Page 170 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“She is almost finished it,” Lizzy claimed. Darcy’s groom came forward and took the box away from his master. “Take it to the kitchen, if you please, Anthony.”

“Aye, miss.”

Lizzy and Darcy strolled a little way from the carriage. “Will you come inside, Fitz-darling?” she asked him.

“No, I think not. Bingley is expecting me.” He turned her into his arms and held her close. “I have been thinking of this moment for many a day. I wish we were the ones marrying in two weeks.”

Lizzy brazenly rested her head on his shoulder. “I feel the same way.” She sighed. “Still, we must use some of these three weeks getting Clover used to you.”

Darcy snorted softly. “He will never like me.”

“Oh, that is too much to hope for, I think,” Lizzy said, chuckling. “But he will travel better if he recognizes you.”

“I accept that,” Darcy said, smiling.

Lizzy felt trepidation. “You…you do not regret promising to let me keep Clover?”

Darcy drew her into a crushing embrace.

“Fitz-darling,” Lizzy gasped. “I cannot breathe.”

“Are you sure you need to?” he asked, easing his grasp nevertheless. “I love you, my dear heart. I love you more than any inconvenience Clover might cause.”

“As I love you, with all of my heart.” Lizzy melted and lifted her lips for another kiss.

“June is so far away,” he whispered, right before he claimed her lips for his own.

*

In spite of how the loving couple felt, May arrived, bringing Darcy back to Netherfield for his friend’s wedding. And soon after, June arrived. The month dragged on until their wedding, but finally the day arrived and everything went smoothly. The drover had arrived that morning and met with Lizzy’s approval. The fortnight of travel dragged on to eighteen days. But finally, the loving couple arrived at Pemberley with Clover, exhausted but gloriously happy. Fortunately, it was not raining, and a light breeze cooled the warmth of the July sun.

*

“Is Clover going to stay on our lawn forever, dear heart?” Darcy asked his wife, standing beside her on their drive.

Their coachman had already driven their chaise around to the stables where it would be unloaded. The inside and outside servants stood by the front entrance to Pemberley, patiently waiting to greet their new mistress.

“Can you not convince him to take a few more steps? His new paddock, built specifically for him, is just over there,” he said, pointing beyond the stables. “After all these miles, will he not walk a little further?”

Elizabeth patted his arm. “I will speak to him, Fitz-darling.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you.”

Elizabeth ran down the drive. Darcy wondered from where she got her energy after a fortnight and a half of travel, advancing a little closer to Pemberley each day. The wagon carrying her other animal friends had arrived a week since. One of his grooms had ridden to find them on the road with the bull to give them the news. Georgiana had agreed to look after them in the transformed orangery until Elizabeth arrived.

Harry chuffed beside him. Darcy had discovered that the big dog did not much like Clover. Even though he was of a herding breed, he gave the white and reddish-brown shorthorn bull a wide berth. The middle-aged drover had shaken his head more than once over the recalcitrant Clover, claiming never to have known an animal as stubborn. He had also marveled over how Elizabeth could wrap the bull around her little finger. At the moment, the drover stood off to one side, his arms folded, and his own herding dog lying at his feet.

Lizzy slowed her head-long rush to approach her friend. He turned his horned head ponderously, watching her. She saw the fatigue in his deep-brown eyes and compassion welled up inside her.

“We have finally arrived, Clover, dear,” Lizzy said softly. She stroked his shoulder and leaned against his side. “There is only a little way to go before you will be in your own paddock once more. There’s also stone shelter there for you to use when you wish to get out of the weather.”

Clover snorted.

“And,” she said in a wheedling voice, “there is a stream in your paddock, too. Fitz-darling chose an excellent home for you. I promise.”

Clover stomped once. Lizzy looked around and spied two farm laborers carrying a tub of water between them.

“Put it down there,” she said, nodding at their feet. “That is close enough.”