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Elizabeth paused a moment, trying to understand this latest piece of information. So the strangers were Mr Darcy’s relatives, but they certainly did not resemble him either in appearance or in behaviour.

“Yes, I am acquainted with Mr Darcy too,” she finally answered. “So, how do you propose we proceed?”

“Could we not walk to Netherfield with you?” Lady Cecilia suggested. “Our servants will stay here with the carriage and our luggage, and we shall send more men to help them. This way, our arrival will be an even greater surprise. It might even be a shock,” she concluded, and her husband joined her in a peal of laughter.

Elizabeth had to hide her incredulity.

“Of course you may walk with me…I just assumed you would be unwilling to travel such a distance on foot. Most people of consequence are opposed to walking,” she said, wondering whether they noticed the scorn behind her polite answer.

“I am certainly not one of them,” Lady Cecilia said, laughing again. “I have always enjoyed wandering through woods and down lanes, either on horseback or on foot. My mother was appalled by my wild habits.”

Elizabeth burst out in laughter herself. “Forgive me. I am amused because my mother is appalled by my wild habits too. She would be shocked to find out I have this in common with someone like your ladyship.”

“I shall be happy to confirm it for her, if the opportunity arises,” the lady jested as the three of them set off together.

“I rarely walk, unless I absolutely have to,” Lord Dunnroy interjected, “but I confess I find the habit exceedingly charming in a lady. It might have been one of the main reasons I fell in love with my wife.”

At this, the couple laughed together, and Elizabeth smiled; the image of them teasing each other, making light of a potentially dangerous situation, and displaying such easy manners towards a stranger whose situation in life was obviously far below their own was simply enchanting. Once again, Elizabeth wondered which of them was related to Mr Darcy and why they had not taught him a little of their manners.

Elizabeth led the way along the path. Lady Cecilia held her husband’s arm, and from time to time she let out a little cry as her shoe slipped. But not for a moment did she complain or reproach him for anything. Quite the opposite; she remained in excellent spirits and seemed to be enjoying their little adventure.

“From here, the track widens,” Elizabeth explained. “We shall take a turn through that grove, and we shall be at the house in no time.”

“You are an excellent walker, Miss Bennet,” Lord Dunnroy declared. “And a very brave one, I might say.”

“If that is a compliment, I thank you,” Elizabeth replied in jest.

“Most certainly. What else could it be?”

Elizabeth hesitated a moment, wondering whether she would dare speak her mind.

“As I said, most people find this habit a flaw rather than a quality.”

“Then we shall share their disapproval if we care enough for their opinion,” Lady Cecilia responded with another laugh. Elizabeth laughed too, increasingly surprised by the lady’s amiability and easiness.

They were still laughing when a deep voice, filled with obvious disbelief and amazement, startled them.

“Edmund? Cecilia? What on earth are you doing here? And Miss Bennet? What is this? What has happened?”

“Darcy, my man! What a surprise, is it not? Oh dear, if you could only see your face! Much better than we anticipated and worth all the effort,” Lord Dunnroy said, shaking with laughter.

Lady Cecilia laughed too, though more elegantly, placing her gloved hand over her lips.

“Darcy, please close your mouth. You look so diverting with it wide open,” she said. Mr Darcy immediately pressed his lips together, frowning and evidently struggling to maintain an air of gravity.

Elizabeth could hardly keep her composure, but she tried her hardest, sensing that Mr Darcy would not be pleased if she joined his relatives in mocking him. Not that she cared about his opinion too much, of course.

“So, Cousin, would you care to grant me the courtesy of explaining what you are doing here?”

“We came to visit you,” Lord Dunnroy replied. “We spent the last fortnight in Surrey with my wife’s cousins and were on our way to visit Thomas Baxter in Oxfordshire. We thought we might as well stop and see Bingley’s new estate. After all, he did invite us last month, as soon as he signed the papers.”

“Bingley will be exceedingly happy to welcome you,” Mr Darcy said in a rather stern tone.

“You do not look too happy to see us, Darcy,” Lady Cecilia said.

“I am. Very much so. I was just surprised by your appearance, especially on foot. And with Miss Bennet,” the gentleman declared, casting a look at Elizabeth that caused her some discomfort.

“Our carriage has a broken wheel, I believe,” the lady continued. “We feared we were lost when we were fortunate enough to meet Miss Bennet. Imagine our relief when she mentioned she was well acquainted with this area and was staying at Netherfield. Quite a saviour she was.”