Page 98 of Obligation and Redemption

“How do you like your new home, ma’am? I have never seen such a grand estate, and I have been to many.”

“I like it very well so far. The grounds are lovely, even in the winter; the frosty landscape has a quiet, enchanted look about it.” She walked over to her great window to take in the view.

The hill from which they had descended was crowned with evergreen, receiving increased abruptness from the distance.

Overall, it was a beautiful prospect. Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked on the whole scene, the river, the deciduous trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, with delight.

While she gazed out the window, taking in the scene before her, Janette took her leave.

How long she stood before the window, she could not say.

The light began to dissipate as the colours changed from blues to reds.

Recollecting herself, she entered the dressing chamber where Janette had been industriously awaiting her arrival .

Rather than putting on a different dress, she decided to go ahead and change into her nightdress and dressing gown.

Her meal arrived while she was writing letters to her family to inform them of her safe passage to Pemberley.

After her letters were completed, she moved to her journal that had quickly become a source of solace for her, like a friend who would not judge or threaten to do her harm.

She wrote about Wickham and his many kind compliments that made her feel special, about her husband’s rage and cutting words, and how she felt when leaving her family behind.

Yet Elizabeth could not bring herself to write about Darcy’s demeaning defilement at Longbourn, for the memory gave her too much distress.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING DAWNED brIGHT FOR ELIZABETH.

She awoke, and donning her dressing gown and slippers, she walked over to the other side of the room to gaze out of the frosty windows at the wintry landscape.

A light snow had fallen overnight, just enough to give a cheerful glistening to the now familiar landscape.

Breakfast arrived with her maid, and she ate heartily for the first time in several days owing to the beauty of the wintry scene outside her window that cheered her spirits.

Darcy wanted to clear the air as soon as was possible upon arriving at Pemberley.

Up until this point, there had always been servants within hearing, or the setting was not right, but they could not go on another day.

The episodes outside Longbourn with Wickham and then later inside Elizabeth’s childhood bedroom tormented him for reasons he could not yet fathom.

He had not possessed such anger, resentment, and loss of control before.

Elizabeth’s words had haunted him, as he felt their justification; he was a beast. He was no different than the average rake. What had Elizabeth done to him?

Darcy had been his own master for the past five years, striving to live his life without blemish.

Darcy’s guidance as master led to an increase in productivity and income on his estate each year since his father died.

The Darcy fortune and holdings made him one of the wealthiest men in the realm.

He gave to the less fortunate through a long list of charitable associations.

He had lived a life of virtue foregoing the usual trappings that lured his peers into iniquity.

Then Elizabeth Bennet entered his life and turned everything upside down.

How had everything gone wrong? She was a simple country maiden with nothing of value to offer a man of his station.

Yet since he had known her, Elizabeth had caused him to lose his disciplined control.

Something had to change, and the change had to start with him, but he knew not how.

He needed to know Elizabeth’s relationship to Wickham.

He needed to direct a course to bring some type of amicability in his home.

Darcy sent a message through Elizabeth’s maid telling her that he would come to her room to escort her to tea.

Elizabeth knew that she could not and should not refuse the summons, as much as she wished to avoid the man, so she was ready and waiting for him at the usual hour. All she wanted was to get through this meeting with minimal insult to her or through her.

As if on cue, she heard the knock on one of the doors in her chamber.

Opening it, she discovered Mr. Darcy standing there inside a comfortable sitting room.

“I see you are ready,” said he, hesitantly.

“Shall we,” he continued while motioning for her to join him through the room where he stood.

“This is the sitting room which is very similar to the room at Darcy House, if not a bit larger, but the most agreeable part of the room is actually from the outside. The prospect from those windows on this side of the room, you have seen, I believe, from your own windows, but these over here,” he said motioning to the other wall, “open up to the river and hills in the distance.”

Elizabeth walked over for a glance out; she was overwhelmed with the view before her. After a few moments of gazing out the large window, she said, “It’s stunning. You must be very proud.”

“I admit that I do enjoy looking out my own window. My room opens up to this view, whereas yours looks out upon the front of the house. I think that is why I have always enjoyed this sitting room.” Darcy then walked over to the door to the hallway, from where they departed, heading to the dining-parlour.

Elizabeth was then occupied with the enterprise of analysing every feature and style of the rooms through which they passed.

She followed Darcy into the dining-parlour.

It was large, well proportioned, and handsomely fitted up.

Elizabeth, after slightly surveying it, went to a window to enjoy its prospect.

The view was similar to that of her own chamber, and she could not help but enjoy what she saw.

Noticing that Mr. Darcy was staring at her, she looked down and walked to the large dining table.

“I thought we could have tea in the dining–parlour, rather than a more traditional space, in recognition of your first meal at Pemberley, or first outside your room rather.”

A footman and a middle-aged gentleman were there to attend the couple during the meal. The older man was introduced as Peters, the butler. Elizabeth discovered that the man had been in his position for nearly twenty years. “Mr. Darcy, are all of your employees so dedicated?”

He smiled and said, “If you give an employee no reason to leave, they tend to stay.”

“This room is lovely.” Elizabeth then moved to the chair that Mr. Darcy had pulled out for her.

For such a grand room, the fare was light, in keeping with the time of day.

Elizabeth served the tea as they barely spoke a word other than Darcy’s questions about the comfort of her room.

Elizabeth ate a few bites to make a good show, but still could not do it justice in apprehension of his intent.

Elizabeth detested living in this state of constant trepidation.

Darcy completed his meal and shared his desire to speak with her in the privacy of his study.

He stood and walked behind Elizabeth’s chair to assist. Darcy offered his arm, leading her out of the dining area and down the hall to his own study.

Unlike Darcy House, this room was not a part of the library, but was actually situated adjacent to it.

Elizabeth entered the room and could tell why Darcy had chosen his study as the location for their conference.

The room had a distinctly masculine air about it, with rich furnishings and a large desk centrally located towards the left side of the room, and a large chimneypiece made of limestone to the right.

Around the fireplace were located two leather chairs and a settée, the fabric obviously made by a skilled artisan, embroidered in pleasing rich colours.

Upon the wall were amateur pictures of landscapes and portraits that Elizabeth suspected might have been prepared by Georgiana throughout the years.

She glanced at Mr. Darcy and saw that he was watching her closely as had become his habit.

“Your study is equal parts inviting and intimidating. To which characteristic do I owe your summons today?”

“I cannot say I know exactly. What is the effect on you?”

“I suppose the answer lies in the location where you would have me sit.”

“You may sit wherever you wish; I will accommodate you.”

So she walked over to the hearth and sat down on one of the large, leather chairs.

Although the room was plenty warm, she had noticed that she became chilled easily since leaving home and desired the warmth of the fire.

Darcy sat across from her on its twin. After a few moments of reticence on both sides, Darcy finally found his voice.

“Elizabeth, we have needed to talk for a good many days now. I chose to wait until we were done with our journey due to the private nature of what needed to be said. My delay in no way lessens the significance or the importance of what I have to say. I regret that our journey to the North necessitated the lapse, but I could not in good conscience speak with you at a location where someone might overhear us.” Elizabeth stared at her hands during his entire speech thus far, concentrating on his words as she attempted to keep her emotions in check.