Chapter 1 - 5 months on
Looking out on to the sprawling gardens of Pemberley Elizabeth Darcy sighed softly. It had been but 5 months since she had become mistress of this fine estate and that of its servants, and still she found the task somewhat overwhelming.
It was not that she felt unloved or indeed unwanted at Pemberley. The servants and the tenants that lived and worked for the great house had been nothing but welcoming and generous to the new mistress. Elizabeth just could not get used to the grandness of her surroundings; taking in all that Pemberley was and is would take a little longer than five months she thought wryly.
In fact Elizabeth was still forever being admonished by Mrs Reynolds for her lack of use in regards to her ladies maid. Sighing once more, Elizabeth gritted her teeth; if she could stand tall against the onslaught of one Lady Catherine De Burgh then a trifling issue of feeling out of place in this grand house would not see her fall.
She started as she heard someone walking briskly over the pebbled drive. Recognising the militant footfalls behind her, she smiled as she turned.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam, what a delightful surprise, I had not thought you would reach us until tomorrow."
The Colonel grinned at the beautiful lady standing in front of him. "My business in London concluded earlier than expected, I hope my appearance does not put you out Mrs Darcy? You seemed deep in thought standing there."
Laughing Elizabeth took his arm and ushered him into the great house. "My dear colonel, there will never be a day that your early arrival will cause me anything other than joy. I was merely contemplating the tasks of the day."
The colonel was quick to smile at her playful banter, knowing as he did that she meant nothing by it bar the familial affection. "I hope the tasks you were pondering on are not too tedious Mrs Darcy. For I believe such things should be banished when we are in the presence of such a day."
"Yes indeed Colonel" Elizabeth's soft voice chuckled "If only such things could indeed be postponed until more disagreeable weather. But alas, such is our lives that we are governed by what we must do."
"Then allow me to aid you in these tasks, for surely two persons would be better than one?"
"Your kindness overwhelms me Colonel; however I fear such offers of help are only expressed due to the lack of knowledge when it comes to those aforementioned tasks." The colonel knew by her tone that her lips would be turned up slightly in amusement and her eyes would be sparkling with the pleasure of their banter. He could almost picture her face.
"I will of course defer to your obvious understanding of these said events Mrs Darcy and relinquish your company once we have entered the house, if you will accompany me at least that far?"
"I would be delighted Colonel Fitzwilliam." With the ease of close friends, Elizabeth and the colonel walked quietly into the hall. Escorting Mrs Darcy into the house he could only wonder at the present situation, had earlier events occurred differently. "Mrs Darcy, perhaps…"
"Fitz! You are early old chap" a strong male voice called out from above. "What a blessing in disguise" Looking up, the pair watched as a tall handsome man, dressed rather finely, descended from a nearby stairway. "I had planned on an afternoon of ledgers, but with your sudden appearance, why I feel an afternoon of shooting is in order."
Colonel Fitzwilliam mockingly bowed to Darcy, his face a picture of contentment. "As always Darcy, my existence in this blasted life is to please you, as you well know." Fitzwilliam was only too pleased to feel the slight shaking of his companion as she attempted to hide her own amusement.
"As is only right sir" came Darcy's rebuttal "For am I not always there for you when your pockets are a little light?" The levity of Darcy's words apparent by the smile that rested on his handsome features. A smile that, for Elizabeth, had come to be more symbolic of Darcy than the perpetual frown he had worn during their earlier acquaintance.
"What is that my love?" Darcy asked as he replaced the Colonel on his wife's arm. "You find Fitzwilliam's declaration of loyalty amusing?"
"What wife would not find amusement in two grown men bickering like children my love?" Smiling innocently up at him Elizabeth's eyes sparkled with mischief and Darcy was once again reminded of how lucky he had been. "Perhaps you gentleman would care to retire to the grounds and with great prowess shoot something worthwhile for dinner. With the colonel arriving a little earlier than planned I have a few tasks that need attending to."
After a cursory bow from each gentleman and a responding curtsey, Elizabeth set off along a nearby corridor, her mind already on the tasks that lay ahead. She did not notice two pairs of eyes watching her go, one filled with love, the other, with longing.
