away.
“Do you mean Miss Matthews?” Elizabeth asked tentatively, her fingers again nervously playing with her necklace.
Georgiana nodded.
Elizabeth took in a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “Miss Darcy, certainly you know what it is like to be on the receiving end of this type of speculation. Are you quite certain?”
Georgiana looked at the ground and then back up at Elizabeth. “I would never speak what is merely gossip. While my brother has never divulged much to me over the years about any woman he has had affection for, I know him very well. Inviting the Willstones and Miss Matthews to Pemberley was quite out of character for him. His disposition improved dramatically in London after we began frequenting the same circles as her and her family.”
Now Georgiana took Elizabeth’s hand in hers. “I would not speak so openly if it was merely my own speculation, but I overheard Miss Matthews and her sister speaking earlier today of a very much expected offer of marriage.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips together, knowing perfectly well what she overheard… and why. “Miss Darcy, how do you know that their conversation was not merely mutual hopes being expressed?”
“It may be, but…” Georgiana stopped herself. “You are correct,” she expelled a soft chuckle. “We ought not speculate.” Looking back toward her brother and guests, she said, “I have enjoyed speaking with you, Miss Bennet. Shall we go back now and rejoin the others?”
The two walked back as Elizabeth’s thoughts whirled with her own speculations about whether Mr. Darcy was indeed singling out Rosalyn, and her fervent hope that he was not.
Elizabeth sat down on the blanket next to Emily, who was playing a game with the two other girls. Miss Bartley had stepped away and was talking to Mrs. Goldsmith.
A shadow came over her as someone approached and stood behind her—a gentleman, she could see—and she turned around and glanced up. It was Mr. Hamilton.
“I see you have finally decided to join us, Mr. Hamilton. I wondered if you had something of greater import keeping you away. Perhaps your captain’s orders came through.”
“I would hope not yet, for I would not want to miss this picnic for anything, but unfortunately I was precluded from arriving on time by a misfortune.”
“Nothing serious, I hope.”
He took a seat beside her as he explained, “merely a tumble into the river, which required quite a bit of cleaning up on my part.”
Elizabeth threw her head back in a laugh. “I hope it was all in a battle with a great fish. Who won? You or the fish? Are we to feast on it tonight?”
Mr. Hamilton lowered his head, shaking it slowly. “I wish it had been that noble. But to own the truth, Miss Bennet, I stepped on a wayward rock. It caused me to slip, and I landed fully in the water.”
Elizabeth hid her smile with her fingers as she put on her most sympathetic expression. “How unfortunate! I hope the other men did not observe your tumble and make sport of you!”
“Ah, but they did. Merciless men! Not one of them helped me out, either!”
Elizabeth chuckled. “I am grateful you came through it unscathed.”
“Except for my pride, yes, I came through it unscathed. Besides, what is a little water to a sea captain?” Mr. Hamilton laughed as he spoke, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
They continued to talk about the food, the weather, and as he asked about her family, Mr. Darcy came and stood before them. “I understand you took a spill, Hamilton,” he said.
“I did, but as you can see, I clean up quite well!” Hamilton laughed, and then invited his cousin to sit down and join them.
“Do you mind if I join you?” Mr. Darcy directed his question to Elizabeth.
“Please do,” she replied, and upon feeling a warmth of colour upon her face, she looked away and busied her hands with straightening out her dress. Her heart began to pound as she felt his presence near, and she took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her rising feelings.
“Miss Bennet, I understand Mr. Bingley and your sister are engaged. Congratulations.”
She turned toward him, surprised by his words, but she said with a smile, “Thank you, sir. I appreciate your thoughtful sentiment. They both have a fervent, equal regard for one another, and I am quite certain they shall be blissfully happy.” A raised eyebrow was the only indication that there was a deeper meaning in her reply.
Darcy stared at her for a few moments as he contemplated the import of her words. A quick nod acknowledged her sentiment.
Emily’s excitement interrupted their conversation. “Look at that bird, Miss Bennet!” She pointed to a black and white bird flying around them catching bugs in the air. “What kind is it?”
“A pied flycatcher!” Elizabeth and Darcy answered at once, then turned their eyes to the other.
Keeping his eyes fixed on Elizabeth, he asked, “Is Miss Bennet a bird enthusiast?” The question was almost as much to Elizabeth as to Emily.
“Oh, yes!” the young girl cheerfully exclaimed. “She teaches me all the names of the birds, and the flowers, and the trees. I even know some of the birds by their sounds, and I have learned some of the trees by their leaves!”
“You might be interested, then, in some books I have in my library. They contain beautiful drawings of birds, their names, and descriptions. I have other books, as well, of the flowers you will see around here. You might wish to take them out with you while you are here. You are more than welcome to them.” He turned and looked at Emily. “Would you like that, Miss Willstone?”
“Oh, yes!”
He looked back at Elizabeth. “And you, Miss Bennet. Would you like that?”
“I would not wish to damage the books, sir, by bringing them outside.”
“Have no fear; they have smudges enough from my own handling of them. When we return, I shall procure them for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said softly, pondering his attention.
He continued with a soft smile, “You may also have a slight advantage in the treasure hunt, Miss Bennet, if indeed you do know your birds, flowers, and trees well.”
“Then she is to be on my team!” exclaimed Hamilton. “It is fixed. Miss Bennet and I are a team!
“We shall see,” Mr. Darcy sternly replied.
“So, your friend Bingley is finally to be married is he?” asked Mr. Hamilton. “What say you, Darcy? In no short time, you and I shall be the only remaining eligible men around!”
“You know that is absurd,” he answered with a small smile. “As a sea captain, you shall be the most sought-out man around. You shall have a bride in no time.”
“Ah,” Elizabeth interjected, with a hint of laughter in her voice. “But surely he must find one soon, for if not, he certainly cannot expect to find a woman once out on the great ocean!”
“The lady speaks the truth!” exclaimed Mr. Hamilton. “I must find a suitable woman before I venture back out to sea.” A glance at Elizabeth and a smile did not go unnoticed by Darcy, who pursed his lips tightly together.
“The difficulty is that there are so many ladies of so varied temperaments and qualities!” Hamilton turned to Elizabeth. “What type of woman ought I be looking for?”
“You must find a most suitable wife; one who has a strength of disposition, for she shall either have to remain home raising her brood of children while you are out at sea, or when you have a ship of your own, she may be required to be at sea alongside you.” She then let out a soft chuckle. “And she must be exceptionally plain!”
Hamilton threw his head back in amusement. “Pray, tell me why!”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “She shall be the only woman onboard that ship full of men!”
Mr. Hamilton shook his head fervently as he continued to laugh. “Miss Bennet, you have truly done some thinking about the matter.” His face grew solemn as he said, “But I do not fear finding a wife; my greater fear is that I shall be turned down if I make her an offer. What have I to contribute to a marriage but a meagre fortune?” He cast a mocking glance at Darcy. “Now my good cousin here shall never have worries in that matter. He has no fear of ever being turned down.”
Hamilton’s words evoked a tightening in Elizabeth’s chest that made it difficult to even take a breath. She
