A Companion For Miss Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 31

  The carriage stopped and they climbed out to stretch their legs. Mr Darcy took Elizabeth to the far side of the eminence, from where she could look down on to her new home. Her first view of Pemberley made her heart expand, for it was magnificent. It was at the opposite side of a valley, with wooded hills behind it. In front of it was a wide stream, which swelled into a lake and reflected the house.

  Elizabeth caught her breath. It was the most handsome, the most elegant, the most impressive house she had ever seen.

  There were cries and exclamations of approval and delight from all around. Her relations were all warm in their admiration, noting the handsome stone and majestic columns, admiring its setting, and commenting on the mirror-like qualities of the lake.

  Her heart swelled, and she felt that, to be mistress of Pemberley was something indeed. Mistress of Pemberley! But yes, that was what she would be. Within a few days, all this would be hers. The splendid house, the woods, the lake, the immaculate gardens, the majestic grounds . . . she could hardly believe it. And yet a glance at Mr Darcy showed her that it was real. He was looking at her adoringly.

  ‘All this . . .’ she said, lost for words.

  ‘Yes, all this,’ he said, gazing down at her. ‘All this, for you.’

  He gave her his arm and they strolled along the eminence, looking down on the house below. He pointed out aspects of particular interest and beauty, and she looked from one dazzling view to another.

  A cloud crossed the sun and the light grew dim. The day brightened again as the cloud moved on, but they had been reminded that it was winter, and that the daylight would not last for much longer.

  Still exclaiming over Pemberley’s beauty, they returned to their carriages.

  As Elizabeth climbed inside, she caught her aunt’s eye. She saw Mrs Gardiner’s wonder and joy at the brilliant future Elizabeth was to enjoy. Mrs Gardiner was not easily impressed, but she was impressed by the glittering prospect opening out in front of her niece, and it put the final seal of approval on Elizabeth’s destiny.

  The carriages set off on their final part of the journey. They descended the hill, crossed the bridge over the stream and drove to the door, where the carriage rolled to a halt.

  Elizabeth gazed at the front of Pemberley in all its splendours, with its stone columns and colonnade. Its height was far greater than any she had seen, and as she went beneath the arch that led through to the courtyard, further glories opened out before her. A double set of stone stairs led up to the door.

  ‘Well, Lizzy, what do you think of your new home? Do you like what you see?’ asked Mr Darcy.

  ‘It is beyond my wildest dreams,’ she said.

  He smiled.

  ‘I hope the inside will not disappoint.’

  The other carriages had come to a halt and by now the whole party was assembled in the courtyard. Georgiana was welcoming the other guests to her home, telling them something of Pemberley and saying she was glad to be able to repay their hospitality, for they had always made her feel very welcome at Longbourn.

  Kitty was struck dumb by the magnificence of the place. Mary mumbled something about Doric columns, and Lydia managed only to say, ‘La!’

  The Philipses and Mrs Gardiner were able to converse in more sensible fashion, but they were clearly impressed by the imposing house.

  Mr Darcy gave Elizabeth his arm and led her to the front door, with the others following behind.

  The door was opened by a stately butler who bowed and bid them welcome. They went into the hall, where a respectable-looking, elderly woman was waiting to greet them.

  ‘Mrs Reynolds, here we are, back again,’ said Georgiana.

  Her tone of voice showed how pleased she was to be home.

  Mrs Reynolds welcomed them all respectfully, then asked if they would like to see their rooms before tea. The ladies welcomed the idea and Mrs Reynolds conducted them up the fine staircase. On reaching the spacious lobby above, Elizabeth caught Mrs Gardiner’s eye, and the same thought was in both their minds. Of all this, Elizabeth was to be the mistress! This beautiful house, these noble grounds!

  Mrs Reynolds continued to lead the way.

  Just as they were passing one door in particular, Georgiana took Elizabeth by the hand and said impulsively, ‘You must see my sitting-room.’

  It was very pretty, fitted up with light and elegance. The window gave on to a splendid view of the park. The other ladies had followed them in, and Georgiana said, ‘You must use this room whenever you like. It is smaller than the drawing-room, but it has a more intimate feel and I come here when I want to relax. Here I can be informal, and I hope you will often be here with me.’

  The ladies all exclaimed over the beauty of the room and the wonderful view. Mrs Philips said how charming it was and Lydia said how fortunate she was to have her own sitting room. Kitty and Mary were too over-awed to speak.

  They were then conducted to their rooms by Mrs Reynolds.

  The last to be shown her room was Elizabeth. Mrs Reynolds led her into a fine apartment with views over the front of the house. The gardens could be seen and, beyond them, the moors.

  The room was much larger than the room she was used to, and the furniture was far more refined. It was made of rosewood, with a pretty desk under the window and a four poster bed in the centre.

  Mrs Reynolds opened a door leading off from the bedchamber to reveal a smaller dressing room with a washstand, on which stood a pretty porcelain ewer and bowl.

  ‘Is everything to your satisfaction, Miss?’ asked Mrs Reynolds.

  ‘It is,’ said Elizabeth, still looking around and taking it all in.

  ‘May I say, Miss, how pleased we all were to hear the news of the master’s betrothal? We are looking forward to Pemberley having a mistress again.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Reynolds.’

  ‘The master asked for a maid to be provided for you. Sarah will tend to you, Miss, but if you prefer another maid you have only to say. I will send her to you directly. If you need anything in the meantime, just ring the bell,’ she said, indicating it.

  Elizabeth thanked her and Mrs Reynolds departed.

  Sarah soon arrived. Elizabeth warmed to her, and with Sarah’s help she was soon presentable and ready to go downstairs. She had washed and changed into a clean gown, and Sarah had tidied her hair. Now she felt she would not disgrace herself as the future mistress of Pemberley.

  She found her way back to the hall and one of the footmen showed her to the drawing-room. As she went in, she saw Jane standing by the window. Jane turned round when she heard the door opening and closing again.

  ‘Dearest Lizzy, Pemberley is . . .’

  She stopped, lost for words.

  ‘I know,’ said Elizabeth, her eyes sparkling. ‘Is it not magnificent? And yet, at the same time, there is nothing showy here. We have seen many fine houses on our journey, and I have been struck by the useless gaudiness of some of them, the show for show’s sake, the gilding so ornate as to be oppressive. But here there is nothing useless fine. Everything is elegant but restrained, fitted out with true style.’

  She looked around the room, allowing her gaze to linger on every aspect. It was lofty and handsome, and its furniture was very lovely. The sofas and chairs were covered in a pale gold damask stripe and the panelled walls were painted in a graceful cream.

  The door opened and Mrs Gardiner entered, accompanied by Mrs Philips.

  They both expressed their wonder at the extraordinary beauty of the house and grounds, and their delight at the splendid marriage Elizabeth was about to make.

  ‘But the most splendid thing about it is that you love Mr Darcy, and he you,’ said Mrs Gardiner, in common sense tones. ‘The most beautiful estate in the world cannot make up for a lack of love, but where true love exists, it gilds every pleasure. I would dearly love to walk around the grounds tomorrow. We have seen but little of them today, and already the light is fading. Tomorrow, if it is fine, may we view them?’

  ‘C
ertainly,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I would like to see them myself.’

  A footman entered the room and asked if he might be allowed to close the curtains. Elizabeth gave her permission and he shut out the failing light. He lit the candles on the mantelpiece, as well as the candles in the many-branched candelabras that stood on the console tables, then withdrew. The fire added its light and the room was bathed in a golden glow.

  The others arrived and they were soon in conversation, discussing the places they had seen on their journey that day, and the splendours of Pemberley.

  Dinner was served early and afterwards Georgiana played duets with Mary, providing a gentle flow of music to accompany the conversation. Mr Philips turned the pages for them whilst Mrs Philips sat beside the piano. Lydia and Kitty were tired and retired early. Mrs Gardiner delighted in talking to Mr Darcy about the neighbourhood, which held such fond memories for her. Elizabeth talked to Mr and Mr Bingley as Mr Bingley shared his memories of previous visits to Pemberley.

  Once the music had finished, they all came together in conversation and Elizabeth was able to give Mr Darcy her heartfelt approval of his - of their - beautiful home, before finally retiring for the night.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Mr Darcy rose early the following morning. As he dressed in a white shirt with frilled cuffs, a pair of buff breeches and a black tailcoat, he thought with pleasure of Elizabeth’s reaction to his home. He had hoped she would love it as much as he did, and he knew now that she was looking forward to being its mistress as much as she was looking forward to being his wife.

  In a few days’ time they would be married in a quiet ceremony. He loved Elizabeth too much to delay matters by organising a lavish social occasion. He had planned their arrival on a Wednesday and had arranged the wedding for the Friday, two days later, so that Elizabeth would have a chance to see something of her new home before the ceremony, and so that the guests would have a chance to recover from the travelling.

  It was now Thursday, and he intended to show her something of Pemberley before they were married.

  He went downstairs to breakfast, and found Elizabeth and Georgiana in the small breakfast parlour. The other guests were not yet up.

  Elizabeth was looking radiant, despite the early hour.

  He helped himself to a plate of steak, ham and eggs and sat down at the head of the table.

  ‘If the weather holds, I am longing to show you something of the gardens this afternoon,’ he said to Elizabeth. ‘But first, I am afraid, I must work. I have not been at Pemberley for some time and there are matters of estate business to which I must attend.’

  He was pleased when Georgiana said, ‘Good. Then I can show Elizabeth around the house this morning.’

  ‘I would like that,’ said Elizabeth.

  The two of them were already like sisters, and he knew that both ladies would enjoy their time together. On the journey he had monopolised Elizabeth’s attention, and he guessed that Georgiana was looking forward to having Elizabeth to herself for a few hours.

  When breakfast was over, the ladies left the room and he retired to his study.

  There was a pile of mail waiting for him on his desk. The very urgent letters had been sent on to him at Darcy House, but now he sorted those that had not been deemed sufficiently important to forward. He put them into two piles. The first pile consisted of letters that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. Into this pile went matters of estate business which would suffer from further delay. Into the second pile went less important letters. He hesitated when he came across a letter in Lady Catherine’s handwriting, but she was his relation and he decided he must answer it at once. He opened it and read it. He quickly scanned the contents, with its general remarks on health and the weather. Then he came to a few lines which made him smile.

  He put the letter aside, drew a sheet of paper towards him, picked up his quill and dipped it in the ink. Then he began to write. After all the usual civilities, he wrote:

  You ask if I am satisfied with Georgiana’s new companion. Yes, Aunt, I am pleased to say that I am very satisfied. So much so, that I have decided to marry her.

  He finished the letter and sealed it, then put it with the post.

  He could imagine the upset his reply would cause at Rosings Park, Lady Catherine’s imposing home. Lady Catherine would be outraged that he had taken such a step, but his cousin, Anne, would be relieved. It had been Lady Catherine’s wish that the two of them should marry, but neither he nor Anne had ever wanted it, and his marriage to Elizabeth would finally put such a union out of reach.

  Elizabeth, meanwhile, was being conducted round Pemberley by Georgiana. She was glad that her relations were late risers, for it meant she had some time alone with her young friend. The two of them would soon be sisters and Elizabeth welcomed the forthcoming closer relationship. Georgiana was not only a very likeable young woman, she was also a good influence on Elizabeth’s younger sisters. Kitty and Lydia were less frivolous in her company, and more sensible. Kitty modelled her deportment on that of Georgiana, and Lydia made an effort to behave like a young lady. Mary, too, had improved. She was less dour when Georgiana was with her, and had started to do her hair in a less severe style.

  Mary had always been somewhat left out in the family, as her two elder sisters were friends and her two younger sisters were friends. This had left Mary in a difficult position, alone in the middle. But with the advent of Georgiana, another pairing was possible and Mary was able to converse with someone new, of her own age.

  The two of them, though very different in appearance, had much in common. Both liked books and music. They often embarked on more serious conversations, and Georgiana’s own natural lightness showed Mary that it was possible to think of serious matters without being humourless and stern. A new brightness had entered Mary’s voice, and although she was never frivolous, she was noticeably less severe than previously. Elizabeth had hopes that, in time, Mary would lose her forbidding aspect altogether.

  ‘You have already seen some of the main rooms, but there are many more rooms for you to see,’ Georgiana said.

  ‘I was surprised to see a miniature of Mr Wickham in the dining parlour yesterday,’ said Elizabeth, as she followed Georgiana into the hall.

  ‘My brother wanted to remove it last summer, but he decided against it in the end. Its removal would have occasioned comment, and he did not want to draw attention to Mr Wickham in any way.’

  Elizabeth thought he had been wise. It would have raised awkward questions which she guessed he would rather not answer.

  ‘That is my brother’s study,’ said Georgiana, indicating a door. ‘He conducts all the estate business from there. Next to it is the library.’

  She took Elizabeth into the large, spacious room, which was lined with bookcases. A weak winter sun shone through the window, catching the gilding on the leather spines.

  ‘My father was very proud of his library, and my brother has kept it in good order. All the notable new books arrive and are shelved here. The books on history are by the door, then the books on natural history and so on, all around the room, until we reach the novels and poetry at the other side.’

  Elizabeth looked in amazement at the huge selection of books.

  ‘My father would have loved this room.’

  Georgiana sense her feelings and said softly, ‘My father loved it, too.’

  Elizabeth took some time to browse the shelves, but could not see a half of what she wanted to see. It little mattered. She was soon to be the mistress of it and had a lifetime to explore every volume.

  ‘Next, I will show you the picture gallery,’ said Georgiana.

  They went upstairs and along the landing, until they came to the gallery. Elizabeth knew little of art, but Georgiana told her about each painting and its artist.

  ‘The Darcys have always been patrons of the arts, and it is a tradition my brother continues,’ she said.

  Elizabeth admired the landscape paintings,
but was more interested in the portraits. Georgiana told her about the sitters and the artists. They were mostly of the Darcy ancestors, and Elizabeth took an interest in them for she was soon to become a Darcy herself. She came at last to a row of portraits she recognised. They were all of Mr Darcy at various stages of his life. She saw before her his growth from baby to little boy, from little boy to young man, and from young man to the gentleman she knew.

  ‘This is the most recent portrait. It was begun in September, shortly after my brother went to view Netherfield Park with Mr Bingley. The artist began by making sketches, then worked on the portrait and completed it before Christmas. It was delivered to my brother in London, and he had it sent on here, to be hung in the gallery.’

  Elizabeth drank in every inch of the portrait. He looked much as she had first seen him at Netherfield Park, when she had been saying farewell to the Delawares. His clothes were different, for in the portrait he was dressed in tailcoat and breeches, whereas, when she had first seen him, he had been wearing a greatcoat. His pose was different, too, for in the portrait he was leaning insouciantly against the mantelpiece in what she took to be his London drawing-room, whereas she had seen him standing in a more upright position. But the expression was the same. There was a look of rapt attention on his face, with a deep warmth in his eyes and an enigmatic smile on his lips. He was looking into the middle distance and seemed to be seeing something that was invisible to other people; something which gave him great pleasure.

  She had seen that look on his face before and she realised, He was thinking of me.

  There it was, captured for all eternity, his love for her, writ large on his face. It filled her with joy, as if the sun had suddenly come out in all its summer glory and bathed her in its radiance.