A small army of servants were lined up, waiting for them. He had sent word ahead, and now they all emerged in their livery and starched aprons and stood in a formal line to welcome them. His heart swelled as he spotted the familiar faces. Pemberley had stood empty for too long. Finally, he was back. A wide grin brokeout on his face. Together, he and Elizabeth would make this a home again, full of laughter and joy.
He took Elizabeth's hand as they descended from the carriage. Entwining his fingers with hers, he walked forward.
He introduced everyone to her.
As they reached the top of the stairs, he turned and, encircling her waist with his hands, he picked her up.
She squeaked. "What are you doing?"
He laughed. "You are my bride, and I am carrying you across the threshold."
His heart bursting with happiness, he felt carefree for the first time in years. He brought her up in a wide arch and swung her over through the wide doorway. She laughed with joy and as they entered, they whirled together in a strange dance. Magic enveloped them in a bright glimmer, a bubble of light that sent little sparks fluttering down his skin.
He did not know if he imagined it, but he felt a magical tug from the house, a sense of completion, as if Pemberley was giving him and Elizabeth its approval.
Darcy considered whether there was time for them to retire to bed, but as if to chastise him, Mrs. Reynold appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
“We have prepared a special meal for you tonight, with all your favorite foods, as well as those you advised us that Mrs. Darcy likes. But for now, I am certain Mrs. Darcy will wish to refresh herself and to recover from her long journey. I have assigned her a maid until her own maid arrives. Susan will show you the way to your room, Mrs. Darcy, if you would care to follow her?”
Mrs. Reynolds turned to Darcy. “Meanwhile, Mr. Tanner is waiting for you in the library to discuss one or two immediate concerns about the estate.”
Darcy stared at Elizabeth as she was quite literally plucked from his side and dragged away from him. Elizabeth tossed him a saucy look and her eyes danced with laughter.
“See you soon,” she said.
He growled to himself and considered whether he should consign his steward Mr. Tanner to the nether regions of hell. Confound it. This washishousehold, and he would do what he wished here. He had not come all the way to Pemberley to escape the demands of duty only to be trapped by his steward and his housekeeper.
“Dinner will be ready at six o’clock. We know you will wish to dine at London time until you grow accustomed again to our country ways. And then I am sure Mrs. Darcy will wish to bathe after dinner,” said Mrs. Reynolds.
He had a feeling she was teasing him, but there was nothing in her expression that gave anything away. He had never known she was such a wily old fox. But he could not object, because after such a long absence, the least he could do was appreciate the efforts of the household staff to make him and Elizabeth feel comfortable.
Dinner was an endless parade of dishes, intended – clearly – to impress the new Mrs. Darcy. Then there was port after dinner, which Salter, the butler, assured him was a favorite of his father’s.
“It is forty years old now,” said Salter. “Your father earmarked it for your wedding. I remember the day like it was yesterday. Hetook me down to the cellar and pointed it out. ‘This one, Salter,’ he said, ‘is for my boy, the day he marries. If I am not here, make sure to give it to him.’”
A memory came to Darcy, unbidden, of his father pointing out the bottle. He could still remember the feel of his father’s large hand against his small one. He looked down into his port glass, recalling the time his father had let him take a sip out of this very glass. Darcy had spit it out, and his father had laughed, a loud, merry sound.
“He would have been so proud of everything you accomplished, sir,” said Salter, his voice bringing him back to the present. “Is it true that you are to be knighted?”
Darcy was astonished, as always, how servants’ gossip reached so far. “It is, indeed.”
“I will instruct everyone about the new name.”
“There is enough time,” said Darcy. “We still have a few weeks before the ceremony.”
Enough time. When was the last time he said that?
For now, he intended to live in the present. He stood up, taking his glass with him. He would not waste such a precious gift, but he needed to be upstairs, with Elizabeth.
He thanked Salter and made his way to his bedchamber, his heart increasing a beat with every step. The door between the adjoining rooms was open. With a smile, he made his way there, only to find that Elizabeth’s bed chamber was swarming with servants carrying pails of hot water for a bath, towels, soaps, and scented oils.
Growling inwardly with impatience, he retreated to his room and waited for them to leave. He undressed and put on the dressing gown that had been laid out for him on his bed, then returned to Elizabeth’s room.
The room was empty.
“Elizabeth?”
“In here,” she said, laughing. “Hurry up, come in here, before one of the servants turns up to ask you to take care of something. I have sent the maids away.”
