Holiday at Pemberley (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Chapter 1 The Remarkable Mr. Graham

Derbyshire

Fitzwilliam Darcy

The enscarpment less than three feet from me offered an impressive view of the limestone ravine below, but the track’s steep elevation and narrow passages deterred many in the area from traversing the route.

My sure-footed stallion, Regal, and I had taken the path hundreds of times before.

On this occasion, though, I spared nary a glance at the stupendous prospect on my left.

Instead, I expounded on the virtues of my purchases to Regal.

“She is the prettiest mare I have ever seen. Her coat is the colour of polished copper and shines like a new penny. I could not find even one fault in her conformation. The Welsh pony is impressive as well. He is dark brown, almost black, with a blaze. And he is calm and gentle—ideal for Bennet.”

Throughout my discourse, Regal’s ears flicked back now and again, an indication that he heeded me.

Although most considered me to be a laconic sort, I had discovered as a child that talking to horses conferred a mutual benefit: my voice had a soothing effect upon the animals, and I could speak to them freely without the constraints comprised in conversations with people.

With doubt descending upon me, I inclined forwards in the saddle.

“It is possible, though, that my purchase of the mare is misguided. Elizabeth has grown so fond of Tansy that she may balk at the notion of riding a different horse.” Yet with another review of the Arabian mare’s many virtues, my faith for the decision returned.

A cutting gust interrupted my thoughts with a pervasive blast of iciness that seemed to reach for my bones, prompting me to raise the collar of my greatcoat and affirming my choice to take this particular route—a shorter course to Pemberley than the road.

Moments earlier, the weather had been mild, even warm.

What happened to the sun? I glanced up at a solitary dark cloud hovering above me.

How odd. Elsewhere, the skies appeared clear and blue.

My thoughts returned to my lovely wife and the plans that had been made to surprise her.

Elizabeth’s beautiful countenance would be luminous and joyful when she comprehended what I had done in preparation for her birthday.

I had spent many hours in consideration of the smallest details for the celebration, all the while ensuring that my clever wife would not suspect—

Oh! My upper body jerked forwards by Regal’s inexplicable backward jump.

“Deuced horse! Are you mad?” He had chosen the worst possible place for this uncharacteristic action.

The verge of the narrow section of trail and the sheer drop below loomed next to me.

Before I could breathe, let alone take my bearings, Regal reared up in a sudden, jarring movement.

A strangled breath escaped me. The reins slipped from my fingers and fell to the ground.

With a sharp inhalation, I grasped for Regal’s mane in a frenzied motion.

My heart stuttered when my sleek, new leather gloves failed to find a secure grip.

The unmistakable loss of my balance occurred in a dream-like slow motion.

My every muscle tensed at the horrific certainty of my peril: I should fall over the cliff into the ravine below!

Regal’s position at the edge of the path left no section of ground available for a safe landing.

With nothing—no trees, bushes, or even rocks—within my reach to seize upon and prevent my fall, the drop would be fatal.

The distance to the bottom spanned close to two hundred feet, and the rocky ground would not provide a soft landing.

Seized with a horrific sense of helplessness, my body descended towards certain death.

Good God—this cannot be! An image of my dearest Elizabeth appeared before me, and in my muddled state, I reached for her.

Pemberley

Elizabeth Darcy

I carefully refolded Charlotte’s missive and placed it in my desk drawer.

My friend had found her greatest passion in motherhood, and her latest communication teemed with charming anecdotes featuring her one-year-old daughter, Catherine.

She mentioned her husband, my cousin Mr. Collins, but once—she referenced his unsuccessful attempts to coax Catherine to pronounce “Papa.”

With a glance out the window to the green expanse of lawn, I rose. Eying my sleeping collie, Rory, I clapped my hands. “Time to wake up, boy.”

My dog stirred from his slumber and bolted to his feet.

“Shall we stretch our legs in the garden?”

He barked, his tail wagging.

We left the house and ambled on the cobblestoned path to the rose garden. Rory soon bounded ahead of me. He paused here and there to lift his hind leg and leave his scent as a warning for the local mice and squirrels.

A sudden loss of light accompanied by an elusive shift in the atmosphere drew me to a halt.

I gulped, and my arms wrapped around my middle.

Overhead, a murky cloud glared down at me like a portent of doom.

The impression that someone lurked nearby watching me further eroded my serenity.

Goose-flesh covered my arms, and a shiver crept down my back.

I spun round, and my sight flitted throughout the shaded garden, but I could detect no one else in the vicinity. My collie stood as though transfixed, his gaze locked upon the shadowy cloud.

Surely nothing would harm me here, for in no other place could I be better protected than at my home.

Nevertheless, an urge gained strength within me to call out for help.

If I did so, three or four servants would come running to my aid.

Yet my throat closed up, making speech impossible.

My legs began to shake, and my vision dimmed.

Then Rory’s sharp cries rent the air—not happy, playful barks but yelps of alarm. I grasped my head as a wave of dizziness afflicted me, and everything went dark. I tottered and crumpled downwards.

Darcy

What is happening? Blackness engulfed me, and all sound and movement ceased—as though time had stopped.

I experienced the strangest sensation—like floating in air.

Then, with a blinding flash of light, my body jolted, and I found myself standing upright on the hard, solid ground of the path beside Regal.

How had I saved myself? I rubbed my temple and took in the stark area around me. Somehow, I had prevented my fall from the precipice. Had I managed to grab the stirrup? Despite my best efforts, I could not produce even a trace of remembrance—nothing to explain my recovery.

For several minutes, I wavered on tremulous legs in a struggle to maintain an upright position beside Regal. My thundering heart echoed in my ears. “What happened, boy? How did I end up here?”

Rather than pay me the courtesy of his attention, Regal stamped his foreleg and snorted at an object ahead of us on the track.

I narrowed my eyes towards the source of his agitation—a snake.

The reptile creeped off and disappeared into a small hole in the ground.

My ordinarily calm, reliable steed suffered from a severe aversion to snakes.

No doubt the creature had inspired Regal’s extreme actions.

The gravity of my near disaster stilled me—aside from the laboured breaths that heaved my chest. My familiarity with the treacherous path had given me a false sense of security, and I had been careless. I could have perished; indeed, I could not account for how I had survived.

An image of my beloved Elizabeth came to me.

My wife had rendered a profound change upon my life.

She had introduced joy, passion, and liveliness into the drab world in which I had once existed.

Of course, the road to my current felicity had been anything but smooth.

I had never known such agony as when she had rejected me with apparent finality following my first botched proposal.

I winced as memories from those long months of longing and despair returned in vivid detail.

In stark contrast, my heart had never been fuller than when she let me know her sentiment for me had altered and blossomed into love. Until that moment, such bliss had seemed an impossible dream.

Each day with Elizabeth had been a gift, with her love and support sheltering me from life’s little calamities.

Just when it seemed I could not possibly be made any happier, we had been blessed with Bennet.

As if by magic, my capacity to love had grown upon my first glimpse of his red, blotchy face.

From that moment, I had no greater purpose in life than to guide and protect my son and any other children we might be fortunate enough to have.

Tears stung my eyes at the notion of what I almost lost. As fortunate as I am to have Elizabeth and Bennet in my life, I wish for more. I hope to have more children, raise them, and grow old with Elizabeth by my side. I must be more careful from now on. I have everything to live for.

With a tentative step, I found the tingling in my legs had abated. I took hold of the reins, and patted Regal’s neck. Confound it. My gut twisted at the mere thought of riding again, yet I should not indulge that petty apprehension. With a deep breath, I mounted Regal and urged him onwards.

Upon my return to the house, I instructed a servant to have water sent up for a bath. In the main passage, Mrs. Reynolds approached me at a brisk pace.

Folds darkened her forehead. “Sir, an incident occurred with Mrs. Darcy an hour or so ago.” Mrs. Reynolds used a rushed cadence. “She has recovered now, but she fainted while out in the rose garden.”

My respiration hitched. Elizabeth had never fainted before! “Where is she now?” The words boomed from me.

“The library, sir.”