At breakfast, Darcy asked her what she would like to do that day.

“If you are tired, we could simply relax here, perhaps take a stroll. Or if you are feeling energetic, we could take the small boat out onto the lake.”

“If you’re feeling up to rowing me about, I would like to take the boat out,” she replied.

He smiled and assured her he was up to the task and they were soon off.

The lake had few occupants as they were already in a rather quiet location and the hour was still early. Elizabeth put on her straw bonnet and lace gloves and took a parasol to protect her from the sun. Darcy smiled when he saw her in her simple white dress with small yellow flowers on it.

“You look like sunshine, my love,” he said.

She smiled softly in response and blushed a lovely pink color.

“Come, the boat is ready,” he said as he led her to the dock and onto a small rowboat with three benches. Oars stretched across the narrow center bench and a hamper filled with food rested in the bottom. A blanket lay rolled up and stuffed under the wider front bench.

She stepped into the boat gingerly and a footman pushed them off, wishing them a good day on the high seas, to which Elizabeth laughed gaily. Darcy rowed them leisurely for some time, and finally headed toward a small island not too far away.

“Do you want to go ashore?” he asked.

“Yes, let’s. I’ve never been on an island,” she said.

He smiled at her anticipation and pulled as close as he could to the shore.

“I’ll have to pull it in the rest of the way,” he said once the boat had dragged the bottom.

She nodded and watched in fascination as he steadied the boat and stepped out, careful not to rock her. She held onto the sides and he gave her a grin and a wink before heaving the boat toward the shore, leaving Elizabeth duly impressed. He stopped a dozen feet from the bank. He could have pulled it farther, but he didn’t want to push it back out through the muck.

“Will we picnic here?” she asked.

He agreed and she passed him the blanket and hamper. He came back for her and she wrapped her arms round his neck while he held her to take her across the shallow water and onto the shingle.

“How strong you are, Mr. Darcy,” she teased as he stepped carefully across the rocky lake bottom.

“Nonsense. My lady is as light as a feather,” he said playfully. Her laughter was his reward and he smiled brightly at her.

She reached one hand down to touch the water and neatly flicked a bit of it onto her husband.

“What are you doing, wife?”

“Nothing, husband,” she said mischievously.