Chapter Seventy-One
I t was, as might be expected, some considerable time before Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were able to make their way downstairs. Mary had occupied herself in the drawing room with her music, but upon hearing them enter the room, she stopped and moved to a sofa.
“All is well, I take it?” she asked.
“More than well,” her sister replied, with the first real smile Mary had seen since she had come to London.
“I am glad, Lizzy. It was hard to see you so sad.”
“Mary, I am so very grateful to you for taking care of Elizabeth these past weeks,” Mr. Darcy said, speaking from his heart. “I know she has been through a great many trials.”
“Oh, think nothing of it, Brother William,” Mary replied, equably. “For you have purchased me a fine new wardrobe, as well as a goodly number of books and music sheets.”
Mr. Darcy stared at his sister-in-law and then at Elizabeth. “Where is Mary? This smooth-talking young lady cannot possibly be she!”
“This is indeed Mary,” the young lady in question replied. “And you have only yourself to blame for the transformation.”
“How can that be?”
“It was you who recommended Mrs. Wollstonecraft to me, and she has opened my eyes, sir!”
“Well, then, I am glad of it,” Mr. Darcy returned. “For I think her right in every respect. You must come to Pemberley, Mary, and spend some time with my sister, Georgiana. She is in need of some of your fire.”
Mary demurred, saying she had no thought of traveling so far.
“Mary, do you recall how you are always complaining that I do not play well enough to accompany you in duets?” Elizabeth asked.
Mary looked at her sister with suspicion. “Yes…” she said, cautiously.
“Well, you would have no such complaints about Georgiana Darcy! And there is a master who has found himself willing to be persuaded to come to Pemberley to give lessons; I do not doubt he would find you as eager a pupil as Georgiana.”
“What master is that?”
“A Master Bianchi; I do not know if you have heard of him.”
Mary gasped aloud. “Miss Darcy takes lessons from Master Bianchi?”
Ah, I have her now, Elizabeth thought, repressing a smile. “Yes, and you could do the same. And I promise that if at any time you wish to return to Longbourn, you have but to say the word, and a carriage will take you there.” Elizabeth very much doubted such a carriage would ever be required, once Mary had experienced the delights of Pemberley.
“Very well; I will join you.”
Elizabeth leapt up to kiss her sister on her cheek.
Mary continued, “But it seems to me that there is a good deal that must be resolved at Pemberley before any of us can be happy there.”
Mr. Darcy glanced at Elizabeth, who nodded and said, “Yes, she knows about Lady Anne.”
“I have some thoughts on the subject, if you will hear them,” Mary said.
“Go on,” Mr. Darcy said, after a moment.
“While her methods are abominable, I can certainly understand your mother not wanting to lose the one thing that gives her purpose and status in life. Men have purpose through their careers or their estates; what do women have? Nothing but what is granted to them by their husbands!”
“Which is what she says as well; pray continue, Mary,” Mr. Darcy said.
“It seems to me that there is a good deal she could teach Lizzy, if she were invited to do so. While Lizzy can certainly keep accounts, manage servants and visit tenants, she has never planned a ball, for example. Or started a school for the tenant children. Am I not right, Lizzy?”
Her sister admitted that she had no experience with such things.
“Could Lady Anne not take on projects such as these while living at Pemberley, and leave the day-to-day mistress duties to Lizzy?”
Elizabeth replied, with considerable heat, “I would have been happy to enter into such a partnership, had she shown the slightest willingness to do so!”
“But perhaps she can be persuaded, particularly since the alternative is exile to – where, William?”
“To Cresston Hall, in Cumberland.”
Mary shivered. “Cumberland! I am told it is lovely country, but quite cold. Might she now be willing to listen to reason, given that alternative?”
Mr. Darcy turned to his wife. “Elizabeth, this will be entirely your decision. I will never, ever, force you to live with my mother if that is not your choice. You have endured enough; indeed, far too much, and you shall not be made to do so again.”
“May I think about it?” Elizabeth replied.
“Of course. And I see no reason to hasten home. My aunt and uncle will never forgive me for not informing them of my presence, though I have rather a bone to pick with them myself. How could Aunt Eleanor not have written to tell me that you are here!”
Elizabeth chuckled. “She is expecting your admonishment!”
“Elizabeth, everyone at Pemberley is desperately worried about you. I must send a message home at once.” Sitting down beside his wife, for he could not bear to be parted from her for even a minute, he wrote:
Dear Georgiana,
I am sitting beside Elizabeth as I write these words. All is forgiven, and we will be headed home soon!
Your loving brother,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
He gave the message to Thompson, instructing that a messenger ride as fast as may be to Pemberley.
***
The following morning, Elizabeth sat with her husband and Mary at the breakfast table. Mary said, “Have you given any more thought to your relationship with your mother-in-law, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth sighed. “I have, yes. And Mary, your words have helped me to understand how my actions upon arriving at Pemberley might have felt to her. Also, I think Georgiana is rather afraid of her mother, but doubtless she would be devastated if Lady Anne moved away. So I am willing to try again, but – but! – she must cooperate with me entirely. I will not subject myself to her tyranny.”
Mr. Darcy said, “Are you certain, Elizabeth? You note that I have said nothing to try to convince you either way.”
“No, you have made it clear that it is entirely my decision. Tell her, William, that she may remain at Pemberley contingent upon our ability to come to an agreement and her abiding by that agreement.”
Soon after breakfast, Mr. Darcy sent out another rider with this brief message:
Mother,
Elizabeth is willing to allow you another opportunity to make peace with her so that you may continue to live at Pemberley. I believe she is being extremely generous, given the situation, and I hope you will spend the next several days before our arrival contemplating how you might respond to this liberality.
Your son,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Meanwhile, Elizabeth was composing her own letter.
Dear Jane,
The best possible news! William has discovered me here in London – evidently through a variety of sources, including Charles, though he is not to be scolded – and all has been explained. I will write with more detail later, but for now – oh, Jane! I had forgotten what it was to be happy!
Your joyous sister,
Elizabeth