She nodded and smiled up at him. “Is not Pemberley our home?” she asked impishly.
Darcy leaned down to kiss her nose. “Yes, dearest, Pemberley is home, and I cannot wait to take you there. However, we must remain here for at least a few days to settle things with your father and address any rumours that may exist.”
Elizabeth stood in his arms for several moments, taking comfort from him. “Thank you, William. You and I need to rest before dinner, together, in our bed.”
He grinned and drew her back to the house. Elizabeth showed him to the servant’s staircase, and they sneaked upstairs, where they remained until it was time for dinner.
After Darcy rodethe estate that morning, he and Elizabeth met with Mr Todd and discussed suggestions for improving the estate’s yields and increasing its profits. Darcy discovered Elizabeth and the steward had previously made several recommendations, and they selected several easily implemented and low-cost strategies to include in their contract. Mr Todd readily agreed to keep them informed about how things were going on the estate, which seemed underhanded in a way. Still, Elizabeth and Darcy felt it necessary to ensure they knew what was going on from someone other than Mr Bennet.
After meeting with Mr Todd, Darcy and Elizabeth walked into Meryton, paid the Bennets’ outstanding accounts, and arrangedfor the estate’s purchases to be covered through Michaelmas. In each store, they obtained a signed receipt for the amount paid to add to the total of her father’s debt. They also sought to counter what rumours they could as they patiently answered questions about their courtship and engagement. The obvious affection they shared did force a few to change their opinions about the couple, although some rumours persisted.
Following the meal, Elizabeth and Darcy presented her father with the document outlining the conditions for their loan. He must take an interest in the estate, actively working to increase its income and implementing some of the strategies Darcy wrote out following the meeting with Mr Todd.
Mr and Mrs Bennet would retrench and pay a minimum of two hundred pounds each quarter towards the loan. They pointed out that the pin money for the daughters who were from home could be saved, and the pin money for the youngest girls could be cut significantly since they would no longer be attending social events, and their current dresses would do and could be remade to fit their new status.
Darcy and Elizabeth would provide a governess or send the younger girls to school. Mr Bennet must support their attempts to improve the girls’ behaviour and send a letter to Pemberley within the week with his preference for school or a governess for his daughters. Eventually, if their behaviour was amended to the point that it would be acceptable in town, a decision that would be made by Elizabeth herself or Lady Matlock, Elizabeth would sponsor both girls in society.
While Mr Bennet must send a letter at least every other week informing the Darcys of the progress and any concerns at Longbourn, he must not allow Mrs Bennet to complain to Elizabeth about the conditions of the loan. If Bennet defaulted,Darcy reserved the right to throw Bennet in debtors’ prison until such a time as he could pay back the loan.
Finally, Bennet must inform his family of these changes and conditions immediately after the Darcys departed and write within the week with details of the meeting with Mrs Bennet and her reactions to the changes at Longbourn. They agreed this meeting would occur after the Darcys left to avoid Mrs Bennet’s anger being directed at Elizabeth. Darcy insisted Bennet tell his wife everything that occurred, and although he doubted the likelihood of it, he expected at least some honesty about their situation.
Bennet was unhappy with the conditions of the agreement but had little choice but to agree. He did not know what would happen to his family if he were sent to debtors’ prison, and despite his indolence, he did not want any of his daughters to be used as they would be if they were taken to repay his debt. Reluctantly, he signed both copies of the agreement and, when the ink dried, kept one and gave Darcy the other.
Chapter Eighteen
The Darcys attended church with Elizabeth’s family on Sunday, and she was pleased to see many of her friends and neighbours, although perhaps not as much as she would have been if not for the rumours. While Lady Lucas made some effort to retract her tales, a few comments were made regarding the hasty marriage, and Elizabeth and Darcy explained that Lady Catherine’s interference was the only reason for the rush. Of course, Elizabeth’s svelte appearance dispelled the most hateful rumours of a compromise in November and a forced marriage when they became reacquainted in Kent. Some of the worst rumours declared Elizabeth to have been in an “interesting state” when they married, and several expected to find her in the advanced stages of pregnancy.
After taking the meal with her family, Elizabeth and Darcy spent a good portion of the Lord’s Day holed up in a little-used sitting room, making changes to their plans and writing letters to friends and relations. They would invite Jane to accompany them to Derbyshire for her protection, which would necessitate another change in the Gardiners’ plans. They originally intended to tour the Lakes that summer with Elizabeth but now plannedto visit Derbyshire and stay at Pemberley during August, leaving their children at Longbourn with Jane, who would now be in Derbyshire with the Darcys. Mary would be most affected by her elder sisters’ departures. Elizabeth and Darcy thought it would be good for her to visit the Gardiners for the time being, where she would benefit from a music master until they visited Pemberley.
With all this considered, Elizabeth wrote a letter to her aunt, suggesting they invite Mary to stay with them in London for a time and bring her and their children to Pemberley for their visit. She was certain her aunt would agree to this plan, as Mary was good with the children and would benefit from the steadying influence of her aunt. Getting her away from Mrs Bennet and Lydia was a bonus. Darcy included his note to Mr Gardiner, making an additional carriage available for them to help convey the children and extra luggage to Derbyshire if they agreed.
While Elizabeth wrote to her aunt, Darcy wrote several letters requesting information regarding schools for the two youngest Bennets or recommendations for a governess. The letter to his aunt covered multiple topics, from the needs of the youngest Bennets to the change in plans regarding Georgiana.
They sent the letters to the Gardiners and Lady Matlock by express and hoped replies would be received at Pemberley before or shortly after their arrival, as they wanted to be prepared to act quickly when Mr Bennet informed them whether he would send the girls to school or keep them at home with a governess. Elizabeth believed going away to school would be best for both girls but wondered if her father would choose the easier route of simply employing a governess. If he chose that option, they would need to find a governess strict enough to deal with Lydia yet able to help Kitty in her more artistic endeavours.
That night, Elizabeth and Jane discussed their father’s actions, and Jane agreed to accompany the couple to Derbyshire. Georgiana would return home from Matlock sooner than initially planned, and she and Jane would remain at Pemberley while the newly wedded couple travelled to the Lakes for a short wedding trip.
Unsurprisingly, Jane did not take the news of their father’s debt and the threats to take and sell her to pay the debt very well; her eyes were still red-rimmed when she boarded the carriage early on Monday. Fortunately, most of the family did not wake to see them off; Mrs Bennet was upset with Elizabeth for not inviting the whole family to Derbyshire, Lydia remained annoyed that her sister had not brought her all the things she wanted from town, and Mr Bennet was angry at the conditions he was forced to accept, so only Mary and Kitty were downstairs when they departed. Mrs Hill wished them well earlier; she was very sorry the eldest Bennet sisters were leaving Longbourn but glad Jane would go with the Darcys, as she heard some of the conversations between the master and the men to whom he owed money. Once the Gardiners approved Elizabeth’s request for Mary to stay with them, a Darcy carriage would travel to Longbourn to bring her to London.
The inclusion of Jane on their trip north changed the Darcys’ intention of travelling slowly and stopping frequently. Instead, they travelled longer each day and passed through Lambton late in the afternoon on the third day. Shortly after, Darcy proudly informed the ladies they were on Pemberley land, and they began to straighten their clothing, put away their needlework, and, excited for their first glimpses of Pemberley, turned to watch the passing scenery.
When the carriage rolled to a stop at the top of a hill, as previously arranged with his coachman, Darcy stepped out and helped his wife down. He offered the same service to Jane, but she graciously declined, recognising this was a moment where her presence would be an intrusion. Darcy smiled his gratitude for her understanding and escorted Elizabeth to a nearby spot for one of the best views of the manor house.
Elizabeth was delighted by her first view of Pemberley.“Never have I seen a place where nature has done more, or where natural beauty has been so little counteracted by an awkward taste,” Elizabeth whispered to Darcy as she took in the stone house, standing tall and blending in so effortlessly with its surroundings. Behind the house was a large, hilly, wooded area, with the Peaks visible in the distance. A stream ran in front of the house and flowed into a large pond in which the house was reflected, and in the evening sun, it shone brightly. “Of all this, I am to be mistress?” she enquired tremulously of her husband.
He took her into her arms and, after ensuring they were out of sight of the carriage, kissed her deeply. “You will be a wonderful Mistress of Pemberley, dearest. I have every faith in you,” he said when he released her.
She squeezed him tightly. “I know, William, and I do not doubt. It will take some getting used to the idea, that is all.”
Darcy turned her around in his arms so her back was to his chest and tightened his arms around her waist before pointing out a few features of the park and the surrounding area. They remained this way for a few minutes, with Darcy occasionally pressing a kiss to Elizabeth’s cheek or neck before finally sighing, “We should return to the carriage, dearest. The servants will be anticipating our arrival, having been notified of thecarriage’s approach.” The couple returned to the carriage for the short ride to the house.
When the carriage stopped in front of the manor house, the servants lined the steps, with the housekeeper, butler, and a few other senior servants standing at the top. Darcy exited the carriage before handing Elizabeth out and escorting her towards the stairs as the footman assisted Jane. He halted at the top of the stairs, turning to issue a general introduction of his wife and Jane to the staff and nodding to dismiss them back to their tasks. That done, he introduced his wife to Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper; Mr Pembroke, the butler; and Mr Douglass, his steward.
Elizabeth exchanged greetings with the men but spoke with Mrs Reynolds for several minutes, knowing it was essential to establish a relationship with her quickly as the housekeeper would be integral to ensuring Elizabeth knew all she needed to know about the running of the house. That done, the entire party entered the house, and Darcy again took Elizabeth’s arm in the proprietary manner he had.
“Mrs Reynolds,” Darcy said, “I trust you received my message that my wife’s sister would accompany us and have prepared rooms for her?”
“Of course, sir,” Mrs Reynolds replied in her efficient tone. “Miss Bennet, if you will come with me,” the housekeeper’s voice trailed off as she led Jane towards the family wing. Darcy and Elizabeth followed, but when Mrs Reynolds turned right at the top of the grand staircase, Darcy led Elizabeth to the left.
