Pride and Perfection

Lelia M. Silver

 

Chapter 1

Pemberley Creek, Montana 1891

Nate Reynolds walked the barn aisle slowly, checking water and hay levels one last time. The horses that hung their heads over the stall doors were old friends.

He paused to rub one gelding’s forelock. “Hey, Flynn. How’s that new mare treating you? You helping her learn the ropes around here?”

The horse’s eyes slid half closed as he leaned into Nate’s touch. Nate chuckled and gave him one last rub before turning away. He stepped into the gray light of dusk and slid the barn door shut behind him. The usually bustling Double D ranch was quiet, buttoned down for the night. All the ranch hands had retreated into the bunkhouse for the evening. The Darcy family was safely tucked inside the ranch house, the golden light shining from the kitchen reminding him that his mother waited for him to drive her home.

Nate took a deep breath, determined to enjoy the peaceful moment, even as his gaze scanned the ranch yard, looking for any tool, animal, or person that might be out of place. As the ranch foreman, this was his domain. He knew every inch of the land, every cowhand, every horse, cow, and chicken. He was responsible for it all.

Sometimes that responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders. But most of the time it was a welcome weight, a reminder of his place in the world and the respect of the man who trusted him to care for his most precious possessions.

Fitzwilliam Darcy had only lived in Pemberley Creek for a few years, but the changes he had brought to the ranch were welcome ones. His subsequent marriage to Elizabeth Bennet had brought light and laughter back to the house.

The sound of a pianoforte being played with expert skill floated through the open windows to reach his ears. And the additional arrival of Georgiana Darcy had brought music to a sometimes barren land.

Nate tried to resist its siren call, but it was a futile endeavor, as it always was. He found himself seated on the back porch steps, his head leaning against the porch rail as he listed to the music that poured from Georgiana’s fingers on an almost nightly occurrence.

He had often wondered how she would react if he requested to join her with his guitar. He rarely brought the instrument to the ranch, preferring to play on his porch at home, where only the coyotes and his mother could hear.

He didn’t have the classical training of Georgiana Darcy. The only skills he had were learned at his father’s knee or self taught. He had had precious little time to hone his skills after taking over as the foreman of the Double D. The cow hands didn’t mind his lack of talent out on the range, but he was afraid he would embarrass himself next to her.

Behind him, the back door squeaked open. Caught, Nate swung around, grateful for the darkness that hid his red cheeks. He relaxed as the light from within outlined Darcy in the doorframe.

“Nate, I’m glad you’re still here. Why don’t you come inside? I have a proposition I want to talk to you about before you take your mother home.”

Nate climbed to his feet. “I can’t stay too long. I still have evening chores to do at the homestead.”

Darcy grinned at him as he held the door for him to go through. “Is that why you’re just hanging out on my back porch? You’re trying to avoid the evening chores?”

“Something like that.” There was no way Nate was going to admit to what he’d really been doing. Georgiana Darcy was Darcy’s little sister. If there was one thing Darcy didn’t trust him with on the ranch, she was it. He didn’t want to find out how his employer would react if he ever found out about Nate’s interest in her.

Georgiana was French perfume and silk. He was leather chaps and horse sweat. If she knew what was good for her, she would never look at him twice.

Nate let Darcy lead the way through the kitchen and down the hall. He couldn’t help but let his gaze wander into the parlor as they passed. Lizzie had her head buried in a medical journal. Georgiana had her head down as she played. A curtain of silky blonde hair swept over her shoulders. Her fingers moved over the keys with confidence and emotion. Nate could have sat in that parlor and watched her play for hours. Thankfully, there was always something to do on the ranch, so as much as he was tempted, he’d never had the opportunity to give into that temptation.

Georgiana looked up just then and met his gaze. Her fingers tripped over the keys, hitting a discordant note. The wrong note brought Lizzie’s head up. “What’s wrong, Georgiana?”

Her hands stilled on the keys, but the music still lingered in the air for a few more moments. “I just realized I had an audience.”

Nate flushed at being caught staring and quickly looked away, ready to follow Darcy down the hall. But his friend was never one to pass up an opportunity to talk to his wife. He took a couple steps backwards to stand in the doorway.

Darcy smiled at his wife and sister. “I was just bringing Nate down to my study to chat about our trip to New York. That sounded beautiful, Georgiana. Was that Beethoven?”

She nodded, a smile flirting with her lips. “I haven’t gotten to the Mozart portion of the evening.”

He laughed. “I’ll know we’re in trouble if Chopin makes an appearance.”

Nate didn’t dare to add to the conversation. He wouldn’t have been able to tell Chopin from Mozart or Beethoven. He barely knew who those men were. Famous composers weren’t frequently discussed in the one room schoolhouse in Pemberley Creek.

Darcy gestured for Nate to follow him. “Come on, Nate. I know you want to get home before it gets too late.”

Nate cast one look back into the parlor at Georgiana at the pianoforte. She had gone back to playing, her gaze trained on the music in front of her. He wasn’t fooled. She was studiously ignoring him. And he understood why.

He sighed and followed Darcy down the hall. Once inside, Darcy gestured for him to take the seat in front of the desk while he took the one behind the desk. Nate settled into the comfortable leather chair, his mind already starting to churn. What more could Darcy want to discuss with him about the trip to New York? They’d already spent the last few weeks going over all the details that Nate needed to know in order to keep things going while the family was away.

Darcy folded his hands and leaned forward on his elbows. “I know you’re probably wondering what more I could want to talk to you about for our trip.”

Since that was exactly what he’d just been thinking, Nate just nodded. “I thought we’d covered everything.”

Darcy grinned. “I thought we had, too. But then I realized there was a different job I needed you for.”

Nate felt dread settle in the pit of his stomach. That grin on Darcy’s face never boded well for his future. He was afraid to ask but he did anyway. “What did you have in mind?”

“I want you to come to New York with us.”

Nate choked. “You what?”

“I thought you might react this way.” Darcy’s gaze was knowing. “I want you to come to New York with us. Charles and I need your expertise when it comes to horseflesh, crops, and cattle when we’re talking to the investors. And I thought it might be a fun change of pace for you.”

Nate hardly knew how to respond. “Darcy, I’ve never been outside of Montana.”

“All the more reason for you to have this experience.”

“I wouldn’t know how to act among high society.”

Darcy sobered. “There is no time like the present to learn.” He sighed. “Nate, I really do understand what I’m asking of you. However, as my foreman, you need to know every part of my business, not just how to run the ranch. You already know that inside and out.” He leaned back in his chair. “And Charles and I really could use your experience. So what do you say? Will you come along? I won’t force you to come if you really don’t want to.”

Nate studied his friend and employer for long moments. Then he leaned forward. “I’ll have to train someone to take over while I’m gone.”

Darcy nodded. “I was thinking Harry.”

Nate nodded slowly. “He’s a good choice.”

“Kit and John could split their time between here and your place to keep things running there and to bring your mother back and forth. Or she could stay here if she wanted so that there is always someone around.”

“I can see what she prefers.”

Darcy lifted his brows. “So does that mean you’re coming?”

Nate could hardly believe he was going to say it, but… “I guess I’m going to New York.” Before Darcy could start grinning, he hurried to warn his friend, “I’m going to need some lessons in managing polite society.”

Darcy’s eyes started to twinkle in a way that put Nate on edge. “I know exactly who can teach you.”

Nate knew the words that were going to come out of Darcy’s mouth before he said them. He knew them, and he dreaded them. How was he going to handle this without giving away his feelings?

“I’m sure Georgiana would be happy to help.”

And Nate started praying.

 

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