Bertha watched with a critical eye. “If I let out the bodice…” She pulled at the top. “Yes, that will do. Lovely!”

“I don’t know what to say,” Beth said.

Anne walked over to take her hands. “I have plenty of dresses, and that one looks so well on you. Can we have it ready before the party, Bertha?”

“Oh, yes, miss. If I start right now, it will be done tonight.”

Beth tried to resist one last time. “Are you sure it’s no trouble?” Assured it was not, Beth had no other argument. “All right, then.”

Anne laughed and danced about the room.

July 3

Early the next morning, Anne rode her thoroughbred along Rosings Creek towards Rosings. About halfway there, she made her expected rendezvous with a tall, dark-haired man.

“Hello, Anne,” called out Will Darcy. “And how’s Princess today?”

Anne reached down to pat her beloved horse’s neck. “She’s fine, Will. And how are you? Looking forward to tomorrow’s party?”

Darcy sighed. “What’s gotten into your mother, anyway? Having a Fourth of July party, for heaven’s sake! The only reason folks will turn up is for the free vittles and beer.”

“Is that why you’re coming?” Anne said with a small smile.

“You know why,” Darcy responded. “Well?”

“You were right. The blue dress looks beautiful on her.”

“Does she suspect?”

“No. Will, are you sure about surprising her?”

Will nodded. “I know what I’m doing.”

“I don’t know. Are you certain that she likes you? I mean, I think she does, but I can’t tell if she likes you in, well, that way.”

Will grinned at his innocent little cousin. “Anne, Anne, Anne. Just look at the way she talks to me. She’s always teasing—it’s obvious she’s flirting with me. Time I gave her back a little of her own. It’ll work out, just watch.” At her doubtful expression, he leaned over his saddle horn. “Aren’t I always right?”

Anne grinned slightly. “I suppose you are.” As the smile slid off her face, Darcy grew concerned.

“Annie, is everything all right? You’ve been awful quiet lately.”

Anne wouldn’t meet her cousin’s eye. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Will.”

“How are things at home? Cate’s not mistreating you, is she?”

“Mother’s the same as she always is. I’m fine, really.”

“Annie, look at me.” The girl raised her face. “You can talk to me. You can trust me, you know that.”

“I do,” she said quietly.

“We’ve got a place for you at Pemberley if you want it.”

Anne’s eyes flew open wide. “No! I’m… I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” She glanced at the rising sun. “I’d better get back to the house. I promised to go riding with Beth, and I better get back, or she’ll think I left without her. Bertha’s been keeping her busy, but she can’t do that much longer, or Beth’ll think something’s wrong. See you tomorrow, Will.”

Anne turned Princess’s head around and headed back to the house. Darcy watched her go for a few moments, still uneasy over his cousin’s demeanor. Finally, he could remain no longer, or he chanced discovery by Miss Bennet.

“C’mon, Caesar, let’s get back to the barn, huh?” He put spurs to horse, and the great, black beast shot forward, racing over the plains. Will exulted in the ride, his mind moving from concern over his cousin to anticipation about the entrance of another lady—a very pretty, curly-haired lady in blue.

Chapter 8

July 4

“Ah, William, Gabrielle,” welcomed Mrs. Burroughs from the foyer after Bartholomew opened the front door. “Good morning. You’re prompt—very good. Gabrielle, you look lovely today.”

Darcy hardly heard his cousin’s monologue, for he was too busy scanning the people already assembled in the B&R ranch house for a woman in a blue dress. Mrs. Burroughs noticed his preoccupation and thought she knew the reason.

“William, Anne is still upstairs. She will be coming down… Why, here she is now.”

Darcy’s head jerked around, his gaze steady upon the two ladies descending the staircase. Anne appeared quite pretty in her attractive pink and white dress, and Gaby was delighted for her. But Darcy dismissed his cousin with a nod of the head, his attention captured by the vision behind her.

Darcy was aware that the domineering Cate stood beside him, and he schooled his features to appear as disinterested as possible. Yet, his eyes were locked on Miss Bennet, splendid in a blue and silver gown, her hair up and away from her face. The lady must have felt his stare, for her eyes locked on his and opened wide.

She knows! Darcy thought. His initial impulse was to damn propriety and approach her, but with Cate in attendance, that would never do. He knew he had a part to play in front of his cousin. He would have to wait to enjoy the pleasure of Miss Bennet’s undivided attention.

He stepped forward and correctly took Anne’s hand. “Good morning, Cousin. You look very well today. And, you too, Miss Bennet,” he said as he turned to her.

“Th… thank you, sir.”

Cate began speaking again, drawing Darcy’s notice, so he did not see the confused look in Beth’s eyes.

“Come,” the grand lady commanded, “the opening ceremony is about to begin. Darcy, escort your cousin. Gabrielle, attend me.”

Darcy walked out of the house, Anne’s arm in his, feeling very satisfied. Had he been able to study Beth Bennet longer, he would not have been so pleased with himself.

It was high noon when a deep voice in his best Army dress blues called out, “Hats off!”

The men assembled removed their hats as an honor guard of U.S. Cavalry soldiers raised the flag of the United States on a temporary flagpole. The thirty-seven stars and thirteen stripes floated in the light breeze as it rose, accompanied by a rolling cadence. Beth, standing with the Burroughs and George Whitehead, looked on with pride, her hand over her heart, smiling in the sun. Her eye caught a motion, and to her disgust, she observed Will Darcy staring a hole in the ground, his friend, Richard Fitzwilliam, next to him doing the same. Gaby Darcy looked on impassively, occasionally glancing at her brother.

Beth recalled that George Whitehead once described Darcy as an “unrepentant Rebel.” Yes, he certainly is! There was a sense of disappointment in her musings. She was taken aback by his attentions earlier. The blasted man looked stunning in a dark blue suit, a black tie at his throat. And there was something unusual in his bright blue eyes for a moment, before it was extinguished. For one brief moment, her heart had been in her throat. Beth shook her head, angry that she kept thinking about the annoying man. I will ignore him for the rest of the day, she promised herself.

Once the flag reached the pinnacle, George stepped forward and began reciting from the Declaration of Independence:


“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”