But it was her response to a second question that truly puzzled Lizzy. When asked if there was a Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mrs. Reynolds had replied: “Not at present, and I do not know when that will be. I do not know who is good enough for him.”
Had not Mr. Darcy gone to town for the purpose of beginning a courtship with Miss Montford? But if that were the case, then why was Mrs. Reynolds completely ignorant of the news from London? Lizzy looked at Georgiana, and seeing the confusion on her friend’s face, Georgiana knew what Lizzy was thinking, but could say nothing.
A relaxing afternoon was followed by supper in the most elegant dining room Lizzy had ever seen. Robert Adam had designed all the public rooms at Pemberley, and his soft colors and classical embellishments lifted one’s spirits as soon as you entered the manor house. An aura of tranquility was present in every room, and for a man with as many responsibilities as Mr. Darcy had, Lizzy understood why Pemberley would be a welcomed retreat. He had confided in her that whenever he was troubled, he returned to Pemberley because the clean air and magnificent views provided clarity, and she wondered if, instead of going to London after the Netherfield ball, he had returned to his beautiful estate in Derbyshire, if things might have turned out differently.
Chapter 27
Although initially a reluctant rider, Lizzy was coming along nicely. When Sugar had returned to the stables that first time, the mare had stood in front of her stall patiently waiting for Belling to remove her saddle, but after Lizzy had stopped laughing over her inability to control the ten-year-old horse, she had remounted, and Georgiana and she had ridden around the lake. Now she and the old gray mare were friends, especially since Lizzy stuffed her riding coat full of carrots.
The following day, Lizzy was looking forward to another ride around the lake, but her hostess had something else in mind. With Mr. Gardiner gone off at dawn for another day of fishing, and Mrs. Gardiner once again in the gardens with Mr. Ferguson, Georgiana decided to teach Lizzy how to drive a phaeton, and she protested in vain.
“Will and Mr. Bingley race phaetons, and it is a very exciting sport. But we shall declare victory if you learn how to have the team go at a trot. It is all in the reins.”
That simple statement took an hour to achieve, but when Lizzy realized the two horses were actually doing what she wanted them to do, she was all smiles. And that day was as perfect as the one before it and the one after. No matter the weather, fog, light rain, wind, or cold mornings, Lizzy’s days at Pemberley were sublime, that is, until she learned Mr. Darcy was coming.
“Lizzy, this is such good news,” Georgiana said as she stood in the foyer reading her brother’s letter. “Will is coming to Pemberley with our cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and you will like the colonel very much. He is charming and witty and gracious as well as being an excellent dancer and card player.”
Lizzy pretended to be pleased with the news, but what she really wanted to do was flee.
“Oh, this is disappointing,” Georgiana said as she continued reading. “Will writes that he is coming to shoot, fish, and ride, and he has underlined all three.” Turning to Lizzy, she explained, “He has not fired a gun once this season, and December is nearly upon us, so you can imagine his frustration.”
“Georgiana, this may be a good time to remind you that as wonderful as our time here has been, it must come to an end. Mr. Gardiner needs to return to his business and Mrs. Gardiner to her children, and I must go back to Longbourn as my dearest friend, Charlotte Lucas, is to marry shortly.”
“But I would really like for you to meet Colonel Fitzwilliam, who is a particular favorite of mine. Although Will does not say exactly when he is coming, they should be here no later than three days hence.” Georgiana pleaded with Lizzy with her big eyes, which she had probably used to get whatever she wanted since she was a child, and they got her what she wanted once again.
“I shall ask my aunt and uncle if we may stay for another three days, but after that, we must go.”
“Will! Richard!” Georgiana shouted from the top of the staircase when her brother came into the foyer with Colonel Fitzwilliam. “You are early,” she said too loudly as she rushed down the stairs. She kissed her brother on the cheek before turning to her favorite cousin, and standing on her toes, she gave the tall, fair-haired colonel a kiss before he lifted her off her feet and hugged her.
“Let me hear it, Georgie,” the colonel said, and it was not until she had said “Uncle!” that he put her down. It was a ritual they had established when Georgie, as a young girl of twelve, had developed romantic notions about her handsome cousin, and Richard, recognizing that her excessive attention was a clumsy attempt at flirting, had turned it into a game.
With Richard and Georgie happily engaged, Will let out a loud whistle that brought David and Goliath from the far reaches of the house, and when Darcy crouched down to pet his whippets, their enthusiasm knocked him over. They were crawling all over him and licking his face, and it was minutes before he could get them to settle down. This scene was repeated every time Darcy returned to Pemberley.
It was at that point that the dour Mr. Jackson arrived and, standing as erect as any sentry, waited for orders from his master. Darcy, feeling a little foolish sitting on the floor in front of his butler, finally stood up, dusted off his coat, and asked Jackson to send word to Mr. Littlejohn, the gamekeeper, that the colonel and he would be shooting later in the day.
Darcy explained to his sister that their early arrival was due to the fact that they had not come from London.
“After Mercer heard a noise he did not like, we stopped in Derby so that he could have a look at the undercarriage. We stayed with the Hulstons, and they send their regards. And where are our guests?”
“Mr. Gardiner is still in his room. He has been out fishing every day, and I think he finally exhausted himself. He certainly exhausted Cubbins. Mrs. Gardiner and Mr. Ferguson have become the best of friends, and it is so very touching to see the two of them talking about plants and flowers. Since Mrs. Ferguson died, he has barely put two sentences together, but now the words are flowing.”
“And Miss Elizabeth?”
“I believe she is walking near the gazebo. I did not go out with her today because I was preparing for your arrival, but you have caught me unprepared.”
“No worries, Georgie. We are here for the shooting. Continue to see to your guests as you have done all week, and Richard and I will take care of ourselves. Please excuse me, as I want to spend a few minutes with Mr. Aiken before I meet with Mr. Littlejohn.”
Will was barely out the door when Georgiana turned to the colonel. “What news from London?” and Richard brought his cousin up to date on the unhappy Miss Montford, Georgiana’s equally miserable brother, and the plan he had put into action with Lord Fitzwilliam.
“Oh dear! Are we seriously relying on Antony to solve our problems? He is usually the source.”
“Georgie, you know he is an incurable gossip, and we are relying on him to do just that.”
“And Will is agreeable to this plan?” When the colonel nodded, she said, “He must be desperate to be free of Miss Montford if he is deliberately involving Antony. Your brother gets under his skin like no other. When we were at the Clermont ball, Antony had a wager with Sir Edgar about the color of Lady Eleanor’s eyes and asked Will to settle the bet. Antony lost!”
“Well, it has been awhile since they have been together—years in fact. But never mind that. If Antony performs as expected, your brother will be in his debt.”