Page 68 of To Love And To Cherish
The woodlands here are unlike anything I’ve known: oak and alder, ash, hazel, and rowan grow in tumbled confusion, woven through with hedges. I have never seen such varied trees in all my life, nor breathed such scented air. Some days it smells of leaf mold and wood smoke, other days of damp earth and pine.
Tomorrow we travel to Carrbridge, where we are to reside at Castle Roy with Laird Adam Frazier, who is nine-and-twenty, and his mother, Lady Caitrìona. Mr. Allister has informed us that Lady Caitrìona is anxious for her son to marry and begin his family, as her health is not good. Why a man with three younger brothers should feel pressed to marry is not apparent to me. Laird Adam breeds horses and, it seems, intends to teach us all to ride.
Now I must confess I fear horses. I fell from one at the age of five and broke my arm, and ever since, I have viewed them with suspicion. Yet if the Frazier brothers are willing to teach me, I am determined to learn. I rather like the idea of being a bold horsewoman.
Castle Roy, I’m told, is surrounded by an ancient Caledonian pinewood forest. I may at last take long walks again, perhaps even at dawn, as I did at home. At Dava Moor, I was not permitted to walk alone, again, because of the bog, but perhaps in the forest, I shall have more freedom.
Please give your brother my regards. Tell him I am grateful for the services he rendered the Bennet family,and I consider his amends a full settlement of all debts. I shall say no more.
Take care of yourself, Georgiana. Write soon. I miss your sweet presence more than you know.
Yours ever,
Elizabeth
Georgiana folded the letter with shining eyes. Kitty said softly, “Lizzy is well and happy. Perhaps one of the Frazier gentlemen will make her an offer. My dear Lizzy deserves to be happily settled.”
Darcy stood silent, watching them. He did not know whether to feel joy or despair.
She had written to Georgiana and had thankedhim,formally, briefly, with the tone of one closing a chapter. Of course, she could extend no invitation for further correspondence, nor speak of any sentiment she might feel for him, though, in all likelihood, she felt none. He had given her no cause to hope, no reason to form an attachment. She was free to bestow her affection elsewhere, and the thought made his gut burn with jealousy.
Yet still, he imagined her walking through that ancient forest in the cold light of dawn, head uncovered, curls whipping in the Highland wind, and some tall, horse-breeding laird catching sight of her across the dew-covered heather.
His heart lurched. Again.
That night, when the household had gone to bed and all was still, Kitty and Georgiana slipped down the servants’ stairs witha single candle between them in search of the first volume ofThe Mysteries of Udolpho. It would be in the library.
Book in hand, they climbed back toward Kitty’s bedchamber when she suddenly pressed a hand to Georgiana’s arm and stopped.
“Wait,” she whispered.
Then, with one swift breath, she blew out the candle. Darkness swallowed them.
They stood in silence in the family wing, letting their eyes adjust. Then Kitty gestured toward the far end of the corridor.
At first, Georgiana could see nothing. Then a shadow moved, cloaked and slow, a figure gliding past Kitty’s door.
Georgiana’s heart dropped. “Is that?”
“I think it’s Miss Bingley,” Kitty whispered. “Is your brother’s room in that direction?”
“Yes,” Georgiana whispered. “Oh no. She may be attempting to entangle him in a compromise.”
“She may fail, but the scandal would be disastrous, particularly for your prospects,” Kitty murmured. “We mustn’t let that happen. Come.”
Georgiana set the book down silently on the floor and gathered her skirts. The two crept after the cloaked figure, moving swiftly but with care, slippered feet gliding over the floorboards in near silence, breath held as they passed down the hall, careful not to wake the household.
They were soon close enough for Miss Bingley to hear their approach. She turned sharply.
Georgiana stepped forward. “Miss Bingley, are you lost? May I escort you to your room?”
The woman blinked at her, then said, “Yes, I misplaced my reticule when I arrived and lost my way after returning upstairs.”
Kitty offered brightly, “Did you find it? We could help, I’ve a candlestick.”
Miss Bingley waved her off. “No, it is well. I shall search again in the morning.”
“Then allow us to walk you back,” Georgiana said firmly. “It is quite late, and Kitty and I were just on our way to retrieve our book.”
