by Jann Rowland
“I may not be. But I do not think it is an appropriate conversation to have when nothing is settled.”
“Oh, nonsense!” exclaimed Georgiana. “I shall not proclaim it to all the world. If you will not say anything, then let me inform you that it would please me if you were to become my sister!”
Elizabeth looked on her friend with bemusement. “I have heard it said that Georgiana Darcy is a girl of reticence, a shy and retiring creature. Can this be she who walks at my side?”
“If I have changed, you have only yourself to blame,” said Georgiana. “And when we return to society, I shall be as you describe with those unknown to me. With you, I may behave in any way that I like, as I know you and esteem you very much. Now, do not change the subject, Elizabeth. What do you think of my brother?”
“Who can say anything against him?” asked Elizabeth, deciding she had best appease her friend. “Yes, Georgiana, I esteem your brother above every other man of my acquaintance. At present I cannot say if he will make any overtures. I shall not know how to act until your brother takes that step.”
“Then you do not know my brother as well as you think,” said Georgiana, her voice laced with affection. “Do you not see how he esteems you?”
“I do not think his interest is as obvious as you suggest,” demurred Elizabeth.
“But it is!” exclaimed Georgiana. Stopping in the middle of the path, Georgiana fixed Elizabeth with an expressive look and said: “I know your acquaintance with William is not of long duration, and perhaps that prevents you from understanding how significant his behavior with you is. Can you not remember how he behaved with Miss Bingley?”
Elizabeth tried for levity in her answer. “I behave that way with Miss Bingley, as does everyone disgusted with her behavior!”
“Exactly. William avoids her and wishes to have little contact with her because of that. He is much the same with most others because he is uncomfortable with them. With you, he is at his ease.”
To this, Elizabeth found she had little to say, for she had noticed the same herself. This brief moment of introspection allowed Georgiana to speak again before Elizabeth could muster a response. She did so while stepping forward and grasping Elizabeth’s hands.
“Indeed, you should believe me, Elizabeth. Anyone who sees William in company with you cannot fail to see the admiration with which he regards you. The question is, what will you do should my prediction come true and William offers for you?”
“At this moment, I cannot say,” said Elizabeth. Georgiana’s look darkened and she was on the verge of some outburst, which Elizabeth acted to forestall. “It is not that I do not esteem your brother, Georgiana—nothing could be further from the truth.”
“Then what prevents you from accepting this happiness?”
“Only time, Georgiana,” replied Elizabeth with a smile. “Perhaps all you say about your brother is true, but he has, as yet, made no overt moves toward formalizing an understanding with me. Until he does, such speculation is pointless.”
Georgiana regarded her for a few moments, then saying: “Then you are not opposed to my brother as a husband.”
“I have said I am not.”
Amused as she was at Georgiana’s insistence, Elizabeth could not help the laughter which bubbled forth, in which her younger friend joined her. To an onlooker, they might have appeared silly, as they laughed with abandon at nothing at all. To Elizabeth, it was a sign of happiness to come, happiness, despite her cautious statements, she was becoming more inclined to grasp with both hands should Mr. Darcy extend it to her.
“Do not disappoint me, Elizabeth,” said Georgiana, her tone mock-stern. “I wish to have you for a sister and shall not take a demurral for an answer.”
Laughing gaily, Elizabeth exclaimed: “I see you are far more concerned with your own happiness than your brother’s! Is selfishness a trait I must correct in you should I become your brother’s wife?”
“You may do as you like as long as you accept him,” said Georgiana. “And I should not think of it in such a light. Consider that in securing my happiness, I am also securing my brother’s. There is nothing the matter with that.”
With an impish smile, Georgiana turned and began walking again, leaving Elizabeth to watch her as she did so. The question of Mr. Darcy’s sister now answered without the possibility for misunderstanding, Elizabeth considered what might be in her future as she followed. Though she had noticed the gentleman’s behavior, Elizabeth had not thought his interest was yet as pronounced as Georgiana claimed. Perhaps she was incorrect.
Only a few days were necessary for Mr. Bingley and Jane to determine that Hazelwood was to be their new home. Jane was her typical calm self in the face of such a noteworthy event, but Mr. Bingley’s enthusiasm was not unexpected, for the gentleman waxed long and eloquent in the praise of his new home and his eagerness that they might move into its comfortable halls. In this Elizabeth could not blame her brother, for no one deserved it more than her dear relations.
“Do you take possession of the estate at Michaelmas?” asked Elizabeth when he announced his purchase, much to the company’s delight.
“Yes, we do,” said he, “so there will be much to do until then, for there is furniture to move, purchases to be made, and many other items of business besides.” Mr. Bingley paused and grinned. “I have little doubt that your items alone will take much of our time. Or shall Mr. Collins fight us for the right to host you? Perhaps it will be necessary to resort to underhanded stratagems to remove your effects from Longbourn?”
Elizabeth laughed along with the rest of the company. “I suspect Mr. Collins will have it all on Longbourn’s drive, ready for the servants to remove it to Netherfield, for he cannot wait to see me leave his home.”
“That may not be quite true, Lizzy,” said Jane, fixing her with a sly smile. “Did Mr. Collins not protest you ‘imposing upon’ Mr. Darcy and his family? Perhaps he will lock you in your room when you return and refuse to let you out.”
Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley shared a look before Mr. Bingley interjected a remedy. “If he does, it will be my responsibility and that of my friend to see to your rescue, for we cannot have the odious Mr. Collins locking you in a tower, never again to see the light of day!”
“I shall count upon your goodwill then, Mr. Bingley, and not fear to step into Mr. Collins’s domain again.”
The banter continued for some time after, many comments made in good cheer and gentle teasing. As she participated, Elizabeth considered what this meant for Mr. Bingley and her dearest sister. The Bingleys, she knew, came from a line of respectable tradesmen, and from comments she had heard, she suspected they had long wished to join the ranks of the landed gentleman class but had not had the means to do it. Mr. Bingley’s friendship with Mr. Darcy opened many doors in this respect which might otherwise have remained closed, as did his possession of a fortune. For Mr. Bingley, it was clear the thought of fulfilling his father’s charge, and purchasing the estate was a matter of great pride. Elizabeth could not be happier for him.
The reason for their visit to Mr. Darcy’s estate accomplished, the Bingleys turned their attention to their return to Hertfordshire, a goal Elizabeth would not have thought them so eager to accomplish had they not completed the purchase of their estate. As June had ended and July was now nearing its midpoint, the time to depart Pemberley for their sundry destinations was approaching. While leaving the venerable estate was a matter of regret, Elizabeth also looked forward to new adventures and staying with Georgiana’s aunt.
During this time, Elizabeth kept up her habits of walking, exploring, and enjoying her surroundings, often accompanied by the others of the party. As the time for their departure grew closer, however, she noted that Mr. Darcy attended her more often than any others. On a day not long before the end of their stay, Elizabeth received the firmest indication of the gentleman’s interest than she had heretofore seen.
It was a lovely summer day when Mr. Darcy suggested they
eschew walking in favor of riding to see some far-flung sight on his estate. By now more comfortable in a saddle than she had ever been, Elizabeth agreed, joining the gentleman in riding out, eager to feel the wind on her face, which she had discovered was a fine thing from the back of a horse. With Mr. Darcy leading, they cantered out toward the north and a small ruin Mr. Darcy had mentioned a few days earlier, eager to see this bit of history.
The location was a little north of Mr. Darcy’s estate, and was, in reality, little more than the remains of a few stone walls. There was a placid river nearby which provided them some moments of interest, as did a field of flowers nearby. The scents were heavenly, inducing Elizabeth to breathe deeply and to reflect that living in the city would deny her such simple pleasures. There could be nothing better than this. They explored the area a little, and Mr. Darcy suggested showing her another location on his estate, to which Elizabeth agreed without hesitation.
“So, you have decided you shall live with your sister?” asked Mr. Darcy as they walked, turning the conversation back to Mr. Bingley’s recent purchase.
“Jane would not rest until she secured a promise to do so!” said Elizabeth with a laugh. “It took little convincing, for I did not wish to return to Longbourn.”
Elizabeth paused, and Mr. Darcy seemed to sense she had more to say, for he watched her and did not speak. “Longbourn is different under my cousin’s management. It is not the cheery and sometimes hectic home I knew from my youth, so much so that I do not even know it. Though I cherish my memories, with my father gone, I cannot consider it my home any longer.” Throwing a grin at Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth added: “I hope that Hazelwood will feel like home before long; with Jane and Mr. Bingley, I have no doubt it will.”
Then Elizabeth became pensive again: “But I am not done with Longbourn forever, for I fear I must brave it and its master one more time.”
“What do you mean?” asked Mr. Darcy.
“My mother wishes me to return to Longbourn when I leave Derbyshire.”
The words, though spoken in a quiet tone, Mr. Darcy heard, for he watched her, though he did not speak, waiting for her to continue instead.
“I received a letter from her a few days ago. Longbourn is not my home any longer, Mr. Darcy, but my mother is still there, and I cannot abandon her.”
“Staying in Mr. Collins’s house is not required, I should think,” protested Mr. Darcy. “If you visit Netherfield you shall see your mother often.”
“That is true,” acknowledged Elizabeth. “But it is not the same. Though Mr. Collins is as distasteful a man as I have ever met, I cannot think staying in his house for a few days shall do any harm.”
Though it appeared Mr. Darcy wished to protest further, he nodded. “Yes, I can see that. So, you mean to only stay for a few days?”
With an impish grin, Elizabeth said: “I doubt my ability to tolerate him longer than a few days.”
Mr. Darcy did not laugh, but his smile carried a rueful quality Elizabeth did not know quite how to interpret. This was the reason she had not told Jane or Mr. Bingley of her mother’s request yet, for she knew they—and her uncle—would object to her spending one more moment in Mr. Collins’s company than required, and she was certain they would not like her staying there.
Mr. Collins, while he was an objectionable man, was not vicious. He was stupid, but not one she should fear. Though Elizabeth knew she would not enjoy her time in his house, Elizabeth was certain she could stay there for a few days and emerge unscathed. During her stay there, Elizabeth would inform them all of her decision to live with the Bingleys. Her mother, she knew, would wail over her failure to attract a husband and her decision to live elsewhere, but she would see the benefits of the Bingleys’ situation. As for Mary, Elizabeth thought she would receive Mary’s congratulations, though she also suspected Mary would also be relieved that there would be one less mouth to feed on a permanent basis. Mr. Collins would feel nothing but relief, though his insistence on his position as Elizabeth’s guardian would result in interference or at least a hefty measure of useless and unintelligible instruction.
“Then I suppose you must do what you feel is best,” said Mr. Darcy, interrupting the reverie which had fallen over Elizabeth. “For the moment, however, that return is in the future, for you are to remain in Derbyshire after your sister departs.”
“Yes, and I am curious about your uncle’s estate, Mr. Darcy. Is Snowlock much different from Pemberley?”
“You cannot expect that I, of all people, would compare Snowlock favorably to Pemberley, Miss Bennet.”
“Perish the thought!” exclaimed Elizabeth, sending them both to laughter. “But you must have some observations you may share which will not result in too much pride in your own home or disparagement of another.”
“No, Snowlock is a pleasant enough estate,” said Mr. Darcy. As he rode, he switched the reins to his other hand, his motions absent, bespeaking his utter confidence and familiarity with his position. “The house is perhaps a little larger than Pemberley, though the estate is a little smaller. There are woods, fields, streams, and rocks aplenty to hold your interest, though it is far enough away that one cannot see the peaks. I shall not say it is an unpleasant estate, for all that I prefer Pemberley.”
“I would not expect it of you,” said Elizabeth.
“Now that you are to move to Derbyshire,” said Mr. Darcy, changing the subject a little, “what do you think of it? Has it met your expectations for beauty, or have Georgiana and I spoken of it with too much fondness?”
“Oh, no, Mr. Darcy, I believe your words have been proven true.” Elizabeth sighed and looked about, her eyes roving over bits of paradise wherever she looked. “I suppose you would have been blind had you missed it, but I am very much a creature of the country. Though I love the culture of society, including music, art, literature, I am happiest amid the glories of nature. Though some may sneer at small societies such as that in which I was raised, I find those people more honest, genuine, and friendly than those in London, though perhaps they are not as interesting. I can be as happy attending a small-town assembly as I am attending a ball given by the Duchess of Devonshire herself.”
“And this is something with which you have experience?” teased Mr. Darcy.
Shaking her head and chuckling, Elizabeth said: “No, Mr. Darcy, I have not. What I do have is experience at your aunt’s ball, and though she managed a lovely event, I need not be in the presence of those who consider themselves high and mighty to appreciate my worth.”
“I cannot but agree,” said Mr. Darcy. “Then you think living in Derbyshire will bring you happiness?”
“I can imagine being very happy here, sir. Who could disapprove?”
A short time later they arrived at their destination and dismounted. It was a small clearing with a pond set in it, perhaps fifty paces across. To one side stood a low hill, watching over the pond like a sentinel, with wildflowers all around, the woods made of a mixture of beech and rowan. When they slipped from their saddles, they led the horses to the side of the pond and allowed them to drink for a time.
“This was one of my favorite places on the estate when I was young,” said Mr. Darcy, looking about, seeming at one with the location. “Fitzwilliam and I used to ride here when he stayed at Pemberley with us. We would swim in the pond, cooling ourselves from the heat of the day.”
“And Mr. Wickham did not accompany you?”
Mr. Darcy made a face at the reminder of his childhood friend. “Wickham was never much for swimming, and he and Fitzwilliam did not get on well, regardless.”
With a nod, Elizabeth allowed the subject to drop. “The pond appears to be a little small for fishing.”
“It is. There is better fishing in the lake and stream near Pemberley and not enough in this pond to warrant dragging our poles and hooks here.”
The companions remained silent for several minutes as they considered the beauties around them. Out in the middle of the pond, Elizabeth noted
a slight ripple of a fish poking its nose up out of the water, which when Elizabeth pointed it out, prompted a smile from Mr. Darcy.
“I did not say there were no fish in this pond, Miss Bennet. There are a few, and they are small.”
The gentleman paused for a moment, seeming unsure of himself. Then when he squared his shoulders and faced her, Elizabeth was certain he had something of great import to say to her, something which would affect her for the rest of her life.
“I am . . . pleased you have enjoyed staying at my home, Miss Bennet,” said he at last. “Having you here with your sister and my close friend has been a blessing, for Pemberley has seen the echoes of laughter return to her halls after an absence far longer than it should.”
“Has there been no laughter in your life, Mr. Darcy?” asked Elizabeth, regarding the gentleman with concern.
“Pemberley has never been a place of much mirth in my experience,” replied Mr. Darcy, looking out over the pond. “My father was not a man given to it, and Georgiana and I have similar dispositions. This estate has been a solemn place as long as I can remember.” Mr. Darcy smiled, a gesture of remembrance rather than mirth. “Fitzwilliam once referred to it as a mausoleum, though I do not believe my home is quite so grim as that.”
“Then we shall have to visit again, Mr. Darcy. As often as the occasion allows it, for it would not do to have such a fine place resemble a burial ground.”
Mr. Darcy turned his smile on Elizabeth, who felt butterflies fluttering in her belly. “No, that would be unconscionable, Miss Bennet. If you are present to assist us, I cannot think Pemberley’s future can be anything other than a bright one, full of laughter.”
Perhaps Mr. Darcy was saying more than Elizabeth realized. Though she gazed into his eyes, seeing something in their depths that gave her hope, joy, and contentment all at once, she decided it would not do to expect anything of this man that he did not offer. Thus, content with her decision and with his companionship, Elizabeth turned her attention back to the pond before them. There could be no better place to be than by his side.
