“Thank you, William. It does please me. You are too good, and I love you so very much.”
“I love you too, my heart.”
The ten days which the Darcys spent with the Bennets were filled with much activity. To begin with, Mrs. Bennet had arranged several dinners where neighbours could become more acquainted with Elizabeth’s new family. Then for the women there was shopping, calls to be made, and family picnics to organise when the weather permitted. The gentlemen of the neighbourhood were eager to spend time with William and several hunting dates were arranged, as well as one or two gatherings where more serious topics could be discussed over port and cigars.
Although William enjoyed these diversions, his preference was to spend several hours each day with his father-in-law so that he might come to know him better. Many times their talk was filled with discussions of books, and on occasion a game of wits while playing chess. To William’s delight, Bennet often talked of Elizabeth’s childhood, something he was pleased to learn more of.
“My little Lizzy was such an eager learner. It was no hardship for me to teach her to read when she was only four years of age.” He chuckled in recollection. “Then when she was eight, she begged me to teach her to read French.”
“French!?”
“Yes, she happened to find one of my history books from university written in that language, and it frustrated her that she could not make out the words. Needless to say, we began ourstudy, but that was not the end of it, for when she understood that folks spoke and read even more languages than English and French, she pestered me until I exposed her to every language I had studied whilst I was a university student. With her craving for knowledge, I found I could not deny her.”
“I am glad to hear it, for I would not have her any other way. She makes an excellent partner in that regard, and I find I can converse more readily with Elizabeth than with most gentlemen I have known over the years.”
“Your little Anna seems to have an inquisitive mind.” Bennet arched his brow in the same fashion William had seen Elizabeth do so many times. “I can only imagine how the two of them will try to best you as she grows older.”
“I have thought as much, yet I shall look forward to their interrogation with pleasure.”
Over those few days, the two men easily forged a strong bond. With William’s father being gone for so many years now, it was a close relationship which he relished, and one he would miss when Bennet was no more.
As the time drew nearer for the Darcys to depart for Pemberley, Bennet candidly said, “Darcy, it is hard for me to admit my own failings and frailties as a father and husband, but I wish to thank you for your promise to look after my family when I am gone.”
“Father Bennet, I assure you, sir, it is well within my capabilities and I would do anything for Elizabeth to ensure her happiness and ease her suffering. To that end, I recently promised your daughter that we could extend our stay throughout the winter when we return for Miss Mary’s wedding in September.”
“That is very kind of you, son.” He sighed and, knitting his brow, added, “If I could manage, I would dearly love to see all of my girls well-settled before I leave this earth. Hopefully,your Mr. Mitchell will be proved wrong when it comes to my longevity.”
“That, too, is my hope.”
When the time came for the Darcys to leave, farewells were somewhat tearful. Still, there was the promise of returning in two months. The next weeks would be very full for the Darcys as there was much to accomplish before returning to Longbourn. Darcy would oversee the rest of the harvest and catch up with his steward while Elizabeth settled into a routine at Pemberley and planned for Georgiana’s birthday and the arrival of the Gardiners in the middle of August. In addition, there was the harvest ball to be held in early September where Elizabeth would be introduced to their neighbours. As William had said, with so much activity, the time would pass quickly.
To Pemberley
The Darcy Carriage
The first two days’ journey passed without incident, and little Anna proved to be a good traveller over such a long distance. While on route, she sat with her dolls in her lap and asked Elizabeth to read all she had written down in her new journal. The pages were filled with descriptions of the many activities she had experienced in Town and at Longbourn, as well as pictures she had asked Elizabeth and Georgiana to draw. Anna had many favourite pages, but none could compare with what she had Elizabeth write about her new grandpapa and Lady.
At one point the little girl innocently asked, “Mama, do you think Aunt Mary will sing to Grandpapa while we are gone? Grandpapa said she reads to him, but he did not tell me of her singing. Grandpapa said that my singing warmed his heart and he always felt better when he heard my songs.”
“It is true, Aunt Mary rarely sings, but she does play the pianoforte and Grandpapa can hear her music from his room when she practices.”
Elizabeth held out her arms, and Anna happily slipped onto her lap. “Grandpapa loves to read,” the little girl continued, “and I should like to make a storybook for him, like our Patches book. Grandpapa told me many things about Lady, and I would like to write some of them in our book. Aunt Georgie, do you think you could help us with the pictures, like the ones you did in our journal?”
“I would be happy to, Anna.”
“Mama, we can give Grandpapa our book when we go back for Aunt Mary’s wedding.”
“‘Tis a lovely thought, and I believe all three of us will enjoy making your special book.”
“Yes, Mama. And Papa, when we get home, could you please help me practice writing my alphabet letters so I can write a letter to Grandpapa and tell him how much I miss him?”
“Of course, sweet one. There is a small writing desk in the schoolroom, and I shall have it brought down to my study so that we can easily work there together.”
“I would like that, Papa.”
On the morning of the third day of travel, William and Georgiana began to point out familiar landmarks and scenery to Elizabeth as they neared the Pemberley estate. The land was more untamed in the north and quite dramatic in places, with miles of steep hills and a view of the peaks in the distance. Upon reaching the wooded forest, William insisted that Elizabeth sit by the window, where she could more easily see. When the carriage completed the journey to the top of the rise, the driver brought it to a stop. William had instructed him to do so, since he wanted Elizabeth to be able to get out of the vehicle and see the expanse of their land from this vantage point.
“Oh, William, it … it takes my breath away. Truly, is this where I am to live? I had no idea.”
