Darcy and the girls were at the base of the stairs waiting to welcome them. Pemberley’s butler and housekeeper stood a little behind their master, his sister, and their guests. As soon as the carriages came to a halt, footmen wearing the distinctive green and gold Darcy livery materialised and opened the doors as the steps were placed for the occupants to descend.
Mr Douglas and Mrs Reynolds had both heard glowing reports from the Killions in Town and wanted to see if the lady that the master was courting could be as good as had been described. Douglas had held the post of butler for five and ten years while Mrs Reynolds had been in her position since Darcy was but four. All Pemberley retainers who did not have family to go to after retirement were given one of a good number of pensioner cottages that the Darcys had built for their loyal staff over the years. The Darcys did what they felt was right, not what others did. The manner by which they treated those who served them, with respect and care, engendered deep loyalty and protective instincts toward the family.
Both Reynolds and Douglas were already impressed by the gentility and amiability of the Bennet sisters currently being hosted at Pemberley and hoped that the sister that the master was courting was of the same ilk. From the little that they observed so far, it seemed that the praise from Darcy House for the lady could be accurate.
Mrs Reynolds had been much relieved for her ‘Master William’ after receiving the intelligence that her master might soon be in a love match. It was high time for Pemberley’s halls to ring with the voices of children. She did not repine the break with the Bingleys and let out an audible sigh of relief that Miss Caroline Bingley would never darken the doorstep again. She thought back to the first time that social climbing, fortune hunting shrew had been a guest at the estate with distaste.
From the moment that the uncouth, overdressed, and pungently liberal with her not so nice scent harpy had alighted at Pemberley, Mrs Reynolds had seen her beady little eyes grow as big as saucers while she calculated Pemberley’s and the master’s worth. What avarice! All the servants soon learned that this daughter of a tradesman thought herself of the first circles, and even worse than that, she seemed to delude herself that she would be the next mistress of Pemberley. Anyone with eyes could see that she had her cap firmly set on Master William.
At first Hannah Reynolds and all of the servants were worried that Mr Darcy would be caught in a web spun by the deceitful woman. His disdain of her was as clear as the day was long, so they all breathed a lot easier. He would never make that woman their mistress. The only one who seemed to be oblivious of the fact that Mr Darcy disdained her, was the harridan herself. It did not take long for any at Pemberley to see that the shrew was delusional.
Under normal circumstances, neither Douglas nor Reynolds would ever dare to complain to their master about a guest, but Miss Bingley was no regular guest. In fact, she seemed to have no idea how to behave like one. From the instant that she crossed the threshold, Miss Bingley had tried to act as if she was already the mistress of the estate, though she made sure to always exert authority she did not have out of the master’s view.
It got so bad that the two head servants took the unprecedented step of requesting a meeting with the Master. They informed him how Miss Bingley was behaving and that there were not a small number of servants that she had berated for perceived faults that were ready to resign. Additionally, more than one servant had said that if, as the lady declared that she would be, she was the next mistress of Pemberley there would be a mass exodus of servants.
The two head servants had initially worried that the Master would berate them, but in point of fact he did not. His ire was not directed at them. He thanked them for the information then asked Douglas to summon Mr Charles Bingley to his study, requesting that Douglas return with his friend and that Reynolds remain.
When Douglas returned with Bingley and the study door was firmly closed, the two senior staff were asked to repeat all to Mr Bingley. They could see Mr Bingley’s indecision of what to do about his sister’s behaviour as he did not want to anger her. After the recitation, the master had released his senior staff back to their duties with his thanks. They had no idea what had been said but could guess based on the results.
The Bingley and Hurst party had departed that day. Bingley had made the excuse that urgent business had called him to Town rather than confront his younger sister about her behaviour.
Mrs Reynolds smiled at the recollection. Her master was the best landlord and master that could be and there was not a single servant or tenant who would contradict that fact. Although she liked what she saw so far, Mrs Reynolds decided to reserve judgement. If the young lady was a good actress, it would be exposed soon enough. She had heard that fortune was not a motivator as Lady Elizabeth’s reputed wealth was more than the master’s.
Charlotte Collins stood in awe of the whole of the Pemberley estate. ‘Yes, I can see Eliza being very happy here if she will get past her stubbornness and show the man that she loves him!’ she smiled to herself. After the greetings were completed and Lily had been hugged tightly by her parents, Elizabeth looked directly at Darcy, not surprised he was also looking at her.
“William your estate is spectacular; I understand now why you and Georgie light up whenever you talk about Pemberley. I have never seen a place that appeals to all of my senses as your estate does. The natural feel here is magnificent!” Elizabeth offered in words, her eyes expressing the pleasure she knew only he would understand.
“I just knew you would love our home,” Georgie offered with a glow of happiness and pride.
“I am very pleased that you approve, Elizabeth, especially as your approval is not liberally bestowed,” William offered quietly as he stared longingly at the woman that he hoped would soon be his betrothed. “Generations of Darcys, this one included, have always valued the natural aspects of our estates. We see ourselves as stewards of the land, not its master.”
‘Another pro, his, the Darcy philosophy about land stewardship aligns with mine so closely. This will be my home, if I have not spoilt my chances by making him wait too long,’ she thought, hoping to God on high that it was not so; that he would renew his addresses as soon as she gave him the indication that she intended to as soon as she and Charlotte were guests in her William’s home.
After soaking in her approbation for Pemberley, a very happy and proud Fitzwilliam Darcy suggested that everyone make the short walk to the church for services as planned. As he led them and talked with each of his guests to verify that they were in want of nothing, Lizzy realised that the man she had fallen deeply in love with had no improper pride. Anyone would be proud of such a home.
Within minutes they arrived at the church which serviced the estate and its residents. The Darcys and their guests took their seats in the first two rows of pews and soon the congregants had filled the remaining seats. Mr Patrick Elliot, who was taking his turn in the rotation at Pemberley that Sunday, started the worship service.
Charlotte Collins could not help but see the vast difference between her late husband and the man in the pulpit in both style and substance. He spoke well, held the congregants’ attention, and his sermon was based on the lessons of the Holy Bible, not the ravings of an insane patroness who dictated the sermons for him. The other major difference was at the end of the service, he spent time with all parishioners seeking a moment with him, both talking and listening, before attending his patron and party. Like the clergyman that now had the Hunsford living, this vicar was a true servant of God, not wealth and rank.
After the last congregant that wanted his attention left, Elliot joined the Darcy party with his daughter Grace holding his hand shyly. She was pleased to see the children she had met at Dovedale again which banished her shyness instantly. Grace relinquished her papa’s hand and claimed May Gardiner’s. The adults allowed them a moment to resettle then they made the short walk back to the manor house to partake in dinner.
As they all entered the house, Elizabeth could not fail to notice that like Darcy House, Pemberley exuded wealth and comfort with only the best of everything, but it was in no way ostentatious or gaudy. She could see that each room was designed for comfort and living, not for show or to impress. The house had four stories above ground, and an extensive cellar and cold room below. There was a grand marble staircase that rose up from the rear of the entrance hall with various doors both sides of the hall that held secrets she wanted to discover. The ceiling went all the way up to the second floor and it was very tastefully painted with a fresco. Georgiana, in her role of mistress, a position that she hoped to resign soon when she gained Lizzy as a sister, led everyone to the large green drawing room for aperitifs prior to dinner.
“When I am a guest here soon, am I to be given a map so I do not get lost and cannot be found for days on end?” Lizzy asked William, her manner both sportive and impertinent as they entered the drawing room, which caused a round of good-natured laughter.
Lord, he loved it when she teased him. “My dearest departed mother told me that she was intimidated being a mistress in her own right and finding her way about a new house when she first married my honoured father, and she was raised in a castle at Snowhaven! However, her trepidation only lasted some few days and she never did get lost. You, Lady Elizabeth,” he smirked down at her so she knew he too was teasing, “have always told us how your courage rises at every attempt to intimidate you, so I have no doubt that you will soon know your way around like a native.” Neither noticed or complained that they were talking as if it were a foregone conclusion that Lady Elizabeth Bennet would be the next Mistress of Pemberley.
After the meal, Darcy asked if the Gardiners, Elizabeth, and Charlotte would like a tour of the entrance level of the house to which all four assented. Though he wanted to take Lady Elizabeth through all of the house he one day hoped to share with her, he thought that it would be presumptuous to tour the levels that held the bedchambers. The memory of her setdown not many months past deeming him ‘hateful, arrogant, and a hypocrite’ made him more circumspect so he would assume nothing. The library that sat above the ballroom one level up was something that he wanted to reveal to his beloved when she soon arrived for her all too short visit.
Mrs Reynolds conducted the tour. There were two public drawing rooms, the music room with the new Broadwood Grand pianoforte that the master had recently purchased for his sister whom he loved to distraction, a nicely appointed receiving room, three parlours of varying sizes, a study for the master and another next to it for the mistress, a breakfast parlour, and both a large and small dining parlour, the larger of which could seat up to eighty people. When touring the mistress’s study, Elizabeth could visualize herself sitting there and meeting with Mrs Reynolds about household matters while her husband sat next door in his study with the connecting door open.
‘Where did that come from? He has to propose first, and here I am imagining him as my husband. He has to forgive my making him wait for no good reason other than my own selfish uncertainty based on a false premise and offer for me again.’ With this last thought she realised that there were no more barriers, her heart and head were at long last in complete agreement. William was the one, he was in fact theONLYone that she could be prevailed upon to marry! The last stop was the huge ballroom where they were informed that the last time that Pemberley had hosted a ball was before the death of Lady Anne Darcy.
Mrs Reynolds pointed out the entrance to the kitchen and the rest of the service area, expecting that the guests would just note where the kitchen and servant areas were then wish to proceed. It pleased her very much to be proven wrong. They were not just feigning interest either, they requested to see the kitchen, the pantry, the storerooms, and the housekeeper’s office. Mrs Reynolds personally believed this boded well for Master William and further cemented her good opinion of Lady Elizabeth and her family.
The housekeeper was not blind; she could clearly see the looks of pure love and adoration that were surreptitiously directed at one another when the other was not looking during the tour. What she noted was more reinforcement of her feeling that Master William had finally met a woman worthy of him. ‘This lady is genuine, she really loves the master and he her, Pemberley will come alive again!’ Yes, Cheryl Killion had spoken very highly of Lady Elizabeth Bennet and now Mrs Reynolds could see why. She had never seen the master look so happy and be as easy in company as he was around Lady Elizabeth. She could see beyond a shadow of a doubt that was due to the love he radiated towards the lady that he was courting.
In the kitchen they were introduced to the cook and baker, Gertrude McInnis, who had been born in Scotland but had been raised in England and was said to make the best shortbread anywhere in England. Also introduced was the French chef, Claude-Michel Henri. The guests impressed both the servants and their master by giving a cordial greeting to all present from the scullery maids up. ‘If, no when I marry him, how happy Jacqui will be in a house with a French Chef to converse with in her native language since she has left the company of Jane’s maid,’ Lizzy thought to herself with determination.
