“Ah, Mr. Shelley,” cooed Lady Malkin, “very poetic!” She took his hand. “Mrs. Darcy, Elizabeth, would you mind if Mr. Shelley and I were to take a stroll through these lovely woods and take in the sunset?”
With as careless an air as I could affect, I bowed my head and said, “Of course, Elizabeth. The skies seem to have cleared. It should be a lovely evening for a walk. After, if you should care to dine with us, we would be delighted for you to join us.”
As she and Mr. Shelley skipped off into the woods, Mr. Lackey fixed me with an unsentimental, rather careworn grin. “Will you lead me back to the house, Mrs. Darcy? I am afraid that Shelley has left me with all of the gear — and the fish — and so I could do with some assistance, with some direction, and of course, with the pleasure of you
