Page 92 of A Matter of Murder

He jumped out of the carriage and Lizzie called, “What’s the matter?” after him. But he didn’t respond, and beyond the door she saw only woods. Lizzie and Charlotte exchanged puzzled looks. Guy sat up and gave one impatient woof.

Darcy was back after a quick conversation that Lizzie couldn’t make out. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything is perfect,” he said, grinning. It was the first time Lizzie had seen him smile since the night of the ball. “I had to speak with Travers, the gatekeeper.”

“You have a gatekeeper?” Lizzie asked, incredulous. She pulled the curtain aside, caution be damned. There was indeed a small stone gatehouse, and an elaborate wrought-iron gate was slowly being opened. She heard hoofbeats and caught a glimpse of a lone rider taking off ahead of them.

“I told you that my father hired men to make sure Georgie was safe,” Darcy said. “They’ll ride ahead and let the house know we’re here.”

Lizzie was, for once, speechless. She had known that Darcy was wealthy. She had not understood that his family estate was surrounded by a great stone wall with a gate and a gatekeeper.Multiple gatekeepers, it seemed, judging by the fact that there was an extra man and horse ready to ride ahead and warn the household of their impending arrival.

Once they passed through the gates and Lizzie heard them clank shut behind the carriage, Darcy threw open the curtains. All three of them blinked at the sudden light, and Guy hopped up on Lizzie’s lap, pressing his nose against the glass.

The entrance to the estate was lightly wooded, and they drove through it for some time before the land gave way to green and gold countryside. Lizzie could feel the slight incline of the road beneath them, which added to her growing anticipation as the carriage crested the first hill.

Lizzie gasped.

From a gap in the trees lining the lane, Pemberley loomed in the distance.

In an instant, Lizzie understood how Darcy had considered Netherfield simply “well appointed.” Pemberley, in comparison, was palatial. It had been constructed upon a gentle rise, and it was backed by wooded hills. As they drew closer, Lizzie could hear the insistent bubbling of the river that ran before the house. The sloping lawn between the river and the house was a vibrant green, with a well-kept walking path that led to the water. There were no excessive adornments on the front of the house, and the simplicity of its presentation made it all the more striking in Lizzie’s eyes. What were the creations of humankind to the brilliance of their natural surroundings?

The carriage rolled over a stone bridge that spanned the river,and Pemberley was suddenly before them. Lizzie could scarcely breathe, she was so taken by the wonder of the estate. She tore her gaze away from the scene just long enough to look at Darcy. If all of this belonged to her, she’d been drinking up the sight of home. But Darcy wasn’t looking out the window.

He was looking at her.

“What do you think?” he asked.

Lizzie opened her mouth to respond, but words failed her. She thought it was glorious, magnificent. She wanted to know how Darcy ever managed to leave it behind for London.

In that moment, she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!

But Darcy wasn’t asking her to be mistress—he was asking her what she thought. And now even Charlotte was glancing at her with barely suppressed amusement at her lack of speech.

“It’s truly beautiful,” she managed.

“I’m glad you think so.” Darcy’s gaze was soft, and she felt something shift inside her. But before she could dwell on it, the carriage finally came to a halt in front of the house, and a footman opened the door.

Guy darted out, and the humans followed. Lizzie inhaled the sweet air, wanting to drink it all in. The view from the house was even more incredible, she found, as she turned and looked at the lawn spread out before them, and the water glistened in the sunshine. From this standpoint, one could see it wind its way through the valley like a shining ribbon.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to be out of a carriage in my life,” Charlotte remarked to her.

“Yes,” Lizzie agreed. She was still dazed. Then she looked about. “Where’s Guy? Guy!”

“He’s all right,” Darcy said, pointing to where the small dog was running happy laps in the nearby grass, dragging his leash behind him. “He’s safe here.”

The words, although directed at Guy, stirred something in Lizzie.Shefelt safe here.

A butler appeared from the front door. “Sir,” he said, bowing slightly to Darcy.

“Charleston!” Darcy greeted, shaking his butler’s hand. “It’s been too long.”

“We’re very happy to see you,” the butler said, offering a sidelong glance at the ladies. “Mrs. Reynolds will be along shortly.”

“I’m sure I’ve thrown off her entire day. She needn’t worry about everything being perfect. We are just happy to be here.”

“Oh, she’ll worry,” Charleston said. “But she’s glad you’re here nonetheless. And I’m sure she won’t be the only one.”

“You’re here!” came a screech from the front door, and Lizzie saw only a blur of a girl with dark brown hair hurling herself at Darcy. He caught her up in a giant hug and swung her around while she squealed in excitement. Finally, Darcy set her down, and Georgiana Darcy grinned up at him. She wore a plain day dress, and her hair fell loose in tangled, wild curls. She shovedDarcy in jest. “Why didn’t you write and tell me you were coming? If you wanted it to be a surprise, you managed that well.”