Anne spoke in her muted voice, “He sensed that you share the same gift, Dr. Penaflor. He diagnosed you, so to speak.” She smiled shyly and they all laughed.
“Perhaps, Miss de Bourgh, although I would be blessed to harbor a third his skill.”
“Do you plan to return to India with him, Doctor?” Jane asked.
He glanced briefly toward Anne, who was gazing into her lap and did not note the unconscious gesture, answering after a slight hesitation, “I suppose so, Mrs. Bingley. At least that has been my intention. I have no desire to return to Spain; however, England is intriguing and has certain merits. A physician could earn a comfortable living in private practice or working in one of the hospitals.”
Lizzy smiled, glancing to Darcy's calculating face. A girlish squeal diverted all their attention to the lakeshore where Kitty and Georgiana were flying their kites. Darcy laughed aloud at the sight of his baby sister nearly launched off her feet by a gusting updraft, Uncle George leaping to assist her. Richard called to the group, “Elizabeth, Mrs. Bingley, come get your kites.”
Lizzy laughed, pivoting swiftly to plant a quick kiss to her husband's cheek, then grasped Jane's hand and pulled her to her feet. Charles looked to his sister from where he stood stringing fishing poles, Caroline's expression indecipherable as she watched the frivolity transpiring on the beach. “Caroline, join them. I believe we brought six kites, did we not Darcy?”
Darcy nodded affirmative, Jane speaking favorably, “Oh do come, Caroline! It is our duty to entertain the gentlemen.” Caroline hesitated, clearly unsure if the activity was below her dignity, deciding positively upon glancing to Mr. Darcy's glowing face as he attended to his wife's pleasure, Lizzy already initiating her dash across the meadow to launch her kite.
“Dr. Penaflor,” Charles inquired, “do you like to fish?”
“I have undertaken the endeavor only a handful of times in my life, but found it a pleasant diversion.” He stood as he spoke, “You may have to assist me in the particulars of the craft, Mr. Bingley.”
Darcy spoke, eyes yet focusing on Elizabeth, “The fish here are incredible, Doctor. The Lake is rarely disturbed, so the fish are allotted long seasons to grow to astounding proportions. Nor do they learn via the fish communication system to avoid strange dangling silver hooks.”
Anne laughed. Charles chuckled as well, asking his friend, “Will you join us Darcy?”
“Later, Bingley. I believe I will relax and visit with my cousin.” He gestured toward the island, “The best pools are on the far side of the island where the water is in shadow and very deep.”
The men set off, Darcy and Anne happily easing into the calm silence. The kite-wielding women were laughing and cavorting in delight, George and Richard in the thick of it. Darcy observed his wife with serene peace, thrilled to note that the precious swell of their child could intermittently be noted when the breeze plastered her gown against her slim body.
“William, your wife is a delight. I truly cannot express how happy I am for you.”
“Thank you, Anne. She is wonderful and I am beyond happy. Giddy, even, ridiculously so at times! Richard takes enormous pleasure in teasing me about my irrepressible joy.” Darcy smiled and Anne laughed.
“Perhaps some day you can return the favor, although he does seem firmly entrenched into the world of bachelorhood.”
Darcy peered at his cousin, who was serenely staring toward the lake. Her color remained paler than most, but with a pink tinge to her cheeks and lips the color of ripe strawberries. To one unacquainted with Anne de Bourgh, her frailty and faintly translucent skin would yet be obvious. To Darcy, who had watched her evolve from a vigorous child and adolescent to the pinched, tremulous young adult she had become, she now radiated health.
“Is the same true of you, dear Anne? Firmly entrenched or ready to climb out of your solitary hole?”
“You of all people know how painful it is for me, William. We share that trait. I think in a strange way I embraced my illness as an excuse to hide.” She smiled, meeting his tender gaze. “It is somewhat of a shame our love was too strong to allow us to settle for each other, Wills. You would have been the safe choice for me. Now I have to contend with mother's arrangements.” She laughed at his pained eyes, leaning to pat his hand. “Do not fret so, cousin. I may be a bit timid and inordinately complacent, but my backbone is not entirely comprised of jelly. I will refuse anyone too disgusting. Fortunately, I do not have to marry for money.”
They were silent for a time, both dwelling on the past as well as the future. From their earliest remembrances, Lady Catherine had spoke of a union. When they were very young they had merely laughed, the concept of marriage to anyone being grotesque. As adolescents, the idea was met with mutual absurdity. The thought of marrying someone who was as close as a sibling was repellent. With the onset of adulthood, the reality that cousins did frequently marry prompted them to honestly deliberate the subject. By that time, Anne was ill with an unknown condition and Darcy was Master of Pemberley. As far as they were concerned, it was an untenable possibility on numerous levels. However, the main rationale was a genuine desire for the other to find what their hearts yearned for. Darcy needed a spirited, vibrant woman who he could truly love, his internal pain and emptiness intuitively understood by Anne. In contrast, Anne required a man with minimal demands who was tranquil and easygoing. Darcy and Anne loved each other, and that love would have, if pushed, bound them in mutual respect and care, but not true happiness or fulfillment.
Darcy broke the silence, speaking frankly as he would to few people in the world. “How run your feelings for Dr. Penaflor?” He expected Anne to blush and equivocate, so was surprised when her contemplative gaze traveled to the doctor where he sat upon a moss draped boulder as he fished.
“I am not sure, William.” She spoke in a hushed tone, as if speaking more to herself than another. “Is my attraction to him because he has restored my health? Is it because he is exotic? Or am I merely lonely and he is the only available male in my immediate circle? Are those reasons acceptable? Unacceptable? And what does any of that matter if he is merely being polite and does not return my interest?” She smiled and turned to Darcy. “You see how terrible I am at this? Perhaps I should take lessons from Mrs. Darcy as to how one wins the hand of their soul mate.”
Darcy snorted. “By all means, do not ask for my instruction! I succeeded by blind fortune and the grace of God. As for Dr. Penaflor, I judge he returns your interest, Anne, but must add the caveat that I am not intimate with him so cannot be certain. Keep yourself open to the possibility, would be my only counsel. He is a worthy man.”
Anne had resumed her study of the fishing gentleman, her countenance sad. “Mother would never consent, so it is all moot speculation.”
“I concur that it would require much persuasion; however, he is a proper match from an elite family, wealthy, and educated. I do not imagine it impossible.”
Finally Anne blushed and lowered her head. “We should not be talking about him this way, William. He probably sees me as a patient and nothing more, yet here I am mentally shackling him not only to me but to mother as well! That is just plain evil!” They both laughed, recognizing the truth in her statement.
Elizabeth caught her husband's eye, blew a kiss, and then gestured for him to join her. Darcy smiled and waved, sitting up from his reclined pose. “Dearest Anne,” he said, leaning close to his cousin and pressing her hand under his, “all I can assert with absolute confidence is the astounding joy to be found in a union with one whom you love and who loves you in return. Do not allow Lady Catherine or any other to convince you it does not matter. Do not settle for less than at the very least a mutual affection, promise me this!”