Page 114 of The Crown’s Gift

"Tea. Strong."

"I shall remember."

He sat beside her, hair uncombed. Elizabeth smiled into the cup.

"What?"

"Pemberley's master steals breakfast trays."

"Ashbourne's servants are discreet."

"And at Pemberley?"

"Mrs Reynolds will know what we require before we do."

They remained at Ashbourne two days while weather cleared. They walked only far enough to return gladly, read by the fire, wrote one joint letter to Netherfield, and learned the small rhythms of waking, eating, and silence together.

On the third morning they began the journey north.

Elizabeth watched the landscape change beyond the carriage. Darcy pointed out towns, ridges, and the inn where he always ordered mutton and was always disappointed.

At the final rise before Pemberley, he took her hand.

"Ready?"

She saw the house appear across the valley, no longer merely his home and not yet fully hers.

"Yes."

* * *

Pemberley's doors opened before the carriage stopped.

Mrs Reynolds stood at the head of the servants. Georgiana waited beside her, smiling so brightly that formality lasted only until Elizabeth reached the top step.

"Welcome home," Georgiana said and embraced her.

Home.

The word entered slowly.

Darcy presented Elizabeth to the assembled household not as the new mistress alone but by name.

"Mrs Elizabeth Darcy."

She greeted each senior servant, repeated names, and forgot two immediately. No one appeared shocked. Mrs Reynolds guided her through the morning with kindness free of indulgence.

The blue drawing-room curtains were indeed faded.

"Lady Catherine was right," Elizabeth said.

Darcy looked alarmed by the precedent. "We need not tell her."

"Marriage has made you secretive."

"Prudent."

Elizabeth did not change the curtains that week. She did not rearrange the furniture, replace menus, or summon tenants merely to prove activity. She walked through the house with Mrs Reynolds, learned the household accounts, visited the stillroom, and asked which customs mattered to the servants who carried them.