Page 49 of To Love And To Cherish (Pride And Prejudice Variation #3)

That evening at the boarding house in Tom Aitinn, a warm supper was laid before them. Bearnas Andarsan, their good-humored hostess, placed a roasted Cornish hen on the table as Mr. Darcy inquired after their next day’s lodging.

"Mrs. Andarsan, we plan to travel to Alvie tomorrow. Might you suggest lodging?"

The plump woman beamed. "Indeed, yes. My family is from Alvie. It’s a small crofting hamlet, but the Alvie estate brings prosperity to it.

You’ll be well looked after. My Aunt Hildy keeps rooms for travelers.

There’s space for your servants and your horses, too.

You might even want to stay a day or two longer; there’s fine fishing on the south shore of Loch Alvie. My cousin can take you out with a rod."

Darcy turned to Elizabeth with a glint of amusement. "What say you, darling? Alvie is only eighteen miles. We could rest there for a day. I might fish."

She raised a brow. "You might fish, sir? And what of me? Am I not allowed to fish, too?"

He laughed. "You know how to fish, Mrs. Darcy?"

"I do, sir," she said, eyes sparkling. "When I was a girl, I spent many a pleasant hour with Papa and the Lucas boys. I look forward to fishing probably quite as much as you do."

Mrs. Andarsan looked delighted. "I’ll send my youngest to hold the room for two nights, then."

Darcy thanked her, and she bustled off. After supper, Darcy invited Elizabeth on a walk.

"There is still a little light left," he said, fetching her cloak. "Shall we take a stroll by the river?"

He carried a blanket folded over his arm as they made their way to the River Findhorn.

The air was brisk, but the sky was clear, and the waning light turned the hills to burnished gold.

They walked in companionable silence until they reached a quiet bend in the river, where a low sandstone cliff overhung the water.

There, they paused and watched the sky grow dark.

Elizabeth drew in a breath. "What a marvelous sky. I’ve never seen so many stars. I wish I had studied astronomy."

Darcy smiled. "Well, Mrs. Darcy, it so happens that I did." He unfolded the blanket and laid it on a dry patch of grass sheltered by the cliff. "After my mother passed, my father bought a telescope. We studied the constellations together for years."

He lay back and gestured upward. "There’s Orion. And Betelgeuse is there."

Elizabeth lay beside him, watching as he pointed out several constellations.

Finally, he said, “I wish I had my telescope. I wonder if it still survives. It has been many years."

He turned to her then, and the stargazing ceased. His lips found hers, and she soon found herself beneath him, his body warm against hers as the stars wheeled silently overhead.

Afterward, they lay tangled together, whispering.

Darcy chuckled and pulled her closer. "We ought to go indoors before you catch a cold. But I must say it: I intend to have a very long night with you in my arms."

She kissed him playfully. "So I see, Mr. Darcy. It has already begun, beneath the open sky, no less."

Back in their chamber, Darcy removed his cravat and tossed it onto a chair. Elizabeth sat brushing her hair near the fire.

“Elizabeth,” he said, crossing to her, “if the fishing proves good, we might remain in Alvie for two or three days. It would give the horses a rest, and we have time enough before harsh weather sets in to enjoy Scotland at a more leisurely pace. Pemberley lies three hundred and seventy miles to the south. I should like to stop there first, collect Georgiana and Kitty, and take them with us to Longbourn. What think you?”

She set her brush down. "I like the idea. I can hardly wait to see my new home."

Darcy grinned and pulled her into his arms. "I hope you love it as much as I do. I’ve often imagined you there.

When I read your letter to Georgiana, the one in which you confessed your feelings for Frazier, I nearly suffered a heart seizure.

If you had married him, you’d be in his blasted castle in the north, not with me at Pemberley.

After that, I couldn’t get to Scotland fast enough. "

She laughed softly. "Fitzwilliam, you wasted no time. You were not in Castle Roy twenty-four hours before you proposed."

She shook her head. “I didn’t know you at all, you were a stranger to me,” she said quietly.

"A friendly stranger, Elizabeth," he murmured. "But you knew the most important things about me. I have suffered, my darling, ever since I first saw you again in Hertfordshire. Forcing myself to resist you has caused me the greatest mental anguish and torment."

The next two months passed in peaceful, sensual abandon.

The newlyweds travelled slowly south, often on horseback.

Darcy alternated between Ares and Rowan to give the horses rest, while Elizabeth traveled on Kelpie or in the carriage.

When rain fell, they rode together in the carriage or sought lodging and passed the time in the enjoyment of each other’s charms.

The weather held, and the roads remained dry and passable.

They read aloud from A Sicilian Romance and the poetry of John Keats.

Chess was played with varying success; Darcy often won, but not always, and long talks filled the hours as they traveled down the Great North Road.

Elizabeth was astonished by how talkative her husband could be once the candles were extinguished.

As the days passed, she came to realize she had not known him at all.

On November 1st, the carriage crested a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley.

It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high, woody hills, and in front, a stream ran.

Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned.

Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by awkward taste.

Her admiration of the scene was warm, and in that moment, she began to understand what it meant to be mistress of Pemberley.

She saw how Mr. Darcy had honored her in believing she was suited to such a place.

Darcy had written ahead to Bingley, Georgiana, and Mrs. Reynolds, and as the carriage drove up to the great stone steps, all the household staff stood waiting.

Darcy handed her down, and they walked up together. "Mrs. Reynolds," he said, "may I present Mrs. Darcy?"

The housekeeper of thirty years curtsied deeply. "Welcome, madam."

"And this," Darcy continued, "is Walters, our butler."

Elizabeth smiled warmly and greeted them both before being swept into Jane’s arms. Bingley was clapping Darcy on the back with enthusiastic affection, while Kitty and Georgiana embraced Elizabeth with joyful squeals.

"Dinner will be served in an hour," said Mrs. Reynolds. "May I show you to your rooms, madam? I’ll send Ruthie and Abby to assist you."

Jane followed her up, and the two sisters chatted as a maid unpacked Elizabeth’s trunk.

Elizabeth selected a jonquil silk gown. "Please press this for me, Ruthie. I’ll wear it tonight."

"Yes, madam. The hot water will be up shortly, and Abby will be in to dress your hair after."

Before dinner, Bingley turned to Darcy. "The kitchen renovations are nearly complete, and Jane’s new wallpaper is up. We’ve hired a few servants already, and they’re cleaning the house and stocking the pantry. We should move in by mid-November."

Darcy smiled. "You are now a landed gentleman, Bingley. Your father would be proud."

He paused, then added, "Dare I ask how your sister Caroline is faring?"

Bingley grinned. "If I depended on her letters, I wouldn’t know.

But Cousin Jack writes faithfully. He’s still ecstatic, poor soul.

We shall see how he fares in the long run with that harridan.

But if anyone can tame a shrew, my money’s on Jack Campbell.

They leave for America in March. In the meantime, he’s written to a solicitor in Boston and plans to purchase land and build a home. "

Darcy nodded. "I wish him well. I cannot imagine how your sister will endure it. It’s so far removed from the life she envisioned. But she has refused countless suitors over the years; this fate is of her own making, brought about by her persistent misjudgment and unbecoming conduct."

He sipped his wine. "Elizabeth and I will continue on to Longbourn, but you are welcome to remain here until your home is ready. I must sign the marriage settlements. I’ve sent them on to Mr. Bennet so that the matter may be concluded quickly.

We will take Kitty with us as she’s been invited to visit Mary and the rector at Hunsford. "

Bingley nodded. "Yes, she’s quite agog. Mary writes that there’s a handsome estate owner nearby who would make a good husband for her. Now it only remains for Kitty to help him realize it."

"Kitty is a beauty," Darcy said. "And clever. If the man has any sense at all, he will propose."

Bingley grinned. "Yes, and she’s not one of those women with claws and horns."

Darcy raised a brow. "And teeth. I've seen such marriages. It’s an untenable life."

"A fate often worse than death," Bingley agreed gravely.

Darcy looked up and beckoned his sister to come near. Elizabeth joined him, and his sister followed close behind. "Georgiana, you will travel with us to London. You need gowns. Mrs. Reynolds tells me your hems have already been let down. Soon you’ll be showing ankles."

Georgiana blushed, and Elizabeth squeezed her hand.

"You’ll both go shopping together," Darcy said.

"When do you leave?" Bingley asked.

"I wish I could say never," Darcy replied, "but the settlements must be signed, Kitty delivered home, and I must introduce Elizabeth to the ton. I’ll ask Aunt Helen to plan a dinner, but she may force me into a ball. We shall see."

Georgiana sighed, then looked abashed.

“What is it, Georgiana?” Darcy asked.

“I am sorry, I did not mean to sigh aloud,” she replied softly. “It is only that I had hoped we might spend Christmas here at Pemberley this year. We have not done so since the year you left on your grand tour. I was but twelve the last time I celebrated Christmas at home with you and Father.”

Darcy’s expression softened, tinged with sadness. Before he could speak, Elizabeth said gently, “There is no urgency in having the marriage settlements signed. We have both been travelling for months; we may surely take a little time to remain here and rest. We can go to Longbourn in January.”