Page 38 of Five Gentlemen at Netherfield (Pride and Prejudice Variations)
Elizabeth’s Bedchamber
Pemberley
Thirty Minutes Later
The guest bedchamber assigned to Elizabeth was a charming one, with two large windows facing toward a garden, with a comfortable bed, with a fire burning merrily in the grate, with a small desk and chair and notepaper and pen, and last but not least, a full shelf of books, among which were some of her favorites.
The colors, too, were a pleasing mix of greens and blues, which made Elizabeth think of cool waters and green pastures.
It was all very soothing, so much so that her eyelids were inclined to droop a little.
A nap would be nice, but no, Mr. Darcy had said there would be tea and refreshments in the drawing room, and it would be rude for her to go to bed instead.
Besides, she very much wished to spend time with Mr. Darcy and meet Miss Darcy, too.
She looked in a handy mirror and gravely considered her appearance.
She was thinner than usual and certainly wan, and her eyes appeared a trifle heavy.
She was not in her best looks, but that was no surprise.
She shook her head a little and managed to smile at herself in the mirror.
She was not the beauty of the family, and Mr. Darcy had declared his interest in her regardless of the fact that she was not Jane.
If he disdained her because she was tired and pale, well, it was best to learn that now, though it would disappoint her greatly, and it might even break her heart.
She had long known that Mr. Darcy was higher than she in society, but the sight of this great house made it painfully obvious that they were not of the same sphere of the gentry. Perhaps he would no longer think her beautiful, or worthy, or…
She shook her head to dispel such thoughts.
She had been tired for so long, and sad, and had found herself more disposed to dark thoughts of late.
There was no point in worrying about it; either she and Mr. Darcy would make a match of it, or they would not, and in the meantime, she and Mary and Mrs. Gardiner and her little cousins were blessed to be staying in a place of such peaceful, restful beauty.
She resolutely walked over to the door and left the room to enter the corridor. Mary was already waiting for her on a small chair in an alcove, and the maid who had assisted Elizabeth in changing out of her travel attire was standing nearby.
“Elizabeth,” Mary said with a smile, rising to her feet. “Are you ready to go downstairs?”
Elizabeth looked up and down the corridor. “Is our aunt still in her bedchamber?”
“No, Miss,” the maid offered. “Mrs. Gardiner changed her clothes and then went upstairs to help settle her children. She asked me to tell you both to go on ahead.”
“Then lead the way,” Elizabeth replied cheerfully, though her heart was thudding oddly in her chest. Mr. Darcy had welcomed her with enthusiasm less than an hour earlier, but she would shortly be meeting his only sister, and presumably it was vitally important to the master of Pemberley that Miss Darcy and Elizabeth get along well.
It was odd that she felt so nervous about meeting Miss Darcy, since she considered herself a congenial woman who made friends with comparative ease. But the truth was that she cared a great deal about this upcoming meeting and wished for Miss Darcy to like her.
The trio made their way down one corridor and then down another until they reached the main staircase, which was large and sturdy and impressive.
Elizabeth found herself looking about with curious eyes as they descended to the main level, whereupon they walked for a full minute along a wide corridor, with polished flooring at her feet and several delightful landscapes on the walls.
She had known, of course, that Pemberley was very large, but to actually be here?
To contemplate being mistress of all this grandeur? It was both exciting and intimidating.
The maid opened a door, guided the pair inside, and then retreated. The room was a large one, with sturdy furniture, with pleasing colors, with a roaring fire, and with plenty of sunlight pouring through the windows.
It also contained four people, two of them very familiar gentlemen, while the other two were unknowns.
Darcy, who had risen at their entrance, approached with a broad smile on his handsome face. “Miss Bennet, Miss Mary, may I please introduce you to my sister, Georgiana Darcy, and her companion, Mrs. Annesley. Georgiana, Mrs. Annesley, Miss Bennet and Miss Mary.”
The ladies curtsied to one another, and when Elizabeth straightened, she found herself considering Miss Darcy with interest. She knew the only daughter of Pemberley was only sixteen years of age, but she was as tall as Elizabeth, and her appearance was womanly.
Miss Darcy was also blonde, like Jane, but it was hard to tell what color her eyes were, as her head was lowered, her skin flushed, and her eyes fixed on the floor.
It appeared that the girl was as shy as her brother had said, and Elizabeth was immediately determined, if possible, to put her at ease.
“Miss Darcy, Mrs. Annesley,” she said, “it is wonderful to finally meet you both. I understand that you are both gifted players of the pianoforte?”
Mrs. Annesley, a comfortable-looking woman of some forty summers, said, “We both play, yes, though Miss Darcy plays better than I do.”
“I like playing very much,” the girl said, so quietly that Elizabeth had to strain her ears to listen.
“Well, perhaps later we could all take turns playing,” Elizabeth said, and turned toward her own sister. “Mary has worked diligently for many years and is an excellent performer. I am likely the least skilled of us all, but still I enjoy it.”
“What kind of music do you enjoy the most, Miss Mary?” Mrs. Annesley inquired.
Mary’s color was also heightened, probably due to her own shyness, but she said, with tolerable composure, “I like Mozart’s music in that it is obviously powerful and well-constructed, but I actually enjoy playing ballads more than symphonies, especially when Elizabeth sings while I play.”
“Like Robin Adair,” Elizabeth said with a grin.
“Oh, I like that song,” Miss Darcy murmured.
“I am certain we would enjoy hearing you perform soon,” Darcy said, “though not until you have rested from your journey. Shall we sit down?”
Elizabeth obediently walked over to a nearby settee and was pleased when her suitor sat down beside her.
Mary and the colonel likewise took their places on a nearby sofa, while Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley chose chairs nearer the fire.
Before the conversation could begin anew, a pair of maids entered the room with tea and biscuits and fruit.
Miss Darcy poured tea for her guests with admirable elegance, and Mrs. Annesley handed around plates of food, and the party ate and talked.
Elizabeth, Mrs. Annesley, and Colonel Fitzwilliam spoke the most, but the other members of the party, all quieter, spoke on occasion.
After half an hour, Mrs. Annesley and Miss Darcy excused themselves so that the latter could meet with her music master, leaving the two courting couples alone.
“Miss Bennet,” Darcy said as soon as the door swung shut behind his sister, “would you enjoy a walk in the garden with me, or is it too cold?”
Elizabeth was on her feet within seconds. “I would love a walk. It is always enjoyable, and after so many hours in the carriage, I can think of nothing better. Thank you.”
“Richard, Miss Mary, would you care to join us?” Darcy asked, turning toward the other couple.
Mary looked at Richard and said, “We can walk if you like.”
“I neither like nor dislike walking,” the colonel replied cheerfully. “I would be pleased to wander through the garden, or to sit here by the fire, whatever you prefer.”
“I prefer the fire, thank you,” she said with a slight blush, and then looked at Elizabeth, who said, “Mr. Darcy, perhaps a maid could be spared to keep Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mary company?”
“I will summon one immediately,” Darcy said.
***
Gardens
Pemberley
Birds twittered in the trees surrounding and interspersing the gardens of Pemberley, which were awash in blooms at this time of year.
White gravel wound in striking paths among seas of pink and yellow and white tulips and daffodils nodding cheerful heads of yellow and orange and white, while the late, pale snowdrops shivered in a warm breeze.
Hollyhocks and delphiniums provided some height, towering above the ground flowers, while bees buzzed from one blossom to the next.
Pemberley was paradise on earth, in Darcy’s opinion, and never more so than in spring, and he could only hope that the lady on his arm shared this opinion.
As ecstatic as he was to have Miss Bennet here at Pemberley at last, his joy had been alloyed with worry when she had descended from the carriage upon arrival.
She had looked so pale, so tired. Her hand in his had been fragile, with a thinness to her limbs and figure that had not been there the previous autumn.
She needed rest, of mind as well as body.
Darcy was honored and grateful that he and his could provide that rest for Miss Bennet and her family members, though of course, his primary concern was for the lady he loved.
It was still incredible to realize that she was finally here at Pemberley, and for a long visit.
He had missed her so much during their time apart, and now for the next weeks he could bask in her very presence even as she recovered from the weighty burdens that had been on her shoulders.