Chapter 9
Darcy strode down the corridor, slowing as he came to Elizabeth’s bedroom door.
He smoothed down his coat and knocked, knowing that he would lose his nerve if he delayed.
It seemed strange to go to his wife’s door, having to wait to be allowed entry.
Yet though his wife, she was also still almost a stranger.
Certainly, it was the better part of courtesy to wait.
Her maid answered the door. Respectful and correct as always, Stephans acknowledged him with a deferential bow. “Who is it, Stephans?” Elizabeth asked, from somewhere in the room, her voice slightly muffled.
“It is your husband, ma’am,” Stephans answered and stepped out of his way to allow him to enter.
Elizabeth rose from her seat at the vanity, where Stephans had no doubt been engaged in arranging her hair.
Elizabeth looked lovely in a light green day dress.
It was somewhat older and more worn than he would have wanted for his wife, but for now, it would have to do.
“I, ah —” Darcy began, stumbling to a halt.
He cleared his throat. Why on earth was he so tongue-tied in her presence? “I came to discuss something with you.”
Elizabeth looked at her maid and nodded.
“That will be all, Stephans. Thank you.” She gave the young woman a warm smile.
Though Stephans bowed and excused herself with as much careful deference as ever, it did not escape Darcy’s notice that she also returned the smile.
Elizabeth’s easy friendliness and charm seemed to have won over her lady’s maid with alacrity.
When they were alone, he continued, pulling an envelope from his jacket pocket.
“I came to deliver your quarterly stipend.” He held it out to her.
Elizabeth took it with what seemed almost like hesitation.
“In future it will be paid into your account, but I wanted you to have this should you need anything right away.”
She opened the envelope, her eyes widening in shock as she inspected the contents. “Eighty pounds? Surely not, Mr Darcy. This must be the yearly stipend.”
“No, indeed,” Darcy said with surprise. The amount was ample, he hoped, but by no means excessive for the mistress of Pemberley.
Indeed, it would hardly suffice to make up the present deficiencies in her wardrobe.
“This is what was agreed upon in the marriage negotiations with your father. I realise you may need more as you get settled here. You may come to me if you find this is not sufficient.”
He refused to take the envelope back, and she let her hands drop to her sides. “Well, thank you. I am unsure what to say, Mr Darcy. This is very generous. I do not think I will need to ask for more.”
He waved away her thanks. “There is another subject I wished to discuss with you before I go down to breakfast. My behaviour in the library the other day was — abrupt. I did not intend any discourtesy, nor for you to think that you were its cause. I assure you, you were not.” Darcy coughed in embarrassment.
“I must apologise. Indeed, I ought to have apologised before.”
“I understand, sir. Please do not worry yourself on that account.” She gave a slight smile. “I should not have interfered in your private affairs.”
“No, none of that was your fault. Please do not think that.” Darcy hesitated.
He did not want to go into the details of his break with Georgiana quite yet.
Soon, he would have to tell her. But not yet.
“Now, I will come to my main reason for coming to you this morning: I intend to go out and visit several of the tenants and neighbours after breakfast. I wondered if you might like to accompany me? If you are amenable, we might begin the bridal visits.”
Her face instantly lit up. “Oh, yes, that would be lovely,” Elizabeth replied eagerly.
Darcy felt a smile come to his face in response. Such unhesitating enthusiasm could not help but be pleasing. “Excellent. Well, I shall come in about an hour, when breakfast is concluded. I am sure you have already had your tray delivered.”
“No, actually. I had thought to take breakfast with you, if that is satisfactory?” Elizabeth asked, rather tentatively.
Darcy suppressed a grimace. He had done that to himself, with his reaction in the library, no doubt.
No wonder she feared he might reject her company.
He would have to do his best to reverse that perception.
“I would be delighted to have you join me,” he said with his best attempt at a welcoming smile. Although he had not had much experience with smiling in the last few months, he found it was coming easier in the days since he had brought Elizabeth home to Pemberley.
He offered her his arm, and they walked out together and downstairs to the dining room.
The sun gave a splendid show, with hardly a cloud in the sky.
He caught Elizabeth gazing at the window facing the east side of the house, with its view past the pond and into the woods.
It was a view that still made his heart skip a beat to look out at it, and he had lived there all his life.
“It is a beautiful morning,” he said.
“Yes, it is. The views are breathtaking,” Elizabeth replied. “Every window in the house seems to look out on something lovely. There is always something to catch the eye and the imagination.”
“I am glad you think so. Pemberley has always had a special place in my heart — not only because it is where I grew up. Perhaps I betray my own arrogance in saying so, but I confess I have never visited a house that could compare to it.” Darcy knew he was waxing poetic, but Elizabeth did not seem to mind.
“I am growing very fond of the house and the grounds. From what I have seen of the gardens, one could get lost there very happily.” She sighed and took a sip of her tea. “I hope you do not mind that I have been exploring a little?”
“Not at all. This is your home now, too, after all.”
Her face brightened. “Thank you.”
After breakfast was concluded, Darcy had the carriage brought around, and they were soon on their way.
“I had thought to begin with the farthest house,” he began. “We may then work our way back.”
Elizabeth nodded. “A logical choice.”
“It is the Henries,” Darcy told her. “They are a very good sort of people, very reliable indeed.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Elizabeth replied simply.
“I shall be glad to know them.” Though the farm was a considerable distance from Pemberley House, the drive was a pleasant one.
Darcy had already learned that he could have been much less fortunate in his accidental wife.
Elizabeth was obviously good-tempered and intelligent, and he had begun to see flashes of something in her that he could only call a charmingly arch sense of wit.
Then, too, the speed with which she had won the approval of the sensible and unshakably loyal Mrs Reynolds was a positive sign.
The carriage stopped in front of the tenant house, and they were immediately set upon by one of the farm dogs. He wagged his tail, sending a cloud of dust up from the road. The farmer, Mr Henries, came out and greeted them. “Well, good morning, Mr Darcy. To what do we owe this pleasure?”
Mr Henries was soon joined by Mrs Henries, who was growing large with their fifth child. Several children came in tow, peeking out shyly from behind their mother’s skirts. The Henries had four girls, and Darcy knew Mr Henries was looking forward to having a son this time, if the Lord was willing.
“Good morning, Mrs Henries, Mr Henries. I have come to present my new wife. I am sure you’ve heard the news, but I was married nigh on a fortnight ago.
Elizabeth, allow me to present Mr and Mrs Henries and their children.
Mrs Henries, my wife, Mrs Elizabeth Darcy,” he said.
It was strange how the introduction affected him.
Warmth filled his chest, and he was surprised at how well his surname sounded coupled with her Christian name.
Mr and Mrs Henries offered congratulations, and even the children found their courage enough to welcome Elizabeth to the county.
“I am delighted to meet all of you. I do hope we shall have ample opportunity to get to know one another,” Elizabeth said graciously.
“Oh, I do hope so,” Mrs Henries said. She invited them in for a cup of tea and some refreshments, but they dutifully declined.
“We have several other neighbours we would like to visit before business calls us back to Pemberley. Perhaps another time, Mrs Henries,” Darcy said.
Elizabeth bent and said something to each of the girls before they climbed into the carriage and bumped down the lane toward the next cottage. His wife was beaming, as were the four Henries girls. “What did you say to the children?” he asked.
“I asked each of their names and told them to come and see me at Pemberley whenever they like,” Elizabeth said.
“They are dear girls.” She sighed and looked out the window.
“And I feel for them — and their mother. Four daughters. I do hope this child is a boy, someone who can help his father.” Sadness had seeped into her tone.
“Your father told me of the entail,” Darcy told her.
Elizabeth must be thinking of Mr Bennet and his disappointment in not having a son — an entirely understandable disappointment, considering that the desired heir would have secured the future comfort of his wife and daughters.
“It is a shame that he did not have a son who could have broken it. You and I will see to it that your mother and sisters have a comfortable place to live in the event of his passing, of course. But it must be a matter of great grief to know that Longbourn will pass from his family.”
Elizabeth was looking at him in surprise. “Yes,” she said at last. “When my father dies, everything will pass to a cousin.” She hung her head. It was a long while before she looked up at him. “It will be sad to see the house go one day.”