Chapter 44

On the Road to Pemberley

Mid May, 1812

The carriage swayed and jostled. Bingley leaned over to murmur solicitously to his wife, "Are you quite well, my dear?"

Jane smiled at him affectionately, resting one hand on her slightly swollen stomach. "I am completely well," she assured him. "I do not feel ill at all."

Bingley smiled in relief and straightened, his eyes warm and admiring on his wife. Elizabeth, who had watched this interlude, turned her attention back to the windows of the carriage. They were currently rolling through a magnificent parkland with a gentle upward slope, the trees clustered close by the road filled with songbirds and pheasants and squirrels and rabbits peeping out in curiosity at the conveyance. Lydia and Kitty, sharing the rear-facing seat, huddled together at the far window, exclaiming in delight at all they saw. Wildflowers sprang white and purple and yellow in the narrow grassy verge between road and woods, and bees humming from one blossom to another.

They attained the top of the hill, and the woods ended with great abruptness. Pemberley spread below them in glorious panorama, the house itself on the far side of the valley, the forested hills mounding up behind it. A lively stream flowed out of the parkland to cross before the house, swelling even greater as it tumbled across the foot of the lawn.

"Oh, how lovely!" Lydia exclaimed, and Elizabeth agreed with feeling. Pemberley truly was majestic; it would be something indeed to be mistress of all this.

The carriage finally came to a halt in front of the great mansion, and within seconds, a liveried servant opened the door. Bingley, who was seated next to the door, leaped out with alacrity and handed out his wife, and then his sisters by marriage.

Elizabeth, once she was standing on the pavement, found herself gazing at the nearby stream with delight. It was yet more charming up close than it had been far away. The water splashed and chuckled to itself, bounding merrily over stones to trickle along in its course. Fish rippled the surface, and even as she watched, a trout arced out in a successful bid to catch an unwary fly hovering too close to the water. Elizabeth took a deep breath of pleasure, reflecting that her Uncle Gardiner, an avid fisherman, would appreciate this place.

"Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bingley, Misses Bennet, Elizabeth !"

The sudden feminine cry, accompanied by the sound of quick feet, caused Elizabeth to spin around and smile at the sight of Georgiana Darcy hurrying down the stone staircase, with her brother, his own expression joyful, a few steps behind her. Trailing the siblings were several footmen, doubtless prepared to fetch their trunks.

"Welcome to Pemberley," Miss Darcy exclaimed expansively. "We are so very happy you are here!"

"It is wonderful to be here," Bingley said with a bow toward Miss Darcy. A moment later, he reached out his hand to grasp Darcy's own. "Darcy, many thanks for your kind invitation."

"It is excellent to have you all," Darcy said, deliberately looking at Elizabeth. "Mrs. Bingley, Misses Bennet, as my sister has already said, welcome."

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy," Kitty replied, glancing about with dazzled eyes. "Your house is very large!"

"It is, at that," another voice declared, and Elizabeth, who had been staring at Darcy, turned as Anne de Bourgh, appearing remarkably healthy, descended the last steps and continued, "I had a maid guide me around Pemberley the week after I arrived last December, more for the servants' sake than mine; the last thing they need is for a guest to become lost and wander absently into the kitchen or the like!"

"Anne," Elizabeth exclaimed, "how very well you look!"

"I am very well," Anne replied, her eyes twinkling. "Now I expect that your journey was a good one?"

"It was excellent," Bingley said.

"I am delighted to hear that," Darcy said. "Now I am certain you all wish to refresh yourselves. Georgiana and Mrs. Reynolds will show you to your rooms, and I hope that we can enjoy tea in an hour, perhaps?"

/

Guest Bedchamber

Pemberley

"This is your bedchamber, Elizabeth," Georgiana said anxiously. "I do hope you like it.

Elizabeth reflected in awe that it would be easy to fit any two of the bedrooms at Longbourn inside this one, and with capacity to spare. It felt like dwelling in a piece of the sky, with the azure drapes and blue rug and white cushions on the chairs and couch. Even the flowers, in their forget-me-not painted vase, were blue and white.

Elizabeth drifted over to the window and shifted the white sheer curtains aside to peep out. The glass panes rose almost to the molding on the high ceiling, and the rose garden that spread below her window was in full bloom, presenting an incomparable prospect.

"I cannot imagine how anyone could not like it," she said, turning around and beaming at the younger woman. "It is lovely."

"I am glad," the girl said, obviously relieved. "Now Martha here will assist you with changing and can guide you to the Green Room."

Elizabeth nodded cheerfully at the maid waiting near the door and said, "I will be there as quickly as I can!"

/

Green Room

Less than an Hour Later

The deep bay window commanded an elegant view of the front stream, and Darcy stood regarding it absently. His thoughts were not on the incredible view before him, but on the vibrant face of the woman he adored. The force of his own emotions had surprised him when he first saw her alight from the carriage. An all-encompassing joy had welled in his breast until he thought his heart would burst, the fierce longing that he had locked so carefully away leaping forth again.

It had seemed so very right to welcome her to Pemberley. She looked as though she fit, as though she had been made for that drive and that venerable front hall. But did she feel that way? That was, after all, where the crux lay. Did she feel like she belonged with Pemberley? With him?

He could not help but think, from her letters, that she did. She would not lead him on, teasing him and toying with his affections. Indeed, she was all honor and integrity, and from her tone, Darcy felt it safe to entertain the hope that they would soon be engaged.

"The Green Room, Miss Bennet," a female voice said from behind him.

He turned hastily and found himself smiling as Elizabeth stepped into the room, now dressed in soft green, which matched the color of the curtains and carpet.

"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said happily. "Thank you again for inviting us. Pemberley is truly marvelous."

"Thank you," Darcy said and realized that he was tongue tied. He wished to say something elegant and charming, but in the very presence of his love, nothing he could think of sounded right.

The sound of voices from the corridor interrupted the moment, and within seconds, Jane and Charles Bingley entered the room, arm in arm, with Mrs. Bingley's lovely form swollen with new life. Husband and wife looked calm and content, and Darcy, as pleased as he was for his friend, could not help but feel a trifle envious, too.

A minute later, Georgiana and Anne arrived, followed by the two youngest Misses Bennet a minute later, until the entire party was seated comfortably on chairs and sofas. Soon after, servants entered with tea and trays containing piles of scones and muffins, and the party fell to eating and drinking with enthusiasm, with Georgiana pouring the tea. Darcy, still struggling to find words to speak, was grateful when Bingley, as was his wont, started the conversation.

"Darcy, Jane and I have been talking at some length about the future, and we are thinking that we will likely give up the lease to Netherfield Park at the end of the year, in favor of, perhaps, an estate farther north."

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth and was relieved to see her nodding and smiling at these words. His mind was inclined to find hope in that – surely she would not wish for her beloved eldest sister to move away if she were not also anticipating a move north?

"I am certain that my cousin could give you some advice about estates not too distant from Pemberley," Anne de Bourgh remarked brightly, which shook Darcy from his reverie.

"Indeed, I am confident I can learn of some good opportunities in the area," Darcy said. "In fact, there is an estate called Greenhaven only twenty miles distant which is, I believe, in excellent condition, but there will be others as well. I will have my man of business look into it."

"Thank you," Bingley said gratefully.

"Do you not like Netherfield Hall?" Georgiana asked innocently. "It seemed a pleasant house."

"The house is well enough," Lydia Bennet said cheekily, "it is the environs that are the problem."

"Lydia," Jane remonstrated, though gently.

"You know it is true, Jane," the girl replied, tossing her dark head. "Mr. Collins is not cruel, but he is sure that it is his obligation to be a part of everything going on at both Netherfield and Longbourn. It feels like we are never free of the man."

Darcy, who was watching Elizabeth, observed her nod and huff in agreement, and Kitty said, "We will miss Jane and Charles living close to Longbourn if they indeed move, but we can, we hope, visit them."

"Of course you can," Jane Bingley said promptly.

"For as long as you like," her husband finished.

"I suppose that overseeing an estate here in Derbyshire is somewhat different compared to Hertfordshire?" Elizabeth remarked, turning her fine eyes on her host.

Darcy, grasping this conversational offering with relief, said, "There are some differences, certainly. The land is hillier, and the winters longer. You will find that..."

The conversation continued between the Bingleys, Darcy, and Elizabeth, while the other ladies fell to discussing flowers and fashion. It was some thirty minutes later when a manservant entered, followed by a neatly dressed gentleman of some thirty years, whereupon Anne de Bourgh leaped to her feet and exclaimed. "Alexander! I am so glad you were able to call today!"

Elizabeth stood as well, her eyes sparkling. This must be Mr. Alexander Sinclair, and given that Anne had addressed the parson by his first name…

"Ladies, Mr. Bingley, may I please introduce my fiancé, Mr. Alexander Sinclair? Alexander, Mrs. Bingley, Miss Bennet, Miss Mary, and Miss Lydia."

"Congratulations," Elizabeth exclaimed as soon as the requisite bows and curtsies were at an end. "I am so pleased for both of you!"

"I am overjoyed as well," Mr. Sinclair said, his bright blue eyes fixed fondly on his fiancée. "I had never imagined I would be so fortunate as to win such a wonderful woman."

"When are you to be married?" Lydia piped up.

Anne and Mr. Sinclair exchanged glances, and Anne grinned. "We will be married in Kympton in exactly a week!"

"How absolutely incredible!" Elizabeth cried out.