Chapter Four: The Master Returns

He again woke lonely, heartbroken, and aching. For a moment, he thought about simply spending the day in bed, feigning a megrim or an ague. Only the thought that it would almost certainly make everything worse rousted him to a sitting position. His valet came in and was clearly surprised to see him already awake.

"Sir? Are you well?"

"Nothing more sleep and less drink would not cure," Darcy said, halfheartedly. His valet, who had heard this more times in recent memory than Darcy had had cause to say it before, had the grace to say nothing as he helped Darcy prepare for his ride to Pemberley.

Once on his horse, Darcy felt a small measure of relief. Perhaps once he was at Pemberley, other memories would invade his dreams. He practically galloped up to the stables, only pulling his horse slower when he had to dismount.

"Good morning, sir," his groomsman greeted him. "I believe you're a day early."

"When the Pemberley steward calls, I listen," Darcy said, brushing the dust of the road off his clothes.

"Yes, sir. Oh, you should know, sir – Mrs. Reynolds opened the house for summer tours and there is a small party of three about the property right now."

"Thank you," Darcy said, making a mental note to avoid the group if at all possible. He was in no mood to recommend himself to strangers. Or anyone else, for that matter. He asked the groom a few questions more about a new horse, then stepped out on a small, narrow path between the stables and the house.

I have caught the sun or else I am still dreaming. Darcy could not help coloring at the sight of her, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, standing on the lawns of Pemberley as if she belonged there. Visions of other places in Pemberley she also belonged quickly followed and it was a moment before Darcy collected himself.

"Miss Elizabeth?" He asked, bowing to her as properly as he could manage.

She curtseyed, a dark blush still on her cheeks. "Mr. Darcy. What a . . . surprise," she said, eyes on the ground.

Darcy knew not what to make of this. Is she nervous? He had never before seen Elizabeth Bennet close to anything approaching fearful, but she certainly seemed to be determined to avoid him at the moment. Darcy heard himself make a polite excuse, then walked as calmly as possible to his steward's office. When he had finished his business with the steward, he asked, in a casual manner, "The tour group – are they still here?"

"Yes, sir. I believe they are touring the public gardens."

"Do you know which path they took?"

"I believe the gardener will know, sir."

Darcy went quickly and was rewarded by receiving the information he had hoped for. He followed the path and indeed came upon the party he had hoped to see – two people of fashion and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. It surprised him a little – not that people of fashion would appreciate her, but that she would condescend to be in their company came as an unexpected delight. "Miss Elizabeth," he said with another bow. "Are you enjoying the tour of the gardens?"

"It is all utterly delightful, the grounds, the house –" she stopped, blushing.

She is nervous! He could hardly believe it, but it was at least something he understood – and something they had in common. Casting about for something that might put her at ease, he said, "Would you do me the honor of introducing me to the rest of your party?" Dear God, if that man is her intended, please keep me from challenging him to a duel at dawn.

"Of course – this is my aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Gardiner. Aunt, uncle, this is Mr. Darcy, master of Pemberley."

She really is full of surprises, isn't she? Well, it's about time she learned I am capable of a few of my own. "Mr and Mrs Gardiner, how lovely to meet you both," Darcy said, bowing. "Are you also enjoying the tour of the gardens?"

"Yes, sir. You've got some very fine fishing here, sir," Mr. Gardiner said.

Darcy energetically pointed out all the fishing spots and talked about the fish in the river. He always kept one eye on Elizabeth, fearing beyond words that this was yet another dream. Eventually, Mr. Gardiner was obliged to take his wife's arm.

To his great delight, Darcy found himself walking on the grounds of his beloved Pemberley in the company of his even more beloved Elizabeth. He should have been concerned that she did not return his affections, but given the relief he felt that she was here at all, he could not yet feel anxiety about that. He was only anxious she should feel at ease. They had a stuttering, stilted conversation. But at least we are talking!

He tried desperately to entice her into the house with refreshments, hoping against hope he could convince their party to take rooms at Pemberley, but she refused. He did convince her to allow an introduction of his sister and with that, for now, he would be content. I will take it and every other crumb of civility she deigns to offer me, he thought, watching her carriage depart.

He quietly walked back to Pemberley, his thoughts and heart racing. "Sir? Is all well?" He turned to Mrs. Reynolds.

"Mrs. Reynolds, the group you had earlier – will you tell me of their visit? I believe they may return again in the near future and I wish to know what they have seen and heard already and how they responded to it," Darcy said, sure his excuse sounded hollow and ridiculous.

To her credit, Mrs. Reynolds displayed no surprise at this request. She gave a full report of the places they visited and the various responses. At some point, the clever woman realized her master was primarily interested in the response of the young lady. "She is an acquaintance of yours then, sir? She said she was – I hope I did not do wrong."

"As always, Mrs. Reynolds, I am well pleased with the work you do. The young lady is always to be welcome at Pemberley and all the rest of my estates. She and whoever she travels with are to be treated as guests of honor."

If Mrs. Reynolds thought this was going rather far for a mere acquaintance, and a lady who appeared to be a simple country girl without fortune, title, or consequence, she had the good sense not to comment on the matter. "As you say, sir."

"Should I be successful in convincing them to stay at Pemberley rather than the inn they are currently at, I trust there will be three rooms ready for them, the finest available, possibly as soon as tomorrow."

Again, Mrs. Reynolds displayed all the calmness of a servant used to the occasionally eccentric whims of her master. "I'll see to it, sir."

"Excellent. And if you would give a hint to the servants that anyone performing any service the young lady finds favorable shall have their reward, I would appreciate that as well." He smiled, with a look about him that Mrs. Reynolds had not seen in some time. "I wish her group, and her especially, to know the full hospitality of Pemberley and its excellent staff."

At this, the good woman did quirk her eyebrow just a bit. But all she said was, "Very good, sir. I will make sure the staff know your desire. Anything else, sir?"

"Yes. The Bingley family, the Hurst family, and Georgiana arrive tomorrow. Please reassure the staff assigned to Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst that they also will receive the regular increase to wait upon those women and that the opinion of my guests towards the behavior of the staff is not shared by the master of the estate."

"I believe they will remember such from the last visit, sir, but I will do as you ask."

"As far as tomorrow's breakfast is concerned, I hope Miss Darcy and I may make a morning call tomorrow, but I will have to see if Miss Darcy is recovered enough from traveling to do so. I will leave the rest of the party to your usual efforts."

"Yes, sir." At her master's dismissal, Mrs. Reynolds went to the servant room with a smile. Most of the other staff was there, smiling and talking in a dignified fashion. They looked up at her arrival, quiet coming quickly over the room.

"I trust most of you saw the group I showed the house to this morning – the two people of fashion and the young lady?" Most of the servants nodded. Word travelled quickly and quietly among the staff, but only inside the house as the Darcy family valued servants who knew discretion. "The master has made it very clear he wishes us to treat them all as guests of honor and show them the full hospitality of Pemberley and its staff. They may be coming to stay here, but the master has not yet asked for staff, only for three of the finest rooms available to be held in readiness. He has also asked me to communicate that the young lady especially is to be shown preference, and that anyone whose service she speaks well of will have the master's gratitude."

The servants exchanged raised eyebrows at this communication. "Cor, don't think Miss Bingley will like that much," giggled one of the newer maids.

Mrs. Reynolds frowned a bit at the impertinence, but continued. "The Bingleys and the Hursts will be arriving tomorrow with Miss Darcy. The master wished to remind you that those assigned to Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst will also have the master's gratitude and that their opinions of our service are not his."

There was a chorus of soft sighs among the servants. They loved Miss Darcy, of course, and they liked Mr. Bingley well enough. But even the lure of additional compensation did not entirely make up for the company of the other three. "Hope the master's young lady isn't like any of that lot," the young maid muttered.

"Annie, it is not appropriate to question the master's decisions," Mrs. Reynolds chided. "However, I will say, when he talked about Miss Bingley, he looked a little grim. But when he mentioned the young lady, he was smiling." The servants raised eyebrows at this again, but at the pleased look of Mrs. Reynolds, they also allowed themselves some smiles between them.

Darcy found himself practically pacing the halls, nervous and anxious energy trying to work its way through him. He finally decided to go horseback riding and tried to burn off his edge. Afterwards, he called for a bath, determined not to smell like horse tomorrow. Lying in bed, he counted the stripes in his awning many times over until sleep finally claimed him.