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Chapter 22
Elizabeth sat alone, her elbows resting on her uplifted knees, in harmony with her surroundings as she looked around her and admired various remarkable spots and points of view. Once in a while, she glanced towards Darcy and her son. Inseparable, thought she with a smile lighting her face, is the word that perfectly describes the two. She would never forget the grin on the face of her young son when Darcy had invited him to ride along atop his prized stallion once they approached Pemberley Woods.
Elizabeth enjoyed a tranquillity she theretofore had never known, not even during her earlier years at Camberworth. The heartbreak she had suffered in being denied welcome by her father into Longbourn, her childhood home, was erased by the sense of well-being she now enjoyed. Elizabeth thought to be mistress of Pemberley might be something after all!
Just off a short distance, Darcy and Ben were at the top of a rise of considerable eminence where the wood ceased. Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, caught Ben’s eye right away. The prospect of one exciting adventure after another stoked his fertile imagination. He pointed to the large, handsome, stone building standing well on rising ground and backed by a ridge of high, woody hills
“Is that your home?” the lad asked reverently.
“Yes, I live here,” Darcy announced. “Welcome to Pemberley.”
“Your home is just as you described it. I think I shall be happy here.”
“I am counting on that, Ben.”
The lad caught sight of the stream in front of the great manor. “Look, Mr. Darcy! A river runs in front of your home. May we spend the day fishing?”
“What you see is not a river, Ben. It is a stream. Although you and I might fish there, should you insist, I believe we shall have far greater success if we take advantage of my well-stocked lakes.
“Have you had many opportunities to enjoy fishing in the past, Ben?”
“Not as I recall, but I imagine I must have when I was younger,” the young lad replied with confidence.
“Why do you say so?”
“My mama said my grandfather Carlton and my papa enjoyed fishing. Do you imagine they would not have included me?”
Darcy’s heart broke whenever Ben spoke in such terms. He understood Ben’s loss well, having lost both of his parents, albeit his beloved mother as a boy and his beloved father as a young man. He had his memories to cherish. Ben had none.
“I cannot imagine such a thing, Ben. They surely would have demanded your company. I am certain they would be exceedingly proud of you now, as is your mother.”
“What about you? Are you proud of me?”
Darcy placed his hand atop Ben’s head and tousled his curly hair, “Yes, indeed, most ardently. You mean the world to me, both you and your mother. I am delighted you are come to Pemberley.”
“As am I,” Ben affirmed. “Let us make haste. I cannot wait to go fishing!”
A week into their stay at Pemberley, whilst returning from a visit amongst his tenants with his steward, Darcy came across Elizabeth, sitting alone in a little alcove. Deciding to join her, he dismounted and told his steward to attend his stallion. He indicated he would meet with him later in the afternoon.
The welcoming smile Elizabeth bestowed on Darcy as he made his approach gave him to know he was not intruding on her solitude.
“You have been quiet of late,” Darcy expressed.
“Yes, you are correct. I suppose you think me an abysmal guest.”
“Not at all. I invited you here to afford you the opportunity to escape from your worries in town. Yet, it seems you have brought them along with you.”
“I am afraid you are once again correct.”
“I wish you would talk to me about whatever this is that troubles you and steals your happiness. I have been told by others I am a good listener.” Darcy reached for Elizabeth’s hand. “Shall we take a walk?” With Darcy’s aid, Elizabeth stood and brushed her skirt of tiny traces of clinging debris.
She was agreeable to his scheme. In fact, she welcomed the chance to share her burden. The manner in which she had parted with her relatives in Cheapside bothered her still. The last thing Elizabeth had wanted was to hazard seeing Mr. Collins again. Instead of returning to Gracechurch Street, she had invited her Aunt Gardiner and Jane to join her for tea in Mayfair. Any tension that remained had sprung from the fact that Jane had elected not to come. Mrs. Gardiner could not help but feel drawn into the middle of the two sisters’ misunderstanding. Her aunt understood Jane’s position, even if she did not agree with her assertion of not wishing to show disloyalty to Mr. Collins, who indeed had requested and gained acceptance of Jane’s hand in marriage. Mrs. Gardiner’s advice to Elizabeth was to know what she was about and not to be dissuaded by the opinions of others.
Still, Elizabeth had been determined to be disturbed by Jane’s attitude. She wondered what she might have done to heal the rift between them.
Darcy had other thoughts on the matter. “You must not take all the blame on yourself,” he urged.
“I recognise an equal share of blame between us. Nevertheless, I am pained my dearest sister would believe I did not have a legitimate reason for acting as I did.”
