Chapter 32 #2
A few days after Easter, the guests started to depart Rosings Park.
First, the Lucas and Gardiner families returned to Hertfordshire.
The reunited sisters tearfully all solemnly promised each other that they would all be together for Mary’s wedding in June, or they might see one another before then.
There was no residual uneasiness between Bingley and Jane; it had been exactly as Mary had predicted. As Jane stood next to Lizzy and William, she watched the Meryton contingent disappear from view down the drive and was at peace.
Later that afternoon the Matlocks, sans Tiffany, and Hilldales departed for London. They planned to remain in Town until the end of the season and then return to Snowhaven and Hilldale after attending the wedding in Hertfordshire, where they would reclaim Tiffany.
The next morning it was the three Darcys and Tiffany who were to depart. “Lizzy, you must write and tell me about your impressions of Pemberley. Richard has told me much, so I believe you will love it there,” Charlotte told her best friend as she hugged her.
“You cannot doubt I will maintain my correspondence with you, my dear friend,” Elizabeth vowed as she hugged Charlotte. “Anne, it has been a pleasure getting to know you,” Elizabeth stated as she moved to hug her cousin. “I look forward to seeing you at Mary’s wedding in June.”
“It was a joy to get to know you too,” Anne responded as she returned her cousin’s hug. “Thank you for bringing joy into my dour cousin’s life, and what you did with Giana is nothing short of a miracle.”
“You know me, nothing less than a worker of miracles would cause me to enter into the married state,” Darcy drawled. Darcy also hugged Anne, something he would never have done before he was married to Elizabeth because his Aunt Catherine would have screamed compromise.
“Anne, will you and Jane join the Fitzwilliams when they come to us for Christmastide in Derbyshire?” Elizabeth invited.
“I promise you, if I am healthy enough, then I will be there,” Anne returned.
“Unless Anne cannot make the journey, I will join you,” Jane assured her sister.
Georgiana and Tiffany said their goodbyes and boarded the coach; they sat with Mrs. Annesley between them on the rear-facing seat, leaving the forward-facing seat for Elizabeth and William.
“I thank God I have my big sister back. I told you this already, but I could not be prouder of you if I tried,” Elizabeth told Jane as she hugged her tightly.
“Being able to call you sister again is the greatest gift I could have prayed for,” Jane said as a few tears escaped her eyes.
She saw Elizabeth’s look of concern. “These are tears of joy, not sorrow. I will miss you, and I look forward to seeing you in June. I only hope my reception in Meryton will not be too frosty.”
“That, my dear Jane, will not be a problem. Aunt Sarah, Lady Lucas, is back home and singing your praises. By the time you return to Meryton, you will be welcomed with open arms,” Elizabeth insisted. “And if there are any who do not treat you well, they will have to answer to me!”
“You will write to me, will you not?” Jane implored.
“Of course I will. I will see you in June at Netherfield Park.” Elizabeth hugged Jane again and kissed both of her cheeks.
“Take care of my cousins, Sister,” Darcy intoned as he hugged Jane.
“I will do everything in my power to obey your command,” Jane returned.
Darcy inclined his head, hugged and kissed both Anne and Charlotte, clapped Richard on the back, then joined his wife in their coach.
Once the door closed and Biggs and Johns took their positions on the rear bench, Darcy tapped the ceiling and their carriage slowly started moving as the matched team of six strained to build some momentum.
The four residents of Rosings Park stood under the portico, watching until the Darcys’ vehicle was no longer visible, then turned to go inside.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After three days on the road, the Darcy coach passed the gatehouse with the brass arch spanning the gateposts proudly proclaiming ‘Pemberley’ to the world. Elizabeth felt her excitement build. The coach wound its way up a wooded drive, bordered with new spring greenery on both sides.
Eventually the coach negotiated an incline. When they reached the crest, Darcy hit the ceiling with his cane and the coachman brought the carriage to a halt. Darcy stepped out, handing his wife down. Tiffany and Giana exited as well.
Elizabeth looked out over a long verdant valley, then her husband turned her slightly to the left and she saw her new home, and what a home it was!
From what she could see as the facade glowed gold in the afternoon sun, it was a four or five storey structure situated on rising ground on the eastern side of the valley.
There was a tree-covered hill behind the house.
She had never seen a place that nature had done more for and had not been counteracted by the awkward tastes of man.
Of all of this she was mistress. She had thought Charlotte had a large home to manage, but it seemed Pemberley was much larger.
She hoped she would not be overwhelmed by the enormous responsibilities she was about to take on, and that she would be a good mistress of her husband’s houses.
There was a lake in front of the house fed by a stream which wound its way through the valley. The water in the lake was still, as there was little or no wind, and reflected the almost cloudless sky.
Yes, Elizabeth could be very happy living here. It was not the size of the house, but the beauty of the estate and so many places to walk and ride that impressed her. “William, your home is perfect,” Elizabeth gushed.
“As much as I hate to disagree with you on our first day at Pemberley, it is our home, not mine,” Darcy corrected.
“You have my concession, our house is perfect,” Elizabeth stated with arched eyebrow.
“Did I not say you would love Pemberley, Lizzy?” Georgiana enthused.
“Yes, Giana, you most certainly did and I cannot dispute your words,” Elizabeth told her newest sister.
“Shall we?” Darcy indicated the coach. The four took their places again and they were soon on the way down toward the house.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After dinner that evening, Elizabeth and Darcy sat on the patio that had a view across the lake to the forest on the other side. It was a cool evening, but not uncomfortably so.
“William, I could not imagine myself happier than I am at this moment,” Elizabeth sighed as she leaned against her husband’s comforting body.
“If I had not regulated my foolish pride and not asked Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie what my father meant about marrying well, I may have missed finding you again, my Elizabeth,” Darcy stated.
“Much happened in the past, but if you think about it, if it had not happened as it did, there is a good chance we would not be sitting in this place now,” Elizabeth stated thoughtfully.
“That, my love, would have been a tragedy,” Darcy opined.
“In the end, I must be thankful for Mrs. Bennet,” Elizabeth sighed again.
“For that murderous insane woman?”
“If she had not banished me, the chance of us meeting again would have been unlikely,” Elizabeth explained her thinking. “Look how much better my life was after I was told to leave Longbourn and the Bennet family.”
“I suppose when you look at it in that light, you are correct,” Darcy stated contemplatively. “On the other hand, I believe love would have found a way and we would have discovered one another again, eventually.”
“If it is all the same to you, Mr. Darcy, I am pleased we did not have to test that hypothesis.” Elizabeth loosed one of her tinkling laughs her husband so loved to hear. “Did you not promise you would assist me in looking for a book in that magnificent library you…we own?”
“That I did, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,” Darcy replied as he stood.
“Before we return indoors, kiss me Husband,” Elizabeth commanded.
Darcy found her instruction easy and pleasurable to comply with and kiss his wife he did.