Page 1 of Darcy's Guarded Heart
Chapter One
Elizabeth
“Carriages! Four of them, I saw them coming up the London Road,” an excitable young voice called, and Elizabeth raised her eyes, drawn from her reverie at the sound. She had not realised there was anyone else about. It was early afternoon, usually an ideal time to walk as it tended to be quiet. Not that it ever got too busy in their corner of the world. Still, having just returned from a visit to London, she’d longed for a little peace—something not easily found at Longbourn.
Alas, her quiet walk was not to be as three young boys ran towards her. She recognised them at once. Peter Lucas, her friend Charlotte’s youngest brother, and Harold and Charlie Parks, his cousins. She glanced in the direction they were pointing, and sure enough, there was something akin to a caravan travelling down the road from London towards Netherfield.
She spotted three stately carriages, followed by another plainer vehicle—one that perhaps carried servants or luggage. All four carriages were loaded down with trunks and portmanteaus, so many that she could only assume a family of ten was moving into the place that had stood empty for so long, or a few people with rather extravagant tastes.
“Miss Bennet,” Peter called. “Do you see them?”
“I assure you, Master Lucas, my eyes function perfectly.” She raised a hand to her forehead to shield against the low, autumn sun and squinted, hoping to catch a glimpse of the passengers, but the carriages were too far away.
“I did not know Netherfield was let again,” she murmured, more to herself than to the boys. However, evidently Harold Parks felt as though she had addressed him, for he immediately replied.
“Mama said that a gentleman from the north has taken it. A Mr Bingler,” the boy explained. “The servants arrived on Monday. I did not see those carriages arrive, but Mama said there were at least five that brought servants and trunks and provisions. She was quite upset, saying they ought to have hired from Meryton, not brought their own servants,” he added.
“I imagine they desired those they were already acquainted with,” Elizabeth remarked, though it was a shame when grand houses like Netherfield were opened again only to be staffed by strangers, when so many in Meryton were in want of employment.
She sighed. It could not be helped. People, especially those who could afford to rent a place like Netherfield Park, tended to be less concerned with such matters. Still, she could not deny her curiosity about the new inhabitants. Their carriages certainly were rather impressive, with their shimmering black exteriors and door handles that had glimmered in the sunshine. The horses, too, appeared to be of the sort only those of substantial means could afford.
“Peter!” Charlotte Lucas called then, and Elizabeth turned to face her friend.
“Charlotte,” she smiled at her dearest companion, who came rushing down the road, cheeks flushed and hair bobbing beneath her bonnet.
“Eliza, how good it is to see you. I feel as though it has been weeks,” she said, pausing for breath.
“A fortnight at least. I was in London visiting Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. I meant to call on you when I returned but I have not yet found the time.” She nodded at the young boy. “Your brother was just telling me about the new tenants.”
“Ah yes, Peter delights in disseminating all manner of news. He is like a sponge for gossip. I daresay Mama will yet despair of him.” She turned to her brother and cousins then. “What are you doing here? Mama and Aunt Beth are awaiting you at the house. Off you go,” she urged the boys who swiftly fell into step and hurried towards Lucas Lodge.
“I wish Kitty, Lydia, and Mary were as obedient as those three,” Elizabeth said with a laugh.
“They are somewhat older, my dear. I daresay the older they are, the less they listen,” Charlotte sighed, slipping her arm under Elizabeth’s as they walked away from Netherfield and the carriages.
“You possess all the wisdom, do you not?” Elizabeth chuckled. “You will make a very good mother one day, bringing them all to heel with the snap of a finger.”
“I wish. Oh Eliza, I do wish that so. But I must admit, I am seven-and-twenty—chances of my finding a husband are growing slimmer with each passing day. I shall end up an ape leader yet,” she said. Even though she knew this to be apossibility, Elizabeth shook her head, unwilling to let her friend admit such defeat just yet.
“Charlotte do not speak thus. You are still lovely and young, you shall find someone. Perhaps even among the Netherfield party,” she said, nudging her friend playfully.
“I believe if there is a gentleman to be had amongst them, your mother will claim him for you or your sisters at once,” Charlotte replied wryly, and Elizabeth could not deny that this might indeed be the case.
“Well, Mama does not control the hearts and minds of every person in her vicinity, even if she wishes it so. In any event, what do you know of the party? Anything of note?”
Charlotte shook her head. “Nothing of particular interest, save that they are from the north and staying from now through to Christmas and into the summer.”
“That is certainly a long time to become acquainted, especially with any eligible gentleman.”
“I daresay, given my fortunes, they will turn out to be an old married man with four sons, all of them wed to beautiful highborn ladies. The best I can hope for then is a posting as a governess,” she said, but chuckled, letting Elizabeth know that despite her tone, she was jesting somewhat.
“Perhaps they will be young and dashing, however, and entirely unwed. In which case, I am sure they will come to the assembly. What do you say, Charlotte? Shall we set our caps for them if they are indeed handsome and unwed?”
Charlotte turned to her and took her hands. “You are a dear friend, Eliza. Yes, we shall. Perhaps the two of us will be engaged come Christmastide!”
“Perhaps we shall,” Elizabeth replied, and the two giggled as they made their way down the road towards Lucas Lodge.
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