“How like a man you are, Fitzwilliam Darcy!” Lizzy laughed, as they returned to their tree to sit down, “You want a lady with beauty, wit, intelligence, and a large dowry, I am sure, but of course if she should fail you and commit the terrible crime of becoming a silly woman with imperfections, she will lose your good opinion, perhaps for ever. How arrogant you are, Will, to think so highly of yourself to consider yourself perfect.”
Will chuckled, “Papa told me that it was better to have the counsel of one candid friend than a hundred sycophants and it is the truth with you in my life. I know I am not perfect but I do wish to try to be the best I can be. I will attempt to be more humble, dear Lizzy. This is precisely why I need my blood-brother to help me. If your papa ever agrees, you must come and reside with me so you can keep me from becoming an arrogant sod. What would I do without you?”
Lizzy beamed, “You would become a haughty man, unapproachable and looking down upon everyone you meet. I have heard that you stand against the walls at balls and parties so you might already appear very taciturn to others, but once I am out in society, I am going to make you dance and converse with many ladies.” William pretended to be shrinking in fear and she giggled. “You would not dare allow me to sit out, will you? Gentlemen will think me intolerable and not handsome enough to tempt them and I would resort to dressing like a gentleman so I can at least dance with my sisters.”
“I promise, I promise!” William laughed. “I will pay my friends to dance with you so you can dance every set and you will be the belle of the ball each time. You might pass for a boy, Lizzy, but you will never be big enough to disguise yourself as a gentleman so do not even think it.”
“And I will compliment you so much that every lady will wish to dance with you. Trust me, Will, I will not allow you to marry someone like Lady Catherine. That ‘Dragon Lady’ is lucky to have the tiny cottage in Brighton and will not cause your family any more trouble. She deserves her punishment and I think her £300 a year is still a large fortune. I only have forty or fifty a year and I’m doing very well!”
William smiled, “Yes, you do well because you and your family are frugal and manage efficiently with what you have. Not many fine ladies can do that. Come now, time to ride.”
Lizzy excitedly ran to Snowflake after gathering her candles and putting them into a bag. William helped her up the saddle and kicked his horse to a trot.
“You must try to improve your footsteps when you fence. Your arm is getting stronger but you must be lighter on your feet.” William instructed as they travelled towards Netherfield. “Fencing is like dancing. Light and fast to avoid your opponent but to attack with a surprise to gain the point.”
“But it’s so hard with my left hand. I’m getting used to it but I wish I could use my right.” Lizzy complained.
William kissed her head. “We will do both today. A good swordsman can swing with either arm and if you do well, if you do very well, we can bring out your Christmas present and practice with it today. I gave you your gift early because I wanted to make sure we had enough time to practice before I return to Cambridge next month.”
Lizzy bounced on her seat. “I promise to do well! I can’t believe it! Papa laughed at me for a full day because I was excited and begged for an apple so I could walk with one on top of my head. He said William Tell shot the apple on his son’s head, not carried it on his own. I want to try to shoot an apple. If I am really good, would you put an apple on your head?”
“Never!” William laughed, “I would not do it for William Tell and I would never aim my arrow at a person. An arrow will kill so you must ensure nothing living is near when we are practicing. This is exactly why I want to keep the bow and arrow at Netherfield and make sure you have your lessons with me. I know you, Lizzy. You might hurt something accidentally and I do not wish for you to feel the guilt of such a thing.”
“Have you killed anything before, Will?” Lizzy innocently asked. “How does it feel?”
William nodded, “I have gone hunting for foxes and birds, and have gone fishing, of course. The animals that are killed for food, I do not think much on, but I do not like the fox chase. It seems cruel but it is something that gentlemen do with the excuse that they are keeping the hens safe. I do not like to think of hunting as a sport but rather a way of gathering food. It makes me feel like a savage in the stone age, working to find sustenance for my family and myself, even if I am using a shotgun instead of spears or rocks.”
“Caveman!” Lizzy laughed. “I always knew you were a caveman at heart, Will!”
William laughed along, “You know me well, Lizzy.”
“I do, sir, I do.” Lizzy replied as they approached the stables. “Sometimes I truly wish I was born a boy. Papa told me that if Mr. Collins does not take Longbourn, he will leave it to me, then for the estate to go his first grandson. He said
