Page 51 of A Life Diverted

T hey had been at Willowmere for a sennight, and Elizabeth had not had any dreams or any other memories surface to disturb her equanimity.

As planned, the party from Glenmeade had arrived at the Wendell estate the previous day.

Those who knew him well did not miss that the Stephen Granger of old was back.

He would never stop mourning his Adelle and the babe who had been lost with her, which made it certain he would never marry again.

However, his eyes shone with a zest to partake in life once again.

There was no doubt that Ellie coming back to them had reignited Stephen’s will to live.

Elizabeth and Jane had been well pleased to be reunited with Charlotte. She was sanguine with the fact that whenever David and Barney were close, Jane’s and Charlotte’s attention was on them. It was as it should be. She suspected it would not be too much longer before Barney proposed to Charlotte.

The bibliophiles in the Bennet family were in anticipation of the short journey to Pemberley on the morrow.

William and Giana had invited everyone to spend a few days at their estate.

In addition, there had been an invitation issued to pass some days at Snowhaven, the primary estate of the Matlock earldom, which also had been accepted.

The party would travel there before they would once again journey south.

Elizabeth, like the three youngest Bennets, was keen to see the latter estate as they had heard all about the castle to which the new manor house was attached.

She had been told that she visited both estates before she was kidnapped, but Elizabeth had no memory of either estate, nor did she remember her late Aunt Anne or Uncle Robert at all.

Although Elizabeth understood why, she was a little sad that Richard would be riding the additional ten to fifteen miles from Pemberley to call at Granville in Nottinghamshire.

She was not a selfish creature, so she said nothing about missing him, rather encouraging Richard to make all haste to be in his beloved Melody’s company once again.

The next morning, they broke their fasts earlier than normal and boarded the coaches for the less than one hour ride. Elizabeth and Mary rode in the Darcy conveyance, which was the first in the line, with William and Giana. Miss Weasley and Mrs Annesley were also present.

About two miles after leaving Willowmere, Darcy pointed to the left of the carriage. “That turn off there leads to Lambton, it is about another two miles to the town. Your Aunt Gardiner is from there,” he informed the two sitting next to Giana.

“We have heard Aunt Maddie tell us that Derbyshire is the best of all shires, just a few times,” Elizabeth stated with a smile.

“And we would agree with her wholeheartedly,” Georgiana said emphatically.

Darcy nodded his agreement with his sister. It caused Ellie to let loose with one of her tinkling laughs which he enjoyed so much.

Those in the cabin felt the coach turn, and they passed some large, stone gateposts. The keeper was standing in front of his gatehouse waving his cap at those within the conveyances as each one passed him.

It delighted Elizabeth to see forests spreading out on either side of the drive. “I assume Pemberley is larger than Willowmere?” she wondered.

“It is. The park is about ten miles around. To us, it is just home,” Darcy replied.

The coach was climbing a gradual incline.

When they crested the incline and began the ride down the other side, Elizabeth was amazed by the view which unfolded before her.

When she saw the house, built on rising ground on one end of a valley, she almost gasped.

It was by far the largest she had ever seen.

It was built with Derbyshire stone which reflected a golden hue in the weak late autumn sun.

Elizabeth had never seen a place for which nature had done more without being counteracted by the actions and awkward tastes of man.

Eventually the coach passed under a porte cochère, and on the other side was a large, internal courtyard.

Darcy pointed out the roof over the courtyard.

“Grandfather Darcy added that. My late Grandmother Darcy had complained about the rain and snow. Do you see the columns?” He saw Ellie and Mary nod.

“Those support the roof in the centre and provide strength needed when there is heavy snow.”

Some footmen attired in the green and gold Darcy livery opened the doors after placing the steps while still others were unlashing the trunks and carrying them into the house via a servants’ door on the level of the courtyard.

Darcy alighted first, handed his sister out, followed by Mary and the companions next. Last to be handed out was Elizabeth, and his hand lingered on hers.

Remembering what Mother had told her, Elizabeth wondered how she could inspire William to declare himself for her.

The more time she was in his company, the more Elizabeth desired to be near him.

She believed that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her.

His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would answer all her wishes.

It was a union, if they reached that point, that would be to the advantage of both; by her ease and liveliness, his character would be softened, his manners improved; and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she would benefit greatly.

As soon as the rest of the Bennets joined them, Darcy welcomed them all to Pemberley for the first time. He led them toward eight stone steps which led to a small veranda and the door into the house.

After their outerwear had been removed and taken by footmen, those who had not met them were introduced to the butler and housekeeper, Mr Peter Douglas and Mrs Hannah Reynolds. The latter smiled widely when she was introduced to Miss Wendell.

“Lady Anne used to speak of you so much, both before and after you were taken. I still remember the one time you visited here and charmed all of those employed at the manor house,” Mrs Reynolds stated.

“Mrs Reynolds has the right of it,” Cilla agreed. “Anne and Robert both loved you and would have been overjoyed to see you returned to us hale and healthy.”

“Once you have been shown to your suites, we will conduct a tour of the library. Wendell has informed me of your keenness to see it,” Darcy stated.

While Ellie and the Bennets followed Giana and Mrs Reynolds, he turned to Richard.

“Go Rich, you have missed her these three years and more. No one will begrudge you leaving right away.”

“Thank you, William,” Richard responded as he shook his cousin’s hand vigorously before turning and heading back down the stairs to the courtyard. Rather than ride in the cold and arrive smelling of horse and sweat, Andrew had told him to take the Hilldale conveyance.

Thankfully it was still in the courtyard and had not been driven to the spacious carriage house yet. As soon as the coachman confirmed the trunks had been offloaded, they were under way.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~ ~

Caroline Bingley’s campaign to blacken the foundling’s name was not advancing at all.

She had written letters to those who used to be her friends as well as some of the gossip rags with salacious accusations against Miss Elizabeth Wendell. The problem? Every single letter had been returned to her unopened.

What she did not know was that Ladies Catherine, Elaine, Emily, and some of their friends, including duchesses and other countesses, had warned the papers, reputable and not so reputable, that if they printed any lies about Miss Wendell, especially if they came from the ruined Caroline Bingley, the papers, editors, and writers would all be sued for slander until they were out of business.

Knowing those behind the threats, and the power they wielded, caused even the gossip rags, who usually cared not about facts, to refuse to even look at anything from Miss Bingley.

Charles was busy with the business, and he would not under any circumstances take her to London, and even worse, Miss Bingley could no longer manipulate him.

Somehow he had become familiar with her plans to take her revenge on the foundling. He had told her that if she attempted anything more, he would remove her dowry and cast her out without anything. Caroline had seen the resolution in his eyes and had decided that he was perfectly serious.

As unfair as it was, she was powerless to enact her planned vengeance.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

“James will not believe that such a library exists outside of a university!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she twirled around taking in the view before her. Father had not exaggerated when he had spoken of the relative sizes of the Willowmere and Pemberley libraries.

Not only was the room far larger, but it had two levels.

There was a walkway on the second level with bookshelves from the level of the walkway to the ceiling.

Just like on the lower level, there were ladders attached to rails at the top which had wheels at the bottom so they could roll the length of the case to which they were attached.

To get from the lower to the upper level there were four spiral staircases, one in each corner.

In the centre of the library were rows of shelves about five feet high.

There was an area in the middle of the room which had cases with glass fronts.

The room sported three fireplaces in various places, and tall windows, almost floor to ceiling, on two walls.