She rose and hurried across the grass to meet her new aunt.
“Lady Catherine,” she said, curtseying. “What a pleasure it is to meet my husband’s aunt, though I did not realise you are related. I have heard so much about you from my cousin, Mr. Collins.”
The woman spun around. “Ah, so it is you,” she said, eyes narrowing. “I wondered what had gone on in the boy’s mind and I had to see for myself. Though I must admit, I assumed a pretty little thing had turned his head and I now see that was not the case.”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks flush at the unexpected cruelty in the woman’s words. “This is my sister, Jane,” she stammered.
“With her good looks and fair complexion, she would’ve been more suited to my nephew, though neither of you are suitably well-bred.”
“Jane is engaged to Mr. Bingley, a dear friend of mine,” Darcy said as he joined them, though he made no attempt to argue with his aunt’s later statement. “This is a surprise, dear aunt.”
“Fitzwilliam Darcy!” Lady Catherine exclaimed. “I expect my presence is a surprise since you failed to inform me of your engagement.”
He did not say anything, but it was clear from the look on his face what he was thinking. Elizabeth’s heart sank.
Lady Catherine went on, “of course, if I had known I would have done everything in my power to stop this foolishness. Whatever were you thinking, Fitzwilliam? I mean, I might have accepted her as a bride for my rector, but my nephew? This is unthinkable!”
Elizabeth blanched. Lady Catherine paid her no heed—it was clear she cared little about the impact of her cruel words.
“Let us speak in private,” Darcy snapped at his aunt. “Please join me in the library.”
“Lizzy, dear, don’t take her words to heart,” Jane whispered, when the other two had gone to the library. “She is his aunt. Of course she is protective.” She hesitated. “Of course, she did not need to be quite so harsh, but that is probably because she is so fond of him. I am quite sure she will come to love you as much as I do when she knows you better.”
As they walked past the study on their way to the drawing room, Elizabeth could not help but overhear. The door was slightly ajar and Darcy’s voice was not particularly quiet.
“It’s too late now, Lady Catherine. Elizabeth and I are already wed.”
“You say it as if you are happy about it! Do you not see you have made a great mistake?” she said. “Why couldn’t you have married someone more suitable?”
“That is easy to say,” he replied, sounding weary. “But the truth is, I have never met a suitable young lady who was not purely interested in my fortune.”
“But she is not at all suitable!” his aunt cried.
“Yes, I know that. I realise she is inferior and I—“
Elizabeth could not listen to any more. She felt a sharp stab of pain as she moved swiftly past the door and wished she hadn’t paused to listen. What had she expected? She barely knew the man.
Even so, hearing him say those words about her caused her more pain than she could have imagined.
* * *
Elizabeth did not sleep well that night. Lady Catherine’s insults played on in her mind but what really kept her awake was Darcy’s statement.
She threw herself into helping Jane with plans for her marriage and found her mood lifted by her sister’s blissful happiness. It was impossible not to feel the same when Jane was so plainly thrilled to be marrying Bingley. As the days passed and the day of the second Bennet wedding drew closer, Elizabeth was soon too tired to lie awake at night. Perhaps it was the lack of love in her own marriage that made her want to ensure that everything about Jane’s would be perfect. She spent hours in the garden picking the perfect flowers to decorate the chapel and the ballroom. She had never had much patience for needlework, but she stayed awake half the night working on a handkerchief for Jane with the initials JB in the corner in swirling script. She did everything she could to keep her mind occupied.
It will be fine when we get to Pemberley, she told herself. I shall have the peaceful life Darcy promised.
But she was beginning to doubt that now. How could she live in peace with the man when she knew his true opinion of her?
* * *
Finally, the day arrived when they had to leave. Elizabeth was almost inconsolable. The days at Netherfield had been long and joyous, especially after Jane took up residence after her wedding.
“My sister, Georgiana, will be delighted to make your acquaintance,” Darcy said once they had bid farewell to her family and she had dried her tears.
She looked up at him, surprised. She hadn’t known what to expect from their journey. After all, being cooped up together in the carriage for the long journey to Pemberley was very different from being at Netherfield, where they’d all had plenty of space to be alone.
When she didn’t reply, he continued, “Yes, I wrote to tell her of our marriage and she is thrilled beyond words.”
She was surprised he had written to his sister to tell her, but then she realised that he wouldn’t have wished to have her return to Pemberley to be confronted by her brother’s new wife. What else could he do?
“Georgiana has many talents but is very shy around people she doesn’t know.” Darcy continued. “However, I’m sure she’ll take to you immediately.”
Elizabeth wasn’t sure what to make of that comment. Was he mocking her? After the way he had spoken to his aunt about her, she couldn’t imagine he was relishing the thought of her meeting his beloved sister.
Darcy continued talking for most of the way. He first talked of his sister Georgiana and her quiet ways. He then described his home at Pemberley at length. Elizabeth could conjure up a beautiful image as he spoke of the sprawling grounds and the beautiful flowers that grew there. It was clear he had a great love for his home. But Elizabeth was only half paying attention.
Despite her misgivings; despite her resentment towards him for his prejudice, she could not help but enjoy the enforced proximity to him. They were married—there had been no question of her needing a chaperone for the journey. It was just the two of them and it was not a particularly large carriage, since he had wanted to make haste to Pemberley as quickly as possible and had sent for the fastest carriage he possessed. She could not believe that she felt that way despite everything. She had made up her mind, yet her physical reactions to him were another story entirely. She was both desperate to get away from him and desperate to stay close to him for as long as she could. She had never known such conflicting desires!
* * *
At first Darcy was so caught up in thoughts of his beloved estate that he did not notice Elizabeth’s silence but when she had barely spoken for several hours he began to suspect that something was wrong. Admittedly, he did not know her well, but their meetings in the woods had been filled with laughter and conversation. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her in the first place.
“Are you ill, Elizabeth? Or are you still suffering the effects of the headache that has been plaguing you?” He frowned. She must have been suffering terribly, poor thing—every time he had seen her since the day of their wedding, she had shortly after left the room in order to seek a cold compress for her headache. He had been greatly surprised at how much he had longed for her company in the evenings, instead having to make do with his aunt, who was less than happy with him.
“I must admit,” she said coldly. “That I was not ill. I could not bear to hear another of your aunt’s insults; nor did I trust myself to do so without responding in kind.”
He sighed. “I did not know she was coming. If I had known, I might at least have had a chance to warn you that she is a difficult woman.”
She sighed and stared at her hands. It was some time before she spoke again. “I suppose it is not your aunt that is the problem. I do not expect anything of you, but I was saddened by the fact that you discussed my inferiority with her.” She threw her hands up in the air, still not meeting his
eyes. “I do not know what to think. I know our marriage is not real, but at the same time I’m not sure I would have gone ahead with it if I’d known how much you despise me.”
He winced as if he’d been struck. “Despise you? I do not, nor have I ever despised you.”
“Do you not?” her eyes were cold and emotionless. “I heard what you said. I am inferior and unsuitable in your eyes.”
He stared at her, wondering why she had chosen to dwell on something that was hardly a slight. All he had done was spoken the truth, after all. “Yes,” he said, watching her face closely. He recalled that conversation with his aunt, though he had not known Elizabeth was listening. He replayed it in his mind, wondering why she had chosen to dwell on this and not what he had said afterwards, about her intelligence and with and the fact that she was pleasant to be around. He said nothing, seeing no point in arguing. “Yes, that is what I said. And it is true—how can you claim otherwise?”
“My father is a gentleman. I am a gentleman’s daughter.”
He sighed, still not understanding the reason for this sudden tension. “Yes, of course. I realise that. But your father’s means and my means cannot be compared.”
She glared at him.
“Well, imagine if a penniless young man had approached your father to seek your hand in marriage. Would he have given his blessing?”
She closed her eyes and leant her head back against the seat.
Darcy was alarmed. He knew enough about her to know she had a quick temper and that she did not hold back when challenged. Despite her saying otherwise, there had been more than a few occasions where she had verbally sparred with his aunt (and, to his surprise, been victorious most times). This was not like her.
“Elizabeth? Please. I cannot understand why you are angry.”
She opened her eyes but would not look at him. It seemed to him that her eyes were red and puffy all of a sudden, perhaps from the dust on the road (though it was not affecting him at all). “It does not matter,” she said dully. “We have made an agreement. Let us just live separately and at peace as we have planned all along. There is no reason why we should have to get along when we shall see little of each other.”
Darcy began to protest. He had been planning the walks he was going to take her on and had not expected this at all. He felt a pang of sadness and loss. He had not even realised how much he was looking forward to having her at Pemberley. But he reminded himself that that was their agreement. He had promised her a life of freedom and peace, and it would be ungentlemanly to force his company on her now.
He sat back and stared out the window, trying to quell the sadness that had risen up within him.
Chapter Eleven
By the time they arrived at Pemberley, Elizabeth had almost grown used to the feeling of being cooped up and stifled. They had spent all of the daylight hours there were in the carriage, but the journey was so long they had still had to pass two nights in crowded, noisy inns.
It was a delight to pass through the tall iron gates of the estate and know that everything beyond was hers to explore as she wished. It was late afternoon, but she did not care about that. As they passed acre after acre of unspoilt wooded land, she became even more excited at the blissful prospect of taking off alone and breathing in the pure, fresh air.
They drove on for quite some time before they reached another imposing wall into which another pair of iron gates was set. When they stopped to allow the groom to pull open the gates, she caught her first sight of Pemberley House up ahead. It took her breath away. The vivid afternoon light made it glow in a way that seemed almost other-worldly. It was like no place she had ever seen before—it had an almost magical quality.
Before she knew what she was doing, Elizabeth found herself found herself clamouring towards the door and jumping down out of the carriage.
“Wait! Elizabeth, what are you doing?”
She turned and looked up at Darcy’s perplexed face. She had been so angered and hurt by his words, but even her anger seemed to melt away now in the face of such beauty.
“I wanted to see it more clearly.” This was true—the carriage windows were small and dusty from the journey. Now that she turned and took in the vast house, it looked even more spectacular than the glimpse she had gotten of it previously.
“It is beautiful,” she whispered, still awed by the sight in front of her.
“I’m glad you find it agreeable.” She hadn’t heard Darcy exit the carriage, but he must have because when she turned around she found him directly behind her, his dark eyes fixed on her. “I mean what I said. This is your home now. You are free to explore and spend your days as you wish.”
She swallowed the lump that had inexplicably formed in her throat. “Thank you. I cannot wait to explore the grounds and come to know every nook and cranny of the place.”
“That may take you some time.”
“All the better,” she said. And she meant it. Enough, she decided now. What was the sense in resenting him for not loving her when he had never professed to feel that way? She had been given the opportunity to live at this wonderful house with no obligations on her time—she would no longer pine for what had never existed; no, she would make the most of her wonderful new circumstances. “I shall change out of these dusty travel clothes and begin my exploration directly.”
“Of course,” he said. He seemed about to say something else, but when he did not she assumed she must have imagined it.
He instructed the groom to take the carriage to the stables and they carried on the rest of the way on foot, with Darcy pointing out the various features of the gardens. It was quite unlike anything she had seen before. Longbourn House was the largest in the village, and she was used to a certain amount of reverence from her friends. Pemberley was something else beyond. She began to feel foolish now for taking such offence at his words. Darcy was a man who spoke plainly, and it must have been clear to him when comparing Longbourn to Pemberley that the latter was vastly superior.
She turned and looked at him, but how was she to raise the matter with him when she could not even put her thoughts into words?
Besides, they had reached the stone steps that led up to the ornate front doors, and they were no longer alone. A petite elderly woman waited at the door beside a man who was only slightly less worn, both smiling happily.
“Welcome back, Mr. Darcy. It is so good to have you with us again. And Mrs. Darcy.”
“Mrs. Reynolds,” Darcy said in a voice that was full of warmth and affection. “Mackenzie.”
Elizabeth was quite taken aback by this show of affection. She and her sisters had always been discouraged from addressing the servants in anything more than a detached, cold manner.
“Mrs. Reynolds has been here for as long as I can remember,” Darcy said, turning back to her.
“Probably longer, sir,” the old woman smiled. “Now, you’ll be wanting to see your sister, I expect.” Just as she said it, they all turned around in response to the sound of footsteps at the end of the hallway.
Elizabeth smiled as a slight blonde-haired girl barrelled towards them with a wide grin on her face.
“Fitzwilliam!” she cried, leaping into her brother’s arms.
“Oh Georgiana, my darling, I have missed you so.” He pulled away and glanced back at Elizabeth, who was surprised to see the emotion in his eyes. “May I present my wife, Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth smiled, feeling awkward for the first time since her arrival at Pemberley. How was she to act with his beloved sister? After all, their marriage was hardly genuine. As it turned out, she had little time to deliberate her next action, for Georgiana Darcy turned and threw herself at her. Elizabeth could only return the girl’s warm embrace.
“My new sister!” she cried, before pulling away and looking rather uncomfortable indeed. “Oh, you must forgive me for behaving so impertinently. You see, ever since my brother told me about the marriage I have been so eager to meet you I cannot even tell you. You ca
nnot imagine how disappointed I was when I was ill and Fitzwilliam did not think it was wise for me to travel all the way to Hertfordshire. Oh, how frustrated I was! But you are here now and all is well. I realise I was best that I did not attend. Would you do me the honour of joining me in the drawing room for tea once you have settled in? It would be such a pleasure to get to know you better—though I feel as if I know you already with everything my brother has told me about you!”
Elizabeth turned in surprise to look at her husband, but his expression was as inscrutable as ever.
Chapter Twelve
Darcy marvelled at how easily his wife had taken to Pemberley, but more than that, it surprised him how happy he felt at having her there.
He stood at the window now and watched her walking in the gardens, feeling a little conflicted at doing so. Was he imposing on the privacy he had promised to her? He was so engrossed in watching her that he didn’t hear his sister come into the room.
“I’m so happy you chose her to be your wife,” she said, moving beside him and taking his hand. “I know it has only been a few days, but already it feels there is so much life about the place, don’t you think?”
It broke his heart a little to think his sister could never know the truth about the reason for his marriage, but even so he was amazed at the effect Elizabeth had had on her. Georgiana was such a shy girl, but one would not have known that having seen her first meeting with her new sister. What was it about Elizabeth that had immediately put dear Georgiana at ease? Surely that was worth the minor deception he had been forced to keep up?
And even better, Elizabeth seemed to adore his sister too, though she had been cold to him—and, to his astonishment, this hurt him more than he had expected.
“Yes, it really does.” He could not remember the last time Pemberley had been so full of joy and laughter.
First Comes Marriage: A Darcy & Elizabeth Pride & Prejudice Variation Page 5