Mr. Darcy formally introduced his wife and her sister to the servants, just as if Elizabeth was arriving at Pemberley as a new bride. Elizabeth noted a number of new faces; doubtless these servants had been hired to replace those who had taken Lady Anne’s guineas. She noted, though, that Mrs. Reynolds seemed worried. Oh, she had greeted Elizabeth warmly and curtsied, as was expected of her, but she had held Elizabeth’s glance in a rather meaningful way. Elizabeth knew immediately that something was wrong.
Elizabeth took her housekeeper’s arm as soon as everyone was inside. “What is it, Mrs. Reynolds?”
“Oh, Mrs. Darcy, it is Miss Darcy! The child has scarcely eaten a mouthful of food this past week!”
“Is she ill?”
“She is in a fine way toward making herself so, if you ask me.”
“But why? Was she unhappy to learn that I was returning? I had rather thought she and I were becoming friends.”
“Oh, no, it is because her mother is gone. Poor thing, no matter how it has been explained to her, she cannot understand it.”
“Gone? Lady Anne? But where?” Elizabeth’s astonishment could not be mistaken.
“Why, to Cresston Hall, of course.” Mrs. Reynolds was as astonished as Elizabeth.
“But she was to wait until she and I had spoken! Mr. Darcy sent her a message!”
Mrs. Reynolds shook her head. “Lady Anne did not receive it, Mrs. Darcy; she left Pemberley with Hannah more than a week ago.”
Elizabeth did not quite know how to feel; she could not be sorry that her nemesis was not in residence, but she had planned out in some detail what she would say, and she was rather sorry not to have the chance to say it!
“I will speak with Mr. Darcy,” she said. “But I must see to our guests’ comfort first.”
Mrs. Reynolds replied, “I will take care of them. The Colonel has his own room here at Pemberley, but where did you wish to put your sister?”
“I thought the Emerald Room.” The Emerald Room was a lovely suite in the family wing, decorated in a soft green and cream with gold accents. “Kate is to be my lady’s maid; I want her to have a room of her own.”
“I will take care of it, Mrs. Darcy.”
Leaving the arrangements in Mrs. Reynold’s proficient hands, Elizabeth went in search of her husband. Upon hearing the news of his mother’s absence, Mr. Darcy immediately sought out Barton. “I sent a message to my mother some ten days ago, Barton; what became of it?”
Barton eyed his master gravely. “A message arrived for her, sir, but she was no longer in residence. I placed the message upon your desk in the study.”
Mr. Darcy felt like growling in frustration, but none of this was the butler’s fault; he thanked Barton and returned to his wife to explain what had occurred. He found her in Georgiana’s room, where she was listening to Georgiana say how glad, how very glad, she was to see Elizabeth again, but how very desperately she missed her mother.
“Brother!” Georgiana gave a cry upon seeing him. Bursting into tears, she flung herself into his arms. “Mother is gone!”
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged glances over Georgiana’s shoulder. “Yes, I have heard, Georgiana.”
“Bring her home, Brother! You brought Lizzy home, now you must bring Mother home!”
Mr. Darcy tried to explain the situation to Georgiana, but stopped when Elizabeth shook her head at him, mutely. Upon garnering a promise from Georgiana that she would join them for dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy repaired to their bedrooms.
“I think I neglected to mention how very much I approved of your decorating skills at Darcy House, as well as your rooms here at Pemberley.”
“I am glad you approve.”
“Do not hesitate to work your magic on any rooms at Pemberley that you think require it.”
“I shall, I thank you! Come, what shall we do about Georgiana?”
Mr. Darcy hesitated. “Well, my mother has left; while I think myself an undutiful son, perhaps it is for the best.”
“Of course, there is a part of me that thinks so as well, but seeing Georgiana so very broken-hearted, I think that surely something must be done.”
“My mother is at Cresston Hall by now, I do not doubt.”
