The Darcys of Pemberley (3 page)

With his self-control firmly reestablished,
Mr. Darcy continued the conversation with his wife in the hall as
if there had been no interruption.

“If it would suit you, you can dispatch your
shopping tomorrow whilst I tend to some business at the solicitor’s
office. And what do you say to having a few friends over Wednesday?
Not a large group, possibly just the Applewhites and the Heywoods.
Would you like that?”

“An excellent notion! I long to see our
friends again, and a small group is best, I think, with the house
not being fully-staffed at present. I shall speak to Cook and send
our cards round in the morning.”

They shared a simple supper before retiring
for the night. Unlike many others of their class, the Darcys never
considered separate bedchambers. Their time alone together was
precious to them, and, with servants always about, there were few
other places where they could enjoy that luxury. In their private
sanctuary, Darcy relaxed his stately persona, and Elizabeth felt
free to lavish affection on him in ways more explicit than
permitted in public.

From the time they met, there existed no
shortage of heat between them, although it had at first been
misdirected into confrontation. After their marriage, that fire
naturally channeled into more satisfying pursuits. Darcy certainly
expected to find this aspect of married life rewarding. Elizabeth
had been less confident going in, considering the warning hints and
ambiguous information she received on the topic from her mother.
Yet, resolving to keep an open mind, she had been gratified, and
not a little surprised, to discover that her own extensive
investigation into the matter reached such a happy conclusion.

On this night, however, weary as they were
from the exertions of the day, the couple shared only the intimacy
of each other’s thoughts as they lay in mutual embrace. Darcy
cradled his wife within the curve of his arm and took pleasure in
meditating on the perfection of her face by firelight. As he did
so, he noticed the little furrow between her eyebrows that crept in
whenever she was worried or sad.

“Your cousin’s death has upset you more than
you anticipated,” he ventured.

“It is only that I cannot help thinking about
the uncertainty of life when a person who is young and healthy can
drop dead without warning. I picture us growing old together,
Darcy, but who is to say? It frightens me to apprehend that this
tragedy could just as easily have happened to us rather than to the
Collinses.” Gazing into his dark eyes, Elizabeth pleaded, “Promise
you will never leave me; I know that I could not bear it.”

“You should not upset yourself by dwelling on
such gloomy reflections, my love,” Darcy urged, drawing Elizabeth
closer and stroking her hair. “Here, with you, I shall always be,
so far as it is within my control. We must trust to God for the
rest.”

In the silence that followed, Elizabeth
pondered his assurances.

Then, with an arch look, Darcy added, “I can
at least ease your mind by promising you this. I shall always be
scrupulously careful to cut my mutton into very small pieces to
avoid your cousin’s fate.”

Elizabeth drew back in affected horror at her
husband’s irreverent remark. “For shame, Mr. Darcy! How can you be
so unfeeling?” she chastised, punctuating her words with a blow to
his ribs.

Darcy prudently protected himself from
further assault by pinning her hands to the bed with his own and
swinging a leg over her, lest she next try to kick him. These
reasonable countermeasures left the two in an interesting position.
As the tussle escalated, both parties soon forgot they had imagined
themselves to be tired, and Mr. Darcy collected his “recompense”
that night after all.

Hertfordshire

The Darcys dispatched the remainder of their
affairs in town over the course of the next two days. Elizabeth
tended to her business on Bond Street; Darcy kept his appointment
with the solicitor; and together they shared their hospitality with
friends. Then, according to prior arrangement, they traveled in
tandem with the Bingleys back to Hertfordshire, to stop with them
at Netherfield for a few days before returning to Pemberley.

After arriving and settling into their rooms,
the Darcys and the Bingleys reconvened downstairs. All four were
desirous of a good dinner and the pleasant intercourse of excellent
conversation, their appetites for the first piqued by fresh air and
travel, and for the second by the long separation of their
far-flung households. On neither count did the meal disappoint.

Gazing round the table, Jane beamed with
satisfaction. To have her dearest sister with her was heaven
itself, and by now Mr. Darcy had become a great favorite as well,
his value immutably established in her eyes by seeing Elizabeth
made so happy. Jane’s own felicity rested in equally reliable
hands. Mr. Bingley was utterly devoted to his wife, having declared
her an angel the first night they met and never repenting of that
opinion. His attentions to her now were particularly solicitous;
Jane all but glowed under their warmth.

Upon observing this, Elizabeth began to
entertain the notion that her sister could well be in possession of
a precious secret. She did not remark on her theory in front of the
men. Instead she awaited the first opportunity to forward the topic
with Jane in private. She found her opening after dinner when she
and her sister withdrew, leaving the gentlemen to their tobacco and
port. Unable to restrain her curiosity any longer, Elizabeth took
Jane’s hand as they settled side by side in the front drawing
room.

“I am delighted to see you looking so well,
dearest,” she said in a playful tone. “Indeed, you have such a glow
of health and beauty about you as I never remember noticing before.
Is it possible that you have some especially good news for me?”

“Oh, Lizzy, I had determined not to say one
word about it! But then, I never was able to conceal anything from
you. It seems I am too transparent for disguise.” A quiet effusion
of emotion followed. Then Jane cautioned, “It is much too soon to
be absolutely certain of my condition, and therefore, Lizzy, I must
beg you not to let slip even a hint of it to anyone else.”

“Yes, you are wise to wait with an
announcement. Remember when Mr. Collins prematurely published the
news of his anticipated ‘young olive-branch’? Poor Charlotte was so
embarrassed when it all came to naught,” Elizabeth recalled. “Well,
you can depend on me. I shan’t say a word, however sorely I am
tempted. I trust I may make an exception for Mr. Darcy, however. A
husband and wife must have no secrets from each other, and his
discretion, as you know, is unimpeachable.”

It was agreed that Elizabeth should make the
disclosure later rather than broach such a delicate subject in
mixed company. So they said nothing about the matter when the men
rejoined them.

The rest of the day passed congenially – a
stroll round the park, conversation, and the evening’s
entertainments of cards and music. Elizabeth, being the only one
amongst them who played even tolerably well, took her place at the
pianoforte at the urging of the others. She was not a great talent,
and someone with a more critical ear might have found fault, but
those present were disposed to be pleased with her unaffected style
and sweet voice. Darcy sat transfixed, as he always did when his
wife played and sang. And Elizabeth, who was modest in the
estimation of her own skill, found encouragement in his steadfast
look of approval.

That night, Elizabeth shared the Bingleys’
excellent news with her husband who, although not so outwardly
moved, was nonetheless deeply pleased for them. The hearty
congratulations and vigorous handshake he offered Mr. Bingley in
the morning left no doubt of his good information. Little more
passed openly between them on the subject, but a general state of
cheer reigned round the breakfast table.

Afterward, the Darcys were obliged to drive
to Longbourn to wait upon the Bennets.

As the Bingleys sent them off, Jane
whispered, “Remember, Lizzy, not a word to Mama.”

“Right you are, dearest. Nothing would put a
more abrupt end to any chance of discretion in the matter.”

Elizabeth looked forward to seeing her
family, her father especially, but she still harbored a measure of
trepidation on her husband’s behalf. To be sure, his reception at
Longbourn had vastly improved upon joining the family. Even Mrs.
Bennet, who had abused him so overtly in the past, was now
prodigiously proud of her son-in-law and wasted no opportunity to
mention his name and income to her friends. The revolution of her
sentiments in Darcy’s favor did not essentially improve her
behavior, however. She merely exchanged unwarranted scorn for
excessive flattery.

The Bennets received their guests warmly and
ushered them into the sitting room with much commotion. The women
embraced; the men shook hands; pleasantries were exchanged all
round; and everyone took a seat. As was her wont, Mrs. Bennet
seized for herself the responsibility of carrying the
conversation.

“My goodness gracious, how well you both
look! Lizzy, your father and I were just saying how delighted we
should be to have our own dear girl home with us again, and here
you are. And Mr. Darcy, you know you are always exceedingly welcome
too. It seems an age since you were last at Longbourn, but as you
see, here everything goes on just the same. It is very, very kind
of you to call. We would have been prodigiously pleased to have you
stay with us, of course, but I suppose you are happier at
Netherfield, where there is a vast deal more room. I have always
said it is the finest house in Hertfordshire. What satisfaction it
gives me to know that dear Jane is now mistress there, exactly as
we had hoped for so long. Do you bring us any news from your
sister, Elizabeth?”

“No, Mama, no news,” she answered with a sly
smile, “but they are well and we are quite comfortable there. Thank
you for your concern.”

Then Mrs. Bennet started off again.

“What a strange business this is with Mr.
Collins. I do not know when I have ever heard of anything so odd.
When we first learnt the news, I felt sure there must be some
mistake, but then we had it straight from Lady Lucas that it was
true. Lizzy, you should have seen the state she was in. It was very
like one of my attacks of nerves. Poor thing! And imagine,
Charlotte a widow so soon. Poor Mr. Collins! He was such a
pleasant, respectable young man. I was always particularly fond of
him. I daresay any mother would be proud to have such a fine
gentleman for a son-in-law. But never mind that, Lizzy,” she
whispered. “I vouchsafe it is better things turned out for you as
they did.”

After half an hour of this fare, Mr. Bennet
excused himself, inviting his son-in-law to join him in the
library. Mr. Darcy accepted with alacrity, since he was by this
time no less ready for a change of scene and society. With the
gentlemen out of the room, Mrs. Bennet no longer felt compelled to
fill every silence. She relaxed enough to allow her daughters a
share in the conversation – a most welcome reprieve.

Elizabeth had seen little of Mary during the
last year as Mrs. Bennet could never spare her from home to go
visiting her sisters. The girl was an unlikely companion for her
mother, their temperaments being so dissimilar, but she seemed to
have adjusted to the change in her circumstance remarkably well.
With Mary taking over the home duties, Kitty found herself more at
liberty to accept invitations from Jane and Elizabeth. Spending so
much time away from Longbourn and under the influence of superior
society had operated to the girl’s advantage in the considerable
amendment of her character.

When Mrs. Bennet left the room to speak to
Cook about the dinner arrangements, Elizabeth slipped away to find
the men. Though her husband and father were quite different sorts,
their shared partiality for her gave them common ground and served
as the basis for the good understanding they had forged between
them. It pleased her to discover them doing so well together
now.

After listening to their conversation for a
moment unobserved, she joined them. “And what are my two favorite
men finding to talk about? What so engrosses you that you neglect
the ladies?”

“Ah, there you are my dear,” said her father.
“Your fine husband has just been inviting me to Pemberley for some
sport. He says that the pheasant are so thick upon the ground this
year that it will be impossible to miss a shot! But I venture to
say that Mr. Darcy does not yet know my exceptional talent for
sending my shots astray, or he would never have made such a
reckless claim. I think I must take it as a personal challenge and
accept the invitation.”

Darcy smiled at his father-in-law’s little
jest. “I hope you will, sir, anytime convenient.”

The carriage was ordered directly after
dinner, and, with the promise to call again before they repaired to
the north, the Darcys took their leave. They were presently
returned to Netherfield and to the Bingleys, with whom they spent
the whole of the next day in mutually enjoyable pursuits. The men
walked out to shoot whilst the ladies sat and talked. The ladies
took a turn round the park whilst the men occupied themselves with
billiards. The four of them played Whist, but paid more attention
to their companions than to the cards.

As the game paused between hands, Darcy
leaned back in his chair and cast an admiring gaze about the room.
“This has always been a handsome house, Bingley, and you have made
some fine improvements since you came here. Do you plan any further
changes?” he asked.

Mr. Bingley gave Jane a quizzical look. She
offered a little nod in answer.

“Well, since you ask…” Bingley began
tentatively. “After thinking about this for some considerable time,
we have come to the conclusion that it would be best for us to
change to another house entirely.” Seeing Darcy and Elizabeth’s
astonished expressions, Bingley went on to explain. “As you know,
old friend, it has always been my goal to acquire an estate of my
own, something solid I can hand down to my son one day. Jane and I
agree that now is the time to act on it. We adore Netherfield, but
it does have certain insurmountable drawbacks, chiefly the fact
that I am obliged to
lease
the house because it is not for
sale. So now we intend to start the search for a suitable estate to
purchase or lands on which to build our own home.”