Chapter 3 #2
“Yes, I am ready,” she answered, smiling when her aunt repeated word for word her appreciation of Miss Darcy. She approached the phaeton, finding the young girl already had the ribbons in her hand, and her aunt had already installed herself on the bench, bouncing with anticipation.
“Please allow me,” Darcy offered his hand, helping her up. She accepted his help, the touch of his fingers burning her even through her gloves.
“I shall see you to the park gate,” Darcy declared, mounting his stallion that the groom had been holding nearby. “Bingley, I shall join you shortly. Please take care of Mr Gardiner and Hurst,” he shouted while the horses started to move at a hasty pace.
With the gentle summer breeze caressing her face, Elizabeth allowed herself to be spoilt by the beauties surrounding them, but the presence of Darcy on his horse was reason for equal entertainment and distraction for her.
Pretending she was just admiring the view, she could not help throwing surreptitious glances at him, noticing the fine figure he cut while riding and wondering about his reason for joining them, hoping she knew it but still fearful to see too much in his actions.
Miss Darcy slowed the horses as they approached the gate, and Darcy did the same.
“I shall leave you now. I cannot neglect my other guests any longer,” he smiled. “Georgiana, please ask Miss Bennet and Mrs Gardiner to stay for refreshments when you return to the house. I shall ask that everything be ready and waiting for you. And hopefully, we shall be there too.”
“Very well, Brother. Do not fret so, all is well.”
“I am not fretting, dearest. I trust you, as well as Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet. Enjoy your time, and we shall meet later.”
He turned his horse, and Elizabeth could not help but look back at him, once again admiring his posture and steady seat. He turned his head, gave her a brief nod, and then sped his horse to a gallop.
The moment he disappeared from her sight, Elizabeth realised that Pemberley — as beautiful as it was — lost a lot of its charm in the absence of its master.
The tour of the extensive park lasted several hours, and Elizabeth delighted in the variety of the landscape, often letting gasps of admiration escape her lips as the property’s greatness unfolded in front of their eyes.
Miss Darcy offered them explanations, many of which, she admitted, came from her brother, who loved and respected their legacy, to which Mrs Gardiner added memories of her happy times spent in Lambton.
Elizabeth was mostly silent; what could she say to express her true feelings?
She was still incredulous that he had offered to make her mistress of that whole place, all that beauty, now that she comprehended that to be mistress of Pemberley meant something!
Overwhelmed by the responsibilities attached to the position of Mrs Darcy, she could not help but contemplate what extraordinary sources of happiness the future Mrs Darcy would also have.
Suddenly, a sharp grip of pain and jealousy reminded her that she had refused him, and he would likely find someone else who would happily agree to stand by his side, who would be more suited to the position, more appreciative of the honour of the affection he bestowed on her…
Someone he would smile at, someone he would hold hands with, someone he would share all this beauty with, someone who would join him in long rides and walks across the estate, in complete privacy.
Someone he might touch with ungloved hands, dance with closer than was proper, someone who would feel the warmth in his eyes, the joy of his smile, and enjoy the caresses of his gentle fingers, the touch of…
“Lizzy! Lizzy, my love, are you listening?” Mrs Gardiner’s voice startled her, and she turned to her companions with a forced smile, struggling to conceal her mortifying thoughts.
“Yes! Please forgive me, I am completely enchanted, bewitched by your home, Miss Darcy, as never before.”
“I perfectly understand you, Miss Bennet. I have seen it every year since I can remember, and I am still enchanted every time,” the young girl answered.
“Lizzy, we were talking about Mr Wickham. I told Miss Darcy that I made his acquaintance at Christmas, at Longbourn, and that you used to be good friends but seem to have grown rather cold towards him lately.”
Elizabeth tried to keep her composure and not betray her panic while searching for the proper words. What else had her aunt said to the girl that she had missed?
“Mr Wickham was a friend of our family, like several other officers from the regiment stationed in Meryton,” Elizabeth eventually replied.
“I met him last autumn, and we were in company — with him as well as with his fellow officers — several times. I do not know him well enough to judge his character accurately. I travelled to Kent last spring and shortly after my return, the regiment moved to Brighton, so he remained but an acquaintance.”
“Well, since Mr Darcy and Mrs Reynolds seemed to disapprove of Mr Wickham, I would rather trust their judgment,” Mrs Gardiner said, much to Elizabeth’s distress.
“George is a good man in his heart. My father loved him very much, and he was my friend throughout my childhood,” Miss Darcy said in a trembling voice, and Elizabeth noticed the girl’s hands were shaking on the reins.
“I hope Mr Wickham is as good in his heart as he should be, to honour your father’s memory and your affection, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth uttered. “Oh! Look how the sun falls on that grove! It looks like a pond of sunshine!” she exclaimed, desperately trying to change the subject.
“It is lovely,” Miss Darcy admitted. “We could stop there, let the horses graze and stretch our legs,” she suggested, and Elizabeth agreed with an enthusiasm that was slightly forced and not a little relieved.
After a delightful stroll between the trees in the sunshine, they made their way home.
Miss Darcy was amiable and friendly with them, answering Mrs Gardiner’s questions and sighs of admiration, but Elizabeth could feel that Darcy was right; the girl was still troubled and indeed harboured no hard feelings against Wickham.
Yes, she might have confessed the scheme to Darcy herself, but it was her conscience and her inner good nature that had prevented her from grieving and offending her older brother and not the admission of a dishonourable proposition or action on Wickham’s part.
Whilst Elizabeth had been angry at the revelation of Wickham’s deceptions and offended by how he had treated her like a fool to get revenge against Darcy, and she still held a solid grudge and resentment against him, Georgiana Darcy seemed to resemble Jane and see only the good in people.
Smiling to herself, Elizabeth mused that, if a certain desired event would take place, Jane and Miss Darcy would be in company rather often, and, based on similarity and affinity, they would surely be the best of friends.
Those reflections quickly led Elizabeth’s mind to others, realising that if Mr Bingley did eventually join their family, she would also be in Darcy’s company rather often.
She could not decide whether she hoped for or dreaded such circumstances more.
She had her answer late in the afternoon when they returned to Pemberley and Darcy came to welcome them, together with Mr Bingley and Mr Gardiner.
And, while Darcy hurried to offer his hand like he feared he might lose the opportunity, Elizabeth placed her hand confidently in his palm.
At that moment, she also had the final confirmation that indeed, Pemberley’s beauty was magnified by the presence of its master.