Chapter 2.19
The first week at Pemberley was the happiest time of Elizabeth’s life. Every day, every hour, every moment her heart nearly burst with felicity.
As she promised, the first thing she did the second day after her arrival was to write and send by express four short letters to announce their safe arrival: to Jane, her aunt Gardiner, Lady Matlock, and her father, his including a detailed description of the library.
Her time was split between getting familiar with the details of the household, meeting the tenants, meeting the people of Lambton, and spending sweet, tender moments with her husband in the slow discovery and exploration of her new home.
One by one, every room of Pemberley was visited and admired, sometimes with her husband, other times with Georgiana and Mrs Reynolds.
If in the first days Elizabeth walked through the large halls and chambers with shyness and restraint, every passing day made her part of Pemberley, and Pemberley part of herself.
Her favourite places in the house—besides the master suites—were the library, the gallery, and the small office used by Lady Anne Darcy, which now belonged to her.
The moments she shared with Georgiana were even more intimate than in London. As Darcy suggested, they spent hours looking through the papers Lady Anne had left as a legacy. Sadness and sorrow combined with a desire to complete the projects started by Lady Anne—some of them unknown even to Darcy.
Mrs Reynolds often joined the Darcy ladies, offering her share of memories about the past years of the family, proving her genuine affection for the family.
Elizabeth tried to learn the details regarding the household and to be involved in the decisions about running the house without interfering with Mrs Reynolds’s responsibilities. She had every reason to be pleased with Mrs Reynolds, and there was nothing she wished to change about Pemberley.
Many hours of every day were spent by Elizabeth and Darcy together in privacy. Georgiana wisely chose not to join them in their long rides around the property.
Darcy’s pleasure in revealing the secrets and beauties of his home to Elizabeth was compounded by her vivid interest and genuine delight in knowing Pemberley and its tenants as well as the lovely people of Lambton.
Their bond strengthened until words were barely needed for them to communicate. It was enough to exchange glances and smiles to understand each other’s wishes, pleasure, or displeasure.
She avoided worrying him unnecessarily with her occasional states of sickness; fortunately, those were rare and occurred early in the morning. If she kept to her bed until later, nobody would notice. During the daytime, she was full of energy and liveliness, enjoying every moment of her new life.
Her past preference for walking was mostly replaced by the joy of riding Summer.
Together with Darcy and Georgiana, she still took strolls around the house or near the edge of the lake, but to go further was impossible by foot.
Besides, the mare herself had grown fond of Elizabeth, and the attachment was mutual.
Elizabeth’s skills in riding improved much more quickly than Darcy’s confidence in her experience as well as in the horse, which was not yet familiar with Pemberley’s grounds.
Therefore, he always rode side-by-side with his wife and only on easy paths, his heart aching when Elizabeth pushed her horse to a gallop.
He was pleased and proud to observe her daily progress in riding and all her accomplishments in filling her role as mistress of the estate, but his concern had not yet vanished.
After their serious argument in London following Maud’s illness, Darcy struggled to control both his mind and his heart and to behave rationally.
He admitted that Elizabeth’s point of view was valid: no matter how much he wished to protect her, he could not avoid having children only for the fear that he might put her in danger.
His restlessness remained, but he decided to behave as she wished because it was the most reasonable way.
Then her lack of appetite, the unusual fatigue, and her pallor distressed him greatly, but he was relieved to have rarely observed them since they arrived in Derbyshire.
Everything appeared to be fine, and she certainly looked happier and more beautiful than ever.
He was careful to protect her from any possible risk as best as he could without betraying his anxiety to her.
Darcy had always felt happy at Pemberley, but the word had new meanings lately. He kept wondering about his fortune, and every day when he marvelled at his felicity, he felt a cold, irrational fear of losing it.
He helped her sleep with his kisses and caresses then remained to watch her rest until late at night.
He woke in the morning eager to see her face and hear her voice.
His days and nights were filled with her, and he could feel her presence even when she was away from him.
She was completely his in every possible way. She meant his life; she was his life.
He was old enough to remember his parents’ life before his mother fell ill—and afterwards. Their joy had turned into despair, the music into lament, and their smiles into tears.
He knew there was nothing he could do to oppose fate, nor did he have any reason to believe that Elizabeth’s health was in danger. But the fear remained, and he had to fight against it. Fortunately, she proved to him daily that he had no reason for it.
On the first Sunday at church, Elizabeth was already acquainted with the tenants’ families and with several families in Lambton.
She was pleased to finally meet Mr Martin—the gentleman who owned the shop where Maud and her mother were planning to work—and Dr. Baring, who had taken care of the Darcys at Pemberley for twenty years.
People’s curiosity over the new Mrs Darcy was combined with their surprise in witnessing the new mistress’s warm manners and amiable smiles. And those who had known the family for a long time could testify that they had never seen Miss Darcy so animated nor the master smiling so much.
After the church service, they returned at Pemberley, and when they were close to the house, the rain started, lasting for the rest of Sunday and most of the next day.
Miss Darcy used the opportunity to play her pianoforte several hours a day; she was preoccupied with improving her performance, but even more so she wished to offer privacy to her brother and sister.
In the library, Darcy studied some papers while Elizabeth read the letters received in response to hers. Outside, the rain fell vigorously, drumming in a rhythm of its own.
“Pemberley is as beautiful in the rain as it is in the sun,” Elizabeth whispered, walking toward the window.
“It is indeed.” He moved behind her, placing his arms around her.
“Is there any news in your letters?” Darcy inquired.
“Nothing particular. Jane wrote me two pages about her felicity in marriage and their plans to return to Netherfield next week. And my aunt says Becky asks about us several time a day.”
“I am pleased to hear that—about Jane and Bingley, I mean. I wonder if it is wise to return to Hertfordshire so soon, though. As for the Gardiners, you may assure them we are eager to have them here.”
“I will, my dear. The Matlocks and my parents seem all in excellent health.”
“Lovely to know that,” he said then gently pulled Elizabeth to join him on the settee. “My love, I need you to be my ally in finishing a most secret plan.”
Elizabeth’s face was filled with curiosity. “Of course—how may I help you? What plan?”
“As you know, Georgiana will be sixteen soon. I have a present for her that I expect to arrive soon. I ordered her a new pianoforte—an exquisite instrument, very appropriate for her talent.”
“What a wonderful idea,” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Dearest Georgiana, she will be so happy!”
“I believe the same. I expect it to arrive in a few days. You will have to take Georgiana on a long ride, perhaps visiting Lambton for several hours, so I will have time to place it in the music room.”
Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled as she laughed. “Excellent plan, sir. You are very good at surprises, as Becky would say.”
He stole a kiss. “I have had the chance of practising more lately, so I feel I have improved myself.”
She circled her arms around his neck. “Indeed, you have. You are quite close to Miss Bingley’s description: a man without faults.”
The kiss silenced their shared laughter, and then Elizabeth withdrew a few inches, glaring at her husband.
“I am tempted to believe that Miss Bingley’s admiration for you and her desire to mend your pen started the day she saw you all wet and informally attired.”
He pulled her into his lap and trapped her in his arms. “I would rather say Miss Bingley’s admiration started much sooner, but it might have increased accordingly the day of my swimming adventure.”
“Do I detect a tendency to present yourself wet in front of young ladies, Mr Darcy?”
“Not at all, Mrs Darcy; I only had two such accidents in my life: one was one of the most awkward moments I have ever borne, and the other was the start of my happiness.”
“I am glad to have been a part of the second one, my dearest Mr Darcy,” she answered. Then any words became useless, and they were completely abandoned.
The rain continued to fall for another two days and nights. On the dawn of the third day, it finally stopped, and the silence was only broken by birdsong. Elizabeth was deep in a restful sleep when she startled under her husband’s insistence on awakening her.
“My love, wake up,” he whispered, fondling her neck while he pushed the sheets away from her. She sighed and turned on her other side, but he continued his attempt—tenderly but decidedly—to accomplish his goal.
“If you wake up for only a moment, you may return to sleep again. I only wish to show you the rainbow, my love—the first rainbow we shall see together at Pemberley.”