Page 54 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Eliza, I had been upon the marriage mart since I was seventeen and had met no gentleman I wished to marry. I received offers enough, but many cared only for my dowry, not for me. I have no wish to marry a gentleman who merely settles for me. They were all fortune hunters. But Mr. Darcy... I would have accepted him upon any terms, even if he sought me only for my fortune.”

Elizabeth laughed.

“He must resemble the Olympian gods of Homer. Zeus, Ares, Apollo.”

“Yes, he is every bit as handsome as the gods whose exploits you delight in reading.” Caroline looked at her friend. “But he is terribly reserved. His face gives nothing away. One never knows what he is thinking or feeling.”

She hesitated before continuing.

“When he joins us for dinner, I give him every attention propriety allows. I take his arm and sit beside him to be near him. I ask his opinion and listen when he speaks. I remember which dishes he prefers and which music pleases him. I have played his favorite pieces at the pianoforte and chosen books because I thought they might interest him. I have even made myself useful to Georgiana whenever the opportunity presented itself.”

Elizabeth smiled. “You have conducted quite a campaign.”

“And accomplished nothing.” Caroline gave a rueful laugh. “He is always courteous, but he has little to say to me. If I ask his opinion, he gives it briefly. There is never anything more. No eagerness when I enter a room. No particular pleasure when I sit beside him. No attempt to prolong a conversation when there is no reason for it to continue.”

She looked down at her hands.

“After spending an entire evening trying to attach him, I sometimes think he is more remote than he was before.”

Elizabeth said, “That is a pity, Caroline. But you say you mean to look elsewhere.”

“Yes. Charles will marry, and I must either marry or return to Yorkshire to live with my Aunt Agnes.”

“Hence the invitation you expect from me, if Mrs. Radcliff's endeavors should prove successful in securing me a husband.”

“Yes. I like you, Eliza. You inspire me. I believe you will find a husband and be very happy, and you have made me believe that I, too, might one day have a happy future.”

* * *

October 2, 1811

At last, the day arrived when Elizabeth, together with Aunt Madeline and Uncle Edward, set out on their journey to Derbyshire. It would serve as a holiday for the Gardiners, who intended to escort Elizabeth to the Radcliff estate, situated but two miles north of the little town of Lambton.

Jane and Kitty stood outside waving their farewells. They would remain in London, caring for little Edward, assisted by his nurse. Mr. and Miss Bingley had leave to call, provided Mrs. Hurst accompanied them. Everything had been agreeably arranged, and Elizabeth's thoughts soon returned to Arbor Low with its henge and stone circle.

She carried the first of her newly purchased books in the carriage and whiled away the hours reading and occasionally discussing its contents with her uncle.

She had been reading in silence for nearly twenty minutes when she raised her eyes and caught his attention.

“Yes, Lizzy?”

“Sir, I wish to read you a passage. I should like to hear your thoughts.”

“Certainly.”

“On December 21, 1710, a farmer is said to have labored in his fields until near sunset. Passing the henge upon the eve of the winter solstice, he told his workers that he would remain to discover whether it was true that the setting sun aligned with a particular pair of stones within the inner circle. The following morning, his horse and cart were found in a nearby field, the horse still harnessed. His luncheon basket rested upon one of the stones of the inner circle, together with his flask, but no further trace of the man was ever discovered.”

She raised her eyes, her brow furrowed.

“Sir, what think you of this account?”

“A coincidence, perhaps?” He said, raising his brows and grinning.

“Uncle, you may be right, but I have found one other account that sounds very much like this one.”

She reached for her notebook and opened it to a page bearing only one entry. In the first column, she had recorded the date, and in the second, the particulars of the disappearance along with the title of the book in which the account was documented. She proceeded to read the account aloud.

“Two coincidences, sir?”