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Mr. and Mrs. Darcy settled into Pemberley with an unapologetic sigh of relief.

Although the first fortnight of their marriage had been idyllic, the time in London and then the unexpected trip into Kent had been draining, to say the least. They left for Derbyshire not long after Lady Catherine’s funeral and when they finally arrived, Pemberley embraced them like a soft blanket on a cold day.

Elizabeth found the landscape to be greatly changed from her summer visit, painted as it was now in a November pallet of browns and ochers.

“And yet, the house is still so perfectly situated… as if it were built to compliment this perspective exactly,” she commented to her husband as they stopped to admire the limestone structure just as it was warmed by the rising sun.

The couple had formed a habit of walking out together in the mornings before breakfast, for not long after their arrival, Lizzy had realized that her husband’s responsibilities often meant she might see him only briefly between breakfast and dinner, and occasionally not at all.

When she inquired about his usual schedule, Mr. Darcy admitted that he often took meals on a tray in his study or packed in a saddlebag if he was out riding on the estate.

Accustomed as he was to being responsible for it all, Darcy did not find it easy to give up any of his duties, even to the lady whom he had asked to share his life.

This transition was made more difficult by the fact that the estate had functioned for so long without a mistress at all, and Fitzwilliam had always worked to protect Georgiana from taking on those responsibilities even as she approached adulthood.

Now, however, Darcy found himself talking over these duties each morning while walking out with his very sympathetic wife.

Later, often over breakfast, he would be encouraged to write out a list of what needed to be accomplished that day, only to find it being whittled down as Elizabeth pointed out those tasks that more properly fell under the mistresses’ purview.

It was not many weeks before Fitzwilliam found himself enjoying significantly more time to do as he wished, and more often than not, he wished to be with his wife (an inclination which that lady highly approved).

Sometimes they rode together in the mornings and, as he showed her the land associated with the estate, Darcy also introduced his tenants and cottagers to their new mistress.

To her husband, Elizabeth admitted that she did not resent the fact that the rules of mourning prevented the Darcys from entertaining for three months after the death of his aunt and her cousin.

“Shall you not be lonely? You are accustomed to having much lively company around you, and I am a very a dull companion.”

Although Fitzwilliam’s words were teasing, Elizabeth sensed an underlying note of insecurity. She smiled up at him; “There is nothing lacking in your company, my dear husband. I only wish that there was more to be had of it, sometimes.”

Taking her at her word, Mr. Darcy began to apologize for having neglected her, but Elizabeth would have none of it. “You’ve done no more than I would expect of a man with your character and responsibilities… and I hope that my presence has lightened that load a bit.”

Though he instantly agreed, he retained a doubtful expression and so she attempted to explain; “I only meant that this month is like the calm before the storm… what with all the company we are expecting at Christmas…” She trailed off, incapable of finding the right words for the foreboding that occasionally threatened to overwhelm her.

“Well, it certainly shall not be dull,” replied Fitzwilliam with an inscrutable expression.

Inscrutable, that was, until his wife directed a look of such willful disbelief that he could not hold back a chuckle and soon enough, the sound of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy’s laughter could be heard throughout the dormant gardens.

The gay sound caused an elderly gardener to look up with surprise and then pleasure, glad to see the young master and his new bride displaying such happy manners.

Although Pemberley was intimidatingly large for a daughter of Longbourn (Elizabeth occasionally thought to herself that it resembled a small, bustling village more than a household), the new Mrs. Darcy had gained the approval of Mrs. Reynolds, and such was the staff’s respect for the housekeeper that even those who did not come into direct contact with the new mistress were inclined to approve of her.

Despite this, the thought of so many disparate personalities from both of their families occupying the same house for a fortnight at Christmas filled Elizabeth with not a little trepidation.

Certainly she looked forward to seeing the Bingleys again, but with Jane and Charles came Miss Bingley, whose insincere attempts to make up every arrear of civility at the wedding had impressed neither of the Darcys.

Lizzy hoped that the atmosphere of a family party might prompt Caroline to revise her attitudes but planned to be on her guard, regardless.

Both Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam were delighted that the Gardiners had decided to come with all of their children.

Although it was a long trip to make in winter (even with a large, well-sprung Darcy carriage at their disposal), both Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner desired to see their dear niece happily settled at Pemberley.

That it would also allow them (and their eldest son) to spend time with Miss Anne de Bourgh and that lady’s family was a not insignificant benefit.

Although Elizabeth was happy to see her cousin Jonathan so well settled, even her husband’s assurances could not silence a niggling worry that not all of the Fitzwilliam family would be so well-disposed toward the inheritance of Rosings Park by young Mr. Gardiner.

As a result, she was relieved to get word that, amid all the relations who would be descending upon Pemberley for Christmas, the Viscount Ashbourne and his wife had sent their regrets.

Certainly there would be bright spots in the company; Elizabeth was especially pleased that Sir James Darcy had accepted their invitation and would be visiting his childhood home for the first time since his brother’s funeral.

She also looked forward to knowing her new cousins and their spouses better.

From her interactions with her husband’s family thus far, she rather suspected that the four Fitzwilliam daughters had personalities quite as disparate as the Bennet girls.

Had that been the end of the guest list, Elizabeth believed that she might have been fairly calm.

However, the thought of dropping the entire Bennet clan into such a group prompted her stomach to churn.

Her mother had behaved with astonishing decorum at the Matlock ball in London, but Lizzy was absolutely certain that Fanny Bennet would not be able to maintain such a pretense for an entire month.

There was nothing to be done about it, however.

Her parents and all her sisters would be descending on Pemberley in less than a fortnight.

Sitting alone in her study, Mrs. Darcy allowed herself a moment to slump back in her chair and stare out the window, ruminating upon the possibilities.

Finally, she laughed aloud at herself. As she had explained to her husband, she loved her family dearly, but that did not make her blind to their faults; there was nothing to be done but hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Elizabeth considered several strategies to prepare Pemberley for the arrival of Fanny Bennet, but eventually, she chose the most direct; Mrs. Reynolds was both sensible and capable, and Lizzy rather thought that the woman would appreciate frankness from her new mistress.

Picking up a calfskin folder with her notes, the newest Mrs. Darcy locked her desk and made her way to the housekeeper’s office.

Mrs. Reynolds smiled when her mistress appeared at her door unexpectedly, genuinely pleased to see the young lady.

After years of running a widower’s household and then that of a relatively reclusive bachelor, she had been understandably apprehensive about the changes a new mistress might insist upon.

Though it was early days yet, she rather thought that her worries could be laid to rest; Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy had shown the same good sense and unflappable manners as had Miss Elizabeth Bennet, not to mention the same reluctance to make changes solely for the sake of putting her mark on the place.

That the new mistress also seemed perfectly comfortable coming to Mrs. Reynolds’ office (rather than summoning the older woman to the other end of the house for the smallest question) was one more trait that endeared her to the housekeeper.

Young Master Wills had chosen very well, she thought contentedly to herself.

After greeting the housekeeper, Elizabeth presented her with the papers that represented her excuse for the visit.

“This should be the final guest list for Christmas, along with the dates that our visitors expect to arrive and depart. As you can see, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst will not be coming after all; Mr. Hurst’s father has fallen ill and they felt they should spend the winter with his family in Somerset. ”

Mrs. Darcy waited for the housekeeper to skim the page before continuing; “I began considering room assignments, but quickly realized that I don’t know if the Fitzwilliams had particular apartments that they preferred.”

“Of course, Mrs. Darcy,” responded the housekeeper.

“In general, the master and Miss Darcy would travel to Matlock, but I have the records for those occasions when the Fitzwilliam family came to Pemberley just here.” She pulled a large book off the shelf behind her that turned out to have a record of not only which guests had stayed in which rooms, but also what repairs and redecorations had been done over the years.