Chapter 50 Wedded Bliss
Mr. Darcy handed Elizabeth into his carriage and seated himself beside her. She waved to her family until they were no longer in view. She was unsmiling.
“You seem troubled, Elizabeth.”
She turned to him. “Much of my life in Meryton has been unhappy, sir. I was just thinking that I shall never again suffer as I did while my mother lived. I am grateful to be leaving Longbourn.”
He regarded her with concern. “What did she do?”
“She did not cause me any physical harm, sir; her cruelty was of another sort. I was never my mother's favorite, and she made my life difficult. I must confess I have held some resentment against my father for not opposing her.”
He took her hand and remained silent, listening.
“I see now that my father and Jane share the same disposition. Neither is fitted to confront conflict. I have only recently come to understand that it is unreasonable to expect anything more from my father, for he was as unable to protect himself or his daughters from my mother as Jane is to counter anything Miss Bingley may employ to distress her. I shall endeavor not to hold it against him in the future.”
“Elizabeth, I can see that this matter between you and your father is troubling you.”
“I am a little low in spirits, sir. My father and I have always been close, but these past months have been especially trying, and in the past few days, I have made my resentment toward him known. I pray that I have not done lasting harm to our relationship.”
“We shall see him again when we return in a fortnight to collect our sisters. If you wish, we may invite him to Pemberley for the winter.”
Her eyes brightened. “Are you certain, sir?”
“He would be most welcome.”
“I shall write to him. He will spend all his time in your library, for he delights in the Greek classics. And perhaps, over the long winter months, he and I may repair our relationship. Life is uncertain and I wish to make amends before it is too late.”
Darcy took her hand and removed her glove, drawing it carefully from each finger before turning to the other. He lifted her bare hands and pressed a kiss to each palm, then leaned nearer and brushed her lips with his.
Two hours later, as they entered the city, his gaze passed over her, a rakish smile upon his face. Several loose curls had fallen upon her shoulders, and her bodice was undone. He tugged lightly at a strand of her hair.
“My dear, you are not fit to meet the servants.”
Her eyes widened, and she laughed. “You, sir, are in no better condition. Your cravat is crushed, your shirt and waistcoat are undone, and I do not see your coat.”
She glanced about the carriage. “It lies in the corner, Mr. Darcy, on the floor, there beside your foot.”
“Elizabeth, as much as I hate to, I must set you down that I may restore my appearance.”
She slipped from his lap and gathered the scattered hairpins while he set his clothing to rights.
“Sir, your shirt is quite beyond recovery.”
He chuckled. “I will hide it beneath my jacket. Tend to your hair while I see to myself.”
She turned her back. “Will you assist me with my buttons, sir?”
As she secured her hair, he fastened her gown. When he had finished, she put on her pelisse and bonnet. He struggled with his cravat, though the rest of his apparel appeared to be in good order.
She studied him closely. “I have never said so, sir, but you are very handsome.”
He smiled. “So are you, my dear.”
He adjusted his cravat. “There. I am properly dressed, and you appear well enough to be presented to the servants.”
“It seems strange to be presented when I have already lived among them for nearly a week.”
“They feel they know you, and they admire you, Elizabeth. I have been congratulated by all for securing a wife who is kind and without the pretensions so often found in society.”
They had made the grand entrance into Darcy house, attended by all the servants, and now Elizabeth stood within the mistress’s chambers. “This is a lovely room, Fitzwilliam. It appears newly renovated.”
“It is, Elizabeth. When I traveled down from Haddon Hall, I spent two days in London to settle the marriage articles and consulted an upholsterer regarding the arrangement of the rooms.”
He lifted his brows with faint humor. “My mother’s taste was unfortunate. She favored heavy furnishings, gilded frames, and bright carpets. I could not endure it.”
Elizabeth turned to face him, her brow lifted in amusement.
“I sent the furniture to auction. It was too large to store and would never have been used. I altered my own chambers as well, for she imposed her taste there also. I am satisfied with the result. My father did not permit her to alter the principal rooms, so I left those as they were. His taste was elegant and restrained.”
He kissed Elizabeth’s temple. “My mother was proud and very exacting.”
Her brows rose in mock surprise.
He laughed. “You suppose I resemble her. It is true, though whatever is good in me I owe to my father, who was kind, practical, and preferred simple country life.” He pressed a kiss to the hollow beneath her ear.
“And I owe my new understanding to you, Elizabeth. I shall endeavor to be a better man for your sake, darling.”
He drew back. “I shall change out of my traveling clothes. Mrs. Nichols has engaged a personal servant for you, though you may choose another if she does not suit. Your bath water will be brought up shortly. I shall wait for you in the family drawing room.”
“The blue one, sir?”
“Yes. It is more intimate and more easily warmed in winter. Georgiana and I have spent much time there.”
Elizabeth hesitated. “My last recollection of that room is not a pleasant one.”
“Why is that?”
“Georgiana and I waited there together while your servants removed Mr. Wickham.”
She looked troubled. He placed his arm about her shoulders and rested his head against hers. “He remains in debtor’s prison. Kendall sees to him each month and ensures he receives proper meals. He is doing well, and Kendall reports that he is much altered for the better.”
She leaned closer. “Perhaps we might refurbish the room, that Georgiana and I may have no cause for unease.”
“I shall have it done when we return to Pemberley. During the two weeks we are here, I will have Mrs. Nichols open the south parlor. I believe you will like it. It was my father’s favorite room.”
“Thank you, Fitzwilliam. I shall join you when I am dressed.”
Elizabeth went to the window and looked down into the narrow garden. It was neatly arranged, with a bench set beneath the wall. She resolved to sit there in the mornings with a book.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Enter.”
A young woman entered and curtsied. “Mrs. Darcy, I am Miss Gibbs, your personal servant.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Miss Gibbs.”
“Mr. Darcy has ordered your bath, ma’am, if you are agreeable.”
“Yes, please. I am to join him shortly.”
Miss Gibbs set the pails behind a painted screen and filled the copper tub.
As Elizabeth washed her hair, the maid asked, “Mrs. Darcy, have you brought only four white gowns with you?”
Elizabeth looked up, water trailing down her face. “Yes, Miss Gibbs. Only four. Mr. Darcy may not have informed you that I am in half mourning. I shall not purchase more until I may lay aside mourning altogether.”
“I am sorry for your loss, ma’am. I will press the white dinner gown for this evening.”
The Darcys were enjoying a glass of canary when Higgins announced Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. Annoyance passed across Darcy’s countenance as he rose to receive them.
Miss Bingley started at the sight of Elizabeth, then colored.
“Why, Eliza, I had not been informed that you were visiting the Darcys.” Her gaze swept the room, her brows lifting.
“And Miss Darcy, sir? I do not see her. I had understood that Miss Eliza was quite a favorite of hers. Am I to understand that you have moved forward with your plan to engage Miss Bennet as a companion?”
Darcy’s expression hardened. “Charles must not have written that I offered my hand to Elizabeth. We were married this morning.”
Miss Bingley blanched. She reached for her sister, who took her arm to steady her.
Elizabeth gestured to a sofa. “Pray be seated. I shall order tea.”
Miss Bingley complied, though her eyes followed Elizabeth with a fixed intensity as she crossed the room to ring the bell. When Elizabeth returned, Miss Bingley addressed Darcy. “But you had intended to spend the season in London.”
“I had,” he replied, “but those plans altered when Elizabeth accepted my proposal. We depart for the north shortly and shall not remain for the season.”
The tea tray was brought in, and Elizabeth began to pour. When she offered Miss Bingley her cup, she observed the lady’s hand was trembling.
Turning to Mrs. Hurst, Elizabeth said, “Do you remain in town for the season, or do you travel to Mr. Hurst’s family?”
“We go to Warwickshire for Easter,” Mrs. Hurst replied. “His father wishes us to remain through the summer and harvest. He intends that Edwin should take a more active role in the estate.”
“And does Mr. Hurst favor the plan?”
“He does. He is not much given to conversation in company, but in the country, he is quite another creature.”
Miss Bingley sniffed. “The estate is remote, and the county is largely agricultural. Though Coventry offers some diversion, it cannot compare to London. I shall be quite buried there, without society or refinement.”
Darcy regarded her coolly. “It is fortunate, then, that you are not destined for Derbyshire. By your account, Pemberley would prove intolerably remote.”
Miss Bingley hastened to recover herself. “Sir, I would never speak so of Pemberley. I hold it in the highest esteem.”
“Compared with Coventry,” he returned, “Bakewell is but a small market town. You will find more society in Warwickshire than in Derbyshire. It is indeed fortunate you are not required to settle in the north.”
Elizabeth interposed, “Mrs. Hurst, have you spent much time in Coventry?”