Chapter 16 #2
They returned to the house after riding a bit further and returned to the rooms assigned to them and freshened up before coming downstairs for dinner.
The cook had prepared a delicious meal, and they relished every bite, sending their compliments down to the cook, who had no doubt made every effort to show off.
After dinner, they wandered around the rooms on the first floor, discovering the library, music room, and several sitting rooms. There was a game room setup, complete with a billiards table.
Elizabeth asked about the game, and Fitzwilliam showed her how to play, but soon, they elected to continue their play in the chambers.
After three days of exploring this estate, the Darcys left to visit the second.
Oakridge Manor was in Dovedale, the Peak District and the park and manor were as lovely as Foxwood.
Similar to that estate, Oakridge Manor boasted beautiful parklands and an elegant manor house.
The manor was strategically positioned on a ridge, offering a stunning view of the surrounding Peaks and was backed by a large grove of Oak trees, giving the house its name.
While exploring this estate, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth diligently observed any necessary improvements, just as they had with the other property.
Nevertheless, the library in this house stood out, influencing the couple’s final decision.
Fitzwilliam noted the library in this house was nearly as expansive as the one at Pemberley and boasted a comparable collection of books.
“Give me a year or two, my love, and I will make sure it rivals the collection at Pemberley. In the years since I finished school, I have collected quite a few books of my own, and as George is not as fond of the written word, he has not made as many purchases. The next time we are in London, we will visit every bookseller and second-hand shop we can discover so we might fill in a few of the empty shelves. We can move some of the older books to the second story and keep our purchases at a more convenient distance,” Fitzwilliam teased.
“Now, does this room speak to your heart?”
She laughed. “Indeed it does, William,” she replied, kissing her husband on his chin, which was as far as she could reach on her tall husband, even on her tiptoes.
Their decision made, Fitzwilliam wrote a letter to his uncle to inform him of it so his uncle could begin the transfer of the estate into his name. The couple ensured the door to the library was locked before celebrating their new home in the way common to newlyweds.
They remained a fortnight at Oakridge Manor before heading north.
Having spent longer than intended at Oakridge, the Darcys decided to delay their visit to Pemberley until after the Lakes.
He had written to his brother to ask for two horses to be sent on from Pemberley to Darcy Cottage, and George had handled the arrangements, so when they arrived, they found the horses there waiting for them.
The horse selected for Elizabeth was a gentle chestnut mare named Miranda, and Fitzwilliam thought her perfect for his bride.
His brother had chosen for him a big black stallion whom he deemed Ferdinand, causing Fitzwilliam to laugh uproariously when he read the note accompanying the horses.
George had considered these an appropriate gift for the couple and named them after the main characters from The Tempests.
Elizabeth became a rather adept rider during the month they spent at Darcy Cottage.
Their lessons had been a delightful time for the couple as they had learned much about each other in the endeavour.
Elizabeth could be stubborn and, at times, did not take direction well, leading to the couple’s first argument.
Fitzwilliam had refused to allow Elizabeth to ride until she was willing to take his direction, claiming he was doing so for her safety.
Unused to someone being concerned about her safety, Elizabeth took some time in their chambers to contemplate their argument and, after writing a letter to her aunt where she complained about her husband’s high-handed ways, soon came to the realisation she was a fool.
Once again, she acted precipitously and eventually threw her letter into the fire and sought out her husband, pacing in the home’s library.
“I am sorry, Will,” Elizabeth whispered when he turned at the slight noise she made as she entered. “I should have been willing to listen to you in this: I am afraid I am far too used to being left to my own devices.”
He quickly strode to her and brought her to him in a tight embrace.
“I love you too much to allow you to come to harm. While I realise you are a quick learner and have become a good rider in the last fortnight, you are not yet ready to jump fences. Allow me to protect you, my dear, and know I would never deny you anything if I can help it. However, I have realised I could have explained my reasoning better, and perhaps you would not have gotten so angry with me.”
She shook her head where it was lodged against his chest. Pulling back, she moved a hand from where it rested around his waist to caress his cheek.
“I was too angry to listen to explanations and acted like a spoiled child. I doubt you could have done anything in this instance that would have caused me to react differently. You have not married a child, Fitzwilliam, that I promise you. I will not change overnight, but I will strive to do better in the future.”
They continued to hold each other as they both allowed the emotions of their argument to settle.