Of course, Lizzy did have to tease when he revealed his plan for the afternoon. “Oh yes, William, by all means strengthen your swordsmanship skills. One never knows when one will need to call upon such proficiency!” He did have the good grace to blush slightly.
So, with Phillips sent to play bodyguard on the dangerous streets of the Derby merchant shops, as Lizzy jokingly stated, an appeased Darcy embarked on his afternoon activity. Lizzy had a wonderful time. One of the shop clerks had recently delivered her third baby and the two women bonded instantly over the joys of maternity. The clerk's expertise was extremely beneficial. Lizzy purchased enough fabrics, ribbons, lace, quilt battings, patterns, yarns, needles, and notions to not only keep her fingers occupied for the remaining months of her pregnancy but also to outfit baby Darcy for the first several months. Feeling very satisfied with the afternoon's accomplishments, Lizzy and Phillips returned to the inn. It was far too early for Darcy to have completed his drills, so Lizzy grabbed a book and walked to one of the benches by the riverbank.
“Mrs. Darcy?” Lizzy glanced up as one of the inn's maids approached. “Pardon me, madam, but this missive just arrived for you.”
“Thank you.” Lizzy opened the note with a smile, having recognized the seal. The only people in the immediate vicinity that Lizzy and Darcy wished to visit were the Drurys. Their estate, Locknell Hall, was only a few miles outside of Derby. Lizzy had not been to their home as of yet, the Drurys instead traveling to Pemberley or seen while in London. Lizzy had written to Chloe when they arrived yesterday, hoping that they would be able to visit. Chloe's reply was enthusiastic, her friendship with Lizzy a deeply felt one. Darcy and Clifton were not as close, but they had enough in common to spend a pleasant evening together, in truth extending the courtesy for the sake of their wives.
Lizzy smiled. It had not been but three weeks since visiting with Chloe, but she missed her. Suddenly, Lizzy experienced the yearning to gather all her women friends together for a lengthy afternoon of tea and gossip, deciding on the spot that as soon as she was back at Pemberley she would arrange it. Hastening to the inn, Lizzy scribbled a quick note to Chloe, confirming that she and Darcy would dine with them for dinner tomorrow. Normally, Lizzy would not be so presumptuous, such invitations necessarily being discussed with her husband, but she was too excited.
It was nearly six o’clock before Darcy finally materialized. Lizzy was passing the time catching up on correspondences to Charlotte Collins, whose baby was due shortly before her own, and her sister Lydia, who rarely responded but Lizzy continued to write as often as possible. Darcy entered briskly, energized from his training and smiling broadly as he bellowed his wife's name.
“Elizabeth! Look what I found!” His arms were laden with a mass of packages, bags dangling on both sides and bumping his knees. He looked utterly ridiculous, barely managing the knob and peeking through a small gap between two boxes. Lizzy started at his abrupt entrance, momentarily paralyzed at the small desk where she sat. Darcy swung around, searching for her through his narrow peephole, finally spying her as she rose to assist him. “Ah, there you are! Dressed too, that is good. Mr. Howe! Enter.” He pivoted toward the open door, the tower of parcels swaying dangerously as Lizzy jumped to the rescue.
“William! What in the world…?”
“Elizabeth, you will not believe my luck… Oh thank you, Mr. Howe. Place it there.” Entering cautiously was one of the inn's manservants carrying an enormous rocking horse. Lizzy retrieved three of the boxes as they tumbled from Darcy's arms, nearly dropping them herself in her astonished amazement at the horse. Darcy bent and deposited the mass of bags and packages onto the sofa, straightening with a stretch. “What a relief,” he declared, “some of those are heavy.” He turned to his wife with a grin, planting a hearty kiss as the door closed behind Mr. Howe.
“Are you going to explain all this or must I remain in suspense?”
“Yes! So, I am departing the Academy, walking down the street as I have a dozen times in the past, when I glance over, not two doors down, and there is a toy store! Can you believe I never noticed it before? This,” he patted the horses head, sending it gliding, “was in the window, calling to me as it were.”
“I see. You entered and left some time later, having bought all the merchandise the store had to offer?” She swept her arm toward the pile on the sofa with a laugh.
“Do not be ridiculous, Elizabeth. I can show some restraint when necessary.” He was beaming, Lizzy laughing harder.
“Oh really? We have a rocking horse, as you are well aware, William, as it was yours.”
“Yes, but it is quite old and used roughly. I yet need to refinish and repair it. Besides, this is the newer model set on gliders rather than large bowed rockers, and now we can station one upstairs in the playroom and the other downstairs.”
“Well, since you have apparently given this a tremendous amount of forethought, I shall not argue the matter. He really is beautiful,” she said as she gave the horse a push, stroking the polished wood, “although I am surprised he is dappled grey rather than coal black.”
She smiled at her husband, who answered absently, “They did not carry a black one.” Lizzy laughed anew. The hobbyhorse was pearly grey with a long flowing white mane and tail of genuine horsehair. The saddle was pliable leather, thick, cushioned, and tanned a rich brown. A leather detailed wool blanket lay underneath, stirrups of sturdy steel attached with durable leather straps. The horse itself sat on a raised wooden base, also polished to a gleam, metal hinges and bars through the legs providing the gentle rocking motion upon the simple sway of a child's body. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship and detail, easily imaginable as enduring for generations to come.
Darcy cleared a place on the sofa. “Here, Elizabeth, have a seat.” He dragged a chair over, sitting on the edge and reaching for the largest box. Ripping apart the strings, he explained, “The shop was amazing. Every kind of toy you could imagine, my love. Many familiar from my own youth. In fact, I am sure there are boxes in storage I have yet to uncover containing old toys of mine and Georgie's. However, there were many that were unusual to me. Of course, you will recognize these.” Inside was a collection of building blocks, at least fifty, of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Lizzy laughed. “I always wanted blocks, but it was not considered a girl's toy. These are wonderful, William.” With sudden stunned amazement she stared at her husband. “You carried these all the way from Oak Street?”
Darcy flushed slightly. “Well, no. They piled the parcels into a wheelbarrow and a clerk followed me with them. I only carried them from downstairs. I did carry the horse all the way, if that impresses you sufficiently.” He grinned and flexed his right arm, Lizzy laughing and leaning in for a kiss.
One by one, the packages and bags were opened, disclosing a vast array of child's playthings: three spinning tops, colorful and of varied sizes; a Chinese yo-yo; a spectacular army of minutely detailed tin soldiers, American Colonials and His Majesty's Regimentals; a Jack-in-the-Box; a replica of Admiral Nelson's flagship HMS Victory inside a glass bottle; four stuffed animals consisting of another dog, an elephant, a bull, and a lamb; and four dolls.
“Dolls?” Lizzy asked with arched brows.