Page 69 of His Pride and His Prejudice

“Past the parsonage?”

“Through Rosings. I recalled that you also like to walk, and I suspected I might see you at some point as I made my way through the park.”

“You are some way through your walk then,” Elliot said. “Mine just begins.”

“Then let us begin it together.”

When Elliot did not refuse him, Darcy’s chest seemed to tighten. They turned down the path that would lead them back into Rosings in silence, but it was not an uncomfortable silence at all. It was companiable, which was just how Darcy had imagined it might be. He was pleased to find himself correct.

After a few moments Darcy made some remarks on the weather which Elliot returned. They spotted some deer in the distance and discussed them. A small flock of birds passed by, and they debated their type. It was all very companiable until Elliot broached another topic entirely.

“How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy,” he said. “It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Bingley to see you all after him so soon, for, if I recollect right, he went but the day before. He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London?”

Elliot was not to know that they had all judged it better for Charles to leave first and for the rest of the party to close up the house then follow. He had been on the very verge of making his offer. Had Darcy not spoken with him the night of the Netherfield ball he would have made it in the days that followed and would now be mated to a male that did not feel for him in the same way and so simply was not the right one. Despite Charles’ sadness since, Darcy remained convinced that he had done the right thing.

“Perfectly so, I thank you.”

A pause and then, “I think I have understood that Mr. Bingley has not much idea of ever returning to Netherfield again?” Elliot asked.

“I have never heard him say so, but it is probable that he may spend very little of his time there in the future. He has many friends and is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing.”

“If he rarely plans to visit Netherfield it would be better for the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely, for then we might possibly get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr. Bingley did not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighbourhood as for his own, and we must expect him to keep it or quit it on the same principle.”

“I should not be surprised if he were to give it up,” Darcy said.

“I see,” Elliot said. “And so, you will have no cause to visit Hertfordshire again either.”

“I believe I may have,” he replied. Silence settled around them once more. Darcy broke it by gesturing to the parsonage now to the left of them. “This seems a very comfortable house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. Collins first came to Hunsford.”

“I believe she did,” Elliot agreed. “And I am sure she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful subject.”

“Mr. Collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a husband. I confess I liked Charlie Lucas on our very first meeting.”

“Charlie Collins now.”

“Indeed.”

“Any man or woman would have been lucky to have Charlie as their husband,” Elliot said. “My friend has an excellent understanding, though I am not certain that I consider him marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest thing he ever did. He seems perfectly happy, however, and in a prudential light it is certainly a very good match for him.”

“It must be very agreeable for him to be settled within so easy a distance of his own family and friends.”

Elliot smiled. “An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles.”

“And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day’s journey. Yes, I call it a very easy distance.”

“I never considered the distance as one of the advantages of the match,” Elliot said. “And truthfully, I would have preferred Charlie to marry someone locally so that we could remain within an hour’s walk of one another. We spent quite a bit of time together before Charlie’s marriage, and it was not unusual for us to visit one another a few times a week.”

“And yet there was never a match suggested between your families,” Darcy said.

“It would have to have been with Jack,” Elliot said softly.

Jack…Darcy fancied it would be sensible to steer clear of any topics of conversation involving the eldest Bennet. Oh, he knew at some point in his pursuit of Elliot that he would have to address the subject, but for now he wanted all of Elliot’s attention on them alone.

“It is a proof perhaps of your own attachment to Hertfordshire,” he eventually said. “Anything beyond the very neighbourhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far.”

“Longbourn is very dear to me,” Elliot said.

“And you imagine you would spend your life there?” Darcy asked. “In Hertfordshire?”

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