~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Two days after the wedding, the Darcys arrived at Pemberley. For Will and Elizabeth, it was a most welcome sight having been by then almost two months away from Derbyshire. The couple would stay at Pemberley overnight and then depart for Rivington in the morning. It was close enough that they could have easily made the estate before sundown, but they had been invited to spend the night with their family.
After dinner, all six Darcys and William Bennet were sitting in the music room where Georgiana had just completed a duet with her mother.
“How are you finding your duties, William?” Elizabeth asked her older brother.
“I am finding that I enjoy them very well,” William replied.“There is much to learn, and MrPerkins is a good teacher. Thankfully, he is the type of clergyman that I want to be, like Mr Pierce at Longbourn is. He does not see his livings as a means of income, but rather a calling, and the welfare of every single parishioner, regardless of rank, is important to him.”
“He is a good man, William,” George Darcy agreed,“and he finds that you are, too. He is to retire at the end of November and has heartily endorsed my choice to appoint you to his livings.”
“Are you sure, Uncle George, for I am yet young?” William reminded him.
“I have had your measure for a long time, William, including long conversations with Mr Pierce, who told me how you would take the shirt off your back to help someone if you thought it was warranted. It is not age but temperament that I look for in my appointments, and you have exactly what I am looking for to guide the parishioners of the three parishes I can grant a living for.”
“Look at how well you performed our wedding ceremony barely a month after you had taken orders, William. With your legacy, you could be an indolent gentleman and live well, but you choose to follow the call of God and His Son Jesus,” Elizabeth said with pride in her brother.
“In that case, I thank you, Uncle George. I will not let you down.” He nodded to the room at large. No one noted that Georgiana seemed to look pleased when it was confirmed that William Bennet would remain in the area, except her mother, who could not but smile at the possibility of such a perfect match for her daughter. Thomas Bennet had indeed been a patriarch of good fortune for their family. Perhaps a first edition from the top shelves would be an appropriate gift for him.
“Lizzy and Will, may I come with you to Rivington on the morrow?” Georgiana asked, pleading sweetly with wide, innocent eyes.
“Me, too,” Alex added.
“Before your brother or sister answer, let me stop you two there,” their father stated firmly.“It will be the first day that Lizzy and Will are at their estate as a married couple.” He gave his two younger children a quelling look before they spoke again.“When they are settled in, and theyinviteyou, then you may go with pleasure.”
“Father George is correct. In a…,” Elizabeth looked to her husband.
“Week,” Will suggested the timelines they had already discussed before inviting them.
“Yes, you are all welcome in a week. I am issuing my first official invitation as Mistress of Rivington,” Elizabeth effused.“I will send an invitation to Mama, Marie, and Andrew as well. It is a pity that Jane and Perry will be at Longbourn until the little season.”
“If my parents will cede this Christmastide to us, why do we not have all of the family at Rivington for the holiday?” Will suggested, looking at his parents to gauge their reaction.
“I see no reason why you and Lizzy should not host your first Christmastide,” Lady Anne said after her husband nodded.“Both your mother and I will be available to assist you as needed, Lizzy.”
“Marie will also want to help. She has hosted the holiday more than once since she became the mistress of Snowhaven,” Elizabeth added as she started making plans in her mind.“Now that Retta is my sister, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Cyril will have to be included at all family events.”
“I, for one, am happy that Wes is your brother and no more than that!” Will teased his wife.
“He never stood a chance, Will. I had lost my heart to an infuriating man, and in the end, none but him would do,” Elizabeth said with an arched eyebrow at her grinning husband.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Will and Elizabeth now had a suite that would always be ready for them at Pemberley. It was a few doors down from the master suite, which both prayed would not be theirs for many years.“Are you ready to be loved, my Lizzy?” Will asked as he climbed into the bed next to his wife.
“Nothing would please me more, but I am indisposed my love,” Elizabeth told her husband delicately.
“Well then, I see we will have to be a bit more inventive,” Will said with a glint in his eye.
“There is nothing to stop me pleasuring you,” Elizabeth said as she slid her hand up his thigh.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Darcys arrived at Rivington before midday. The butler, housekeeper, and servants were arrayed to meet them, and they accepted congratulations on their nuptials from all assembled.“My husband and I are happy to return home. We will rely on each of you to make Rivington the best that it can be. I hope to learn all your names in a short time, and though we demand respect, we believe in giving respect in return. Thank you for your warm welcome and well wishes.”
The butler and housekeeper dismissed the servants, who all left the entrance hall feeling that they would enjoy working for the young master and mistress.“MrsRalston, please inform Cook that we will have dinner at half after six in the breakfast parlour. When it is just the two of us, there is no need to bother with the formal dining room,” Elizabeth instructed before she and her husband ascended the stairs.
They noted that the few changes they had requested in their sitting room had been done to precision, as was the mistress’s chambers. The master’s bed would be the one that they would use, and the only time they planned to use Elizabeth’s bed was when she was in her final confinement, if they were so blessed. Thankfully, there was no pressure on them to produce an heir. If they had all daughters, or worse yet no children, Alex’s, or, failing that, Georgiana’s son, would inherit Pemberley after Will.
