Her hands were growing tired by the time Mrs Reynold entered the drawing room, scolded Miss Darcy with the familiarity borne of long service and obvious fondness, and sent them to meet the others for breakfast. The interruption was very welcome, as was the meal. As so often at Pemberley, the time seemed to get away from Elizabeth. After breakfast, Miss Darcy proposed a game of pall mall, and when this was done, the whole party went to the library on the errand of selecting a book for Mrs Annesley, which became both a kind of contest and a source of much laughter. It was not until this was done, and Mrs Gardiner had borne away the prize for suggesting that she ought to readLeonoraby Maria Edgeworth, that Elizabeth hadany thought of leaving the merry party to attempt writing a little more.
Before she could do so, or even so much as begin to make her excuses for leaving them, Mrs Reynolds came in and announced that a letter had arrived for her.
Elizabeth at once forgot her intention and the polite excuse she had begun to manufacture, and remembered only her real delight at the prospect of news from her sister. “Oh, it is from Jane,” she exclaimed. “Please excuse me, everyone, but I cannot bear to wait another moment before learning what she has to say. You will forgive me for leaving you?”
“Of course you must read your letter,” Miss Darcy said warmly, and the others promptly agreed.
Elizabeth hurried away, clutching the letter eagerly in her hand. Once in her guest room, she went to the large windows to stand before them and soak up the sunshine while she read.
∞∞∞
My dear Lizzy,
How wonderful to have some nice cheerful news from you! You may imagine how much we have all worried over you, our dear cousins, and our aunt and uncle, and how many prayers of thanks have been said for your safe escape. I will not conceal that your last letter arrived during a low point for us, especially for Lydia and Kitty. They long to be out of doors, and have some society, at least that of our neighbours. But Mama will not allow them to go out, which has cast a pall over the entire cottage.
But that is nothing compared to what you have suffered. We were so horrified to hear of the fire, but at once relieved to know that you and the rest of our relatives were unscathed. My dear Lizzy, why did not you mention that you rescued little Hattie from the inferno? I had instead to hear it from our Aunt Gardiner. I do not know whether you omitted it out of modesty or fear that I would worry over you, but in either case, I know it now, and you must put up with me being very proud of you indeed.
All things considered, life at the cottage is going very well. Please do not misunderstand Lydia and Kitty’s restlessness to mean otherwise. I assure you that your royalty cheques from Mr Tilney arrive every month, and we lack for nothing. We are so grateful for all your hard work in providing for your family. We have a sturdy roof over our heads, plenty of good food, and the company of our loved ones. The only thing that could improve the cottage is to have your absence come to an end.
We miss you terribly, although we understand your need to be in London, and now Pemberley, to concentrate on your writing. Indeed, I cannot quite think where we would put you up if you were to come home. The cottage is cosy, but very close.
It is a blessing, then, that you are settled at Pemberley. I was so glad to hear that Miss Darcy has provided for your every need in your writing desk and supplies. With your descriptions of how beautiful the house and grounds of Pemberley are, you should have no lack of inspiration.
And now, as I close my letter, I should like to add that, as always, news from you and the family is always welcome and needed to keep our spirits high.
With affection,
Jane
Postscript: Dearest Lizzy, are you not growing rather fond of Mr Darcy? I hesitated about whether to speak of it, but in the end, I cannot resist. If he is everything you said in your letter, I hope it may be so. Seen in a prudential light, it would be an excellent match for you. But I know, dearest sister, that Mr Darcy would be truly fortunate to gain so excellent a woman as his wife.
Chapter 16
Birds were singing outside his study window, as though telling Darcy to forget his account books and the many letters he needed to answer. Work would still be waiting for him come evening, but so lovely a day ought not to be missed. Summer was fully upon them at last. Tempted beyond endurance, Darcy stepped away from his desk to take a deep breath of the fresh air coming in through the open window. The loveliness of birdsong and summer flowers formed a powerful distraction, luring him away from his obligations. But it was not only the call of the outdoors that had his mind spinning in a hundred other directions.
Having guests at Pemberleywascertainly a distraction, but a very pleasant one. The little Gardiners were a joy to have with them, always running about the corridors as they made up their cheerful games. Mrs Gardiner had been nervous at first, thinking that Darcy would scold the little ones for having their fun. But it was refreshing to have life, music, and laughter in the house again. The halls of Pemberley had been quiet too long.
Georgiana seemed to relish the change as much as he did. How many years had it been since he had last seen her so cheerful? Even before the shame of her near-disaster atRamsgate, Georgiana had been a quiet girl, weighed down by the loss of their parents.
Now she was coming into her own. Georgiana seemed to feel no shyness towards their guests. On the contrary, she treated Elizabeth with unrestrained friendship, Mrs Gardiner with deference for her judgement, and the children with a most pleasing mixture of friendship and guidance. Georgiana was blossoming into a young woman of sense and character, not to mention elegance and charm. Watching her and Elizabeth talk and laugh together, almost as if they were family…
Well, it made him daydream more than he ought, he was sure. But the more time he spent with Elizabeth, the more he could no longer deny the strong pull he felt toward her. He awoke each morning looking forward to the day ahead.
Much as he loved his home, Darcy was under no illusions that it was merely relief at leaving London. Nor could it be ascribed to the renewed sense of purpose he felt in returning to serve his tenants and take care of the estate.
It was Elizabeth, and the chance to know her ever more deeply. Yes, she had no connections, no fortune.
Darcy was increasingly sure he did not care.
He sighed and put down the missive he had been trying to read for the last half-hour. He was not going to get any more work done that day, cooped up in the study, all the while with his mind elsewhere. Having made his decision, Darcy set the letter on top of the stack of others that still needed to be answered, and started out of the room.
He walked down the hall toward the drawing room, where the rest of the family was surely already gathering for tea.He shook his head at the thought. When had he come to think of the Gardiners and Elizabeth as family?
Yet perhaps it might come to be the truth — one day.
When he arrived in the drawing room, Darcy frowned. There was no one to be seen. But the disappearance of the others was not long to remain a mystery. He soon heard the joyous yells of children at play and the laughter of the adults floating to him from the open window that faced the gardens.
“We are here, Fitz!” Georgiana called from the terrace.
