The coach followed the road through the trees until at last it came to a high wall running alongside the road. A little further on there was an iron gate, and through its bars Elizabeth could see a box-shaped house as high as it was wide. One of the footmen jumped down to open the gate, which creaked as it swung open, and then the coach bowled through. It went up an unkempt drive, full of encroaching weeds and tough grasses, which lay in the midst of overgrown grounds, and came to rest outside the lodge.
Although it was called a lodge, it was larger than many of the houses in Meryton, with three storeys and large chimneys. It seemed, at first sight at least, to be in a good state of repair. The steps leading up to the front door were sound, and the rooms, though smelling somewhat stale, were dry and in good condition. The floorboards felt firm as she walked over them and the window shutters were unrotted. There was no furniture and no decorations, save for the cobwebs that were strung from every corner and were hanging in festoons from every shelf or ledge. She went over to the windows and threw them wide, letting in the fresh air.
‘This is better than I had expected,’ said Darcy, as they wandered through the rooms, throwing windows open as they went. ‘It needs cleaning and the grounds need some attention, it needs furniture, too, but other than that I see no reason why it should not be let.’
Elizabeth thought of another letting, in another neighbourhood, just over a year ago, and remembered the excitement it had brought in its wake. Her mother had thought of nothing else for weeks! She wondered if there were any similar families in the mountains who might be as delirious at the thought of a new tenant at the lodge as her mother had been at the thought of a new tenant at Netherfield Park. She imagined them dressing in their finest and going—where? Not to the assembly rooms, for there were none nearby. To a private ball, perhaps.
When they had inspected the lodge from top to bottom Darcy, having seen what he wanted to see, suggested they return to the castle. They were just about to leave the lodge when they heard a commotion outside. Elizabeth’s first thought was that it was bandits, but the shouts quickly resolved themselves into friendly halloos and the sound of galloping hooves came to a halt just outside the drawing room window. Looking out, she saw some of the Count’s guests leaping from their saddles and, breathless and excited, heading towards the house.
They were dressed in simple woollen clothes, suitable for hard riding through the countryside, the women wearing serviceable riding habits and the men wearing rough coats and breeches with well-worn boots. They disappeared from view and then there was the sound of the front door being flung open and Gustav’s voice called, ‘The Count, he told us you were visiting the hunting lodge and so we thought you might like some company. We have brought a picnic.’
The room was suddenly full of people, their faces flushed with exercise, all laughing and talking at once.
‘What a morning we have had of it!’ said Gustav. ‘The best sort in many a long day. There is nothing to beat a bright autumn morning when the air is crisp and the blood is flowing with the thrill of the chase. We must persuade you to hunt with us tomorrow, Darcy, and Elizabeth, too.’
‘Elizabeth does not hunt,’ said Darcy sharply.
‘Then you must teach her. There is nothing like hunting for sharpening the senses and bringing them to life. Every sight, scent, and sound is magnified. To live without hunting is to be only half alive. Well, Elizabeth, what is it to be? Will you hunt with us tomorrow?’ asked Isabella.
‘No, I thank you, not I,’ said Elizabeth.
‘A pity. But perhaps we may persuade you yet,’ said Louis.
Carlotta, meanwhile, had unpacked the hamper, spreading the contents out on a rug in the window seat. There was cold chicken and ham, breads and cheeses, game birds and venison, and to go with the food, there were bottles of wine.
‘We have you to thank for this, Elizabeth,’ said Gustav as the plates were passed round. ‘Polidori has not invited us to the castle for years. I had forgotten how much fun it was to hunt hereabouts.’
‘You have not forgotten our agreement, I hope, and been killing things you shouldn’t,’ said Darcy.
‘Never fear, we have respected the Count’s property and your wishes. We hunt to live, not to make enemies of our neighbours.’
‘You must come here more often,’ said Frederique, lifting a leg of chicken to his mouth.
‘Yes, indeed, and bring your friends and family with you. Do you have any sisters as beautiful as yourself?’
‘Yes,’ said Elizabeth.
‘No,’ said Darcy at the same time.
‘I have four sisters,’ said Elizabeth.
‘But none of them as beautiful as yourself,’ said Darcy.
‘Naturally. How is it possible to match perfection?’ asked Louis with roguish gallantry. ‘But if they are not all as beautiful, they are at least numerous. Four sisters is a family indeed.’
‘Two of them are married,’ said Elizabeth.
‘Which means that two of them are not. I will have to visit England again with all rapidity.’
‘And you, do you have brothers and sisters?’ she asked him.
‘Me, I have two brothers, but they are neither of them as handsome as me!’ he said outrageously.
Frederique laughed.
‘His brothers are the most handsome men you have ever seen. They quite put him—how do you say it?—in the shade!’
‘Are they married?’ asked Elizabeth.
‘Mais oui. Both of them have been married for many years.’
‘Do you have any nephews and nieces?’ asked Elizabeth.
‘More than I can count. Hundreds of them!’ he said.
Elizabeth laughed. Sometimes it seemed as though her Aunt Gardiner had hundreds of children, when they were all running around noisily on a summer’s afternoon!
‘Do any of you have sisters?’ Elizabeth asked, as they gathered on the rug and began to eat.
‘I have two,’ said Clothilde, between mouthfuls of game pie, ‘both older than me. I am the baby of the family.’
‘Do they live nearby?’ asked Elizabeth.
‘No, my family is scattered,’ she said. ‘Some of them live in France, some in Austria, and some even further away.’
‘So that is why you thought that Charlotte had settled an easy distance from her family,’ said Elizabeth to Darcy. ‘And when compared with settling in another country, then yes, she has.’
‘Everything, it is relative,’ said Frederique as he helped himself to a glass of wine, and then helped Elizabeth to one as well.
‘But what are you doing here?’ said Isabella to Darcy. ‘I hope you are thinking of living amongst us again?’
‘No,’ said Darcy. ‘The Count thinks he might have found a tenant for me.’
‘Vraiment? Who?’
They were all eager to know, and when Darcy mentioned the name they each had their own opinion to give.
‘He will not like it. He thinks he wants to live in the country, but he would never be happy away from town,’ said Louis.
‘He will come here for a few months and then he will go,’ agreed Carlotta.
‘Is he married?’ asked Elizabeth. ‘When an unmarried gentleman moved into Meryton it was the talk of the neighbourhood, and he was seen as the property of one or other of the Hertfordshire daughters! I am sorry if I offend you, but it was so!’
Isabella sat up straight and looked at Louis with interest.
‘Well? Is he handsome?’ she asked.
‘He is not handsome enough for you!’ said Louis with a laugh.
‘And how do you know what is handsome enough for me?’ she asked. ‘I might like him very well.’
‘You might, I suppose. Very well, he is unmarried.’