“It would be my honour to assist,” Darcy said, more for Miss Elizabeth’s benefit than Bennet’s. He felt a little sorry that she was so constrained. He understood the need for it; the world was dangerous for women. Still, she had such a spirit of independence about her it seemed a shame to clip her wings. Fitzwilliam required challenge in his life, and Darcy thought Miss Elizabeth was cut from the same sort of cloth.
Miss Elizabeth continued to eye him cautiously, but ultimately nodded.
Darcy dismounted and tossed his reins to Fitzwilliam. “You can lead this beast back as you have volunteered me,” he said very quietly.
Fitzwilliam just grinned. “You are welcome.”
Darcy picked up the basket and confirmed by its weight that it was filled with more than just a little foxglove. He glanced at Miss Elizabeth, who lifted one haughty eyebrow at him, daring him to complain. He felt his lips tugging up into a grin but waited for Bennet and Fitzwilliam to ride away before saying anything.
“Are you filling his larder for the winter, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked.
“He is an old man, Mr. Darcy, and Josephine is his only remaining family. He has worked hard for this estate all his life, and it is our turn now to take care of him.”
“I am not protesting, Miss Elizabeth.”
She frowned at him. “It sounds as though you are.”
He shook his head. “I am learning from your father how involved a responsible master must be. It is a fine line to walk. You said so yourself, Mr. Abernathy has his pride. He must be charmed into accepting what is due him.” Darcy grimaced. “I am not naturally a charming man.”
Miss Elizabeth laughed. “Few soldiers are, though many claim to be so.”
They spoke of Longbourn and all that Miss Elizabeth and her sisters did to provide for those who worked there. Darcy found he was learning as much from her as he was from her father.
They arrived at the cottage, and Miss Elizabeth ordered him to hand her the basket and wait outside. He agreed, walking down a little slope to the creek to have a look around whilst she was inside. Sooner than he expected, she was calling his name, and he returned.
She was a little put out. “Had I returned without you, I should have had a good deal of trouble from Papa. I am not supposed to misplace his guests.”
Darcy laughed. “My apologies, Miss Elizabeth.” He held out his hand for the empty basket, and she gave it to him.
“Papa is too concerned with my comings and goings. Mama at least understood that a woman cannot always wait for someone suitable to escort her everywhere she might wish to visit.”
“He cares for you, Miss Elizabeth, that is all. When you were a general’s daughter, you were sadly less at risk than you are now.”
Miss Elizabeth growled. “If anyone believes Papa would not have twenty former soldiers here with a single express, they have not been paying attention,” she insisted. “For that matter, every man who works on the estate would come to my defence should I require it. I am not at risk here on our own land.”
He really ought not to intercede between Bennet and his daughter, but somehow he found himself saying, “Your father is among the bravest men I know, Miss Elizabeth, but a father’s fear for his children is different than leading men into battle. Particularly after the loss of your mother, it is not surprising he would wish his daughters to remain close.”
“It was difficult for all of us.” She stared ahead. “We ought not allow our past to constrain our future.”
Darcy sought to move the conversation to safer ground. “Has it been difficult, then, adjusting to living at Longbourn?”
“In some ways,” she said quietly. “At times it seems as though our mourning has never ended.”
“I am something of an expert on loss, Miss Elizabeth,” he said quietly. “My mother died when I was a boy, my father when I was a young man. And of course, as an officer in wartime, my time in the army has been a long series of farewells.”
Miss Elizabeth walked in silence as he gathered his thoughts. “It is terrible, the loss.” She turned her head to look at him. “Will you forgive me for asking an impertinent question?”
Darcy could see that she was troubled. “Ask your question, Miss Elizabeth. I shall not be offended.”
She took a deep breath. “When my mother died and then Harry—” she glanced at him. “Harry was a friend.”
He nodded.
“I missed them terribly, but I also felt guilty. Feel guilty.”
Darcy was silent, waiting for her to finish.
“Is that common?”