Chapter 16 #2
Elizabeth beamed at the bounty. She had woken to a large fire in her fireplace that cheerfully combatted the cold brought on by an overnight snowfall.
She had stayed curled up in bed drinking chocolate as the fire did its work, contented and cozy and gazing out at the landscape visible beyond a frost-decorated window.
The world had been transformed overnight into a frosted sugar wonderland, trees and soft swelling sward alike sparkling white.
It had been a truly beautiful sight, and Elizabeth had enjoyed it very much, though an unease had settled over her at the thought that they might not be able to deliver the tenants’ presents that morning.
At least the servants in the house and stables would receive theirs, as it would be no difficulty to carry the packages up to the servants’ quarters in the attic and over the stables.
Mr. Darcy had eased her fears over breakfast with the announcement that he had been outside to check the snow and consult with the coachman, and they had concluded that the snow was thick and hard enough to permit for the sleigh to pass through.
Elizabeth and Georgiana had hurried to their rooms to bundle up warmly, as both girls were excited about the upcoming ride and distribution of presents.
The journey was everything Elizabeth had hoped it would be.
Bright red and brown birds hopped around on the snow’s crust, while rabbits and hares with their thick winter coats peeped from beneath leafless bushes and shrubs.
All the trees had traded in their leaves of green for coats of purest white, and the evergreens stood in dark striking contrast to the alabaster around them.
It was a beautiful day, despite the cold, and Elizabeth was overjoyed to be out and about.
It was not only, or even primarily, the scenery that inspired the warm glow in her heart, however.
She had always enjoyed Boxing Day, consulting for weeks with her mother and Jane and Mary on what they would give the tenants.
The children’s joy had ever delighted her, as had the gratitude of the busy farmers’ wives.
Now, she was elated and honored to participate in the yearly tradition here at Pemberley.
She looked across the sleigh at Mr. Darcy, where he sat absorbed in conversation with his friend.
She took a moment to simply admire the sight; Mr. Bingley looked as handsome and cheerful as ever in a red coat lined with dark forest green that set off his blond hair.
But Mr. Darcy, she thought, was far handsomer in his dark coat that looked so well with his dark hair and serious eyes, his face customarily grave.
Mr. Darcy was an excellent master, assiduous in performing his duties, generous and attentive to the needs of the people dependent on him.
It was a rare landowner who cared so much for his tenants – who would ride for hours to find a better toy shop for gifts for the children of farmers.
She took a deep breath of the crisp winter air to cool the growing admiration of her heart.
He finally looked up and caught her eye, and she smiled at him before looking to the right as the first tenant cottage came into view.
She had been mistaken in her initial view of Mr. Darcy, when he had insulted her and she had foolishly listened to Mr. Wickham’s lies.
The longer she knew him, the more she admired the master of Pemberley.
The sleigh came to a halt and Darcy leaped out, followed by Bingley, who helped out the ladies as Darcy and the coachman began gathering gifts.
Within seconds, the door of the cottage opened and several children ran out and started jumping and cavorting with enthusiasm, causing Elizabeth to laugh with joy and excitement.
There was no place she would rather be than here and now, with her friends.
***
Anne’s Sitting Room
Pemberley
14th January, 1813
Anne Fitzwilliam reached out her hands toward the fire to warm them, even as she stared mournfully at her friend.
“I will miss you, Elizabeth,” she said.
Elizabeth, who was dressed warmly in blue wool, smiled and said, “I will miss you as well, but my father is growing genuinely querulous over my absence. None of my sisters are as enthusiastic about books as I am, and he sounds bored.”
“Well,” Anne said, “it was very good of your father to spare you here for so long. You will write?”
“Often,” Elizabeth declared. “Now Anne, do not feel as if you must write to me in return if you are feeling poorly. I will write to you regularly, regardless.”
“Thank you, dear friend. I am most definitely improving, though the process is slower than I desire. I hope you will consider visiting us at Rosings in a few months.”
“If my family can spare me, I would enjoy that very much; it would be delightful to spend more time with you as well as Charlotte Collins.”
There was a tap at the door, and Sally stepped in and said, “Miss Bennet, the carriage is at the door, and your trunks have been loaded.”
“Thank you,” she replied, rolling to her feet and leaning over to embrace her friend, whose face was now slightly plump due to her pregnancy. “Until we meet again, Anne.”
“Goodbye, Elizabeth,” Anne replied with a watery smile, and Elizabeth, well aware that Anne was prone to tears due to her condition, nodded briskly and made her way out of the room, where Sally was waiting with her pelisse and hat and heavy gloves.
“Thank you,” she said, donning her warm clothing, and then hurrying down the massive staircase to the foyer, where Mr. and Miss Darcy were waiting for her, with the latter looking sad.
“Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy,” she said with a nod at her hosts, “thank you for allowing me to visit for so many weeks.”
“It was our very great pleasure,” Mr. Darcy said. “You have brought much joy to our house.”
“Indeed you have, Elizabeth,” Georgiana declared, lurching forward to embrace her friend. “I will miss you very much and wish you did not need to go, but assuredly, your family desires to see you again. You will write, I hope?”
“I will, Georgiana,” Elizabeth promised. “I greatly enjoy corresponding with my friends. Now, I know the horses ought not to stand, so I had better leave.
“Godspeed, Elizabeth,” Georgiana said, and Darcy held out his arm and said, “Please allow me to walk you to your carriage, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth did so and found herself deposited carefully into the carriage across from the respectable maid who had been assigned the task of keeping Elizabeth company during her journey to Longbourn.
She was certainly grateful for Mr. Darcy’s care.
Not only had he provided a companion for her, but he had assigned outriders to keep her safe on the trip.
“Until we meet again, Miss Bennet,” Darcy said gravely and shut the door.
A moment later, the carriage jolted into motion, and Elizabeth pulled a handy rug over her body and pushed her feet closer to the foot warmer.
To her right was a basket full of provisions for the journey and to the left a pile of books, thoughtfully lent to Elizabeth from the great library of Pemberley.
Two of the books were old favorites, and three were entirely new to her, but she did not feel any desire to read at the moment.
No, her mind was fixed on Pemberley, which was fading into the distance behind her.
When she had agreed to accompany the Fitzwilliams to Derbyshire, she had been excited but not at all certain she would enjoy herself.
Yes, she liked Anne very much, and Richard as well, but she did not think much of Mr. Darcy, and Miss Darcy had been, at the time, completely unknown.
The previous two months had, thankfully, proven thoroughly enjoyable after a difficult beginning. Miss Darcy, while initially shy, had warmed up quickly and was now a genuine friend, while Mr. Darcy himself had been a gracious and kindly host.
Indeed, she thought Mr. Darcy was the sort of man whom she would like to marry someday.
His understanding and temper were dissimilar to her own, but complementary.
Not that she had any expectation of winning Mr. Darcy’s attention.
As the master of a truly vast and wealthy estate with an uncle as an earl, she knew that he was far above her reach.
She was very comfortable with herself and her own position in society, but it would be foolish to imagine that there could be anything between the impecunious daughter of a country squire and the master of Pemberley.
At least, she mused with a chuckle, she was aware of Mr. Darcy’s indifference.
Poor Miss Bingley had been stiffly courteous to her since the massive argument the very first day Elizabeth had arrived at Pemberley, but while she had sheathed her verbal claws, she had continued her vain pursuit of an offer from Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth knew now that her ability to understand the hearts of men was not completely reliable, but she was confident that Darcy of Pemberley had no interest in Caroline Bingley.
The lady was handsome and wealthy but neither particularly intelligent nor sympathetic, and she did not know anything about overseeing an estate, as evidenced by her complete bemusement and disdain about Boxing Day.
Elizabeth smiled at the memories of the Boxing Day festivities, when she and Georgiana and Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy had driven from one tenant family to another, distributing warm clothes and food and toys.
The cries of joy from the tenant children had been a delight to hear, and she had derived considerable pleasure in observing Mr. Darcy’s interactions with the farmers and their wives.
He was the great man of the area, without a doubt, and he treated his people with generosity and dignity.
She would miss Mr. Darcy.