“I will ring for Ellis and have her inform Jenny,” Elizabeth said.
“By the way, Elizabeth,” Darcy added, his tone softening, “your books are being packed as we speak. Shall I leave one of them out for you?”
Her eyes brightened. She turned to her sisters. “I have a mind to read the first book ofThe Odysseyto you. We can alternate between serious study andThe Castle of Otranto.” She looked back at her husband with a smile. “Yes, please leave Book One out for me. I think my sisters will enjoy it.”
Darcy’s gaze swept the young women’s faces. Georgiana smiled eagerly, but Jane and Mary looked less inspired. He chuckled softly. “Well, I wish you luck, Mrs. Darcy. Luncheon will be served in half an hour. You may rest after if you are tired, or Georgiana can show you part of the house, if that pleases you. I fear you will not have time to tour it all until our return. Does that disappoint you, my dear?”
“No, sir,” she replied. “What I have seen is elegant and beautifully appointed. The library is the largest I have ever beheld, and Georgiana tells me it is the size of a pincushion compared to Pemberley’s. I find that hard to imagine.”
“You shall see for yourself in three or four days, Mrs. Darcy,” he said with a smile. “Reserve judgment until then.”
He inclined his head and returned indoors.
Once again seated in the carriage, Elizabeth wondered at their sudden haste to depart. Perhaps her husband had pressing business at his estate in Derbyshire. She gave it no further thought and opened the book upon her lap. She began to read aloud fromThe Odyssey.
“Now all the rest, as many as had escaped sheer destruction, were at home, safe from both war and sea, butOdysseus alone, filled with longing for his return and for his wife, did the queenly nymph Calypso, that bright goddess, keep back in her hollow caves, yearning that he should be her husband.”
Jane frowned slightly. “Lizzy, is this quite proper reading for gentlewomen?”
“All gentlemen, our fathers and brothers, study these very works at university. If we are to understand human nature and the men in our lives, we too must study and learn to reason for ourselves.”
Georgiana’s expression was pinched. “Is it very violent? Will it give us night terrors?”
Elizabeth took her sister’s hand. “Not at all, my dear. It speaks of battles and passions, yes, but nothing that should frighten you. Especially if we discuss our readings together.”
And so the four women began their study ofThe Odyssey. After an hour of reading and reflection, they closed the volume and turned to lighter fare, asking Mary to continue their next chapter ofThe Castle of Otranto.
Chapter 26: Journey To The North
The Darcy carriages had been traveling for two hours when they pulled off the road. Darcy dismounted and stepped to the door of the leading carriage.
“Elizabeth, we are going to rest and water the horses. We have traveled ten miles. Our destination this evening is Hatfield.” He smiled, a glint of humor in his eyes. “We are back in your county, my dear.”
Elizabeth raised a brow. “It seems that I cannot shake the dust of Hertfordshire off my feet so very easily, sir.”
His eyes were laughing. “That is my fault, ma’am. However, now that we are here, I thought you and our sisters would like to tour Hatfield House, the seat of the Cecil family, the Marquesses of Salisbury.”
All the sisters drew nearer, listening with interest.
“Elizabeth Tudor was confined there for three years in the Old Palace.”
From her expression, Darcy saw that his wife was intrigued.
“I would love to tour the grounds, sir,” she said eagerly.
Georgiana’s face brightened. “Elizabeth Tudor is my favorite queen, Fitzwilliam.”
Darcy grinned at the group. “It appears that you are all in agreement with our travel plans for this portion of the journey. There is a lovely grove near the stream where the horses will be watered, if you would like a short walk.”
He offered his arm to Elizabeth, and they strolled away from the others beneath the shade of a small stand of trees.
Glancing down at his wife, he asked, “Is there anything I can do to make this journey more comfortable for you or your sisters?”
She was touched by his thoughtfulness.
“No, sir. You have seen to our comfort most unexceptionally.” Then she added, “I have never been beyond our small village except to visit Gracechurch Street. Every new place is a novelty to me. I am grateful that you would take the time to allow us to visit Hatfield Palace, knowing the work that awaits you at your estate.”
Darcy felt a twinge of guilt. In truth, there was no pressing matter awaiting him at Pemberley; that excuse had served only as a pretext to flee London and the Earl. God help him, he could not lie to this woman. She was so trusting, so open. He would not do anything to damage that trust.
