Over the course of their journey, the couple had begun to learn quirks of the other by simple observation. Elizabeth realized by the second morning that Darcy cannot speak more than a few words before consuming at least two cups of coffee. Darcy, in turn, observed that his wife likes nothing better than a walk out of doors, a fact that he somewhat realized during his early acquaintance with her, but by no means how entirely her mood depended on fresh air and nature.
As Darcy had previously warned, theirs was an entire day's journey before even reaching the county of Derbyshire. They had stopped a few times, Darcy making sure to knock on the ceiling for a rest whenever he noticed Elizabeth becoming increasingly fidgety. But once they reentered the carriage, they both made an effort for polite conversation.
Currently, as evening began to seep into the daylight of the second day of travel, Darcy and Elizabeth were debating novelists.
Darcy shook his head in soft disagreement. "One easily gets tired of Defoe. Yes, Robinson Crusoe was, at the time, groundbreaking in terms of real adventure, but one must use one's mind beyond silly fantasies."
Elizabeth gasped dramatically. "Silly fantasies? I was on the edge of my seat! I did not put it down until I finished it entirely. My mama was most distraught, so of course I had to explain in great detail the idea of cannibals." Her eyes were twinkling in memory.
Darcy guffawed, the scene painted perfectly in his mind. "But what of the modern age? What of philosophy or politics embedded within a story? Something tangible to remember and perhaps evolve once one has finished the novel."
At that, Elizabeth groaned. "Do not speak to me of philosophy, sir. My father is who you must seek if that is your wish." She tried not to think of when she would see her father again. It may be many years before her husband would subject himself to her family once more, she wagered.
Darcy grinned and held up a hand in surrender. "Fair enough, we shall not discuss philosophy. What of Charlotte Lennox? I found the The Female Quixote very diverting."
Elizabeth blinked in surprise at him. "You've read Ms. Lennox?" Darcy merely nodded. "I have yet to meet a man who has read her novels, or at the very least, admitted to taking the time to read a female author."
Her esteem rose very slightly for her husband as he shrugged one shoulder. "Ignorant fools, if you ask me." They smiled shyly to one another just as the carriage came to a halt. "It looks as if we have arrived to our night's lodgings."
Tentatively, Elizabeth allowed herself to grow less guarded in Darcy's presence. They continued their discussion through dinner, sometimes arguing but always lighthearted, touching on novels, poetry, art, and, finally, music.
As they walked together upstairs, Elizabeth nervously chewed on her lower lip, wondering if tonight would be an encore of the previous night's debacle, or if Darcy planned to actually visit this time. Luckily, instead of determining which scenario more likely, her husband bowed, kissed her knuckles at her door, and said, "Good night, Elizabeth. I shall see you in the morning. I hope the weather will hold so that we make it to Pemberley before lunch."
She nodded at once, but still she was confused. Seeing the question in her eyes, Darcy added, "Do not be alarmed, madam. I shall not visit your bed tonight, nor any night, until, and only until, you wish it. You have my word." Bowing again, Darcy walked down the hall to his room, leaving Elizabeth relieved at both his honesty and his honor.
The next day dawned bright and clear. Elizabeth watched her husband transform as caffeine steadily entered his bloodstream. With a quirked eyebrow and a smirk hidden by her tea cup, Elizabeth sat in amusement as Darcy's demeanor visibly improved with each sip.
He was about to take another blissful swallow when he noticed her watching him. "What?" he asked, bemused.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Oh, nothing." Before he could ask again, she continued, "You mentioned we are to arrive at Pemberley before lunch?"
Darcy gave in and nodded. "Yes, it is but two hours from here. One could make the journey in its entirety from Blenheim, but Georgiana finds it more comfortable to arrive well rested."
Elizabeth pondered this as they stood to leave for the carriage. She wondered time and again what her new home would be like. Assumedly, it would be quite grand. She hoped it provided some warmth and cheer. Many of the noble houses she had visited as a mere patron were so often cold and uninviting, showboating many large columns and ages of open space. Elizabeth longed for some semblance of Longborn.
As they departed, Elizabeth was struck with how very green and vast the county was. They passed through an oasis of grassy fields and thick forest. Onward along rivers and streams, sometimes across the most charming bridges. And towards mountains, luxurious peaks of stone and earth that, through its beauty, caught the breath in Elizabeth's throat.
They had hardly been driving longer than half an hour before Darcy knocked on the ceiling of the carriage to signal for a stop. He had been watching Elizabeth every moment since she first noticed Derbyshire. His heart swelled with pride of her evident pleasure at seeing it.
She turned to look at him, a question in her eyes of why they were stopping so soon. Darcy gave her a small smile. "Shall we take a break?"
Elizabeth smiled quizzically back. "We need not stop, sir. I can handle two hours, I assure you."
He shrugged one shoulder. "I trust you can handle anything, madam. I merely thought you'd enjoy a stop and stretch your legs."
She grinned widely now, eager to leave the carriage and explore. She immediately took off towards the highest hills she could climb with ease. Darcy fell into step beside her, but as she got closer to an edge, overlooking the most gorgeous scene she had ever witnessed, he paused and allowed her to go ahead.
Elizabeth, emboldened by her moment alone, stepped up as close as possible without going over and breathed deeply, the sun on her face.
Darcy knew without asking that she needed this moment with nature alone, so he watched her from a few feet away. His heart nearly stopped when she inched closer and closer to certain death, but he managed to keep his feet from moving forward to pull her back. Although his jaw was clenched with anxiety, the utter look of contentment on her face was well worth the pain.
After several minutes, Elizabeth turned and walked back to him, her face bright with happiness. "Thank you, sir, that was most - " Elizabeth didn't get to finish her sentence because as soon as she was within reach, Darcy grabbed her hand with his own and pulled her from anything remotely like a hill.
"Mr. Darcy!" exclaimed Elizabeth, noticing how his hand shook in hers. "You're trembling!"
Darcy urged her further still until his stomach returned to its original position. He stopped and turned towards her, allowing her to drop her hand. He looked down at his boots with a sour look upon his face. "I do not care for heights," he grumbled after a lengthy pause.
A laugh escaped Elizabeth that made him look up. "But it was I on the ledge, sir. You were many feet back, far from danger."
Darcy rolled his eyes and gestured towards the bloody cliff. "Yes, but if you were to fall, I would have to save you. It would be most unseemly to leave one's wife behind in such a state." A chuckle burst from his lips as he knew he sounded ridiculous, before he remembered he was to appear disgruntled.
Elizabeth bit her lip in a great effort not to laugh, but she could not help the smile upon her lips. "You thought only of yourself."
With no way to argue his way from that, Darcy nodded, his hands upon his hips. "Are you most aggrieved?"
Her smile softened as something warm permeated through her chest. "No, tis refreshing," she replied quietly.
Darcy's eyes locked with hers as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. They stood there, taking one in by the early afternoon sunlight upon a hill in Derbyshire, for a length of time neither knew not.
The pair continued to stop whenever Darcy or Elizabeth wished to take a moment to absorb the scenery, causing their arrival to Pemberley to be well past lunch. Neither minded, but now that they were so close, Elizabeth was eager to set her eyes upon her new home and Darcy was just as eager to show it to her. After passing by a quaint town, they had arrived.
Darcy need not say a word to describe anything to Elizabeth, however, for Pemberley and its grounds spoke for itself.
Never before had she seen such an estate so well situated. The grounds were a marvel, and Elizabeth itched to explore on foot, but as soon as the great house came into view, nothing else could be observed.
The carriage quickly gained ground, as if the horses were eager to situate themselves in luxury and opulence as well, and they were at the front drive before she could hardly believe. Luckily, Elizabeth managed to close her mouth as the servants and staff, who were lined up in greeting, came into sight.
Darcy was out of his seat and opening the door, well before the carriage came to a halt. Elizabeth witnessed a wide, genuine smile cross his face as he looked towards the group, one individual in particular, but he paused to take her hand and help her outside. They walked as such towards the head of the crowd where a young pretty girl with beautiful blonde hair stood with a pair of older women on either side of her. They each curtsied to Darcy and Elizabeth and they in turn returned the formality. Elizabeth could detect the excitement rolling off her new sister-in-law, and Darcy was hardly able to introduce her to his sister before Georgiana launched herself into his arms and cried out in joy as they hugged.
The pair laughed and something inside Elizabeth yearned to be a part of the embrace. She knew not what that meant as she had hardly known Miss Darcy for more than a minute complete and she did not care for the brother in the slightest. Ignoring the train of thought, Elizabeth chuckled as she watched the siblings reunite.
Finally, Georgiana let go of Darcy, her face pink with embarrassment when she remembered Elizabeth standing there. She curtsied again, deeply this time, and gave her new sister-in-law a shy smile. "I am so pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Darcy."
Darcy cleared his throat harshly, causing both women to arch an eyebrow towards him momentarily, before she replied with a wide smile and an equally deep curtsy. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Darcy. But please, call me Elizabeth or Lizzie. We are sisters now."
As if it was exactly what Georgiana was aching to hear, she glowed in reply, "Very well then. You must call me Georgiana then. I have not a nickname, however, although my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, still refers to me as Gigi, which, if you cannot tell, my brother absolutely hates." She gave Darcy a grin.
Darcy rolled his eyes in good humor and attempted to scowl. "You are absolutely right. Infernal name." Both women laughed openly at that, and Georgiana did not miss the way his eyes raked over Elizabeth's face with a deep look of longing. Her grin brightened as she witnessed her brother in love.
Introductions continued with Georgiana's companion, and also the housekeeper of Pemberley, Mrs. Reynolds. Continuing to the staff and groundskeepers, Elizabeth's head swum with names and faces. Luckily, they quickly made it inside to the quiet interior.
Elizabeth could not stop her jaw from dropping and staying there this time. Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds watched with pride at her obvious pleasure of the house. Georgiana linked her arm through hers, causing Elizabeth to turn and meet her eyes. Georgiana's eyes sparkled. "Welcome home, Elizabeth."