The Pemberley Chronicles (2 page)

The servants gathered up the debris on the lawn, and the guests began to leave. Some of them seemed more reluctant to go than others. Mr Bennet looked as if he would like them to be gone, but Mrs Bennet would not stop talking, endlessly, to Mrs Long, Aunt Philips, Lady Lucas, and anyone else who would listen, detailing her joy at having her two most beautiful daughters so well married and settled. She was full of news too about Jane and Charles and their journey to London and bemoaned the fact that she knew so little of Elizabeth and Darcy's plans, except the couple were to be at Pemberley for Christmas. She was still too much in awe of Mr Darcy to ask him outright.

As we were to learn later, while the Bingleys headed for London, Darcy hoped the time and the environment of the lovely border country would give Lizzie and himself a chance to be alone together as they never could, amidst the bustle of friends and families at Longbourn.

They broke journey and spent their first few days at a very pleasing hostelry outside the university town of Oxford. At Oxford, Darcy, a Cambridge man himself, took his wife to meet an old friend, a clergyman, who had spent some time at the Kympton living in Derbyshire prior to returning to continue his theological studies at Oxford. Dr Francis Grantley was two years Darcy's senior, learned and witty with it, not at all sombre and pompous as some clergymen one could name! "Poor Charlotte," Elizabeth sighed for her

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friend as she recalled with a shudder the silliness of Mr Collins. Dr Grantley was quite another matter, said Elizabeth in her letter to Mrs Gardiner, written before the couple left Oxford:

I am sure, my dear Aunt, that you would like him very much indeed. He is Mr Darcy's dearest friend and they have known one another for many years, since Dr Grantley was assistant to the curate at Kympton, the picturesque little parish we visited in Derbyshire last Summer. We spent all day with him, visiting some of the wonderful libraries and College Chapels, including his own college, St John's, which has a renowned Chapel choir and delightful gardens. Mr Darcy has invited Dr Grantley to return to the living at Kympton, which is now vacant, during his sabbatical and I for one would welcome it; we could do with another gentleman of education and taste at Pemberley!

Elizabeth was interrupted at this point by her husband, who came in to dress for dinner, having given instructions for their journey to Bristol on the following day. In a touching gesture, he had brought her a rose, picked fresh from the garden, taking her by surprise, as he would do often in the future. Recounting the incident to her aunt, Elizabeth confessed she was more pleasured by these unexpected and spontaneous expressions of affection, than by the ritualised courtliness affected by many men in smart society.

She let him read her letter while she completed her preparations. It was the first time she had let anyone other than Jane see any of her letters, and she was conscious of what it signified between them. That he was pleased with what he read, she knew from his smile as he handed it back to her and the warmth with which he embraced her before they left the room to go to dinner. There would be an openness between them that would enhance the intimacy of their marriage, and she was excited by its rich promise for their future together.

Later that night, Elizabeth rose quietly from bed as her husband slept, and finished her letter to Mrs Gardiner:

You will be happy to learn, dear Aunt, that my dear husband approves of my excellent judgement--not only with regard to my appreciation of Dr Grantley but more especially in my love and esteem for himself--as expressed earlier in

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my letter; both feelings, he assures me, are returned in full measure. I need not say again how very happy we are, but I almost fear that were I not to say it, you may not know how completely certain I am of the correctness of my decision to marry Mr Darcy. I know my dear father had his doubts, but you, I am sure, did not share them. Indeed, in your letter to me after Lydia's dreadful faux pas, relating the part Mr Darcy played in resolving the problems caused by Wickham and Lydia's stupidity, you were most generous in your praise of him, and had I not already realised that I loved him, I would certainly have been persuaded to look again at this paragon! I am so glad, however that I needed no such persuasion; having come to understand how deeply I cared for him, it was good to have your confirmation of his virtues. Since then, every occasion that we have been together, whether alone or in company, has only served to confirm my good opinion of him. Dear Aunt, he is a most generous and honourable gentleman and as I have discovered since our marriage, a truly loving husband.

Thank you again, my dearest Aunt and Uncle, for your part in bringing us together; for persuading me to visit Pemberley on that beautiful morning. We have spoken often of those Summer days in Derbyshire, and Mr Darcy agrees with me they will forever be part of our most precious memories. He sends you his love and best regards.

A sudden sound outside the window, and Darcy stirred in his sleep. Elizabeth, fearful of disturbing him, hurried to conclude her letter:

Mr Darcy tells me that Dr Grantley has agreed to spend his next sabbatical at Pemberley, where he will have access to the library for his work. He is, I am told, a theologian of some repute. Even better, he will be with us at Christmas, when you will be able to meet him, a pleasure I can promise you, with confidence. Georgiana will also be there, more pleasant company to look forward to.

We leave tomorrow for Bristol but are to stay at Clifton, so should you have time to write, we shall be at the Royal at Richmond Terrace for ten days.

It is late, and I should close this before I go to bed, so it will be in your hands as early as possible. Do give our love to the children and say we look
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forward to seeing them. (Caroline and Emily were the sweetest of little maids and though our bridesmaids Georgiana and Kitty were very handsome, the little ones got most of the compliments!)

I'll say goodnight with love,
your affectionate niece, Lizzie.

The following morning, after breakfast, they left for Bristol. Elizabeth looked forward to the journey, which took them through Gloucestershire, with which she was not familiar. Darcy, on the other hand, had travelled these roads often en route to Cheltenham, Gloucester, and the family properties in Wales. He was, therefore, well informed and able to prepare Lizzie for the scenes and vistas to look out for as well as provide some of the information about the places they could visit along the way.

The countryside was new and interesting to her; there were many places to study and admire. Darcy was a particularly good teacher, and Elizabeth was eager to learn. It was, for her, a most satisfying and salutary experience. She was both disarmed and charmed by her husband's patience in answering all of her questions and pleased to discover how much she could enjoy depending upon him.

Reaching their destination late in the afternoon, Elizabeth was tired with travelling all day, and Darcy, whose solicitude for his bride knew no bounds, insisted that she should go directly to their rooms, while he had their luggage carried upstairs. Within the next half-hour, not only did she find herself ensconced in a spacious and comfortable suite of rooms overlooking the river, well down from the bustle of Bristol, but a pleasant young woman had presented herself, offering her services as a lady's maid. When Darcy appeared, some time later, he was accompanied by a manservant who brought in a collation of cold meats, cheese, bread, and fruit for the travellers, as well as wine and a great pot of tea to comfort the weary.

To complete her happiness, Darcy had in his hand a letter from Jane, which had awaited their arrival at Richmond Terrace. Elizabeth cried out and hugged him with an excess of enthusiasm that quite astonished and delighted her husband, who was singularly unaccustomed to such overt displays of affection. For Lizzie, no amount of appreciation was too much for the care and pleasure with which he had surrounded her.

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As she later wrote to her sister Jane:
There was not one more thing I could have wished for, except perhaps to share my pleasure with you, dearest Jane, which I am doing now.

After they had eaten, Darcy went out for a walk around The Mall, urging his wife to take some more refreshment and rest awhile. Elizabeth was not at all averse to complying with his instructions. Comfortably tucked into a chaise lounge with a fire to warm the room, which was pleasantly invaded by an Autumn breeze, she opened up Jane's letter. It was, just as Elizabeth had expected, full of her happiness and her husband's kindness and love. Jane could barely get the words out to convey to her sister all the new experiences she was enjoying. Marriage, combined with the excitement of London, with its balls and parties and crowded shops, a rush of new places and people--she must have been left breathless by it all. It was almost with relief that Lizzie read that they were to spend a week away at Maidenhead, at the invitation of one of Bingley's friends.

Oh Lizzie, I have to confess we are both looking forward to it mainly for the peace and quiet. We have spent so little time alone for we are forever surrounded by kind friends, who will insist on our dining or going out to balls with them. They are all full of compliments and mostly very charming, but I tire of all this and long to curl up on the sofa and dream as we used to . . .

Elizabeth laughed out loud, since this was exactly what she was doing. She knew just what Jane meant as she read on:
Dearest Lizzie, do you recall our conversation on the night before our wedding?

Elizabeth remembered it well. Despite the conviction that they had both made the right decision in accepting two of the most eligible, fine, handsome, young men they were ever likely to meet, there had been a moment of trepidation as the two sisters had embraced before parting that night. That they loved their chosen partners they knew only too well, for they had carried the secret in their hearts over many months. Nor were they in any doubt that they were deeply loved by two men, who had made them the envy of ladies for miles around.

Still, there was anxiety perhaps from the lack of an example of a happy marriage at home, for though they rarely spoke of it, Jane and Elizabeth knew that their parents' lack of mutual respect and understanding and their obvious incompatibility had made for a very poor sort of marriage. Both sisters had been determined never to fall into such a trap, however well baited it may be. Elizabeth remembered her aunt's sage advice, when she had thought--nay feared--that Lizzie might be falling in love with Wickham. A cold shiver passed through her at the thought of her escape.

Jane's happiness and her confidence in the love she had found with Charles Bingley spilled across the pages of her letter:

My dear Sister, I want so much to set your heart at rest on my behalf. I have been so blessed that I have no doubts at all and indeed I wonder at my ever having had them. Mr Bingley has made me so happy. Lizzie, I am the happiest person in the world!

Once more, Elizabeth laughed, this time softly and indulgently, as her mind slid gently on to the subject of her own marriage and the happiness she and Mr Darcy were finding each day they spent together. The letter fell to the floor, as she gazed out at the distant horizon across the river, letting her thoughts follow. It was in this pleasant reverie that Darcy found her when he returned from his walk.

On reading Jane's letter, he understood her mood and was happy to match it for the rest of the evening. As on previous occasions, when they had been alone together, neither needed to say very much to express feelings deeply held: sensations that Darcy had struggled for months to overcome and Elizabeth had not known she could feel. Yet, now, as they discovered their need for each other, they flowed easily and naturally. As always, there was a mixture of passion and playfulness between them; of laughter and love, which would ensure that theirs would be an ardour free of the cloying effects of excess. Elizabeth's excellent sense of humour and Darcy's quiet dignity would always lighten and balance their marriage.

Elizabeth decided to postpone her reply to Jane for a day or two. She wanted time to absorb and enjoy the experiences she was sharing with her husband. She did not feel capable of putting her present emotions on paper; she could barely

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express them to the man she loved so much and then only with some degree of shyness and much loving encouragement. She longed to share her joy with her beloved sister but wanted more time to hold it close to her own heart first.

J

Clifton and its salubrious environs afforded Elizabeth and Darcy many hours of entertainment. Having visited many more castles--old and new, some in the strange pseudo-Gothic style--than either of them had hoped to see in their lives, they decided they would see no more but would enjoy a leisurely drive through the West Country. They stopped at Kingsweston to admire the exquisite prospect stretching across three counties, broke journey at Cheltenham, and then proceeded to cross the border into what was for Elizabeth new, uncharted territory amongst the mountains and valleys of Wales.

The wildness of the Welsh landscape, at times almost over-powering, added a new dimension to their enjoyment. Travelling slowly, without the pressure of timetables, Darcy and Elizabeth found time and solitude conducive to their mood. That Darcy ardently and sincerely loved her, Elizabeth was left in no doubt. For her part, she was learning to enjoy being so deeply loved and found new excitement in falling more in love with a man she admired and esteemed. That this man was now her husband--a circumstance unthinkable a mere six months ago--made her smile.

More and more she longed for the days when they would be at Pemberley together, the environment in which she was sure they would find the greatest happiness, where their dearest wishes could be fulfilled. As they travelled, they had talked of their future plans, and Darcy made it very clear to Elizabeth that she would be Mistress of Pemberley in her own right and should feel quite comfortable with her role. He invited her to talk with Mrs Reynolds and suggest what changes she felt were needed. "You must feel free to suggest whatever you decide is appropriate, Lizzie, because Pemberley is your home now, and I shall depend on you to tell me what needs to be done to improve it."