I apologize for the lengthy wait in between chapters. Lots of life happenings. I hope to update again sooner rather than later. 3
For the next few days, Darcy and Elizabeth were overly polite to one another, making sure to develop small talk as much as possible and provide the other with inadvertent knowledge that they were all right, albeit nervously. Georgiana watched silently, unsure of what to expect from the pair, and equally unsure if this was how married couples were to act with one another. It was very strange.
It came to a head one morning when Darcy directed a question to Elizabeth. "Would you like to join me this afternoon? I am due to inspect the newest parcel of land with my purveyor. I thought perhaps you'd like to see more of Pemberley."
Elizabeth flushed, pleased. "I should like that very much. I fear my explorations have hindered my knowledge of the land as I have been turned around and lost more times than I care to admit."
Georgiana gasped. "Sister, pray you are not serious! What if you could not find your way home?"
Darcy answered for her. "Do not fret. Elizabeth is a great walker and knows her limits." He turned to his wife and gave her a small smile. "I however must implore you to request assistance if you should ever lose your way again. Indeed any of the staff or tenants would be happy to point you toward the right direction."
Elizabeth flushed again but laughed. "Very well, I shall accost the stable hand or gardener next time I lose my ability to ascertain right from left." For a brief moment, they smiled shyly to one another before turning back to their plates.
The rest of the morning passed by slowly without any great excitement. Elizabeth worked on the dinner menus for the remainder of the week. She wrote letters to the nearby officials welcoming them to Pemberley at the earliest convenience. And she wrote to Jane, nearly daily, although she only posted the lengthy correspondence once a week.
She had just finished her daily thoughts to her sister when one of the footmen arrived with today's mail. Within the envelopes lay one for her, in a scrawl she knew not. Curious, she opened the letter and her eyebrows shot up in surprise, and then guilt coursed through her.
Dearest Mrs. Darcy,
I pray this letter finds you well. I admit to being quite surprised when I heard the news from your youngest sisters just the other day once the regiment arrived back in Meryton. I leave for a short training exercise and I return to one of my closest confidants married!
Do not be alarmed - I am only having a bit of fun with you. I know your circumstances must have been very grave indeed to accept such a cold and unfeeling man as your husband. Who better to know exactly how Darcy can ruin one's life if he so wished? I am afraid with all the fortune comes all the power, and so he will remain in such a position forever. I pray you can make the most of such a dire situation.
In fact, my own situation has decidedly worsened. I am attempting to draw up the funds for a new commission in his Majesty's army, but with my measly salary as a lowly foot soldier, I fear I shall remain such for the rest of my days. But do not pity me, Elizabeth. I shall find a way to soldier on, as I have done since Darcy's betrayal.
Yours,
George Wickham
Sighing, Elizabeth folded the letter once more and tucked it into the pocket of her dress. Her heart ached for Wickham; not only for what they could have been together, but how he must carry on without her or anyone else's support. He was the one in the dire situation to be sure.
Elizabeth sat with these thoughts for the next few hours and over morning tea. If Georgiana noticed anything awry, she did not say anything, and before she knew it, it was time to tour the land with Darcy.
She was surprised to find a single horse drawn open carriage with no driver. Darcy helped her step into the front area, and he swiftly sat down beside her and grabbed the reins. She blinked again in surprise at seeing Darcy do something so commonplace, but as he looked comfortable in the position, she did not question it.
They rode in silence for a short time, as Elizabeth took in the countryside and parts that were previously unknown to her and her walks. Darcy began pointing out small areas of farms and tenant housing to her as they rode, and Elizabeth was an active listener, absorbing all she could regarding the estate and all the people it supported. It was much to take in.
Finally, they arrived at a large field to find a horse and a man walking together. The man was taking notes, but ceased once he heard their carriage arrive.
He smiled warmly and bowed to the pair as soon as they descended to the ground. "Mr. Darcy, good day. Mrs. Darcy, it is my pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I am Mr. Brown, Pemberley's purveyor. And welcome to the newest piece of land in your possession."
The trio walked slowly through the field and Darcy and Mr. Brown discussed the plans for the parcel. Elizabeth listened halfheartedly but she slowly stepped away from the discussion to explore on her own. It was a lovely plot of land, with trees outlining the many acres, and easy access to a nearby country road to head into town.
"What do you think?"
Elizabeth startled slightly. She did not hear Darcy approach her. Turning, she noticed Mr. Brown had returned to scribbling furiously into a ledger and Darcy was alone speaking to her. She smiled softly before surveying the land once more. "I was just admiring it, actually. How did you acquire it?"
They stood shoulder to shoulder overlooking the field. "Our neighbor, the Fitzgibbons, live abroad and never broke ground on an English estate. As they had no heir, they decided to sell." He pointed to a tuft of trees. "Derbyshire is in need of more tenant housing to support the growing yield of farmers and tradespeople. Once a mason is commissioned, I imagine several dozen homes will be built upon this land just there."
She nodded in understanding. "How many tenants does Pemberley house currently?"
Darcy turned west and Elizabeth followed his lead. Shielding their eyes from the sun, she followed the direction of his finger. "Over that hilly area just there holds about 30 or so cottages, all completely occupied, mostly with the manor's staff. Just south is what some would call a village, and Pemberley's oldest housing development, holding some 50 or more families." Darcy turned once more east, but also face to face with Elizabeth. They locked eyes a moment before he gently turned her to view the land, but he remained close behind her; she could feel the heat of his body.
His arm stretched out once more over her shoulder. Elizabeth stilled. Murmuring in her ear, he added quietly, "And the largest occupied parcel rests just a mile or so in that direction. Much of Pemberley is farmland and many of its workers reside alongside it." He took a moment to inhale softly, closing his eyes a moment at her proximity. "Tis quite a sight to see."
Elizabeth cleared her throat, attempting to assuage the lump growing there. He was much too close, and yet, not close enough. "I should like to visit it," she murmured shakily back. She knew not what come over her. Only that his warmth engulfed her and he was still several inches away. Momentarily distracted by the thought of how warm he would be if they were to touch, she did not hear Mr. Brown return.
"Very good, Mr. Darcy!" The pair jumped and quickly faced the purveyor. "I shall drum up the paperwork this week and deliver for your signature by Friday next."
The ride back to Pemberley was a quiet one. Darcy tried relentlessly to focus on the task at hand, while Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip in thought, unsure how to ask the question that had been plaguing her. "Pray, sir, how rich are you?" Darcy's eyebrows shot up in surprise and he glanced at her sideways. Elizabeth winced. "Forgive me, my mouth ran away with my thoughts before I could edit them into some semblance of propriety."
Darcy laughed at the deep blush upon her cheeks and Elizabeth found herself joining him a moment. A smile sincerely did wonders to his countenance.
She cleared her throat in an effort to try again. "What I had meant to say, as I become more educated of Pemberley and its holdings, I fear I am ill prepared to be mistress of such an estate. I should not like to disappoint you or your tenants by not living up to the Darcy name."
Darcy pursed his lips in thought a moment before he slowed the horse to a slow walk. He turned to look at her, meeting her eyes dead on. "I fear nothing of the sort," he said simply. After a few moments of quiet, Darcy cleared his throat to elaborate. "You forget, madam, tis our estate and our money now, but do not allow it to overwhelm you. We have a responsibility to the people of Pemberley and its surrounding communities. Tis no small feat, but I am forever confident in your abilities as its mistress."
Elizabeth could not look away from him, but his words warmed her from the inside and it spread outward. Smiling shyly, they both turned back to the road home. Attempting to break the slight yet pleasurable awkwardness of the conversation, Darcy continued. "Forgive me, but I have failed to mention your pin money account and how to access it. It is yours to do with what you will."
Elizabeth smiled wide in humor and stared at the countryside. "Oh do not speak of pin money, Mr. Darcy. I have not yet recovered from the Laurents' visit. Pray, do not threaten me with more lace."
She caught a wide smile on his face from the corner of her eye. She found that she much enjoyed being the cause of it. "Fear not, madam. You are safe from the Laurents - for now. I imagine none of us are truly safe from them. But I implore you, utilize the funds for however you wish. Books, music, furnishings, education - whatever you please."
Elizabeth nodded once, accepting this. "Very well, sir. Then I shall like to send a portion each month to my sisters. They shall receive much more pleasure in spending it, and I hope my father will swallow his pride soon enough to grow their dowries." Her mind drifted to Mr. Wickham and how pleased it would make her to assist him in some small way each month.
Darcy chuckled at the image in his head of a very grumpy Mr. Bennet receiving funds from his favorite daughter. "Your father does have quite the hardheaded constitution. He was most displeased once…" He cleared his throat abruptly, but Elizabeth noticed immediately.
"Displeased when, sir?"
Darcy frowned but answered her while staring straight ahead on the task at hand. "I was most insistent on supplementing your sisters' dowries when we last were at Longbourn. I admit he was rather cross with me."
Elizabeth blinked at him. "You have already provided for them?" Her heart leapt strangely.
"I did. As I told Mr. Bennet, they are, after all, my sisters now."
She knew immediately the moment in which this took place at the wedding lunch. Elizabeth studied Darcy's profile as he rode on, diligently steering the mare as if she needed his guidance; she obviously knew the route well. Elizabeth's heart hammered on, but the fluttering continued through her limbs in a pleasing way.
When she looked back across the countryside, Darcy took a moment to steal a glance at her. Her cheeks were flushed with pleasure, and he had caused it. What a happy moment indeed that he could hold onto.