Page 34 of The Cherry Trees of Rosings
Charlotte nodded. A wry smile appeared on her face. Then she laughed mirthlessly.
“The way I strayed far from that room. For months! And then Aunt Petunia visited us, and mother gave her that room, and nothing much happened. So I began to wonder if I had imagined the whole thing.”
A bubble of relieved laughter escaped Elizabeth.
“Oh Charlotte!”
She continued to laugh. And then wiped the tears from her face. “I cannot believe you saw Grandmother Lucas’ ghost.”
“I did,” Charlotte shrugged, grinning. But there was kindness on her face alongside that knowing look.
“Would you care to have some tea?”
The two of them simply held each other’s gaze for a moment. Then Elizabeth nodded.
“I would like that very much.”
Chapter 22:
Stone Man
“You must forgive me, Miss Bennet, if I was especially harsh in my words yesterday.”
Elizabeth was silent for a moment, contemplative eyes fixed ahead as she walked.
Morning light bathed the shrubs and grass on either side of the road, and the tops of the more distant trees; some of which were flowering. Some were not. The gentle scent of spring was in the air.
“What changed your mind?”
“I cannot say that my mind is changed,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “But I wished to give you a fair chance to speak your piece.”
They walked in silence for some more time.
Earlier that day, when Elizabeth had left the parsonage for her usual morning constitutional (reticule in hand, in case Mr. Darcyappeared later), she had chanced upon the Colonel not too far from the head of the road. She did not believe it was a coincidence.
“There is not much to say, I am afraid,” Elizabeth said, breaking her silence. “I shall give you the letter for Miss Darcy once it is ready. You may do with it as you believe is right.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam glanced at her. But she kept her eyes fixed ahead.
“Did Darcy say anything to you yesterday?” he asked, and then cleared his throat. “You seemed distressed when you left. It was quite abrupt.”
And why might that be?
Elizabeth did not vocalize her thoughts. “He did not.”
They walked in silence for some moments more.
“How is Mr. Darcy faring?” she asked after a while. “This matter has been kept quite secretive thus far, if I am being perfectly honest.”
“Yes, it has,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “We have our reasons.”
“Would it have anything to do with Lady Catherine?”
Another glance was cast her way.
“Yes, and no.”
Elizabeth almost threw up her hands in annoyance, but a deep frown did etch itself on her lips. She fixed a glare on the Colonel. “Sir, you may not believe I can see your cousin’s apparition, but the poor man deserves to know what happened to him!”
