“I am quite sure something is going to happen at Pemberley. There is a force driving all of us to Derbyshire, which is why you are here.”

Anne decided not to encourage any further investigation. Working with so little, Georgiana’s vivid imagination had brought her very close to the truth.

“Your brother thinks you are writing a novel when you retire at night.”

“Oh, I am, but it is entirely different from this scenario, as its setting is Pompeii. But as to the matter we are discussing, one of my tutors had the most clever way of teaching geography. He had a map mounted on wooden blocks, which he had cut into small irregular shapes, and we had to fit the pieces together to make a map of Europe. That is exactly what this is like. I just don’t have all of the pieces yet.”

Chapter 24

The Darcy townhouse was buzzing in preparation for their departure to Pemberley. Servants were busy making sure that everything that would be needed at the manor house was downstairs, so that it might be loaded onto the wagons that would precede the travelers.

Darcy had seen how his sister’s eagerness to get on the road could barely be contained. Although Pemberley did not have secret passageways and dark corridors or skeletons in its closets to stir her imagination, Georgiana had stated that she was ready to be in the place where she was most comfortable, and in that, they were in complete agreement.

Bingley was also eagerly awaiting the day of departure. Until recently, Miss Bennet’s name had not been mentioned by Charles in Darcy’s presence, but now he was making casual references to their time in Hertfordshire and the pleasure he had derived from that lady’s company. Darcy suspected that his friend was either in correspondence with Jane Bennet or that he planned to visit her on his way back to London. In either case, Bingley would have his blessing since Darcy now knew from Elizabeth that her sister was in love with his friend. Once the couple was reunited, his own plan to win Elizabeth could go forward.

His hopes for success were based on meager evidence: Elizabeth clinging to his letter outside the parsonage and Anne’s visit with her in which Elizabeth had stated that she bore him no ill will. If that were the case, then she truly was capable of forgiveness. In the weeks since he had left Kent, he had sufficient time to reflect, and he cringed when he thought about his boorish performance at the assembly, which had set the tone for all that followed. But now that she knew the truth about Wickham, surely she would see him in a better light. It might possibly cause her to reevaluate her own performance and her refusal to see any good in him at all.

Caroline Bingley was especially keen for this day to come. Because Mr. Darcy obviously had a purpose in mind in inviting her to the Darcy ancestral estate, she was hoping he would ride in the Bingley carriage, but she had learned that Mr. Darcy and her brother would accompany the carriages on horseback. Perhaps their traveling together would have been too obvious, and as Mrs. Darcy, she would have to accept that her husband would never wear his heart on his sleeve. Because of concern for Miss de Bourgh’s health, the party would stay for two nights with friends of the Darcys in Derby. After a night’s rest, Mr. Darcy would continue on to Pemberley to prepare for his guests’ arrival. She wondered what surprises were in store for her.

When Darcy went to the breakfast room, he found that his cousin had already been up and about for an hour. Anne was every bit as excited as her eighteen-year-old cousin, and her happiness was clearly in evidence in the glow of her face.

“Well, Anne, I see the servants are already bringing down your trunks.”

“I am not embarrassed to admit how much I am looking forward to going to Pemberley.”

“I hope you will not be disappointed. I find that memories, especially from one’s childhood, very often do not live up to the realities.”

“But, Will, I am not going to Pemberley just for the memories, but to make new ones. Besides, you tell me that the maze has been kept up, and I am in such fine fettle that I might very well chase you through it as I did so many years ago.”

“You are more likely to encounter Georgiana, Mrs. Hurst, or Charles Bingley in the maze. The last time they were at Pemberley, the three of them spent hours in there, but then part of that was due to Mrs. Hurst, who seems to lack any sense of direction. Georgiana finally had to tie little ribbons to the end of each row, so that she would know which way to turn. Otherwise, we would have had to have gone in search of her by torchlight.”

“She is a simple creature, is she not?”

“The Bingleys are a family of opposites. George Bingley is a genius, and Louisa is most definitely not. She told me that one of the things she liked most about Mr. Hurst when she had first met him was that his brother served in the Exchequer. When I asked her how that benefited her, she said she had no idea. She just liked the sound of it. And now she is married to a man whose greatest pleasures in life are cards, port, and sleep. And then there are Charles and Caroline. He is as engaging a fellow as you are likely to meet, while his sister often looks as if she has just sucked on a lemon.”

“You do know that Miss Bingley is very interested in you.”

“It would be impossible not to know, although I have never given her any encouragement. In fact, I have to check myself to make sure I am not being rude to her, and there are many times when I have failed.” Looking at Anne, he continued. “Having said that, you are probably wondering why I invited her to Pemberley. You see, there are two sets of Bingleys. Charles, Louisa, and Caroline are separated from the six older Bingleys by six years. It seems that the older siblings bundled them together for convenience, and although they are as different as three people can possibly be, they are inseparable. But I look to Georgiana to keep them entertained. She too is aware of Miss Bingley’s interest.”

It was at that moment that Georgiana made her appearance, already wearing her traveling coat, hat, and gloves. “Why are you sitting there? Adventure awaits.”

* * *

On the advice of the innkeeper, Mr. Gardiner had arranged for an open carriage to take them to Pemberley. “Mr. Culver said we shall pass through some very fine woods on the way to the manor house with stone bridges, rushing streams, and a waterfall. Once we pass the waterfall, the formal gardens will come into view, and as soon as we reach the top of the rise, Pemberley will be before us.”

Elizabeth was aware that her aunt was watching her. She knew her behavior had been odd ever since the possibility of visiting Pemberley had been discussed, so she was trying to give the appearance of calm. But beneath her placid exterior, she could feel the rapid beating of her heart.

When the coachman pulled the carriage to the side of the road so that they might enjoy the waterfall, she wanted to get out and run ahead so that she might finally glimpse Pemberley. When the driver turned into a topiary garden and pointed out a mother goose and her five goslings and a hedge with only the tail of a fox showing, she oohed and aahed. But if he made one more stop, she was going to climb into the driver’s seat and turn the horses in the direction of the manor house.

Finally, she could make out the faint outline of a building in the distance, and as the carriage came over a gentle rise, before her was Pemberley with the sun reflecting off the yellow gold of its stucco. It was so beautiful she almost wanted to cry. Mr. Darcy had wanted to bring her here as his wife, and of this elegant home, she might have been mistress. But to all of this, she had said “no.”

When the carriage stopped in front of the portico, Mrs. Reynolds came out and introduced herself, and the three guests did the same. As soon as they entered the foyer, the housekeeper began her tour.

“As far as great country houses go, Pemberley is not very old. The grandfather of my present master, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, tore down a smaller structure that had been on this property for nearly one hundred years, and construction of this house began around 1730. Mr. Darcy’s father made improvements to Pemberley by adding the two wings and the terrace and greatly expanded the gardens. The interiors were done by Robert Adam, and the gardens and terrace were designed by Humphry Repton.”

“I am surprised there are not more people touring this elegant estate,” Mrs. Gardiner remarked.

“Oh, we have many visitors, but we are only open to the public on Mondays.”

“But today is Wednesday, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“Yes, but you were expected. Miss de Bourgh wrote to me to say that Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner of London would be arriving with a young lady. Are you a friend of Miss de Bourgh’s?” Mrs. Reynolds asked Lizzy.

“I had the pleasure of making her acquaintance on a visit to Kent,” Lizzy answered, looking at her aunt from the corner of her eye.

“Do you know my master will be arriving tomorrow with a large party, and Miss de Bourgh is with them?”

Lizzy shook her head “no.”

“Since you and Miss de Bourgh are acquainted, will you be visiting while she is at Pemberley, miss?”

“No, I am sorry. That is not possible,” Elizabeth quickly answered. “Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and I are to leave tomorrow morning for Matlock, but Miss de Bourgh and I have visited recently so I shall leave her to her company.”

Now, both her aunt and uncle were looking at her. It was true they were to go to the spa at Matlock, but nothing had been said about leaving tomorrow. And why was Elizabeth deliberately avoiding someone whom she claimed as an acquaintance? It was time for aunt and niece to talk.

Mrs. Reynolds quickly returned to her favorite topic. “I have been with the Darcy family since I was a girl. I started here as a parlor maid when Lady Anne Darcy was a new bride. She was as gentle a soul as ever drew breath, and Mr. Darcy was a loving husband and father. And their children are just like them. Miss Georgiana is as lovely a young lady as you are likely to meet, and my master is kindness itself. You will never hear a harsh word said against him. His servants, tenants, and all the villagers hold him in the highest regard.”

While the housekeeper pointed out a Rembrandt here and a Greek antiquity there, Elizabeth took in the manor house as a whole. Pemberley was all she had imagined and more. There was a simple elegance in all that she saw. There were no larger-than-life paintings of a pack of hounds bringing down a stag as there had been at Rosings or the great battle scenes at Blenheim, and dusty tapestries were nowhere in sight. No, here there was a lightness that carried you from room to room and finally out onto the terrace for a view of the gardens and the valley beyond. She would not have a changed a thing.

“I will now turn you over to our head gardener, Mr. Ferguson, who will lead you on a tour of the gardens. It is such a lovely time of year here at Pemberley. It is my favorite season as the buds on the fruit trees are just beginning to open, and they are filling the estate with their perfume.”

Once she met the ancient Mr. Ferguson, Lizzy understood why Anne had said he would be eager to share his knowledge of Pemberley. He might possibly have been alive when Mr. Darcy’s grandfather had scraped the original house off the property. The gardener’s eyesight and hearing were poor and his gait slow, but the colors and the scents of the flowers were so familiar to him that he could describe every bloom even if they were now nothing more than splashes of color to his tired eyes.

While her aunt and uncle walked to the far end of the garden so they might view Pemberley from a distance, Lizzy walked the paths between the individual gardens. It was all so beautiful, and she felt a calmness she had not experienced since that day at the parsonage when the master of Pemberley had told her he was in love with her. Whoever the future Mrs. Darcy was, she would be mistress to one of the loveliest estates in the country, and she wished her well.

* * *

Darcy was looking forward to a bath. It had been a long morning, and the dust of the road was clinging to him. But there was nothing like a ride on a good mount to banish unwanted thoughts. For the first time in days, he had not reflected on his plans regarding Elizabeth Bennet, and now that he had stabled his horse, he must continue to keep his mind free of her image. First things first. He had guests to entertain on the morrow.