The gentleman made a concerted effort to reconcile this image with that of the young lady sharing the carriage with him. He estimated that she was close to twenty and apparently was an accomplished tree climber. She seemed refined enough, well mannered, and nicely, but moderately, dressed. She was commonly attractive, her figure light and pleasing but not altogether striking. Her hair was attractively styled, but not overstated.
He continued. “Do you often climb trees, then?”
Elizabeth blushed and dropped her eyes to her lap, but resolved not to back down. She cast her eyes toward him. “Only when they afford me a better view or…” She paused and then added, “Or they give me a better chance to hide than the ground does!”
“And what, pray tell, was the occasion this time? Was it a better view or a better hiding place that prompted you to climb this tree?”
Elizabeth seriously wished that she could bring this conversation to an end, but she finally decided to tell all, knowing it would most likely shock him further. She reasoned that it really did not matter, as she would never see him again.
“This particular time, I climbed the tree to hide from someone who was coming up the road.” She said this without taking her eyes off him, with a forced sort of audacity. She would not look away. She would not let him think she was discomfited.
“Pray tell then, from whom were you hiding?” Elizabeth noted his apparent amusement.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and continued. “From an unsolicited suitor, sir, whose attentions I was in no mood to receive! I could not endure one more meeting with him, so when I saw him coming—and I knew he was looking for me—I scurried up the tree!”
The gentleman smiled, as if conjuring up this image in his mind. “And did it do the trick? I mean, were you able to stay out of his sight?”
Elizabeth laughed unexpectedly. “Most definitely! The tree spared me at least one unwelcome walk with that man.” Thinking back to the incident made her laugh even more, and he eyed her more acutely as the smile brought a sparkle to her eyes and illuminated her face. The gentleman was caught off guard by the magnetizing effect this had on him. He had to make a conscious effort to pull his eyes away. She seemed oblivious to his plight and continued to laugh.
He looked back at her again, this time more cautiously. “What is it that is so humorous? I cannot imagine your fall causing you so much mirth.”
“It is merely that… he knew I had been ahead of him and he looked all around for me, calling out my name. He had no idea I was above him watching. I had to keep my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing aloud. I cannot imagine what he would have done if he had looked up and seen me.”
“Perhaps if he had seen you up that tree, it would have discouraged him from pursuing you any further.” He paused. “Or perhaps he would have climbed up to join you.” A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and his eyes crinkled, causing Elizabeth much consternation within. For a moment, his severe countenance eased and was almost inviting. His next words sent her reeling even more. “I think perhaps I might have been tempted to climb up there with you.”
Elizabeth blushed as she imagined this gentleman discovering her up a tree and wondered whether he truly would climb up to join her. “He would never have done that!” she replied.
“And then how did you fall?”
Elizabeth shook herself out of her reverie to answer his question. “After he had passed by a considerable distance, I started down the tree. My foot stepped on a small branch, which broke, and I fell to the ground.”
“How did you get back home?”
“I hobbled back on my own.”
“I see. It was not far, then, that you had to walk on your sprained ankle?”
“It was close to a mile.”
“What were you doing walking that far from home? No, wait. Do not tell me. You were trying to put distance between you and this gentleman.”
“Why, a mile is not far at all. I actually enjoy walking. I do it all the time. I prefer it exceedingly to riding when I have the chance.”
He tilted his head at her comment, wondering at the dichotomy of this young lady. She was pretty, indeed, but obviously of country breeding and most likely had little to offer a man in terms of wealth or connections. He did give her the benefit of the doubt and in his estimation proclaimed her to be a gentleman’s daughter. For some incomprehensible reason, however, he was strangely drawn to her. “You prefer walking to riding then.” He repeated it as if he was making a mental note of it. “Would that be on horse or in a carriage?”
“Both, actually. I definitely prefer it to riding horses, but I also prefer it to riding in a carriage when it is an easy distance to walk.”
She was now uncertain whether the conversation on his part had been patronizing, critical, or simply courteous. They rode in silence for a while, but Elizabeth noticed him occasionally glance up at her.
She set her attention back to the book she was reading when she noticed the gentleman straining to see its title.
“It is Richard III in case you were wondering.”
“‘Now is the winter of our discontent; made glorious summer by this sun of York,’” he quoted. “I have read it. It is very good. You enjoy reading, then?”
“When I am not climbing trees, I do.”
He could not stifle his smile. “Have you read other works by Shakespeare?”
“Several of his sonnets. A few of his plays. My father loves reading as well, and he has a small library. He is fond of Shakespeare, and this is one of his own that he allowed me to take with me on my visit to London.”
The two of them began a discourse on literature. His knowledge far exceeded hers in the extent of what he had read, but her discussion on what she had read equalled his. He enjoyed the fact that she was willing to question his views, even disagree with his opinion. They settled into an easy parlay of words, and before they knew it, the carriage was slowing down and pulling into a livery station.
She watched as the gentleman began to gather his things. She smiled inwardly, convincing herself that he was probably used to fashionable women from polished society who would never walk across a street on their own accord, let alone climb a tree. His heart was not likely to be touched by a poor country girl such as herself. He was most likely eager to get off this carriage for hire that he had just shared with a decidedly inferior woman who had the impertinence to challenge his every thought.
The gentleman looked out the window and then back to her. “This is where I get off. I see the carriage from my country home is already here.” The door was opened and he looked out and then back at Elizabeth. “I enjoyed travelling with you. I confess I was not looking forward to this ride when I first boarded the carriage. But you have, somehow, made it pass most pleasantly and I thank you.” He stepped down and looked back at Elizabeth as if he was about to say something else, then turned away as if he had changed his mind.
Elizabeth blushed at his words of praise and smiled. “It was my pleasure,” she said softly to herself.
As the carriage pulled away, the gentleman thought to himself how odd it was for him to be drawn to a woman like her. Perhaps it was because she was so unlike most of the women he had met over the years. He turned to watch as the carriage continued down the road, and then walked slowly toward his own. He realized he had not even asked her name.
“Good day, Barstow. It is good to see you.”
“Good day, Mr. Darcy. Sorry to hear about the other carriage. Hope it was not too much of an inconvenience taking the one for hire. I shall get you home in no time.”
Elizabeth sat still in the carriage, her heart beating wildly as she furtively turned back to watch him easily step up into his own carriage. Why was she feeling this way? She had to admit he was one of the most handsome men she could remember meeting. Something inside of her ached at the thought of never seeing him again. She was not sure why, when he was obviously a man who would never lower himself to the likes of someone such as her. Why someone of his wealth and station even bothered to talk with her she was not sure. For one short carriage ride, she enjoyed his presence and he acknowledged her, yet she did not even know his name.