The Darcys remained at Longbourn for the Sabbath and were ready to depart early in the morning on the following day. They had attended church with Elizabeth's family, and she had been pleased to see many of her friends and neighbours, although perhaps not as pleased as she would have been if not for the rumours. While Lady Lucas had made some effort to retract her tales, a few comments had been made regarding the hasty marriage, and Elizabeth and Darcy had to explain that Lady Catherine's interference had been the only reason for the rush. Of course, Elizabeth's appearance did much to dispel the most hateful of rumours about a compromise that had occurred in November and a forced marriage when they had become reacquainted in Kent.
Elizabeth and Jane had discussed their father's actions the night before, and Jane had agreed to accompany the pair to Derbyshire. Things would be arranged so Georgiana could return home from Matlock sooner than initially planned, and she and Jane would remain at Pemberley while the newlywedded couple travelled to the Lakes for a short wedding trip.
Jane had not taken the news of their father's debt very well; her eyes were still red-rimmed when she boarded the carriage on Monday. Fortunately, most of the family had not arisen to see them off; Mrs Bennet was still upset with Elizabeth for not inviting the whole family to Derbyshire, and Lydia had been annoyed that her sister had not brought her all the things she had wanted from town. Likewise, Mr Bennet was still too angry at the conditions he had been forced to accept to want to see them off, so only Mary and Kitty had been downstairs when they left. Mrs Hill had been very sorry to see the eldest Bennet sisters depart but had been very glad to know they would take Jane with them, as she had heard some of the conversations between the master and the men he owed money to.
Mary was most affected by her elder sisters' departures, and Elizabeth had nearly relented and asked the girl to accompany them. However, she and her husband had decided that it was enough for the present to send her to London to stay with the Gardiners, where she would benefit from a music master and suggested that they bring Mary with them later in the summer.
The Gardiners had originally intended to tour the Lakes that summer, but with Elizabeth's marriage, had decided to visit Derbyshire instead and would stay at Pemberley the month of August. They had intended to leave their children behind at Longbourn with Jane, but Jane's accompanying the Darcys to Derbyshire necessitated a change in those plans. After taking the meal with her family, Elizabeth and Darcy had spent a good portion of the Lord's Day holed up in a little used sitting room to write letters to friends and relations, making changes to their plans.
Elizabeth wrote a letter to her aunt suggesting they invite Mary to stay with them in London for a time and bring her with them when they came to Pemberley, along with the children. She felt certain her aunt would agree to this, as Mary was good with the children, and she would benefit from the influence of a far more steady aunt. Getting her away from Mrs Bennet and Lydia was an added bonus. Additionally, Darcy included his own note to Mr Gardiner, making an additional carriage available for them if it were needed to help convey the children and extra luggage required.
While Elizabeth had written to her aunt, he had written several letters requesting information regarding schools for the two youngest Bennets or for suggestions regarding a governess. Bennet had promised to send a letter to Pemberley within the week about his plans for his daughters, and Darcy and Elizabeth wanted to be prepared to act quickly in either instance. In her opinion, Elizabeth believed going away to school would be best for both girls but wondered if her father would choose the easier route of employing a governess to keep them at home. If he chose that option, they would need to find one who could be strict enough to deal with Lydia yet would be able to help Kitty in her more artistic endeavours.
Regardless, the debts had been covered, and Bennet had agreed to the conditions outlined. The Darcys expected Bennet to write within the week with a few details, including details of the meeting with Mrs Bennet, informing her of the changes that would be taking place. It had been decided that this meeting would occur after the Darcys left, to avoid Mrs Bennet's anger from being directed at Elizabeth. Darcy had insisted that Bennet tell his wife everything that had occurred, although part of him doubted the likelihood of it.
Since the letters to the Gardiners had been sent by express, Elizabeth told her husband she would not be surprised if a reply was received at Pemberley before or shortly after their arrival. Darcy said something similar about the letter sent to his aunt about possible governesses. That letter covered multiple topics, from the needs of the youngest Bennets to the change in plans regarding Georgiana.
The inclusion of Jane on their trip north changed the Darcys' intention of travelling slowly and stopping frequently. Instead, they travelled for longer each day and late afternoon on the third day, they passed through Lambton. Darcy informed Elizabeth of their pending arrival, and both ladies began to straighten their clothing and put away the needlework they had been working on to pass the time. Soon, they arrived at a specific spot at the top of a hill where the carriage rolled to a stop. Darcy had previously arranged this with his coachman, who knew exactly where to stop for the best view of the house.
Darcy stepped out as soon as the carriage stopped and helped his wife down. He offered the same service to Jane, but she graciously declined, recognizing that this was a moment where her presence would be an intrusion. Darcy smiled his gratitude for her understanding in this instance and escorted Elizabeth to a nearby spot.
Elizabeth was delighted by her first view of Pemberley. "Never have I seen a place where nature has done more, or where natural beauty has been so little counteracted by an awkward taste," Elizabeth whispered to Darcy as she took in the house, standing tall and blending in so effortlessly with the surrounding area. Pemberley was made of stone and appeared to blend perfectly with its surroundings. To the back of it was a large hilly, wooded area, and the Peaks could be seen in the distance. There was a stream running in front of the house, which had been expanded to form a larger pond. In it, the house was reflected, and in the evening sun, it seemed to shine that much brighter. "Of all this, I am to be mistress?" she inquired of her husband.
He took her into her arms, and after ensuring they were out of sight of the carriage, kissed her. "You will be a wonderful Mistress of Pemberley, dearest. I have every faith in your ability," he said when he released her.
She squeezed him tightly. "I know, Fitzwilliam, and I do not doubt. It will take some getting used to the idea, that is all."
Darcy turned her around in his arms so her back was to his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist before pointing out a few features of the park and the surrounding area. They remained this way for a few minutes, with Darcy occasionally pressing a kiss to Elizabeth's cheek or neck, before, sighing, they returned to the carriage. The trip to the house was short, and by the time they arrived, the servants were lining the steps. At the top stood the housekeeper, butler, and a few other senior servants.
Darcy departed from the carriage first before handing out Elizabeth. He allowed the footman to help Jane as he moved with Elizabeth toward the stairs. He halted at the top of the stairs, turning to issue a general introduction of his wife to the staff and nodding to dismiss them back to their tasks. That done, he turned and introduced his wife to Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper, Mr Pembroke, the butler, and Mr Douglass, his steward.
Elizabeth exchanged greetings with the men but spoke with Mrs Reynolds for several additional minutes, knowing that it was essential to establish a relationship with her quickly. Mrs Reynolds would be integral to ensuring that Elizabeth knew all she needed to know about the running of the house, and it was important to establish a connection from the start. That done, the entire party entered the house, and Darcy once again took Elizabeth's arm in the proprietary manner he had.
"Mrs Reynolds," Darcy said, "I will show my wife to her rooms if you will show Miss Bennet to the rooms that have been prepared for her. I trust that you received my message about the change in our plans notifying you that my wife's sister would accompany us."
"Of course, sir," Mrs Reynolds replied in her efficient tone. "Miss Bennet, if you will come with me." The housekeeper's voice trailed off as she led Jane toward the family wing. Darcy and Elizabeth followed, but when she turned right at the top of the grand staircase, Darcy led her to the left.
"Before I show you to our rooms, I wanted to show you my study. If I am not with you or out on the estate, I will likely be found here," Darcy whispered. "It is also next to the library, which I know you have been rather anxious to see."
She grinned mischievously at him. "I seem to recall your mentioning something about an assignation in your study when we were in London. Are you certain you merely mean to acquaint me with its location, sir?"
He grinned rather boyishly at her remembrance of his comment. "Do you, madam? Exactly what sort of assignation are you proposing?"
She laughed at that. "I was not proposing anything, you silly man. I am certain you have no untoward intentions. You are quite proper, are you not?"
Laughing, he began moving more quickly toward his destination. Upon entering the room, he shut and locked the door behind him before pulling her toward him and capturing his lips with his own. "I love you, Elizabeth," he whispered. "Now, come here."
It was sometime later before they made it to their rooms, and when they did arrive, they were both looking somewhat dishevelled and very well pleased.
Darcy had intended to spend his first week at Pemberley ignoring the estate business while he showed Elizabeth around the house and its grounds, but the presence of Miss Bennet altered those plans. Instead, he spent the first week catching up on all the business that he had neglected during his stay in London. Typically, he would not have remained so long in town, but his wedding to the former Elizabeth Bennet had necessitated an extended stay for the season. That first week, each morning after breaking his fast with his wife in their rooms — their one indulgence in recognition of their recent marriage — he spent several hours in his study or riding out on the estate. The afternoons were devoted to his wife and her sister, although Jane graciously allowed the couple privacy on some of these excursions.
While Darcy worked, Elizabeth spent time becoming better acquainted with Mrs Reynolds and her own duties as mistress. Jane attended her at some of these meetings, in particular when the three ladies viewed a few rooms the housekeeper felt needed updating. They had viewed the mistress's chambers first, and Elizabeth had been unwilling to make too many changes within that room, especially given that she rarely used it. In the sitting room, she did make several suggestions to make the space more comfortable for the two of them, as when Darcy had it done over following his father's death, he had not considered what a wife might require.
It was several days after their arrival that they received the much-awaited letters. The letter from Gardiners had arrived first, expressing surprise and dismay at Bennet's actions. In particular, they were upset on Elizabeth's behalf that Bennet had so readily agreed to Elizabeth's marriage because he hoped Darcy would pay off his debts. They were pleased with the conditions that Elizabeth and Darcy had set for the loan and offered their support in anything that might be needed, including hosting Mary in London and bringing her with them to Derbyshire. To that end, they expressed appreciation for Darcy's offer of a second carriage and a place to stay during their trip.
Bennet's letter arrived a few days later as he had waited to write it until he could delay no longer. It was an act of petulance on his part to delay sending it until the last moment required, but neither Elizabeth nor her husband was surprised by this. They were, however, somewhat surprised by what the letter contained and by the contents of the letter from Mrs Bennet that accompanied it.
The note from Bennet was terse and stated simply that he had informed his wife of the loan with its conditions. As expected, he had elected to keep his two youngest daughters at home with a governess and expressed annoyance with the Gardiners having been informed of the situation and Mary's invitation to visit them in London and later to Derbyshire.
Mrs Bennet's note was abusive in its language toward her least favourite daughter.
How dare you act in such a way, you selfish girl? How could you force us to live in penury while you live in elegant wealth far away? And you have taken my dear Jane away with you, so you best do what you can to see she is married to a lord. She deserves so much more than you, and I am still amazed that you managed to capture such a wealthy man. He would have been much better suited to Jane, although I suppose since you compromised him, he had to marry you. I still do not understand how you managed to capture him. Nonetheless, you need to immediately write your father and forget this idea of repayment. What is five thousand pounds? Your Mr Darcy has so much more; it should be of little matter to him to give such a gift to your family. In fact, I intend for you to sponsor Lydia and Kitty in London next season. Lydia surely can capture a man of much more consequence than your husband, as she is so much livelier and beautiful than you. It is the least you can do, especially since your father says they can no longer be 'out' in Hertfordshire, and we will will be required to house a governess for them. I do not understand why you think they need a governess — there is absolutely nothing wrong with their behaviour. Just because you have married such a wealthy man does not mean you are above us now.The rest of the letter carried on in this vein, alternating between hateful and abusive to demanding with great frequency. One particular complaint that had been repeated was that while her pin money could not be decreased, Mr Bennet was requiring that she use more of it for the household, as the estate's income would need to be spent to make improvements meant to increase its income, along with repaying the loan to the Darcys. Mrs Bennet clearly did not understand know or understand why her husband had required a loan, or she did not care, but Elizabeth and Darcy were both incensed to have received such a letter.
For the first time since they married, Darcy had insisted that Elizabeth obey him and forbade her to respond to either parent. "Elizabeth, you cannot respond to such a letter as that. It is clear your mother has little regard for you, or she would not have written in such a way. Allow me to respond," he argued.
"It is my mother, and she has insulted me. I have always been her least favourite," Elizabeth replied. "Truly, Fitzwilliam, I have become inured to her criticisms of me. It does not disturb me as it does you."
"Nonetheless, Elizabeth, if I will not allow my aunt to speak of you or to you in such a way, you cannot think I will allow your mother to do so," he insisted. "No, Elizabeth, you must allow me to respond to your father and send a copy of this letter with my own. She cannot be allowed to abuse you or make demands of you in this way, not when we have rescued her from true penury. If your father had been thrown into prison for his debts, what kind of life would she have had? How long would your father have survived?"
Elizabeth sighed heavily. "I do understand your point, Fitzwilliam, and my mother is awful, I know. But I still think you should allow me to respond to them."
"Elizabeth, one of the conditions of the loan was that your father explained the entire situation to your mother," he said patiently. "It is clear he has not done so, especially the threat made to Jane, and your mother was not to say anything negative to you about it either. As your husband and the one to whom the debt is owed, I need to be the one who informs him of his failure to comply. It is obvious that he is not taking this seriously enough."
With a huff, Elizabeth finally complied and agreed to allow her husband to be the one to write to Longbourn. He did, however, allow her to read what he had written to him, and when she finished it, she hugged him. "You do write a very good letter, Fitzwilliam," she teased.
He kissed her in reply before he sealed the letter and arranged to have it sent by express.