The Darcys of Pemberley (7 page)

“Yes, of course.”

“Well, she has been staying with Charlotte
ever since, and they get on splendidly. Now, in honor of her late
husband, Ruth’s brother-in-law has offered her the use of a cottage
on his estate, which coincidentally is no more than ten miles from
here. She should take possession of it in a matter of weeks, and
Charlotte is to come with her! So it seems that you and Bingley
will not be our only new neighbors.”

“How delightful! Extraordinary that Ruth
should have family in the area, is it not?”

“Yes, I understand the estate – Reddclift, I
believe it is called – lies just north of Kympton. Mr. Darcy has
heard of it but is unacquainted with the family or their
circumstances. I am sure that will soon be remedied, however.”

~*~

On Sunday morning, the Bingleys accompanied
the Darcys to church at Kympton, the parish adjoining Pemberley for
which the Darcy family had the patronage. After the service, Mr.
Darcy introduced them to the rector, and then inquired, “Tell me,
Mr. Thornton, do you know Mr. Sanditon of Reddclift? We have just
heard of him through a mutual acquaintance but have never met.”

“Indeed, I do,” said Mr. Thornton, a
pleasant-looking man of about thirty. “I have called on him more
than once in the course of my duties, yet I am not surprised that
your paths have never crossed. He admits to being something of a
recluse, preferring to keep to himself.”

“Other than that, which I shall never hold
against him, what can you tell me about the gentleman?”

“He is a man of sense and good breeding, I
believe. A widower with two small daughters. I certainly saw no
harm in him. I only suggested that he find his way to church with
some regularity. Alas, that hope is yet to be realized,” Mr.
Thornton added with ease and good humor.

The Bingleys and the Darcys passed the
remainder of the day quietly at Pemberley. Then over the next week,
the two couples, with a sense of high adventure, traveled to
Northam Hall and Heatheridge House in turn. Both estates proved
entirely suitable, but the Bingleys expressed a decided preference
for Heatheridge. Although by no means as grand as Pemberley, it was
in some ways reminiscent of it, the house being situated on high
ground with views of the verdant countryside in every direction.
The Bingleys were so well pleased with the place that they
determined to close on it as soon as possible.

Since the subsequent meeting with the
solicitor presented no insurmountable obstacles, Mr. Bingley struck
an agreement that would place Heatheridge in his hands by
Christmas. Plans for relocation commenced immediately. It was
decided that Jane would stay at Pemberley to avoid the strain of
travel whilst Mr. Bingley returned to Netherfield to make
arrangements for removing their household to Heatheridge.

The night prior to Mr. Bingley’s departure
was set aside for celebration – not so much in consequence of the
new house as to honor the shared first wedding anniversary of the
two couples. Georgiana joined them in commemorating the occasion,
all partaking in a delectable late supper and a particularly fine
wine selected to accompany it.

After the others had gone up to bed, Darcy
and Elizabeth lingered, side by side, in front of the drawing room
fire, each lost in their own thoughts.

“How distant I feel from my former life,”
Elizabeth at last mused aloud. “I begin to remember my past as if
someone else lived it … almost like a story I read in a book. Being
here with you is all that seems real and true to me now.”

Pulling her closer, he kissed the top of her
head. “This is where we belong: together, at Pemberley.” They fell
silent again, staring into the dancing flames a while longer.
“Well, shall we go up?” Darcy asked at length. Not waiting for a
reply, he stood, swept Elizabeth into his arms, and turned to carry
her upstairs.

“Why, Mr. Darcy!” she cried in surprise.
“What will the servants say?”

“Nothing at all, I should imagine. I have
given them the night off in honor of our anniversary. So they have
discreetly disappeared below stairs and left us to ourselves.”

“You always manage everything so capably, my
dear.”

“Even you?” he asked, elevating one
eyebrow.

“Especially me,” Elizabeth said, allowing
herself to be taken off to bed in her husband’s very capable
arms.

Sisterly Society

Mr. Bingley departed for Netherfield directly
after breakfast the next morning, and shortly thereafter Mr. Darcy
and Georgiana excused themselves to practice their respective
occupations of business and music. Jane and Elizabeth were thus
left to their own society. Their conversation soon turned to
family, a customary theme of mutual interest between them.

“Have you heard anything from Lydia?”
Elizabeth asked, knowing that their youngest sister kept a nearer
correspondence with Jane than with herself.

“Yes, I had a letter from her just before we
left Netherfield, in fact.”

“What did she have to say? Was it more of the
usual complaint – an accounting of their unfortunate circumstances
and hints for financial assistance?”

“Lizzy, that is unkind!”

“I suppose it is.” She sighed deeply.
“Although I am fond of Lydia, I find it difficult to feel much
compassion for her and for Wickham when their problems are entirely
of their own making. I know you cannot bear to think ill of
anybody, Jane, but I must say that I harbor little hope of their
reform.”

Elizabeth could more easily forgive than
forget the pair’s offences. No passage of time could erase the
treachery of Mr. Wickham, whose past was littered with incidents of
fortune hunting, deception, slander, seduction, and gaming debts.
For Lydia’s sake, the family had assisted him more than he was
likely ever to deserve or appreciate. Yet despite all this, neither
his character nor Lydia’s imprudent manner had undergone any
material amendment.

“So, what
did
Lydia have to say?”
Elizabeth asked again.

“She writes that Bingley and I are to expect
a visit from them in January, and more importantly, that Mr.
Wickham is to be discharged from the army in the spring. They will
be looking for a cheap situation and some help for him in a
profession.” Jane paused. “And … there are some debts to be
discharged before they will be able to move forward,” she added
with a grimace.

“So they
are
seeking assistance again!
Your noble words of protest notwithstanding, Jane, you must allow
that I was right after all.”

“Well, I said you were being unkind, Lizzy,
not that you were wrong.”

Although the subject was indeed serious, it
suddenly struck them both as being equally ridiculous. In the end,
there was no help for it; the sisters abandoned themselves to the
tonic of laughter.

The following weeks found Jane and Elizabeth
reveling in each other’s company for hours every day, Georgiana
with them as a third sister much of the time. The younger girl
thrived on the companionship of her older counterparts. Through
Elizabeth first and then Jane, she gleaned a wealth of knowledge
and insight into the world of wedded life. Far from being a point
of idle curiosity, it seemed that Georgiana hoped to put this
information to some practical use in the not-too-distant future.
She revealed as much when one of their private conversations gave
her opening.

“If I could but marry for love and live
always near Pemberley, I believe I should be truly happy,” she
said, daring a brief glance at Elizabeth before returning her
attention to her needlework.

“That sounds lovely, dear,” said her sister.
“Do you have anyone in mind to play the role of your husband in
this charming picture of connubial bliss? Your brother has taken
great pains to see to it that you are introduced to suitable young
men. Has one of them caught your fancy?”

“No. Well ... not really,” she said, eyes
downcast. “That is to say, there
is
someone I admire very
much, but it would be impossible.”

“Do not despair, Georgiana. The most
surprising things do occur,” Jane encouraged. “Elizabeth and I are
examples of that. You know our histories; what seemed out of the
question once, ultimately came to pass.”

“Yes, and in the meantime, try to keep open
to other possibilities,” Elizabeth advised, pressing Georgiana’s
hand. “Your future happiness may not lie where you think.”

Elizabeth silently began to speculate about
which gentleman Georgiana secretly admired. Finding so much
satisfaction in her own marriage, she quite naturally took a strong
interest in seeing those she loved similarly contented. Although
she sometimes entertained herself with thoughts of matchmaking,
Elizabeth had not yet gone so far as to interfere. Her mind simply
possessed a proclivity for pairing up people, much as someone else
might be forever matching fabrics with furnishings or wines with
food.

~*~

In early December, a communication from
Charlotte Collins announced that she and Mrs. Sanditon had arrived
at Reddclift cottage, and that they proposed to call at Pemberley
as soon as they were settled. Elizabeth, along with Georgiana and
Jane, received them with pleasure a few days later.

“Welcome! I am so glad to see you both
again,” Elizabeth said warmly, taking their hands in turn, as did
Jane. “Charlotte, how do you do? You look vastly improved, to my
eye.”

“Indeed, I am feeling much better. Ruth has
been a great help to me, and I daresay this move will be beneficial
for us both. A fresh start in a new place cannot help but improve
the spirits.”

Elizabeth introduced their guests to Miss
Darcy and then called for some refreshments to be served in the
saloon. “I cannot tell you how delighted I am that the two of you
are to be our neighbors,” she said as they seated themselves in a
loose circle. “What a surprise it was, Mrs. Sanditon, to learn that
you have a connection in the vicinity. Is your brother-in-law your
only nearby relation, or is there more family hereabouts?”

“Other than his two daughters, he has no one
in Derbyshire. There is a married sister living in Northumberland,
I believe.”

“How kind of him to offer you Reddclift
cottage,” said Jane. “Are you finding it to your liking, Mrs.
Sanditon?”

“Oh yes, it is a very comfortable house – a
little smaller than Hunsford parsonage perhaps, but more than
adequate for two women alone. I appreciate my brother’s generosity
most sincerely, especially considering that he hardly knew me at
all, having only set eyes on me twice before in the whole course of
his life.”

“He has invited us to dine at the great house
every day, and offered us the use of his carriage whenever we have
need of it,” Charlotte contributed. “He is a real gentleman.”

Georgiana asked, “How old are your nieces,
Mrs. Sanditon?”

“Just two and four years of age. Precious
little creatures they are too. Their mother tragically died soon
after the birth of the youngest, so a nurse cares for them
now.”

The five women continued their conversation
over fruit and cake. Charlotte applied to Jane for a description of
the new Bingley residence and to Elizabeth for news of her family.
Elizabeth, in turn, asked after the health and well-being of all
the Lucases. Mrs. Sanditon expressed praise of Pemberley and
inquired of Georgiana if she were musically inclined.

Later, Elizabeth asked her guests, “Other
than Mr. Sanditon, have you had occasion to meet any of your
neighbors yet?”

“No one except the rector,” answered
Charlotte. “He called to welcome us almost immediately upon our
arrival. I gather you are acquainted with him, Lizzy – a Mr.
Thornton?”

“Yes, we are
well
acquainted and see
him frequently, at church and socially. Mr. Darcy has the patronage
of Kympton parish, and he knew Mr. Thornton long before he made the
appointment, from their time together at Cambridge. We like him
very much. Do you?”

“Very much indeed,” answered Mrs.
Sanditon.

Even after only the one meeting, both
Charlotte and Ruth were ready to speak highly of the rector, to
affirm his good character and admire his manners. As they gave this
glowing account of him, a compelling possibility entered
Elizabeth’s mind, making her smile. It occurred to her that, once
their respective periods of mourning were over, a match between
either one of the young widows and the amiable clergyman, of whom
they both were just now speaking so favorably, would be neither
unlikely nor disagreeable. “Mr. Thornton’s bound to do for one of
them,” she thought.

~*~

Mr. Bingley returned to Pemberley the third
week of December. In his wake came the Bennets and Elizabeth’s Aunt
and Uncle Gardiner with their four offspring. The halls of the
great house soon rang with the boisterous play of children and the
laughter of adults in holiday spirit. Only Colonel Fitzwilliam
declined the Darcys’ invitation, being obliged to return to Rosings
Park instead. According to his letter, nothing was yet decided, and
he felt compelled to discuss the situation with Anne directly
before it was. He promised to make every effort to return in time
for Georgiana’s birthday in January, however.

At the Christmas service in Kympton, the
church was filled to overflowing as many in the community made an
extra effort to attend on the holy day. The special occasion
brought Mr. Sanditon as well, accompanying the ladies from the
cottage. This gave opportunity for him to be introduced to the
Darcys, who in turn introduced him to their circle of friends. His
manners were proper but reserved in the large group of unfamiliar
people, behavior that Mr. Darcy found perfectly understandable,
being himself likewise reticent in such situations.