Rose Cottage by A K Madison

Author:A K Madison
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-06-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“Good morning, Miss Bennet. Miss Mary.” Fitzwilliam Darcy had been haunting the hall outside the breakfast parlor at Netherfield for a half-hour when his intended and her sister made their appearance. As he stood aside to allow the ladies to enter first, Mary gave him a speaking glance and thrust something small into his hand as she passed. They had quiet conversation and plenty of sleepy smiles, and Mary soon grew tired of conducting any conversation and allowed the lovers to smile at each other all they wished over their coffee cups. When everyone had finished eating, Darcy stood. “Miss Bennet,” he began formally. “I wonder if you would care to accompany me to the stables. There is one there who would claim an acquaintance with you, and he has missed you sadly.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Let me just steal a piece or two of this lovely fruit, and we shall be on our way. Mary, I will return before Mama is stirring, I am sure.”

Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm, and they were soon out of the house. As they rounded the back of Netherfield and approached the stables, Elizabeth could hear Sirdar’s welcoming nicker before she caught sight of him. As they approached, she saw that two grooms stood by, and two horses. Sirdar tossed his head in greeting. The other horse, smaller, was equipped with a side-saddle and stood by in well-mannered quiet, evaluating the stranger.

“Miss Bennet, may I present Noor,” said Darcy with a smile, stroking the neck of the smaller horse. “That means ‘Light.’ She has come all the way from Pemberley, and from now on, she will be your horse. She has the honor of being my betrothal gift to you.”

“Noor,” said Elizabeth softly. “You are a beautiful, beautiful creature. I have never seen a more beautiful horse.” She turned and threw her arms around Darcy. “Thank you. Oh, thank you so much!” Then she fell to stroking the mare’s neck and shoulders, crooning softly. An apple was conjured from a pocket for Noor, and Elizabeth turned to Sirdar. “I did not forget you, my old friend. Here is yours.”

“It is well not to hurt his feelings, he is so devoted to you. But Noor is your companion from henceforth, and you may ride her when you wish. Of course, I hope that will be soon and with me.”

She smiled up at him and he tossed her into the saddle. Noor was a chestnut, with mane and tail nearly blonde, and she seemed to glow from within in the early morning sunlight. Darcy and Elizabeth rode off together in wordless companionship, their smiles speaking for them.

“I do have a riding habit,” Elizabeth finally said. “But I should probably get a new one.”

“Mary is in on the secret. She has given me a pair of your gloves, dearest.”

They rode through the sunshine and shade of the lane. “She is perfectly splendid, and her manners are superb.”

“She is a Pemberley horse.” Darcy smiled. “Georgiana rides her daughter, who resembles Noor somewhat.

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.