Therefore, one day early in June, the Darcys arrived at Mr. Phillips’s office in Meryton just before noon. They left Londonearly in the morning and arranged to meet both Mr. Phillips and Mr. Collins in the former’s office when they arrived.
They were surprised to discover Mary Bennet was present. “Mary, how good it is to see you,” Elizabeth said upon entering the office. “From your letters, I expected you to be too busy at Longbourn to come to Meryton.”
Mary sighed heavily before answering. “Mama is insufferable. Between her fears of the hedgerows—a fate she has been informed multiple times will not be hers—and her insistence that I disregard mourning entirely to marry Mr. Collins immediately, she spends her days in bed, demanding that everyone attend to her. It upsets the house entirely. My father has been dead and buried for nearly a fortnight. We are assured of a home in Longbourn for the entirety of her mourning period, and the dower house is being renovated to accommodate us when it is done. Mr. Collins has promised a measure of support for all of us, provided Mama does not attempt to be too extravagant. I have a feeling he will be hard pressed to restrain her spending, especially when so much of the estate’s funds will be needed to restore the estate to what it ought to be after my father’s indolence in the matter.”
Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. “When we wed, William gave me control over my dowry. We have discussed the matter and want to offer our assistance to you, Mr. Collins, to restore Longbourn, particularly its stables. It would be an investment—one that would be repaid over the next decade as you are able.” When the man began to speak, Elizabeth held her hand up to stop him. “I know that Longbourn has the potential to be far more profitable than it is at present. We are family, if distant, and I would like to see my family estate returned to what it once was. As I said, it is an investment, one which would be repaid.”
Darcy and Elizabeth had discussed this matter several times over. Through their correspondence, Mary and Elizabeth had grown close, and Elizabeth knew the difficulties the family would face in the next months as Mr. Collins attempted to restore the damage Mr. Bennet had done to the estate through his neglect. It would be a significant undertaking, one that would be made easier if Collins did not have to worry so much about the funds needed to both support the Bennet family and make the needed improvements.
"I … I am … I am uncertain what to say," Mr. Collins stammered. "I feel I cannot refuse, but I would like Mr. Phillips to write up a contract to ensure the terms of the repayment are entirely clear. I will accept an investment, or a loan, as long as it is not an outright gift. There is much work that needs to be done on the estate."
Mr. Phillips agreed. "I will write up the contract. I presume it will not be much different than other investment contracts," he said before asking a few questions about the details. Darcy answered most of those, being familiar with investments, as was Mr. Phillips, and within the hour, the two had a contract written to everyone's satisfaction and signed.
"If I understand correctly, Mrs. Bennet is aware of what Mr. Collins has agreed to about the family remaining in Longbourn for the present?" Elizabeth finally broached the subject that had brought them to Meryton in the first place.
"Yes, she knows although she still believes the only thing that will keep her from the hedgerows is for me to marry Mr. Collins. I will be seventeen in a few months; I do not feel old enough to marry anyone. While I like Mr. Collins very much, we have discussed this, and neither of us wishes to marry the other. I suppose that could change in a few years, but I am not willing tocommit myself in marriage to a man towards whom I have only brotherly feelings," Mary stated firmly.
"Your Uncle Gardiner and I are now your guardians. Neither of us will force you into a marriage you do not wish for," Mr. Phillips said to reassure his niece. "Despite what my sister might say, none of you will be forced to marry Mr. Collins. We hope all our nieces, and even you, Mr. Collins, will eventually find someone to marry you can love and respect. Between all of us here and my brother Gardiner, we will support you in whatever decision you make."
Mr. Collins sighed heavily. “I am most concerned about Mrs. Bennet and the youngest girls. Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia need to be separated from their mother’s influence, else they will turn out quite wild. Miss Catherine will soon be sixteen and Miss Lydia will turn fourteen in a few months. Neither is prepared for entering society, not even in Meryton, and Miss Catherine is all too willing to follow her youngest sister’s bad example. Unfortunately, my youngest cousin has been allowed far too much freedom, and she has already begun to complain about wearing black and not being permitted to have visitors or to visit.”
“Would it be unseemly for them to be enrolled in school so soon after our father’s death?” Mary asked.
“Not at all, Miss Mary,” Darcy said. “In fact, I think it would be easily understood. They could not attend until the next term which would not begin until near Michaelmas. While they would still be expected to wear mourning clothes for the full mourning period, they would at least be able to socialise a little more than they might at home. They would not have the same reminders of home which might benefit them both. I would also suggest they attend separate schools if one is easily influenced by the other.”
Everyone nodded their agreement as they considered this. “I will pay for the two youngest girls to attend school,” Darcy said after a moment. “It will be my gift to my sisters. I will also allow them to purchase two new dresses suitable for mourning and another two for half mourning if they have a successful first term. Perhaps that can be an inducement to them to behave and to work hard at school.”
“Since I am one of the girls’ guardians, I would agree. Please write to me and to Mr. Gardiner about whatever arrangements you need me to make on your behalf. I have also wondered if Kitty would not benefit from being separated from Lydia sooner; perhaps she could go to London with the Gardiners. Mary, if you wish to return to the Winters’s home, you may do so at any time. My wife and I will speak to Fanny and make her see reason. With fewer of the girls about, perhaps she will find it easier to do,” Phillips replied.
The group chatted a bit longer about estate matters before the Darcys needed to take their leave so they might arrive at the inn before it grew too late to travel.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Several days later, the Darcys drew nearer to Pemberley. They had taken the journey slowly, making frequent stops to ensure Elizabeth’s comfort, as she found travelling by carriage increasingly uncomfortable now that she was with child. Though she had visited the grand estate before, this was her first arrival as its mistress, and the realisation filled her with a quiet sense of awe.
Elizabeth gazed out at the sweeping landscape as their carriage approached the familiar estate, taking in the rolling hills, the manicured gardens, and the grand façade of the house itself. It was a sight that had once taken her breath away, and now, knowing it was to be her home, it stirred something even deeper within her. She was aware that she was stepping into a new chapter of her life, one where her influence and presence would shape the lives of those who lived on the estate.
Darcy, sitting beside her, sensed her reflection and reached for her hand. “I can see your thoughts turning, my love,” he said gently, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “What is on your mind?”
Elizabeth turned to him, offering a soft smile. “It is strange to think that this place is now my home. I am eager to begin my role as mistress, but I would be lying if I said I was not nervous.”
Darcy’s expression softened, and he squeezed her hand reassuringly. “You will be wonderful, Elizabeth. The household will thrive under your care, and you will bring life and warmthto Pemberley in a way it has never known before. My mother was a remarkable woman, but you … you are something entirely different. The people will love you.”
Elizabeth’s smile grew, her heart swelling at his words. “I hope you are right. I shall do my best, for your sake and for the sake of all who depend on us.”
As the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the grand entrance, the staff stood in neat rows, waiting to greet them. Elizabeth took a steadying breath and glanced at Darcy, who offered her a reassuring nod. Together, they stepped out of the carriage, and as soon as Elizabeth’s feet touched the gravel, she was welcomed with curtsies and bows from the assembled servants.
“Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy,” the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, said warmly, her eyes shining with pride as she curtsied deeply.
Elizabeth smiled and nodded in return, her heart lifting at the sound of those words—home. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Mrs. Reynolds, Darcy led Elizabeth inside, his hand resting protectively at the small of her back. As they entered the grand hall, Elizabeth was struck once again by the beauty of the house—the high ceilings, the elegant mouldings, the rich tapestries that adorned the walls. Yet this time, it did not feel intimidating. It felt welcoming, and she could already envision the life she and Darcy would build within these walls.
As they made their way toward the drawing room, Darcy leaned in close and whispered, “Are you ready for the tour, Mrs. Darcy? I want to show you every corner of your new domain.”
Elizabeth laughed softly, glancing up at him. “Admittedly, it has been a few years, but I believe I have seen most of it already.”
“Ah, but not from this perspective,” Darcy replied with a playful grin. “Everything looks different when you know it is yours.”
Elizabeth squeezed his arm, her heart lighter now. “Then I look forward to seeing it all again, through new eyes.”
