Chapter XV
“Lizzy!”
As Elizabeth entered the room, she noted Lydia’s wild excitement and her rush toward the door where Elizabeth stood.
At a more sedate pace, Georgiana, Kitty, and Mary followed, the last showing her usual disapproval for Lydia’s exuberant manners.
At present, however, that censure was tempered with more than a hint of amusement.
“What a lovely place Pemberley is!” exclaimed Lydia when she came to a halt before Elizabeth. “Georgiana showed us the loveliest little nook in the formal gardens this morning. Oh, how I wish I could live in such a place as Pemberley!”
Then the girl colored and stammered: “Of course, I should not wish to steal Mr. Darcy from you!”
“At present, Lydia,” said Elizabeth with a fond smile for the girl, “Mr. Darcy is not mine to steal.”
“But he will be soon enough,” chorused Kitty and Georgiana in a singsong tone.
The three younger girls giggled together and Mary, showing she was not so severe as she had been before, looked on, indulgence in her manner.
There was little reason to reprimand the girls, for Elizabeth knew they were correct, though they did not know how correct they were.
Lydia was the most interesting of the three in Elizabeth’s opinion, for these past weeks she had often behaved thus, blurting something without thinking, and retracting it soon after, whereas before she might have proceeded with an even more mortifying comment.
Understanding when she might have spoken out of turn was an improvement, even if Elizabeth fervently hoped the girl would eventually progress to thinking before she spoke.
“I cannot say you are incorrect,” said Elizabeth. “Pemberley is the loveliest estate I have ever beheld. You are fortunate to have been raised in such a place, Georgiana.”
“Should I take offense?” asked Mr. Bennet. “A few weeks in Derbyshire and the place of your birth is now of little apparent consequence.”
“Oh, Papa,” said Elizabeth, looking at him with fondness. “I do love Longbourn, but even you must own there is something wonderful about Pemberley.”
“Yes, I suppose you must be correct,” said Mr. Bennet. “For my part, however, I think I shall confine my praise for Mr. Darcy’s excellent library. There is no room in my heart to do anything else justice.”
The book in her father’s hands attested to Mr. Bennet’s affinity for that room, as did his constant comments about how he intended to pass Longbourn off to Mr. Collins so he could while his hours away in Mr. Darcy’s library.
It did surprise Elizabeth that he did not spend all his time there, for while he was rarely without a book in his possession, he spent as much time reading in the sitting-room or music room as he did in the library.
Whether this was because of a change in perspective or because the large house defused the noise he found so trying in his own home Elizabeth could not say.
That day, she suspected he was present because of the promise of amusement.
“Well, be that as it may,” said Lydia, “I suspect you are a simpleton if you do not accept Mr. Darcy. As I know you are not, I shall expect to be his sister before long.”
“Then you may stay here with me!” exclaimed Georgiana. “For my brother and Elizabeth shall be engrossed in each other, and I shall require companions!”
The girls giggled together and moved to another part of the room, carrying on a whispered conversation between them.
Mary, who often swung between the younger girls and the adults, gave Elizabeth a wry look and followed them away.
If she was not as vocal or animated in their company, Elizabeth noted she inserted her opinions as often as the others.
“Somehow,” said Mr. Bennet, watching the younger girls fondly, “I doubt Darcy would wish to have a gaggle of girls underfoot for the first months of his marriage.”
Then he turned to Elizabeth and added: “What say you, Lizzy? Would you like to share the first few months of wedded bliss with all your younger sisters?”
“Perhaps not,” confessed Elizabeth. “But that is something we may resolve later.”
“If you wish it, I am certain your mother would be happy to host Georgiana at Longbourn for a time.”
Mrs. Bennet, who was seated nearby, assumed an expression of delighted contentment at the notion, proving her husband’s supposition.
Elizabeth nodded at her mother and said: “Georgiana would appreciate the opportunity to stay close to her new friends. Mr. Darcy’s aunt has also spoken of hosting them for a time. ”
As it always did, the mention of Mr. Darcy’s titled relations and the notion of the exalted circles in which her daughters might someday move brought an expression of stupefaction to her mother’s features.
None of them had yet met the earl or the countess, though Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam both had spoken of their interest in meeting the Bennets.
Elizabeth could not speak to their opinion of Mr. Darcy’s intentions toward a country miss, but those they had met spoke of their liberality and kindness.
“Lady Susan is an excellent lady,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “I have known her for several years and have never found her anything less than amiable and gracious.”
“It is still a shock to know you claim an acquaintance with such people,” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet.
“I have many acquaintances,” said Mr. Gardiner. “Lord Matlock is higher than most but not the highest I can claim. I shall echo my wife’s statement—I have found few men I esteem more than Lord Matlock.”
“I am more surprised by the connection, Uncle,” said Elizabeth. “That you know many people of various levels of society I already comprehended. That you should share a friendship with Mr. Darcy’s uncle was a shock.”
Mr. Gardiner grinned at Elizabeth. “But not unwelcome, I will warrant. The Fitzwilliams are a product of their level of society—I cannot imagine they would not esteem you in time, but my testimony has gone a long way to smooth your path. Not that I would accept any of the credit, of course.”
Elizabeth laughed and allowed it to be so, then sat and joined her family.
Having left Mr. Darcy a short time before upon their return to the house, she knew he had received word of the imminent fulfillment of the matter they had discussed before leaving Hertfordshire.
The gentleman was just as eager as she was, though his reasons were slightly different.
The Gardiner children were out in the park near the lake at Pemberley’s front entrance enjoying a picnic, a deliberate attempt to remove them from the crossfire.
Since their arrival more than a week earlier, they had enjoyed the run of the house, proving their good manners, as their mother rarely reprimanded them for their exuberance.
Still, young children must accumulate excess energy, requiring the ability to run.
Their nursemaids were seeing to that task now, knowing they would only be in the way if they were present in the house.
The presence of the Gardiner children also gave Elizabeth more than a little insight into the master of the house and his cousin.
Finding the two of them with James and Benjamin, her little cousins, setting Mr. Darcy’s extensive collection of toy soldiers, only to undo their work in minutes when they engaged in titanic battles were becoming commonplace.
And they did not neglect the two girls either, for little Sophie and, especially, Abigail, the eldest of the siblings, regarded them with awe, her infatuation with Mr. Darcy endearing.
In high society, Elizabeth knew the custom was to consign children to the care of tutors, nursemaids, and governesses, and bring the children out for special occasions or to show them to visitors before sending them away.
That Mr. Darcy took such an interest in the children informed Elizabeth that he would not be such a father, which provoked a greater measure of esteem.
“I have my parents’ example to guide me,” said Mr. Darcy when Elizabeth made this observation to him. “My mother and father were active participants in my childhood—I have always enjoyed the company of children, for I find they are more open and honest than adults.”
Elizabeth could not disagree with his assessment.
It heartened her to know that they thought alike on this subject, for it boded well for their future together.
This led them to that day, which would be contentious and a trial of Elizabeth’s patience, for all they had largely existed in harmony since arriving in Derbyshire.
It could not be helped, for there was little Elizabeth would not endure for her family’s sake.
As if Elizabeth’s ruminations at presence provoked her, she looked to the one member of the party to whom she had not yet spoken.
Jane sat near her mother, outwardly calm, but to those who knew her, the tension in her face and form left nothing to the imagination.
Despite Mr. Darcy’s assurances, Elizabeth’s attempts to bolster Jane’s courage, and the family’s support, Jane was nervous, as well she might be.
Elizabeth had no concerns for her sister’s happiness—her concerns rested on Mr. Bingley and how his family might seek to ruin it.
The door opened at that moment and those within the room all looked up, to see Colonel Fitzwilliam entering the room. The gentleman responded with a mock bow, his grin all that was knowing.
“I apologize, for I am not who you expected. I have it on good authority they will arrive soon.”