Her Summer at Pemberley by Sallianne Hines

Author:Sallianne Hines [Hines, Sallianne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733384407
Publisher: Sallianne Hines

Chapter Twenty-One

The fog magnified every sound in the cool grey air. The footfalls of the horses echoed around them. Every snort or sneeze was like an explosion. Darcy and Alfred Cressley set the pace to Windsor at an active walk, each leading a mare. Owen ponied the third mare. The party anticipated arriving at the royal mews near noon. A note had been sent ahead, so they would be expected.

Georgiana and Matilda, having no interest in the errand, remained at Oakhurst.

All rode in silence except Darcy and Cressley, who conversed in low tones. Kitty rode between Owen and George Cressley. Christopher and Lucy brought up the rear. The horses in front were skittish, so George rode up to put more space between the two mares.

Kitty and Owen looked at each other expectantly. Kitty searched her mind but all she could think to talk of was the weather, in spite of having many questions she wished to ask Owen. Please say something she begged silently.

“I like this.” His voice was muffled in the fog.

Kitty looked at him, puzzled.

“What, exactly, is it you like?”

“How it is both quiet and loud at once,” he replied. “The hush around us keeps us quiet, yet the sounds that do happen seem loud and sharp. There is a kind of beauty about it.”

Kitty smiled. “At Longbourn, I enjoyed riding on foggy mornings. The world around me would at first be in a hush, as you say. Then, as the sun burned through, everything seemed to wake up and smile. There were some good things about Longbourn.”

Owen looked at her curiously.

She frowned. “I find gentlemen do not, in general, understand the struggles of ladies, Mr. Owen. Men have many choices in life. We ladies have few, and even supreme effort or brilliant skill or amazing talent do not change this. It is unpleasant to feel so … stuck. Locked in.”

He said nothing.

She quailed. She had shared too much. Too vehemently. The silence was awkward so she blundered on.

“My summer visit at Pemberley has been so pleasant,” she said, changing her direction and tone. “I enjoy my sister’s company immensely and have missed her since she married and moved away. And becoming better acquainted with my new sister Georgiana has been one of the best parts of my visit.” She stopped abruptly, not knowing what else to say.

Owen was smiling in that calm way he had.

“Miss Darcy is one of the sweetest and kindest young ladies of my acquaintance. I shall certainly agree with you there, Miss Bennet; knowing her is a delight.”

They walked on in silence for a time until Owen spoke again.

“Your horse. Do you find him agreeable?”

She reached down to pat the bay gelding from Oakhurst.

“It is difficult to say; we have only been walking. But he has a long, easy stride and is light in my hands.”

“He is a jumper. Darcy tells me you managed that gate very well on your wild ride to Pemberley the day of the picnic.” He gave her a sly grin.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.