Page 215 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

He glanced in Kitty’s direction. “Miss Bennet, I believe, has very little.”

Kitty took Georgiana’s arm and continued across the lawn, pretending she had not overheard.

“Mr. Goulding thought I was pretty until he heard I had no money,” Kitty said when they were beyond hearing.

Georgiana glanced back toward him. “Ten thousand pounds is rather difficult to compete with when one's mother has set her heart upon it.”

Kitty raised her eyes toward the drive, where an elderly lady was being handed down from a carriage. A small young woman with auburn hair and freckles offered her arm.

“That is Miss Mary King. The heiress Mrs. Goulding has chosen for a daughter-in-law.”

“The freckled little girl?”

“Yes.”

Georgiana took Kitty’s arm and drew her away. “Come, Kitty, my dear. Let us find some tea and cake. They may provide you a little consolation.”

* * *

Mary Bennet spent much of the afternoon among the older ladies of the neighborhood. Mrs. Marshall detained her with news of her eldest daughter's apprenticeship, and the rector's wife stopped her soon afterward to discuss clothing still needed by two parish families before autumn.

Elizabeth noticed early in the day that whenever she looked toward Mary, Alexander Lucas was somewhere nearby. Amused by the discovery, she turned to Mr. Darcy. “Sir, I believe my sister Mary has attracted a suitor.”

“Yes. I have noticed that young man following her about since we arrived.”

They watched as Mary crossed the lawn to speak with Mrs. Talbot, Alexander following close behind. When Mrs. Fernside joined them, he remained at Mary’s side and listened while she described what was still needed for the parish families.

Elizabeth laughed when she saw Mary step away from the group and walk directly into Alexander.

He caught her hand as she stumbled against him.

“I beg your pardon, Miss Mary.”

She began to laugh, and then Alexander laughed with her.

He released her hand, offered his arm, and accompanied her across the lawn.

Elizabeth turned back to Mr. Darcy.

“I believe Mary has acquired a handsome shadow, sir. Perhaps there is a match in the making.”

Darcy said, “His attentions are very marked, Elizabeth, though I am not certain Mary has noticed that he has scarcely left her side since she arrived.”

* * *

It was not long after that Mrs. Goulding joined a group near the terrace and accepted their compliments upon the picnic with evident pleasure.

“You must see my dahlias before you leave. We have had remarkable success with them this year. They are beyond the south wall, and our gardener has managed them beautifully.”

Elizabeth looked toward the garden.

Darcy offered his arm. “Would you like to see them, darling?”

“Very much, sir. I have never seen a dahlia. Mrs. Goulding was saying that the plants came from a country called Mexico to Spain and from there made their way to England.”

They left the lawn by a gravel path that ran beside the house.

Beyond the south wall, the garden opened into a sheltered enclosure. Dahlias grew in two long beds, their flowers rising above the surrounding plants in shades of crimson, yellow, and deep red.