Chapter 62
The journey to Pemberley was to be accomplished in a little over three days.
The first night they had stopped in St. Albans, where Darcy had taken the garden lodging attached to the inn, ensuring their privacy.
They had both been tired after the wedding festivities and wished to start the journey a little later the next day.
The transition to husband and wife was still new, and Darcy was solicitous to Elizabeth’s every need.
A maid had been arranged for her use and a bath already prepared when she had arrived.
The soak helped her relax after a long fortnight of wedding preparations.
She joined Darcy for supper and could only eat a few bites.
The tiredness was finally catching up to her and she nearly dozed off in the sitting room.
Darcy immediately went to her and carried her to the bed.
Elizabeth fell asleep before her face hit the pillow.
A ray of sunshine filtering through the thick curtains woke her the next morning. She lazily stretched before opening her eyes only to realise that her husband was sleeping next to her.
His face, touched by the errant sunlight, showed a serenity hardly ever present in wakefulness. She kissed his forehead with all the love she possessed and was immediately pressed to him in a tight embrace, proving that he was already awake.
“You are exquisite,” Darcy whispered, kissing her thoroughly.
“I could get used to lazy mornings if this is the greeting I am to receive.”
Darcy just smiled in his satisfied, understated way as he played with Elizabeth’s hair. “Would you like to delay our journey by a day? We could stay here today and start tomorrow, there is no rush.”
“I would like that, just the two of us before the world intrudes.”
“Elizabeth, we can keep the world as far away as possible. I do not want you to perform for society.”
“Mrs. Darcy could hardly shun society. I would not mind keeping the world at a distance for next month, but I am sure we will have to entertain our neighbours at least.”
“Well, I have heard that Mr. Darcy is not a likeable sort of person. I am sure any such action will be attributed to him and not his lively wife,” Darcy said with a teasing smile.
Elizabeth just kissed him in response. They lay in bed for another hour enjoying their newfound privacy and just talking about anything that came to mind.
“You must have been annoyed to see me at the Solicitor’s office that day,” Elizabeth said alluding to their unexpected meeting in Hampshire.
“Annoyance is not the emotion that you inspire in me, dearest,” Darcy replied, propping himself on his arm to see her face. “I was surprised and rather worried for you; to have such a weight on your shoulders,” Darcy answered seriously as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
“When did you realise that you were in love with me?” Darcy asked after they had finally had their breakfast and he lay on the bed with his head in Elizabeth’s lap.
“Oh, definitely after I saw you all wet with your clothes sticking to your rather admirable figure,” Elizabeth teased as she brushed his hair with her hand.
“How mortified I was!”
“You are a rather handsome man, Mr. Darcy, and the display did not hurt your appearance.”
Darcy blushed at this and turned to hide his face in her lap much to Elizabeth’s delight.
“You must have thought me presumptuous for declaring us engaged in the dower house,” Elizabeth asked.
“I do not think I considered any such thing. The delight and jubilant happiness completely engulfed me. I was in no way capable of coherent thought. But you never did tell me what had caused you to declare yourself?” Darcy asked as he turned to look at her.
“I was surprised by all the attention Jane was receiving from your family and could not help but consider that it was on your account. Mrs. Ashcombe also seemed somewhat aware of our history. I realised you had been very open about your desires and feelings and that it was my turn to express myself.”
“I had written to my uncle, the Judge, asking for his advice after I met you again in Hampshire. I had not the faintest idea how to court a lady who had declared me the last man she would ever marry.”
“I would have thought you would justly hate me after Hunsford, not try and woo me.”
“I could never hate you, I love you too much for that. I was indignant for a while, but could hardly resist your charm.”
“So it was Judge Darcy who informed your family about me? I was rather surprised, for you cherish your privacy too much to speak about such a private matter.”
“Uncle Darcy judged that it would help establish you as Mrs. Darcy if it looked like the families were already acquainted and on good terms. I think Aunt Agatha convinced him that you were well on your way to accepting me.”
“Mrs. Ashcombe, for all her overbearing manners, is rather perceptive.”
“Enough about my family,” Darcy sat up and leaned on the headboard, pulling Elizabeth to him. “Were you scandalised at the inn? I know you said that you appreciated a demonstration of my continued regard but still, we were in public.”
“I was shocked and speechless. The whole night I kept thinking that I would have preferred our first kiss in a more private setting where I would have done it justice and appropriately responded, not just stood like a statue.”
“Elizabeth,” Darcy whispered huskily as he rolled over and kissed her with a gentle thoroughness that Mrs. Darcy could hardly resist. She responded with surprising enthusiasm despite her inexperience.
It was a content couple that left the inn early next morning intent on making good time on the rest of the journey.
Darcy’s valet had ridden ahead and reserved an inn for the next two nights.
The journey passed in pleasant conversation and happy anticipation.
Elizabeth had never travelled this far and was fascinated as the countryside grew more rugged than the plains of Hertfordshire.
Darcy was happy to accompany her on short walks whenever they stopped to change horses and even humoured her in visiting a small market town near one of these stops.
She had bought herself some ribbons and a parasol, but the most surprising item was a collection of wooden toys.
“They reminded me of the soldiers you had carved for Margaret.”
“I am not that good at carving but if you wish I could try and make you something,” Darcy offered.
“I would enjoy that, if it is not a lot of effort.”
“Anything for you, dearest. I have yet to give you a wedding gift.”
“Oh, I already have a rather specific gift in mind for that.”
“Name it and it shall be yours,” Darcy replied, surprised. Elizabeth had never shown any inclination towards material things till now.
“I wish for you to teach me fencing,” Elizabeth answered with such a serious face, her husband was assured of some mischievous motive behind the request.
“Do you wish to call out someone?” Darcy asked. His tone in no way gave in to his amusement.
“I would like to observe you fencing, for I am sure you will look quite fetching. Now I could hardly accompany you to Angelo’s; what better way than to learn it myself and have a private match whenever I desire.”
Darcy did not immediately answer, but lengthened his stride towards the carriage, pulling a rather surprised Elizabeth with him.
Once he had handed Elizabeth in, he himself climbed in, closed the door, pulled the curtains down and then proceeded to kiss his wife with a fierceness that stole her breath.
“How you test my patience,” he muttered as he rested his head against hers.
They reached Pemberley on the third day of their departure from the inn at St. Albans. The beauty of the landscape enchanted Elizabeth so much that she stopped the carriage to silently take in her first view of the estate.
“Do you think you would have accepted me in Kent if you had seen Pemberley before?” Darcy questioned from behind her, breaking her reverie.
“I would have been heartily sorry to refuse the prospect of such a fine home,” Elizabeth replied as she turned and took her husband’s arm.
It was mid-afternoon when the carriage arrived at the manor house.
All the staff stood in a neat line to welcome the new mistress.
Mrs. Reynolds, the housekeeper, and Mr. Jarvis, the butler stepped ahead to greet Mrs. Darcy as her husband handed her out.
Introductions took place and good wishes were exchanged as Mrs. Darcy proceeded towards the house.
The whole household stood in silent awe when their decorous master picked up his new wife in his arms as she crossed the threshold of her new home.