. Metcalf was exhibiting the same stubbornness. Darcy had tried to convince the man that his son was capable of driving a carriage on a well-traveled road between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire. But Metcalf disagreed, and so he had two Metcalfs sitting in the driver’s seat. Darcy wondered what he would do when these faithful servants, as well as Jackson, Mrs. Reynolds, and Mrs. Bradshaw, retired from his service. A worry for another day.
When he arrived at Netherfield Park, he was warmly greeted by Bingley, but then his friend always acted as if he had just got a new puppy. Being of a mercurial temperament himself, Darcy did not understand how Charles could be so even tempered all the time. Mrs. Bingley, however, was another matter. There was a coolness in her reception, and what, pray tell, did that mean? But he was too tired to probe. That evening he excused himself, citing fatigue, but he also wanted Mercer to retire, and as long as Darcy was up and about the man would not do that. An exasperated Darcy told his valet that his nursery maid had not hovered as much as he did, but it made no difference.
The next morning, an unshaven Darcy went to the stables and asked the groom to saddle Montcalm, Bingley’s favorite horse. Because Charles had tamed the unruly animal himself, he wanted Darcy to ride him so that he might see what a wonderful mount he was, and this was the perfect morning to do that—clean, crisp, with a layer of hoarfrost on everything. Before speaking to Elizabeth, he needed to clear his head of the detritus that had accumulated there. Maybe he was misinterpreting what Elizabeth meant when she said that her conversation with Nell had “changed everything.” Was it possible that it was a change for the better?
Forgetting about his scruffy appearance, he headed for Longbourn. He would know by her welcome if there were clear skies ahead or a storm on the horizon because Elizabeth was incapable of concealing her emotions. Her eyes, the way she moved her body, her scent revealed everything, and he pictured himself sitting in the Bennet’s parlor drinking a hot cup of tea on this cold morning. While conversing with Elizabeth about all that had happened in Scotland, he would learn if she had reconsidered his offer of marriage. Hopefully, the visit would end with his asking Mr. Bennet for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
***
A well-rested Lizzy came to the breakfast room full of vim and vigor and ready to take on a new day. Mr. Darcy’s note had been liberating. He wrote that all was well, and so she wished him well. No more worries on that account. If the gentleman decided to marry Lady Helen, he would have a pretty wife and handsome children. Hopefully, they would inherit his intelligence, but that would be none of her concern. Besides, it was better this way. It made sense for Mr. Darcy to marry a she wolf, because if he did not, he would eventually face nightfall alone as Nell would marry and leave Granyard Hall, and Teddy, who had indicated that he would not be content remaining a groom, would want to take on something more challenging. No, this was definitely better for everyone.
The previous day, Mr. Hill and his sons had cut off the lower branches of some pine trees so that the Bennets could decorate their parlor with evergreens. For the wreaths and garlands, he had also cut some sprigs of greenery with its red berries from the holly bushes. This was something the Bennet sisters usually did a little later in Yuletide, but Lizzy was eager to get started and enlisted Kitty and Georgiana’s assistance.
Mary had resisted all pleas from her sisters for her participation. It wasn’t until Georgiana asked her to join them that she finally agreed. Because Mary held Georgiana in such high regard, Miss Darcy had succeeded in convincing the third Bennet daughter to stop practicing her vocals so that she might concentrate on improving her fingering on the pianoforte. “So few people can do justice to both,” Georgiana had told Mary. “I am of a mind that I would prefer to do one thing superbly than two things adequately.” The Bennet family would forever be in Miss Darcy’s debt.
The four ladies put on heavy leather gloves and coats with patches and were handed knives by Mr. Hill. Having been surrounded by servants since her infancy, Georgiana had never done anything like this, but the enthusiastic young miss stated that she hoped to start such a tradition at Pemberley.
Everyone had been working for about an hour when Kitty noticed that a rider had just turned into the drive. “Maybe it is an express rider.”
“Oh, I hope not. An express rider never brings good news,” Mary said, thinking of the rider who had brought them news of Lydia’s supposed elopement with George Wickham.
Although Georgiana did not recognize the horse, she did recognize the rider. “It is William. It is my brother.” She handed her knife to Kitty and ran down the drive to meet him. Darcy immediately dismounted and gave his sister a hug.
“You look wonderful, Georgie. Your cheeks are rosy, but so is your nose.” He tweaked it, making her laugh.
“Is everything all right? How is Teddy?” They started to walk toward the house.
“Teddy is fine. He will stay with Rupert for a while, but then he will be back at Pemberley.”
“Oh, Will, I am so happy to hear that everything went well. Would you mind if I went inside and gave Mrs. Brotherton the good news? She has been so worried about Teddy.”
“Of course. Besides, I want to talk to Miss Elizabeth, so take your time.”
As soon as Lizzy saw Mr. Darcy, she froze. Why had he not written to say when he was coming to Longbourn? Because she knew she would be working outside, she had not seen to her morning toilette. With her hair in a braid and with curls popping out every which way and wearing a patched coat, she looked like something the cat had dragged in. But when he got closer, she realized that he was not in his best clothes either. Obviously, he had not come a-courting.
After exchanging pleasantries, Mary and Kitty went into the house, leaving Darcy and Elizabeth to stare at each other. Finally, Lizzy spoke.
“I did not know you were in Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy. You should have written and given your sister advance notice so that she would be packed and ready to leave.”
“I will be at Netherfield Park for a few days, so there is no hurry. Knowing of her fondness for you, I imagine she is perfectly agreeable to remaining at Longbourn for another two or three days.”
“She is most welcome to stay here. She has been a delightful visitor, and we shall miss her when she leaves. But then all good things must come to an end. Isn’t that right, Mr. Darcy?” Lizzy asked in a voice lacking in any warmth.
And with that Darcy’s hopes faded. His first assessment of her exchange with Lady Helen had been correct. His leaving for Scotland had changed everything. She wanted no part of a life that involved being married to a werewolf. But then he hesitated. If that were the case, then why was she angry, and it was clear that she was. He would have anticipated regret, sadness, disappointed hopes. But anger? And for one of the few times in his life, he was genuinely puzzled. Apparently, he was already in hot water, so why not ask?
“You are angry,” he said, stating the obvious.
Lizzy glared at him. “Oh, yes. I forgot. You can tell how I feel without me having to say a word.”
The mystery deepened. “Didn’t you get my letter?”
“A letter? No I did not get a letter. I did receive a three-line note, consisting of twenty-six words in its entirety. Is that what you are referring to?”
Darcy dodged the question. “I was wondering if you would come to Netherfield Park this afternoon so that I might…”
“So that you might what? Take your leave of me? It is not necessary, Mr. Darcy. I fully understand what has happened.”
What did she mean by “take your leave of me?” Did she think he wanted to end their engagement? “I am not sure how to respond to that.”
“Of course not. You are a man of few words and fewer letters.”
Although her words stung, he was not unhappy with her being angry with him. Anger meant she cared. Right?
“I thought you might want to know what happened in Scotland.”
“Of course,” Lizzy said, looking down at the ground. Because she was so cross with him, she had neglected to ask about Teddy. She was pretty sure she knew what had happened to Rupert. Her embarrassment gave her pause, and she took the time to look at Mr. Darcy. There was no doubt he was exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and a weariness about him that she had never seen before.
“You look awful,” she told him.
He laughed. “You don’t,” he said with that smile she loved.
And a picture flashed before her of him sitting on the floor of his study after he had returned from his two days in the woods with her foot on his chest to keep him from making any further advances. He had wanted her so badly, and if she were a different sort of woman, she would have given in to him. And then she realized that her thoughts had brought about a physical change in her, and it was the same thing as saying out loud, “I want you—every inch of you.” Her face turned crimson.
“When do you want me to come to Netherfield?” she asked, avoiding his gaze.
“May I send my carriage for you this afternoon? Let’s say three o’clock?” From the lilt in his voice, Lizzy knew that he had noticed the change.
“Are you sure you want me to come today? Because the days have grown so short, if I leave that late in the afternoon, I will need to stay at Netherfield.”
“If you do not have a problem with that, I certainly have no objection,” he said as he moved the reins over Montcalm’s head in preparation for his departure. “I look forward to seeing you—preferably without the knife?”
Lizzy looked down at the weapon in her hand and chuckled. “And maybe you will have shaved by that time.”
“You do not like my stubble?” he asked, scratching his face.
“You look scruffy. My preference is that you have a full beard or be clean shaven.”
Darcy was reassured. By her statement, she was telling him that whether man or beast, she loved him.
After mounting his horse, he tipped his hat. “Then I shall see you at Netherfield this afternoon. Oh, by the way, your Scottie has been looking out the window ever since I got here. You might want to reassure her that I am not coming into the house.”
Lizzy looked at the window in the front parlor, and she could see Magic’s face smushed up against the window. Even from such a distance, she could tell that the Scottie was very tense.
“I will go inside immediately or she will have an accident. But one more thing before you go. When I come to Netherfield, I want you to know that I am in no mood for noble speeches. Your aunt Marguerite told me to tell you that.”
Darcy bit his lip, and the furrowed brow returned. “Since it is never wise to disagree with Aunt Marguerite, I will consider myself warned.”