by C. P. Odom
“Perhaps so,” said Jane doubtfully. “I will have to give way to your better understanding on this subject. But I know I would not be marrying if it were not for you, Lizzy. You have been the cause of much happiness for both of us.” Now Jane smiled mischievously at her sister. “Or do I not interpret the signs correctly? I saw the way that you and Mr. Darcy looked at each other when you joined us, and you both appeared to be well pleased.”
Elizabeth instantly blushed at this proof that she had not been as successful at disguising the reason that she and Darcy were so late coming downstairs as she had imagined. Jane laughed delightedly at her success at discomfiting her sister, and Elizabeth could not be angry with her on this day and soon joined in.
“I hoped you had not noticed.” This drew another laugh from her sister. As they walked further through the garden in companionable silence, Elizabeth determined on a way to turn the tables.
“Have you given any thought to the advice that Aunt Gardiner gave us the day before my marriage?” she asked, giggling at Jane’s sudden blush.
“I do recommend that you give careful consideration to that rather than what dear Mama tried to warn us of,” Elizabeth continued cheerfully when Jane made no response.
The sisters walked on in silence for several minutes before Jane was able to venture any response to that remark.
“Truly?” she said, her voice so soft and tentative that Elizabeth barely heard her.
“Truly, dearest sister,” smiled Elizabeth.
“You have worn one of those . . . those gowns for your . . . for Mr. Darcy?”
“Yes, Jane, I did, and on our very first night together,” Elizabeth said cheerfully, “and on most nights since then. Though,” she said with the most innocent expression, “our aunt was also correct in estimating my chances of keeping that gown on for very long.”
“Oh,” was all that Jane could say. They walked on further before she ventured, “I would like to wear one for Charles, but I do not know if it would please him. And,” she confessed in a low voice, “I worry that I would be too embarrassed to even put one on, much less let Charles see me in it.”
“I think you should trust Aunt Gardiner on this,” Elizabeth encouraged her. “I believe it would please him, Jane; I truly do. And I would further advise you to wear the most daring of your nightgowns on the first night. I remember that one well, and you will look beautiful beyond compare in it.”
Elizabeth’s eyes danced mischievously as she looked over at her sister. “But I must repeat the warning that, no matter what you wear to your husband’s bed, you will not wear it for long! Our mother is quite mistaken in this matter, and our Aunt Gardiner is correct. My husband has said several times that he has come to regard our aunt as one of the most sensible women of his acquaintance!”
Jane had to laugh, and Elizabeth continued, “Plus, there is the further consideration that Bingley has grown quite confident of late.”
“And he did say that he was done with prudence!”
“There, you see?” said Elizabeth delightedly. “You would not want to give a prudent signal to a man who is determined to be quite imprudent! Trust our Aunt Gardiner, and trust what William says about her!”
Jane smiled and hoped that she could follow her sister’s advice, for she dearly desired to see Charles look at her as Mr. Darcy had looked at Elizabeth earlier!
* * * * *
Wednesday, May 20, 1812
Elizabeth and Darcy arrived with Georgiana at Longbourn Chapel early the next morning, for Elizabeth was anxious to avoid an open confrontation with her father. She had come to the belief that much of his intransigence was due to pride, in much the same way that her own pride had misled her in her evaluation of her husband prior to that memorable evening at the Hunsford Parsonage. Her father prided himself on his insight into other people even as she once had, and he would be even less likely to admit error than she had been, for he had for too long disengaged himself from the world outside his library.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were the next to arrive, having travelled early that morning for the ceremony. Darcy immediately went over to Mr. Gardiner and drew him aside, for Darcy had suggested the previous evening that they invite the Gardiners and their children to Pemberley for Christmas. Elizabeth was pleased to see the easy manner between Darcy and her uncle, and she was easily able to see her uncle’s pleased surprise when he received the invitation. Darcy returned to Elizabeth and Georgiana just as Bingley’s two sisters entered and joined the others at the front of the chapel by the altar. The remainder of the guests arrived after that — Aunt and Uncle Philips, Sir William and Lady Lucas, the Longs, the Gouldings, and others, followed finally by Mrs. Bennet. Bingley, attended by his brother, Mr. Hurst, made their entrance from a side door and came to stand by Reverend Palmer.
Once all were present, the Bennet daughters entered singly. Lydia came first, giggling and irreverent as always, followed by Kitty and then Mary. Finally, Mr. Bennet walked in with Jane on his arm, and Elizabeth saw Darcy’s gaze immediately shift to Bingley. He had told her of the almost physical impact he felt when she entered on the arm of her uncle, and she knew Darcy recognized the same impact on his best friend; she was momentarily enraged that her father’s displeasure had prevented her husband from standing up for him.
Darcy did indeed see and understand how Bingley saw Jane, for Elizabeth’s elder sister truly looked beautiful. But even more, Darcy felt a profound sense of relief and thankfulness that he had been able to atone for his earlier mistakes in separating them. He could only be grateful that his friend would soon be joined in a union that was almost certainly more perfect than his own. For while Bingley and Jane were like two identical coins, laid one on the other in perfect symmetry, he and Elizabeth were like two parts of the same coin — they fitted together to make a whole, but both of them were different in so many ways from each other. He grimaced inwardly, wishing that he had possessed similar insight the previous fall; so much anguish could have been avoided. But then he felt Elizabeth’s elbow dig into his ribs, and he realized that she must have read his mind — or his expression — and was reminding him of her advice: Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure. He smiled weakly down at her and put his hand over hers on his arm in acceptance of the rebuke.
Mr. Bennet never looked their way during the whole of the service. Elizabeth struggled to keep her distress over her father’s snub from marring the joy she felt in Jane and Bingley achieving what was most assuredly the best of all outcomes, but she was only partially successful.
After the ceremony concluded, family and friends crowded around the newly married couple to congratulate them. Elizabeth was conscious of how her father had quickly withdrawn from the crush of people, so as not to be forced to even make a polite greeting to either of them.
The other guests departed to Longbourn for the wedding breakfast with the men, including Mr. Bennet, walking and the ladies taking the carriages. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Darcy said their goodbyes to the remainder of her family, and Elizabeth believed that Jane, in the excitement, had noticed little of the manner in which her father had snubbed both Darcy and herself. She was certainly in good spirits as she embraced Elizabeth, bubbling with joy and clinging to the arm of her new husband. It was with sadness for what should have been, mixed with relief that it was completed, that Elizabeth made her goodbyes to her mother and sisters and Darcy made his to Bingley. Then, as Bingley and Jane boarded one carriage and her mother and sister boarded the remaining one for the short trip to Longbourn, Darcy handed Georgiana and Elizabeth into his own coach for the trip to Pemberley. It was with decidedly mixed feelings that they bid goodbye to Hertfordshire.
Chapter 27
Saturday, May 23, 1812
“Look, Elizabeth, there is the entrance to Pemberley!” exclaimed Georgiana, leaning forward to point out the window. Elizabeth leaned over to see the lodge amid the trees of Pemberley Wood as the coach turned off the road.
�
�I cannot see anything but trees,” Elizabeth said. “Where is the house itself?”
“It cannot be seen from here,” answered Darcy. “We have to climb up to the rim of the valley to see across it to the other side where Pemberley House is located. I will have the driver stop there, for the view is excellent.”
“The woods are certainly beautiful, William. I believe that I shall enjoy exploring them very much.”
“I would suggest that you take provisions along if you are determined to walk rather than ride,” teased Darcy. “And I would still suggest that you learn to ride, Mrs. Darcy.”
“I am not a horsewoman, Mr. Darcy. If you desired a horsewoman for a wife, it is your own fault for choosing a simple country girl who is frightened of the beasts!” she teased him back. “I long ago agreed to a truce with my father’s animals — they stay to the stables and the roadways while I stay to the woods and fields.”
Georgiana was still trying to accustom herself to the way in which Elizabeth and her brother would sport with each other, but evidently, Elizabeth’s lively nature was the tonic her brother needed, for he only chuckled and patted her hand in contentment.
The coach continued to climb for some time, with the extensive wood stretching out on either side of the road. Finally, after about half a mile, they reached the top of the ridge, and Darcy called to the driver to pull up. Leaning over to Georgiana’s window and looking out, Elizabeth’s eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground and backed by a ridge of high woody hills, and in front a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned.
“It is completely delightful, William,” Elizabeth said, and Darcy could not hide the pleasure that he took from her artless and sincere compliment. “I am impressed by the way that nature has been left unchanged in everything I can see,” she continued. “The house seems so well placed that it appears to be part of the valley, and I cannot remember ever having seen a place where nature so well complements what has been added.”
“I have always felt more at home here at Pemberley than anywhere else, even in London,” said Georgiana softly. “I know William feels the same way.”
“However, I believe that we must move on, for our arrival appears to have been noticed,” said Darcy, pointing across the valley where the household staff poured out of the entrance to gather on either side of the stair to the door.
“It is always amazing the way they seem to know when someone is approaching,” smiled Georgiana. “It is almost as if they have some kind of signalling system like the semaphore towers that pass messages from the seaports to London.”
Darcy called to the driver to resume, and the coach descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the door of Pemberley House. Elizabeth inspected the assembled servants in their various uniforms apprehensively then berated herself, for the staff at Pemberley must be equally as capable and welcoming as in town, and she could have no complaints about her reception there. But she could not help the nervousness she felt as Darcy assisted her down from the coach.
At the head of the assembly stood a respectable-looking elderly woman with a tall man of similar age beside her. Darcy led Elizabeth immediately over to them. “Elizabeth, I would like you to meet my housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds.” The housekeeper curtseyed to her new mistress. “Welcome to Pemberley, Mrs. Darcy,” she said in greeting.
“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds.” Elizabeth smiled, nodding her head in acknowledgement of the older woman’s curtsey. “Mr. Darcy has sung your praises for much of the journey here, and I look forward to your assistance in learning what I need to know.” Mrs. Reynolds curtseyed again, pleased at this first meeting with the young lady of whom Mrs. Taylor had written. She certainly seemed open and friendly, not at all like some ladies who were supposed to be much higher bred.
“And this is Reynolds, her husband,” Darcy indicated the tall man beside the housekeeper. “He has been the butler here at Pemberley for most of my lifetime.”
“Welcome to Pemberley, Mrs. Darcy,” rumbled the tall, elderly man as he bowed to Elizabeth even as his wife welcomed Georgiana home with a warm embrace. He gave a signal with one hand, and a dozen servants immediately bolted for the carriage, unstrapping and passing down trunks and boxes. Their luggage disappeared up the stairs into the house, followed by the three travellers.
* * * * *
After Elizabeth refreshed herself, she was quick to seek out Georgiana and accept her offer to tour the house. They were joined by Mrs. Reynolds, who was anxious to know the desires of her new mistress. Darcy was unable to join them since he had been immediately ensconced in his study with his steward to review the numerous items that needed his attention after several months of absence. The ladies’ first stop was the dining-parlour, a large, well-proportioned room, handsomely furnished and fitted up. Elizabeth was quick to compliment its appearance but, after a brief appraisal, was drawn to a window. She was greatly impressed by the view of the hill across the valley, its distant crest crowned with the woods through which they had passed earlier. She was pleased by everything she saw, and every disposition of the ground was most agreeable. The whole scene, including the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, was delightful.
“This is truly charming Georgiana!” she exclaimed with delight. “What a lovely view to accompany a meal.”
As Georgiana led Elizabeth into other rooms, beauty was evident from every window. The rooms themselves were lofty and handsome, with furniture suitable to the Darcys’ fortune, but Elizabeth was again impressed by the taste expressed in their selection, just as at Darcy’s house in London.
“The furnishings are very much to my liking,” she told Georgiana, “neither gaudy nor uselessly fine, and it shows more real elegance than is visible in the furniture of many other houses.”
“Such as at Rosings.” Georgiana giggled, drawing a smile of agreement from Elizabeth.
In one room, a small miniature, suspended along with several other miniatures over the fireplace, caught Elizabeth’s eye. When she looked closer, she saw it was a likeness of Mr. Wickham. A quick sidelong glance told her that Georgiana had turned away, her face grim and pale. Meanwhile, the housekeeper came forward and gave a sniff of disdain.
“That is a picture of the son of my late master’s steward. Mr. Darcy’s father had him raised and schooled at his own expense.” She sniffed disdainfully again. “He is now gone into the army, but I am afraid he has turned out very wild.’
“I am acquainted with Mr. Wickham,” said Elizabeth, taking Georgiana’s hand and squeezing it warmly, “and I can safely say that you have described his character completely.”
“And that,” said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of the miniatures, “is my master — and your husband, Mrs. Darcy! — and very like him. It was drawn at the same time as the other — about eight years ago. I think it captures his handsome aspect quite well.”
“I would agree with you on this point also, Mrs. Reynolds,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
“In the gallery upstairs is a finer, larger picture of him than this one. This room was my late master’s favourite room, and these miniatures are just as they used to be then. He was very fond of them. And this,” she continued, indicating another picture, “is one of Miss Darcy, drawn when she was only eight years old.”
“And even more handsome than her brother, would you not agree?” said Elizabeth.
“Elizabeth!” said Georgiana as her cheeks turned pink.
“Dear Georgiana, did your brother not say that you shall have to learn to receive a compliment, for you shall receive many of them?” teased Elizabeth.
Mrs. Reynolds was quick to warm to one of her favourite subjects. “You are absolutely correct, for Miss Darcy is certainly the handsomest young lady that
ever was seen. And she is so accomplished! She plays and sings all the day long.”
“I well know.” Elizabeth smiled, still holding the hand of a blushing Georgiana. “I have heard her perform with great pleasure, and she plays and sings like an angel.”
“Indeed you have it right. Just like an angel!”
Georgiana was finally emboldened to say, “Now stop it you two. You are making me blush!” She was answered with the laughter of the two ladies, well satisfied in their endeavours.
Georgiana then led Elizabeth to the spacious lobby above and into a very pretty sitting room, lately fitted up with greater elegance and lightness than the apartments below.
“Oh, it looks wonderful!” Georgiana exclaimed.
“Mr. Darcy gave us complete instructions on how to decorate it just for you, Miss Darcy, since you took a liking to it when you were last home.”
“He is certainly a good brother,” said Elizabeth, as she walked towards one of the windows to once again enjoy the glorious view.
“That he is. He will be pleased to learn how delighted Miss Darcy was when she saw her room. And that is always the way with him. Whatever can give his sister any pleasure is sure to be done in a moment. There is nothing he would not do for her.”
“Of that, I am sure,” said Elizabeth, linking her arm with Georgiana’s.
Next was the gallery. As Georgiana and the housekeeper commented on and identified the many family members, Elizabeth found little to interest her, for she was searching out the only face whose features would be known to her. At last, as Georgiana led her to a portrait of her brother, Elizabeth halted to examine it. The portrait was finely done, and it bore a striking resemblance to the subject. The artist had captured that smile she had seen so often when he looked at her and which she had at first so completely misinterpreted. She stood several minutes before the picture in earnest contemplation, and she saluted the competence of the painter, for he had captured her husband perfectly. He had already told her that he very much desired to have her likeness painted and to place it beside his own, but Elizabeth suddenly decided to insist that the portrait be painted of both of them instead. That would look more appropriate, for she had no place in this fine house apart from her husband.