Chapter 13 #2
After more hours of travelling with barely any stops at all, pushed by the anticipation of reaching home, they entered Pemberley Park at dusk, immediately enveloped in the quietness and soothing familiarity of the charming surroundings.
Even the horses calmed their pace; only Elizabeth’s heart was racing when the house came into sight.
It was a serene summer night, with the sky lit by stars and a bright moon, mirrored in the lake — a picture of perfect enchanting beauty which Elizabeth observed tearfully, wondering for how long she would see it.
She knew she could expect Darcy to speak up soon.
He was not the sort of man to show her all that attention without having a serious design on her.
To anyone’s reasonable judgment, there were clear signs that he would express himself, that he would propose soon.
However, she could not ignore the special circumstances in which those attentions were granted; the feeling of gratitude he had confessed so many times had certainly influenced his behaviour, as well as placated somewhat the recollection of her horrible rejection from only a few months ago.
Once returned to their daily lives, with no spectre of drama and scandal over their heads, with Darcy clearing his mind and putting his thoughts in order, would he find the strength to forgive and forget the offences and disappointment — and propose to her again?
“Miss Bennet? We are home,” she heard the voice that gave her shivers.
He was already out of the carriage, and so were her uncle and Georgiana.
He stretched his hand out to her, and Elizabeth took it, then all walked together towards a smaller door she had never seen before, which allowed them to step into the comfort of Pemberley.
Georgiana hastened towards her apartment, and as she climbed the stairs, Mrs Annesley and Mrs Reynolds followed protectively. Elizabeth retired to her room too, a few doors away from the girl’s, and upon entering, she heard her uncle and Darcy’s voices behind her, down the hall.
Some of her luggage was still there, and she had the satisfying feeling of being home, just as Darcy had said.
She leant back against the pillows and closed her eyes for a few moments, the bed reminding her how tired she was.
She startled when she heard a knock at the door, and her heart pounded as she imagined it might be Darcy.
Surprisingly, Mrs Gardiner entered, and she hurried to embrace Elizabeth.
“My dear aunt, I did not expect you to be here!”
“Your uncle wrote to me from Carlisle. He said that Mr Darcy suggested that I would not be comfortable enough at the inn in Lambton and should move to Pemberley with all our belongings. Tell me everything! How was your journey? Your uncle is with Mr Darcy in the library — I assume they are having a drink, maybe more than just one in your uncle’s case — so I came to see you and hear all the details you can share. ”
Elizabeth narrated their adventures for Mrs Gardiner, and her aunt listened with concern and dismay.
“I cannot believe what a deceptive man that Mr Wickham is! I confess I did not suspect such a deceitful character when I met him last Christmas! I remember being worried that you might be smitten with him, despite the fact that neither of you had any security for the future. I believed it would have been dangerous for you to marry him, but only because of his situation in life, I did not doubt his character! How he misled us all!”
“Yes…and I cannot forgive myself for that. Although I have never been smitten with him, I did enjoy his company, and I never doubted his claims, nor did I see the impropriety of his confessions because I felt flattered by his attention and offended by Mr Darcy’s past remarks and behaviour. Foolish, foolish girl I was!”
“You must forgive yourself, Lizzy. Mr Darcy certainly has. Oh, let me tell you that I have heard a lot of stories about him from Mrs Reynolds and other servants these past few days while I have been here. He really is the best master and landlord, at least that is what they all claim. And who knows him better or praises him more honestly than a faithful and intelligent servant? I have heard stories about Mr Wickham as well. He is known of course by the household. They had heard he had gone into the army, but they feared ‘he had turned out very wild’! And I visited the Skinners. I accompanied Mrs Reynolds one day. They have recovered completely. Those three children are really sweet. Miss Darcy will be pleased to hear that, I am certain.”
“Dear aunt, what do the servants know about Georgiana? What were they told?”
“Well, we kept to the story that she was ill. Mrs Annesley ate most of her meals in her room, and Mrs Reynolds kept her company. I did hear some rumours among the servants that Miss Darcy had not been seen for an entire week — but there are few who usually have reasons to be in contact with her, and fewer still if she was truly confined to her room. It has certainly happened before, at least once a month, if you know what I mean. Her personal maid occupied herself mostly in Miss Darcy’s quarters, so I trust all will be well now.
Even if there is talk, the truth will remain protected. ”
They continued to speak — her aunt definitely had a lot to share and had not lost an iota of her almost youthful enthusiasm for being at Pemberley, thought Elizabeth, fondly — until a maid came to invite them to dinner.
Elizabeth assumed the others would eat in their own respective rooms, but she found herself pleased that Darcy and her uncle were already in the dining room.
Georgiana, however, chose to remain in her apartment, with Mrs Annesley.
“I hope Georgiana is not unwell?” Elizabeth asked.
“Not at all. She just desired some solitude and rest tonight, Mrs Annesley told me,” Darcy replied.
“I can easily understand that. I look forward to resting properly myself,” Mr Gardiner declared. “If I can go fishing one more time before we leave, I would not want for anything else. Except for another drink,” he spoke humorously.
“You may catch as many fish as you like and help yourself to as much brandy as you like, Mr Gardiner. And I shall gladly join you for both,” Darcy answered in the same tone.
Elizabeth watched Darcy with heightened interest. He looked a bit pale and tired — no wonder after the week he had had, as he certainly had not slept much.
But he appeared completely at ease with her uncle and aunt, and she remembered Colonel Fitzwilliam saying that Darcy was a pleasant companion amongst his family and friends.
He was not only a pleasant companion, but he looked more handsome than usual, she thought, her cheeks colouring.
Dinner did not last long, as the exhaustion for some and the brandy for others curtailed the inclination for an extended conversation.
They retired for the night shortly after the last course, but, while the Gardiners enjoyed their rest immediately, Elizabeth and Darcy each needed more time before the tumult of their thoughts and feelings allowed them to fall asleep, knowing that the moment of separation was fast approaching.
∞∞∞
The next day, rested and with some of their emotions settled, plans had been laid: the guests were to remain for five more days at Pemberley, enjoying the company and the beautiful summer days before returning to their homes and usual lives.
Letters arrived from Netherfield, from Mr Bingley, and from Longbourn, from Mr Bennet and Jane with news from Hertfordshire, suggesting that Mr Bingley had already resumed his acquaintance with the Bennet family.
Darcy spent the remaining time mostly on estate matters and with Mr Gardiner, while Elizabeth was strengthening her acquaintance with Georgiana, having also the company of her aunt and Mrs Annesley. However, several times a day, they reunited and shared activities that pleased all of them.
Georgiana was still in low spirits, and the realisation that at least the Gardiners, Mrs Annesley, Mrs Reynolds, and very probably her maid, besides her brother and Elizabeth, were aware of her foolish escapade, made her contrite and even more subdued than usual.
Still, music remained her favourite pastime, and she agreed to practise with Elizabeth — which provoked from Elizabeth a comical rendition of Lady Catherine’s strictures and advice that made Georgiana laugh for the first time since she had met her — and even play with her a few times, although not in front of the others.
Conscious of not leaving Georgiana too much alone to dwell on her mistakes, Elizabeth managed to draw her out and even persuaded the girl to keep her company on her walks around the park and the gardens.
Mr and Mrs Gardiner paid some visits to their relatives in Lambton, mostly making up for the week they had not been able to do so, and on such occasions, Elizabeth was left with Darcy and Georgiana.
More than once, the girl declared her regret for Elizabeth’s having to leave and her hope that they would meet again soon.
Elizabeth was grateful for the girl’s affection and returned it most genuinely.
However, she did not dare speak much of their reunion or of her possible return to Pemberley, as she did not wish to overstep her boundaries and force her presence upon Darcy if he did not express the same desire.
Heaven forbid that he thought she was befriending Georgiana in order to be in his presence like other women certainly had!
Her heart filled with a fresh surge of affection for Georgiana and a feeling much too strong, too overwhelming, towards Darcy to be anything but love; she barely had the courage to recognise it and admit it to herself and was still reluctant to reveal it to others. Including him.
With sorrow and heavy hearts, the last day of Elizabeth’s stay at Pemberley arrived.