Page 11 of An Interrupted Proposal
A knowing smile was shared by the adults before Darcy crouched before the young man. “Would you like to ride with me while Mr. Bingley escorts the ladies?”
Though Thomas clearly wanted to say yes, he first looked to Miss Bennet for permission which was readily granted. Darcy lifted the boy onto his horse and swung up behind him. Miss Bennet gave him directions to the park, and they trotted away from the others.
Once young Thomas had satisfied his curiosity and seen all he desired, he glanced up at Darcy. “Is Mr. Bingley the man who made our Janie cry?”
Darcy stiffened. The eyes which studied him were eerily similar to the ones that had captured his attention in Hertfordshire. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. “Unintentionally so, due to poor advice he received from those he believed he could trust.”
The boy frowned. “Is he going to do it again?”
“No, I do not believe he will.”
The boy turned away from him. “Good.” He pointed to a patch of greenery on the next street. “There is the park.” He turned a mischievous gaze back over his shoulder. “Can we go faster?”
Darcy laughed. “Is there a horse path in the park?”
The boy nodded excitedly and pointed to the far side of the green. After a quick glance back to where Bingley and Miss Bennet walked arm in arm with Miss Gardiner holding the lady’s hand, Darcy turned his mount towards the far side of the park and indulged the lad’s request.
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Young Master Gardiner was a joy. He was a precocious six years of age, the eldest of the Gardiner’s children, and self-declared favourite of the Bennet sisters. In many ways, Darcy imagined him a male version of Elizabeth at such an age and his hope of a future with that lady now included a more complete vision of their children than he had previously imagined.
“Our Lizzy is coming to London soon. Will you come to see her?” the lad asked as they made their way towards the rest of the party.
“I will.”
“Can we ride then?”
“It would make it difficult for Miss Elizabeth to accompany us.”
Thomas’s head lowered, but he quickly recovered. “She could walk with Mr. Bingley.”
“Or, perhaps, you could ride with Mr. Bingley, and I could walk with your cousin.”
The child looked at Darcy over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed. “Does our Lizzy want to walk with you?”
Darcy started. That was the question, was it not? “I have walked with Miss Elizabeth many times during her visit to Kent.”
“Our Lizzy loves to walk. If she agrees to walk with you, I will ride with Mr. Bingley.”
“Thank you.” Darcy pinched his lips together in an attempt to suppress his grin.
“Janie!” Master Gardiner called as they approached the others. “Did you see me?”
Miss Bennet met Darcy’s gaze before she smiled at the lad. “I did. You and Mr. Darcy were riding quite fast.”
Darcy dismounted and lifted the lad down as well.
“Mr. Darcy said he will return when our Lizzy comes, and I can ride with Mr. Bingley while he walks with her.”
Warmth covered Darcy’s countenance as Bingley and Miss Bennet looked at him with varying degrees of surprise suffusing their features. “Should she wish to do so,” he added.
Bingley’s smile grew as he began to nod. “Is it time to return to the Gardiners’ residence? I believe Darcy has some letters he is required to deliver.”
“From our Lizzy?” Master Gardiner asked. “Did she say anything about me?”
“I am simply the messenger, sir,” Darcy said with a bow. “I know not what Miss Elizabeth has written.”
“Well, then we should return home and find out.” The lad started to run but stopped when Miss Bennet called his name. “Sorry, Janie,” he said when they reached his side. With his head hung low, he murmured, “I promised not to run away, but I forgot.”
