Page 108 of Obligation and Redemption

We can't command our love, but we can our actions.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes: Adventure Detective, Book Four

After four days of travelling in dreary, slushy conditions, Darcy finally arrived at Pemberley apprehensive yet eager to begin his marriage fresh.

He knew that things would be difficult, but he was hopeful for their future together.

While on the arduous journey, Darcy developed a strategy for how he could play his part in the reconciliation.

He knew that he could not continue on as things had been and hoped that Elizabeth was equally motivated.

Darcy was greeted by his butler, Peters. “Welcome home, sir. I hope your journey was satisfactory. The weather here has been quite erratic.”

“Thank you. I am thankful we arrived when we did. It looks like rain is on the way. While you are here, could you tell me where I might find my wife?”

“I believe she is making a call to one of your tenants.”

Darcy could not hide his shocked expression. “How long has she been gone?”

“No more than two hours. Mrs. Reynolds has all of the details.”

“Could you summon her please? She will find me in my study,” Darcy said as he turned to leave.

A few moments later, Mrs. Reynolds met him with a sincere welcome. “Mr. Darcy, I am glad you have returned. You were missed.”

His eyebrows shot up. Could she have meant Elizabeth missed me? But no, that cannot be. “Thank you. Mrs. Reynolds, can you tell me about my wife’s visit with a tenant farmer? Who is she seeing?”

Mrs. Reynolds spent the next few minutes informing Mr. Darcy of the family’s problem and Elizabeth’s desire to handle it herself. She explained that Elizabeth had taken a footman and Mrs. Carpenter.

Darcy considered going after her. The storm could arrive at any minute.

“Sir, what has you worried?”

He was shaken out of his reverie. “What? Oh, it is just that we noticed a storm approaching that should soon arrive. I think I will go retrieve her myself.”

“She is with Clark and Hopkins as the driver. I am certain they would bring her home should they suspect any danger.” She hesitated before saying more, but then continued on. “I do not think she is the kind of woman who would appreciate such attentions. Do you, sir?”

He smiled. “I suppose you are right.” He was still concerned but trusted his staff to keep her safe. “I will go up and change and get refreshed. If she returns, will you send me a message?” At her agreement, he continued, “If she is not back within the hour, I will go myself.”

She smiled at his concern. He must care for her after all.

She was almost out of the door when he said, “And can you have my steward summoned as well?”

While still upstairs he received word of his steward’s arrival and Elizabeth’s return.

He went to his study first to receive Stephens for a quick meeting.

He wanted to ensure that the man was able to make it back home before the storm hit.

Entering at the same time, his steward welcomed his employer home again. “Darcy, I just met with your new wife.”

“You met with Mrs. Darcy? Just now?”

“Yes, she gave me a task that she wished to keep between the two of us, but I thought you should know.” At Darcy’s raised brow, he continued.

“She has set up a plan that would provide a maid for the Smithtons, a daughter of one of our other tenants. She is periodically employed here during the summer months and Mrs. Darcy requested that I pay the girl using her own pin money.” Darcy started to speak, but the man raised his hand to offset him.

“I know. I told her we have an account for such things, but she insisted that since it was her idea and her plan, that she should pay for it. I agreed with her because I know my place, but I thought you should be aware.”

“Thank you, Stephens. You were right to tell me, and I agree. Use the fund designed for that, and I will inform Mrs. Darcy myself. Also, before you leave, I have a few things to speak with you about. But I hope to get you out of here ahead of the storm.“

“Yes, it has already begun to rain and the thunder continues to get louder, but there is one more thing I need to tell you about your wife.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, sir. Shortly after your leaving Pemberley, your wife asked me to begin sending a portion of her monthly pin allotment to a bank account in town. She would give me no details about the account or whose name it was under; she just asked that I keep the knowledge of the transaction to myself. I could not in good conscience keep it from you, though. I went ahead and sent the first payment as she requested and was going to send you a letter with the details, so you could investigate, but decided against the idea. Since it is her money, I did as she wished, but now that you are here, I thought it best you knew.”

Darcy sat in contemplation. Who could Elizabeth be sending money to? Could Wickham have somehow gotten her to set up some account for him? “How much is she putting away?”

“Fifty pounds per month.”

“Fifty pounds? That’s more than half of her allowance!

” Darcy thought it best to keep his thoughts and feelings of the matter to himself, and so checked his features.

“Thank you, Stephens. You did right to tell me.” Then he changed the subject saying, “Let us finish our business, so you can get back home.” Within a few minutes, Stephens was able to leave, and then Darcy headed to his mother’s former study, where he expected to find Elizabeth.

The thought of her putting aside this large amount of money would plague him off and on for the next few months as he considered who might be the beneficiary of her contributions.

He wanted to trust her, for there was no other way for them to have a successful marriage, but how could he with secrets between them?

Maybe she would share her intentions with him.

It was probably best to await her enlightenment on this endeavour, at least for now .

Darcy was walking towards the door to the mistress’s study when it opened abruptly.

Elizabeth and her former maid came out smiling and holding each other’s hands, as if in consortium.

She obviously had not seen him; however, upon looking up, she stopped suddenly, eyes like saucers. “Hello, Elizabeth.”

She recollected herself and took a quick curtsey. “Mr. Darcy, I was unaware of your arrival. I… I… would have… greeted you had I known, of course,” she stammered while looking anywhere but at him.

“Do not be uneasy. I only arrived an hour ago and have since been cleaning up and meeting briefly with my steward.” At this, she looked up to him with concern that changed to vexation.

“I see.” Laura then squeezed Elizabeth’s hands and quietly departed, noting Mr. Darcy’s glance her way and obvious desire for privacy.

Elizabeth urged her to stay with her quick glance, but Laura wisely felt the couple needed some time alone; and nevertheless, she could not possibly disregard her master’s wishes.

Elizabeth stood there appearing uncharacteristically nervous, so Darcy took the lead. “May we go into your study?”

She then turned and walked into her room, finding her mettle along the way.

When they were both inside, she walked to her desk, the one her husband’s mother previously used, and sat down.

Elizabeth was trying to keep calm in response to the unexpected arrival of her husband.

Darcy sat nearby. Neither spoke for some time, which just increased the tension that had seeped into the room so recently full of cheer.

Darcy took the initiative. “I see you have had a busy day.” Elizabeth looked up, content to remain quiet.

“You have already met some of my tenants, I gather.” Silence.

He breathed in deeply and after releasing the breath, he ventured on.

“Elizabeth, Stephens informed me of your wish to help the Smithtons.”

“Yes.”

“I am sure he told you that we have a fund designed to take care of these types of circumstances. There is no need for you to use your pin money in such cases.”

“I wanted to use my own funds.”

“I understand that you wanted to help, which is commendable, but you might not have been aware of the system we have in place to do just that. I have ensured that the girl’s payment not be taken from your account, so there is no further need to concern yourself.”

Elizabeth’s eyes flashed in anger. “Am I to understand that at Pemberley the mistress of the estate has no authority to make decisions as I have done?”

“No, of course that’s not what I am saying at all.”

“Are you certain? Because you have taken it upon yourself to change a course of action that I have already deemed appropriate. Will you always follow in my tracks making sure that I don’t embarrass you with a poorly planned response?”

“That is not what has happened here. You will learn with time the systems we already have in place. I recognise that you are new and cannot possibly be aware of how we do things at Pemberley. I wish you would do the same, and stop accusing me of some pernicious intent.”

Elizabeth was annoyed with Mr. Darcy, perhaps due to their former disputes, but she was also troubled with her own irrational response.

She was a sensible person and saw the justification behind his words, but she found his interference to be intrusive.

Yet, this was his home, not hers. She should just let him have his way and be done with it, but she felt like he was attacking her abilities.

If she were honest, she would admit that she was doubting herself and likely thought the same of Mr. Darcy based on her own insecurities.

Elizabeth sat in intense concentration as she attempted to keep calm. The clock ticked in the background as each sat waiting for something to occur to disrupt the continued tension.