Elizabeth
The carriage stopped on a rise that looked out over the fields and woods below. Darcy climbed out and helped Elizabeth down, leaving Georgiana in the carriage and led his wife forward to observe her new home. She gasped in awe. The prospect was perfect. The drive continued down the hill and around a large lake toward an impressive manor house. Another smaller lake had been created just in front of the house so that the edifice’s reflection fell upon the water. A fountain completed the picture. Woods lined the drive, and the grounds appeared to be impressive. Everything had been left in its natural state where possible, and nothing had been forced into unnatural rows or arrangements in an awkward manner.
“What do you think?” her husband asked quietly.
“It is beautiful.” She glanced mischievously at him and said playfully, “I am certain there are paths aplenty on which I can muddy my hems. What say you, Mr. Darcy? Will your staff be appalled when their mistress arrives with her petticoat six inches deep in mud?”
Her husband laughed. “I am certain they will say nothing against your preference for the outdoors.” He turned and led her back to the carriage.
Georgiana bounced excitedly as her new sister settled herself. “Just wait until you see inside!” she cried happily.
As they made their way down the rest of the drive, Elizabeth reflected on the past two weeks. Her father had been laid to rest in Hertfordshire and his heir, too, had gone on to meet his maker. Jane would hopefully be waiting at Pemberley.
She winced internally. She had not told her husband that Jane was to stay with them for the foreseeable future. Whenever Elizabeth mentioned her sister, he quickly changed the subject or grew very formal. After overhearing the conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, she knew Darcy believed that Jane had not cared for his friend. So, despite her husband’s reassurances that she could invite whomever she wished to visit, she had not informed him.
She had, however, sent a letter to Mrs. Reynolds, introducing herself and giving instructions to have a room in the family wing prepared for her sister. Mrs. Reynolds had sent a response via express when everything had been readied.
The carriage came to a stop before the house. The staff were lined up on the stairs, awaiting their master and their new mistress. Elizabeth spotted an older woman with a chatelaine at her waist.That must be Mrs. Reynolds, she thought.
The door to the carriage opened and Darcy climbed out before turning to assist her. She took his hand and allowed him tohelp her down. After helping his sister in like manner, he tucked Elizabeth’s arm in his, and turned, making his way toward the woman she had noted previously.
“Elizabeth, this is Mrs. Reynolds. Mrs. Reynolds, it pleases me to introduce Elizabeth Darcy, my wife. Mrs. Reynolds has been the housekeeper here for almost fifteen years. I have known her since I was a lad and a finer person you will never meet.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Mrs. Reynolds.” Elizabeth greeted the housekeeper warmly. They would be working closely together, and she had no wish to antagonize the woman.
“Likewise, Mrs. Darcy.” Mrs. Reynolds curtseyed politely. “The master bade me prepare everything. And your own directives have been seen to, of course.”
Elizabeth nodded, ignoring the quizzical expression her husband gave her. Instead, she focused as Mrs. Reynolds began introducing the staff. She began with the butler, a tall, stoic man named Palmer. Next, she moved from the upstairs staff to the downstairs and kitchen staff. There were far too many to remember, and Elizabeth knew it would take her months to recall their names accurately.
“Smith is in your chambers. Your trunks arrived ahead of you, and she is seeing to them.” Mrs. Reynolds directed her next comment to Darcy. “I have tea prepared in the yellow parlor, sir, if you care to partake before you retire to your chambers.”
“That would be lovely. I am certain my wife is as in need of refreshment as I.” Darcy smiled. “Let us go in.” He held his free arm out to Georgiana, and they climbed the stairs. Inside the vestibule, Elizabeth handed her outer things to the waiting butler and allowed Georgiana to take her hand. Her sister pulled her down the hallway and around two turns until they reached what she presumed was the yellow parlor.
The door stood open, and Elizabeth entered. Gasping in delight, she rushed to Jane, who stood near a settee. Ignoringeverything else, she hugged her fiercely, weeping into her shoulder.
“You are here!” she cried. “I have missed you dreadfully.” Elizabeth stepped back, taking Jane’s hands in hers as she observed her sister. “There is a glow about you,” she continued. “How are you feeling?” She nodded toward Jane’s rounded stomach.
“I am quite well, Lizzy, I assure you. The journey was long, but we went slowly. Mr. Darcy’s carriage is very comfortable. I have no complaints.” Jane’s usual serene smile graced her lips, and Elizabeth returned it with a broad one of her own.
“Jane, this is my new sister,” she said, turning and beckoning to Georgiana. “Miss Darcy, my elder sister, Jane Collins.” The ladies curtseyed and they sat, waiting for tea and Darcy to come into the room.
“I am so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Collins,” Georgiana said quietly. Jane looked wraithlike in her black gown, and yet somehow ethereally beautiful in her mourning.
“I thank you for your sympathies.” Jane smiled, no sign of repressed misery in her expression. “And I am very grateful to be so welcomed here. Things will be uncertain until my child is born.” Her hand came to rest gently on her stomach, and she caressed it fondly.
“Mrs. Collins?” The ladies turned and observed Mr. Darcy in the doorway. His confused and incredulous expression must have informed Jane that he had not known she would be here, for Elizabeth’s sister glanced away, blush staining her cheeks.
Elizabeth stood. “I invited my sister to stay for a time,” she said mildly, hoping to delay the inevitable confrontation until they were in private. “Oh, here is tea! Thank you… Sally, is it not?” The maid nodded and set the tray on a table. As Mr. Darcy moved slowly into the room and took a seat, Elizabeth busiedherself preparing a cup for everyone. When all had been served, she chatted about little nothings.
Jane excused herself to rest when she had finished tea, kissing Elizabeth’s cheek and departing. Georgiana followed suit, claiming fatigue from their journey. When they were alone, Elizabeth carefully set her cup on the tray and turned to her husband.
“What is Mrs. Collins doing here?” he asked flatly.
“My sister needed a place to stay until she has her child. Given my mother’s propensity toward hysterics, I felt it would be safer… and morecomfortablefor Jane to be here.” She shrugged casually.
“You did not tell me.” His tone accused her of some crime, and she bristled at the implication that she should not have welcomed her sister into her home.
“I was under the impression that I am free to invite whomever I wish to be my guest,” she said through gritted teeth. “Am I mistaken, sir?”
