Page 105 of Bitterness of Spirit

“Miss Bennet—here you are!” the colonel called her. “Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds; we shall take care of her from here.”

“Oh, Lizzy—what do you think of all this? Can you believe we are truly visiting Pemberley?” Mrs. Gardiner spoke with deep emotion.

“I was just telling Mr. Gardiner how upset I was to hear Mr. Wilson preferred not to come. How is that possible? He must have long wished to see Pemberley again after twenty-five years, and I am certain my uncle George Darcy would be thrilled to know he had returned. No matter what disagreement he had with Darcy, it must be put aside.”

“I look forward to meeting Mr. Wilson,” Georgiana said shyly. “I am still astonished by the news that he is alive and has returned. It is like a fairy tale.”

“Well, I shall take care of this tomorrow. I plan to bring him here even against his will,” the colonel said in jest.

“Let us hope that will not be necessary.” Mrs. Gardiner smiled. “We shall return to the inn and speak to him sensibly.”

“Should we not invite him to dine with us, Mrs. Gardiner?” Georgiana offered kindly.

“Your invitation is most generous, Miss Darcy, but I would suggest postponing it. My brother has expressed his desire to be alone for the present. I imagine he wishes to reconnect himself with the neighbourhood he missed so.”

“I understand,” Georgiana agreed. “Then let us take a stroll around the lake. Mr. Gardiner, my cousin Richard will show you where you may catch fish if you like. Perhaps Mr. Bingley will join you.”

Elizabeth took an instant liking to Miss Darcy. Her candour and kindness matched her delicate beauty, and she grew angry remembering how poorly Wickham had spoken of her.

There was no doubt that her brother had spoken warmly about them since Miss Darcy treated all of them as close friends.

Elizabeth felt thankful for all the attention bestowed upon her relatives. Mrs. Gardiner—as the daughter of a shop owner in Lambton—was finally given the chance to experience Pemberley as a guest of consequence.

As they walked together, Anne de Bourgh suddenly moved closer to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, I must thank you with all my heart.”

Elizabeth looked at her, astonished. “Thank me? For what, Miss de Bourgh?”

“For your friendship and advice. Without our conversations in Kent, I never would have dared to ask my mother to take me to London, nor to ask Fitzwilliam and Richard to help me spend some time with them away from Rosings. I love my mother dearly, and I am grateful for her care, but I feel like I am finally living at five and twenty years.”

“There is nothing to thank me for; I assure you. Our conversations in Kent and in London were delightful, and I am happy to see you again. And you must allow me to tell you that you look remarkably well.”

Once she said the words, Elizabeth’s’ heart ached from the painful recollection while Anne blushed and smiled shyly.

“I shall not even deny that you are right, Miss Bennet. I confess I feel remarkably well, and it must show on my face.”

“The time at Pemberley suits you,” Elizabeth said, torn between feeling happy for Anne and feeling grieved by the possible hidden meaning of her declaration.

“Indeed it does. I hope you will enjoy your stay here too.”

“I am sure she will,” the colonel interjected, offering one arm to each. “Tomorrow we shall have a long ride around the park. It is worthy of visiting on horseback, but Anne will take a small phaeton. She is not riding yet, but we are working on it.”

“Well, I shall keep Miss de Bourgh company as I am a very poor rider too. Jane stole all the skills in that area.” She laughed.

“You do not ride either?” The colonel appeared astonished. “Well, I shall have two pupils while you are here,” he declared without waiting for any approval from his two victims.

“There is no need to look so happy and eager,” he addressed them, and they laughed at his teasing.

They continued along a beautiful path with several steps climbing smoothly under the cool shadow of some big trees. On their right was the lake and, on the left, the gardens with stunning flowers.

Elizabeth heard her aunt and sister express their admiration several times. Holding the colonel’s arm, she could only think that she should be walking with the man who invited her and for whom she had taken such a long journey.

***

Dinner was pleasant and friendly except for the Bingley sisters’ continuous rudeness, barely concealed beneath cold politeness. It ended rather soon as the guests were all tired and nothing was more inviting than their comfortable bedchambers.

Hours passed, and silence fell over Pemberley, but Elizabeth could not sleep—nor did she expect to. Her mind was too alert, wondering about Anne’s presence and Darcy’s absence, and attentive to each place that was filled with his image. Although he was absent, she could still feel him there.

To her torment was added the heat that radiated through the open window. The night was warm, and the sky serene. She leaned over the balcony; the stars seemed to fall into the lake. Then one of them did just that, so quickly that Elizabeth had no time to make a wish. She would not have done it anyway; she had few wishes left since her sister Jane was so happy and her family was in good health.