It was the scent of lavender that gently woke him.
Darcy had been dreaming of Elizabeth. It seemed all his thoughts, both while awake and asleep, were about her. And slowly a floral scent teased him, pausing his actions of sweeping her off her feet mid dream, and he wanted more. It took him a few moments to put a name to the flower and then it hit him - lavender. It was intoxicating. So intense in fact, that it seemed almost real. And once that thought penetrated his mind, his eyelids fluttered open to find directly in front of him was Elizabeth and the source of the lavender was revealed.
Somehow she didn't detect that he had awakened, so he took the opportunity to study her face, as she seemed to be doing for him with the eyes he admired so much. It took Darcy another sluggish moment to realize those eyes had not moved and that had landed on his lips. Immediately, his heart thumped wildly in his chest.
He ached to feel her touch as she had done back in Kent. Those mere seconds were everything to him, a few heartbeats worth of bliss he was prepared to hold onto for a lifetime if Elizabeth never loved him. But her words to him that day, how disgusted she was by his proposal, came flooding back, so Darcy gently grasped her nearby wrist.
Instantly, Elizabeth wretched her eyes to his and she gasped. The air between them seemed to thicken and warm. Darcy knew not if he even had a heart anymore, its movements so frantic they were likely not possible to draw breath. And in the next moment, she stood and ran from the room, Darcy once again alone but the lavender remained.
It took him several minutes before he could compose himself well enough to depart the library. Every muscle in his body begged to reach out to her and crush her body down into his, and it took every ounce of willpower not to do just that. Only her words of disgust allowed him to discipline himself enough to stay still.
Darcy found both Georgiana and Elizabeth in the main parlor, where his sister was in the midst of playing an overture to his wife who was seated on a couch. Knowing it would look odd to Georgiana that he did not sit next to Elizabeth, he could not allow himself however so close to his wife for fear of breaking his promise to her. He sat opposite instead.
Elizabeth trained her gaze solely on Georgiana, but once the piece was complete and their applause died down, she had no choice but to recognize his formidable presence in the room. Just thinking of that moment in the library with him was enough to strain the breath in her lungs. She must act to deter these memories. She gave him a tight smile. "Please forgive me for my tardiness, sir. I had explained to Georgiana before you arrived, but I must have been more tired than I initially realized."
Darcy gave her an equally tight smile in return. "No apology necessary, ma'am. I also felt the exhaustion of our journey." Elizabeth blushed brilliantly in response and it took everything in Darcy not to physically stray towards her. "I trust you are refreshed?" His voice was strained.
Elizabeth quickly agreed that she was, and luckily the butler arrived at that moment to announce that dinner was served. The three returned to the same dining hall that ate their lunch, but with the careful placement of candles and crystals, the room transformed in the waning sunlight into something romantic and elegant.
Dinner calmed her. Georgiana, after an initial shyness, kept up constant and stimulating conversation. She was exceedingly curious about Elizabeth's sisters and their upbringing together. Elizabeth in turn kept her entertained with stories of mischief and detailed of trips to Meryton. Darcy could not help but smile to himself watching them bond.
After dinner, they returned to the parlor but not for long. Although Elizabeth was convinced her mid afternoon nap would keep her up late that night, the excitement of the day caught up with her once more, and their after dinner gathering was cut short once Georgiana declared her sister must retire immediately after counting at least four yawns poorly hidden behind Elizabeth's hand.
Darcy insisted on escorting her upstairs, and Elizabeth was too tired to argue. To be quite honest, the easy pressure of his arm against hers as they ascended the stairs was quite nice and somehow reassuring. Elizabeth might not ever argue to be escorted upstairs by him.
The moment was short lived however as they approached her door. Elizabeth held her breath, unsure whether the gentleman would remain as such and keep his word, or if their moment together in the library had changed his position on the matter. In truth, she knew not what she hoped he would pick.
Darcy would remain a gentleman however, as much as it pained him to do so. With his now token nightly farewell, he kissed her knuckles, met her eyes briefly, and bid her good night. She watched him continue into his own bedchamber, and Elizabeth was suddenly no longer fatigued.
Elizabeth tossed and turned throughout the night, his near presence in the other room on her mind. Would her husband truly wait to consummate their marriage until she approached him? The idea was equal parts reassuring and terrifying.
It did not help either that a missive arrived from Longborn, something that first brought Elizabeth joy as she broke her fast with Darcy and Georgiana; Jane had not even waited a full day before needing to write to her. The joy soon turned to sheer embarrassment at the note her mother added at the end. Feeling her face flush, Elizabeth tucked the letter away to complete at a later time, when she was not so nearby to anyone, especially Darcy.
She received her first opportunity to finish reading her letter once Darcy announced to the pair that he had business with his accounts manager and Georgiana's piano teacher was due to arrive very soon. Elizabeth was free to explore.
She knew that she ought to seek out Mrs. Reynolds and begin her duties as the new lady of the house, but first she needed a reprieve - and her soul ached to walk the grounds on such a glorious morning.
Immediately after taking her first deep breath outside as Mrs. Darcy, Elizabeth calmed. Her feet took off, eager to cover every inch of the estate. Her hair began to uncurl from its haphazard knot, but she paid it no mind. After almost an hour of aimlessly walking in a large circle around the mansion, she tentatively removed the letter from her pocket and began to read once more the final page.
I shall miss you every day, my dear Lizzie, but do not fret. We shall see one another before we both know it. Enjoy your life at Pemberley and write back as soon as you can.
Jane
Lizzie, this is your mother. I need not remind you of your wifely duty to your husband. By law, you are not married until you do so, so I implore you to remember that. I know your affections for Mr. Darcy still needs time to grow, but I am quite sure he will be gentle with you. If not gentle, then, at the very most, swift. Take care, my child.
It need not matter how many times Elizabeth read her mother's scribble to her, the fact that she was not legally yet married to Darcy stood out and remained forefront in her mind.
Although she did not wish to be married to Darcy, the deed, for lack of a better word, was done, but it could seemingly become undone if she did not allow him in her bed. There was no use dreaming of ending the marriage in annulment - it would still ruin her and thus her family. And for that, she must act.
Determined to resolve this issue as soon as she was mentally able to invite him to her bedchamber, Elizabeth was lost in thought, but with a mission in mind, she was at peace. No more waiting to see if or when Darcy would keep his word. She was a woman of tenacity, and she resolved that her marriage would become legal and would bind her, and her family, to the Darcy name forever without fear of insult or ill fortune.
Elizabeth took a deep breath, inhaling the scents of Derbyshire, and exhaled with a big smile. Nature called her to continue walking, undeterred at the unfamiliar ground. Another long lock of hair escaped her coif, and she pushed it back with a quiet curse.
As she did, she was not watching where she was going, and she ran straight into another young woman, her arm carrying a large basket filled to the brim.
Elizabeth caught the woman by the shoulders before she tumbled and gasped, hair falling again in her face. "Oh! I am so sorry! That was my fault entirely!"
The young woman smiled politely. "Tis no worry, miss. I am quite well." She peered at Elizabeth for a long moment and quirked a brow. "Although I cannot say the same for your hair."
Elizabeth laughed loudly and blushed. "I fear I cannot control the beast."
The woman smiled broadly before placing the basket on the ground. She fished a few pins from her pocket and motioned towards her. "Do you mind?"
Elizabeth blinked a moment before she gestured in return. "Be my guest, please."
Within moments, the woman had pinned Elizabeth's hair in place with a couple of quick twists and maneuvers. She felt instantly that her hair took hold and that it would not move again for the remainder of the day. She smiled wide, feeling it gently with her hands. "Thank you. Pray, what is your name?"
She picked up her basket once more and smiled back. "Hannah. I work as a maid at the Inn at Lampton." She paused at Elizabeth's confused look. "The town just outside the estate. It is but a few miles from here, and I often visit my brother who works as a groundskeeper for the Darcys. His cottage is just off over that hill there." She pointed just south beyond the mansion. Hannah paused again before she asked, "Are you new to Pemberley?"
Elizabeth blushed again. "It is obvious, I gather." Together the women laughed. "I was just exploring the grounds for the first time, but I must admit, Mrs. Reynolds shall be looking for me soon enough."
Hannah nodded. "Aye, you work inside then? I would get a move on if I were you then. I have heard that the housekeeper is kind but a great stickler for rules."
Elizabeth opened and closed her mouth a few times. She did not wish to embarrass Hannah but announcing her name or title, but then again, a plan formed in her mind. She liked the young woman immensely. "Have you considered the open position of lady's maid here at Pemberley, Hannah? I gather you must have much experience at the inn, and I know Mrs. Reynolds is eager to fill the role."
It was Hannah's turn to blush. "Aye, I have experience tending to many women at the inn, but I cannot imagine working for such a great lady as the new Mrs. Darcy."
Elizabeth smiled. "I am sure you are simply too humble for your own good. You clearly have the skills, if my hair is any example. I insist you apply. I shall speak to Mrs. Reynolds today. Can you come by again tomorrow morning? Same time?" Hannah nodded shyly, but Elizabeth noticed a determined glint to her eye. "Splendid. I shall see to it."
Elizabeth was a ball of nerves. She knew that as lady of the house, hiring her maid should be second nature, but coming from a humble household, she had never thought to shadow her mother in the process. She waited just outside the servants' entrance, her hands clasped, as she looked for Hannah to appear.
When she turned the bend, both broke into easy smiles. "Right on schedule," Elizabeth greeted her.
Hannah replied as she pressed hands nervously against her dress, flattening wrinkles that were not there. "I admit, I wasn't sure if I was coming. I am quite nervous."
Elizabeth looped her arm through hers and they walked slowly to the entrance. "I spoke to Mrs. Reynolds, and she is eager to meet you. Truthfully, she was at first hesitant when I told her that you had no previous experience working in a great house, but she admitted that tending to the vast quantity of noble women that stayed at the inn was its own achievement."
Hannah blushed again. Elizabeth took the opportunity to stop at the rear entrance and unlace their arms. "You shall do splendidly. I will see you after." Hannah nodded once more, and she walked the rest of the way to the door, leaving Elizabeth to walk away.
"This way, if you'd please. Mrs. Darcy has asked to meet with you privately after we've finished," said Mrs. Reynolds, as she led Hannah to the daytime parlor. Hannah's eyes widened, taking in all the splendor so at first she did not notice Elizabeth seated on chair at the far end of the room, nor Mrs. Reynolds leaving them and shutting the door.
"Well?" Elizabeth asked, standing and approaching her. "How did it go?"
Hannah smiled wide at her new friend, but twisted her fingers nervously. "Mrs. Reynolds was kind, just as I had previously heard, but she asked many questions. I am unsure how it will play out, but I am to meet Mrs. Darcy in here. Actually, you should be off! It would pain me greatly if you were to be reprimanded."
Elizabeth gestured to back to the pair of chairs, and Hannah hesitantly followed. They sat down opposite of one another, as Elizabeth poured them both tea. She took a deep breath and handed Hannah a cup. "I fear you may be angry with me as I have not been completely truthful with you." Hannah's eyebrows rose as she took a sip of tea, but immediately placed the cup down again in anticipation. Elizabeth took another breath. "You see, I am new to all of this, and it was probably not customary for me to interfere whatsoever as I have, but I am in need of a friendly face. A friendly, neutral face to be quite honest, and…"
Hannah cut off the ramblings. "Elizabeth, please make haste for I am fearing the worst."
Another quick and embarrassed smile and she blurted out, "My married name is Elizabeth Darcy."
A beat passed. And then another. And once more before Hannah's entire face burnt a deep red. "Oh my," she murmured before taking a large gulp of tea.
Elizabeth nodded but was encouraged when Hannah did not depart at once. "Indeed."