The odd foursome walked the short distance back to Rosings across one of Elizabeth's favorite meadows. She knew she should be self conscious about the mark on her cheek, but the glorious sunshine and smells of fresh greenery invigorated her spirit with each step.
"Miss Bennet, forgive me for appearing bold, but you have a quick step!" Colonel Fitzwilliam emanated his normal charm, as Elizabeth was a good two or three paces ahead of the gentlemen. She smiled broadly in response.
"No offense taken, Colonel. I am known as a great walker and it has been some days for me to stretch my legs. It is we who should worry to offend as our presence forces you gentlemen to walk your gorgeous companions when you are clearly more accustomed to riding them."
"Do you ride?" Darcy blurted out, realizing it was a strange question to ask of his Elizabeth, but he also could not recall discussing the matter with her. Darcy felt better when he remembered he had to keep up appearances about not knowing Miss Bennet that well, though his blood boiled over that parson! He wanted to march back and throttle the man.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Sadly, not well I'm afraid. We only had two horses on our lands and they were mostly reserved for work or when Papa had to go into town for provisions. We did have a pony for a time, but a cruel winter stole her life when I was but eleven."
The mention of the unfortunate beast’s fate brought back a mood of somberness as they came to the grand mansion. Charlotte casually made her way to the door, removed her bonnet and gloves and began to walk towards the back hall where the servant's staircase was housed. Darcy and Richard exchanged a look before the Colonel called out to her.
"Mrs. Collins, I believe the shortest walk to Mrs. Darcy resides this way," and he pointed up the stairs.
Charlotte nodded meekly; embarrassed she was now instructed to take the main staircase as opposed to the instructions Lady Catherine had laid down for her once daily visits to the ailing Anne. Elizabeth joined her in taking the stairs, resisting the urge to glance down at Mr. Darcy one more time. Before Darcy could follow the ladies up the stairs, Colonel Fitzwilliam clapped Darcy's shoulder.
"Let's make sure our beasts of burden are well groomed, Darce, before we visit our cousin."
Darcy glared at his cousin with his back to the ladies. Their horses were always well tended at Rosings, Darcy made sure of it. But he knew Richard must have a thought on his mind and needed a private word.
As the two men stepped out into the sunshine once more, Darcy didn't have to wait long.
"Did you see the bruise on her cheek, cousin? What could a nice lady like her be doing with a mark on her such as that? Her story of falling today doesn't explain the deep purple and indigo colors. That injury is at least a day or two old!"
Darcy scowled, remembering the sight of Elizabeth's face as she came down the stairs to join them.
"I shall have a strongly worded conversation with that parson of mine."
"Oho, will you now? And what shall you say to him? Inform the man on how he must treat his female cousin in his protection?"
Darcy glanced about to see if any servants might have overheard as they neared the stables. He realized it would overstep his place to interfere in another man's household over a woman so officially wholly unconnected to himself.
"It is abominable for a man to raise a hand to a woman," he hissed.
"We must not jeopardize our plans. Your lady is made of stern stuff, that much I can say. Did you see the way she stared him down before we left? Have faith, Darce, she will be safe."
Darcy stopped walking. Richard's assessment stung him and he immediately panicked over what further injury she might endure.
Darcy glared at Richard's sympathy with a jealous lover’s eye "It was dangerous to bring her here."
"You were insistent."
"I said no such thing!”
Richard made a mock face of surprise. “Truly? All that whining of being separated must have been a different man's letters I read each week.”
“Richard. Collins is the man she was to marry. I've told you . . .”
Richard kicked a pebble and frowned. “Well, we’re in a fine pickle now! The lot of us. It’s a damned morbid comedy, that’s what it is.”
Angry and annoyed, Darcy turned on his heel and strode to the house. Let Richard pamper the horses, he was going to see to his future wife, and her friend, and make sure they had every comfort.
As Darcy entered the sitting room outside of Anne's bedroom, he could hear Elizabeth's voice through the cracked doorway. Taking a deep breath, he acknowledged that eavesdropping once again was reprehensible, but he couldn't deny himself the pleasure of drinking in her voice. He closed his eyes and listened, but snapped them back open as he quickly realized the subject matter the three women were discussing. At that point, he was rooted to the spot to hear more.
"It was horrific, Anne. That poor family needs Christian charity, not exile! So yes, I sold the candlesticks and gave Diana the money. It took Collins two days to notice there were wooden ones on the table."
"Was he most upset that you had helped the family he was evicting or that the candlesticks were gone?"
Both women laughed leaving Anne confused.
"See, I knew you would help me see the folly in this! I think it might have been losing the precious silver candlesticks, that was the biggest blow."
As the laughter stopped, Anne's voice became serious.
"But he struck you, you must be careful, Miss Bennet."
"Oh it doesn't hurt now. And better me than Charlotte, though I'm certain he has struck her before, has he not?" Elizabeth looked to her friend who hid her face in silent shame by looking down.
"Yes, but" Anne stopped to catch her breath and refused her friend Charlotte's assistance. Once she could slowly breathe in normally, she continued, "But next time he might not just leave it at one strike. Promise me, promise me you will take care to not raise his ire. Not before the Archbishop arrives."
Elizabeth took a deep breath and paused as she thought she saw movement in Miss de Bourgh's sitting room. As she took a few steps closer and opened the bedroom door wider, she saw an empty room. Shrugging, she turned back to her friend and resolved to move to a happier subject. She meant to ask Anne about the dreams and wishes she had before she became ill.