Chapter 40
Darcy was riding back to Pemberley after calling on Georgie. No, Anna. That felt strange, but if it was what she wanted …
Elizabeth. He needed to think about what little he knew of her, what she might have wanted; what she might want if — when — he found her. He would prepare for it; perhaps he could ask those who knew and loved her what she liked.
But he could not relent in his search. He must find her to render all the assistance she needed. No, all the assistance she would be willing to accept. To know what she wanted. He had never thought to ask.
What was it Georgiana had said? Will you want her to return to Pemberley? He knew he could never ask it of Elizabeth unless she wished to, and why would she wish to? What was there for her?
He turned his attention back to the road, and patted his horse. “Not much longer, old fellow.”
He breathed in the clear, crisp air. He had always enjoyed early autumn and watching the leaves turn glorious colours. But … early September. Elizabeth had been gone above three months. Three and a half months.
If there was a trail that the search had missed, it was long gone cold. Mr Reed and Mr Rawlins had been steady and worked hard, gradually increasing the distance from Pemberley as they searched methodically. But they might easily miss her, and Darcy would never know.
He handed the reins to the groom waiting for him and patted the horse once more. “Thank you, he could do with cooling down and a good feed.”
Hurrying up the steps, he handed his outerwear to the footman and turned to the butler. “Are they waiting?”
“Yes, sir. Mr Reed and Mr Rawlins are in the estate office.”
Darcy entered the room and both the men stood. “Good afternoon, Mr Darcy.” Mr Reed turned and rang the bell. “I expect you would appreciate coffee. I hope Miss Darcy is well?”
“Indeed.” Darcy’s gaze was on the maps. “Do you have news for me?”
Rawlins placed his finger on the map. “Nothing positive, I am afraid. There is a new young lady staying with relatives here, in the village of Mosborough. She has only arrived there in the last two months, and I heard in the inn that many in the village had not known of any relations of these people.” He looked up at Darcy’s sharpened attention, and placed his finger on the map.
“Please do not get your hopes too high, sir. I got only a glimpse of her, and she did not seem to me to match the description I have been given. But as I have never met Mrs Darcy, Mr Reed and I will go together tomorrow and see if anything can come of it.”
Darcy sat down heavily. “I cannot believe there are so many young women suddenly appearing with relations who had not seemed to have relations. This is what…? The fourth, no, fifth?”
Mr Reed nodded. “But unless we receive some other lead, sir, it seems to be the only way at present.”
Darcy nodded. “I am very grateful to you both.” He rose to his feet, draining his coffee cup as he did.
“I have to …” he left the room. Another thought had come to him, and he must not permit himself to hope too much this time, especially if Rawlins was not convinced the lady fitted the description. But one day …
One day, they might be successful. He bolstered his hopes with the fact that Rawlins was as certain as it was possible to be that Elizabeth had met no accident within ten miles of Pemberley. And for now, he could only hope. And prepare for the much hoped-for day. He must be ready.
He hurried upstairs to his chambers, nodded at Maunder who was checking the clothes in his dressing room, and crossed to the connecting door to the mistress’s chambers.
He took a deep breath and opened the door.
It was a foolish notion, of course, but he somehow expected her to be here, looking up from her book with a smile of welcome.
He shook the dream from him. He liked her taste, he thought, the light colours gave a spring-like feeling and the delicate floral pattern on the cream background of the curtains and the upholstery, made her private sitting room seem like a garden.
Crossing the room to her bedchamber, he was unsurprised that the decoration was similar, although calmer. Somehow there was more energy in the sitting room and more relaxing in here. How had she done that?
He left her chambers and crossed to the guest wing, to look again at the rooms she had been using. They were very different. Looking more closely, he could see signs of wear and the curtains were rather faded. Elizabeth had not had these rooms refurbished, rather had lived with what was there.
He hurried down the stairs. “Mr Payne, ask Mrs Kerr to see me, please. I will be in my study.” He turned away from the butler as soon as the man had acknowledged him, and paced the study until Mrs Kerr spoke from the doorway.
“Mr Darcy? You wished to see me?”
“Yes.” He suddenly realised that he had automatically called for her, not Mrs Reynolds — and he had not seen the old housekeeper for months.
He hesitated. He must ask about that. No, that must be later.
“I wish to go to the dower house. Are you able to come with me, or do you have duties and would prefer to give me the key?”
It was half an hour later when the heavy door opened and Darcy could enter the house he had never bothered to see before. The curtains were half-closed and the unused space was dim and unappealing. Sheets covered all the furniture, and ornate wallpaper seemed to shrink the rooms.
He headed to the windows and threw open the curtains, before turning back and pulling the sheets from the furniture.
The furnishings, too, were old-fashioned and heavy walnut. Elizabeth would certainly not like that, he knew enough about her to know it.
“Of course, the house has been shut up for many years,” Mrs Kerr ventured. “Maids enter twice each year to dust, and I understand Mr Reed has a man check the fabric of the building each month.”
Darcy nodded absently. “I looked in the mistress’s chambers this morning. Is it your opinion that Mrs Darcy would like the appearance of those rooms now they are completed?”
The woman looked a little wary. “Yes, sir. She was very careful about the choices — although I do believe economy played a large part in what she considered.”
Darcy frowned. “Economy? Why would she consider that?”
It was the other’s turn to frown. “Everything Mrs Darcy did was with economy in mind, sir. You will excuse me perhaps for saying so, but she did not spend any money on herself. If she could save a few shillings from the housekeeping, she would buy flannel to sew warm clothes for the tenant children, or a little treat for me to give a sick member of staff.”
Darcy needed to consider what he was learning of Elizabeth. But he must be alone for that, must take time.
“Very well. Please send staff to clean and make this house ready. It may not have been occupied by my mother or grandmother, but that is no reason for it to languish like this. When it is cleaned and open, then I will have the furniture all stored and after that you can arrange redecoration and new furniture to Mrs Darcy’s tastes.
Please consult with me before actually implementing that work. ”
Mrs Kerr curtsied. “Of course, sir.”
“Then let us return to the main house.” Darcy took a final look around. It would make a good home for Elizabeth if she wished to live apart from him and could bear to return to the estate. Not much smaller than Longbourn, she might have her sister to stay with her, and she might …
He turned towards the door. The work was underway should it ever be needed. Elizabeth could then have the choice of where she wanted to be; he must not put pressure upon her.
The woman at Mosborough was not Elizabeth, and Darcy was pleased he had not allowed his hopes to rise too far. The previous possibilities had played havoc with his emotions, and he could hardly imagine surviving so much turmoil in his mind. But he would never give up, no matter the cost to him.
Now he was on his way to visit Georgiana — Anna — once more; the renovation of the dower house was well underway, and he was pleased to have it as a topic of conversation to have with his sister.
He would do all he could to help Elizabeth to be happy when he found her. But he would hope that he could offer the chance of happiness on the estate if only she would consent.