Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

U pon arriving at the stables, Darcy dismounted and passed his horse's reins to one of the grooms with instructions to feed and water the beast before returning it to the inn. The lad nodded, welcomed him home, and led his rented mount away.

"Heel! Heel, girl— sit !"

Darcy, forewarned by a series of thundering barks, braced himself to accept the enamoured greeting of one who was always glad to see the master. He staggered back a step as a pair of large paws landed upon his chest and a slobbering tongue began bathing his face. "Freddy! I am happy to see you too."

The spotted Great Dane licked at his chin fervently even as Darcy sputtered at her attentions. She was huge, somehow even larger than when he had last seen her just a few weeks ago, but still a puppy at heart and not yet trained out of her wildest behaviours. She might be if Darcy were more firm with her, but there was something about Freddy that tugged at his heart and enticed him to be more forgiving. Even had that not been so, Georgiana spoilt her dreadfully.

"Mr Darcy, sir, forgive me. I was walking her, and she slipped her lead, but it will never happen again."

Turning to the winded young man whom Freddy had apparently bested, Darcy replied, "No harm done, lad. Freddy is untrainable—I am convinced of it."

"I'll take her back to the kennel now, shall I?"

One glance at Freddy's grinning face and Darcy knew he would not be sending her away. "I believe I shall take her up to the house with me. You may return to your other duties."

The young man bowed and scurried off, Freddy's lead dangling from his hand, as Darcy chuckled and disengaged himself from the dog's embrace. He whistled for her to follow, and they began their approach towards the manor.

With no immediate concerns to see to, Darcy determined to take the longer way through the willow grove down by the lake. It was a lovely winding path, one of his mother's favourites, and would afford him better shade than the more direct route of crossing the lawn. The waving branches beckoned him forth as if they eagerly waited to receive him.

Within the wood, he was transported to a magical realm of dappled light and sighing wind. The breeze stirred the hair at Darcy's collar, and he closed his eyes to savour the relief. The soft whisper of restless leaves tickled his ears, almost like the lilting voice of an affectionate friend. Once again, he felt the sense that Pemberley was glad for his return. How good it is to be home.

When he opened his eyes again, sunlight glimmering upon the water's surface caught his attention. It looked marvellously inviting—so clear and refreshing. As a boy, his mother would bring him down to the lake frequently when it was warm enough, and he would splash and play in the water for hours. A few times, Lady Anne had even removed her own slippers and waded in above her ankles, her skirts suspended out of reach of the damp. Although he had many fond memories of his mother, who had died just after Georgiana's birth some sixteen years ago, he had rarely seen her so at ease as she had been on those summer days. Darcy's eyes misted over, and he cleared his throat as recollections, both pleasant and sad, overcame him. How dearly he missed his parents.

Freddy barked and pawed at his leg, bringing Darcy back to the present. Upon garnering his notice at last, she barked again and loped away into the water, eliciting a laugh from her master. After a short series of frolics, the dog turned back to Darcy and stared at him expectantly with her tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth.

"Oh no," Darcy replied to her presumed invitation, his mouth twitching with mirth. "I am far too old to be swimming with you. I am master here now and cannot bow to every whim of frivolity."

Freddy merely whined at him as if unconvinced.

"No, I shall not. Come on—I wish to change out of these dirty clothes."

After another bark, Freddy gave up on him and launched herself deeper into the water, where she paddled about through the tangle of willow branches arched over the lake. Darcy had to admit it did look tempting. And this particular alcove was well concealed from prying eyes.

"Oh, very well," he at last conceded, his fingers struggling with the knot in his cravat. "But if I frighten any delicate maidens, I shall blame you for it."