Darcy's Diary (23 page)

I dined with Elizabeth this evening, and I was surprised to find a large party there, consisting of Mrs Philips, Sir William Lucas, and Mr and Mrs Collins.
The unexpected appearance of the Collinses was soon explained. Lady Catherine has been rendered so exceedingly angry by our engagement that they thought it wiser to leave Kent for a time and retreat to Lucas Lodge.

Elizabeth and Charlotte had much to discuss, and whilst the two of them talked before dinner, I was left to the tender mercies of Mr Collins.

‘I was delighted to learn that you had offered your hand to my fair cousin, and that she, in her gracious and womanly wisdom, had accepted you,' he said, beaming. ‘I now understand why she could not accept the proposal I so injudiciously made to her last autumn, when I knew nothing of the present felicitous happenings. I thought at the time that it was strange that such an amiable young woman would refuse the wholly unexceptionable hand of an estimable young man, particularly one who possessed so fine a living, and who, if I may say so, had the advantages of his calling to offer her as well as the advantages of his person. The refusal seemed inexplicable to me at the time, but I fully comprehend it now. My fair cousin had lost her heart to one who, if I may say so, is, by virtue of his standing, more worthy even than a clergyman, for he has the clergyman's fate in his hands.'

I saw Elizabeth looking satirically at me, but I bore his conversation with composure. I might even, in time, grow to be amused by it.

‘Admirably expressed,' said Sir William Lucas, as he joined us. He bowed to me, and then to Mr Collins, and then to me again. ‘Only such worth could resign us to the fact that you will be carrying away the brightest jewel of our county when you carry Elizabeth to Derbyshire,' he continued with another bow. ‘I hope we will all of us meet very frequently, either at Longbourn or at St James's.'

Fortunately we then went in to dinner, but though I was relieved from the company of Mr Collins and Sir William, I found myself seated next to Mrs Philips. She seemed too much in awe of me to say very much, but when she did speak, it was all of it very vulgar.

‘So, Mr Darcy, it is true you have ten thousand a year?' she asked.

I looked at her quellingly.

‘I am sure it must be, for I have heard it talked of everywhere. And is Pemberley bigger than Rosings?'

When I did not reply, she asked the question again.

‘It is,' I said.

‘And how much was the chimney-piece? Mr Collins was telling me that the chimney-piece at Rosings cost eight hundred pounds. I expect the chimney-piece at Pemberley must have cost over a thousand pounds. My sister and I were talking of it only the other day. “Depend on it,” I said, “it will have been well over a thousand pounds”. “Very likely it cost more than twelve hundred pounds,” she returned. It is a good thing Lizzy did not marry Mr Collins, after all, though my sister was annoyed enough at the time, but what
is Mr Collins to Mr Darcy? Even Lady Lucas agrees that he is nothing whatsoever. Ten thousand a year. The dresses, the carriages she will have.'

I bore her remarks as best I could, and I look forward to the day when I will have Elizabeth with me at Pemberley, free of all her relations.

I did not know that I could feel so nervous, but this morning I felt almost as nervous as the day on which I asked Elizabeth to marry me. Bingley and I went to the church together. I believe he was even more anxious than I was when we went in and took our places at the front.

The guests began to arrive. Mr Collins was the first. His wife was not with him, for she was to be Elizabeth's attendant. Mrs Philips followed closely after. The Lucases arrived, then a number of Elizabeth's acquaintances. Of my own relatives there was only Colonel Fitzwilliam and my sister, Georgiana. Lady Catherine and Anne did not attend. I did not expect it, and I was relieved that aunt had decided to stay away, but I would have liked to have seen Anne, and I suspect she would have liked to see me married safely to Elizabeth.

The church filled. The guests took their seats. Bingley and I exchanged glances. We looked to the door. We looked back again. I glanced at my watch. Bingley glanced at his. He smiled nervously. I smiled reassuringly. He nodded. I clasped my hands. And then we heard a sigh and, looking round, I beheld Elizabeth She was walking up the aisle on her father's arm, with Jane on his other arm. But I had no eyes for Jane. I had eyes only for Elizabeth. She looked radiant. I felt my nervousness leave me as she joined me, taking her place next to me as Jane took her place next to Bingley.

The service was simple but it touched me deeply. As Elizabeth and I exchanged vows I thought there could not have been a happier man in all England.

We left the church, and as I looked down at Elizabeth I knew she was now Mrs Darcy.

‘Mrs Darcy!' said her mother, echoing my thoughts. ‘How well it sounds. And Mrs Bingley! Oh! If I can but see my other two daughters so well married I will have nothing left to wish for.'

We returned to Longbourn for the wedding-breakfast, and then Elizabeth and I set off for a tour of the Lake District. Jane and Bingley went with us. We stopped for the night at a small inn and I am making the most of the opportunity to write my diary, for there will not be time later. I am looking forward to this evening. After dinner, our true marriage will begin.

Today we returned to Pemberley, after our honeymoon by the lakes. Elizabeth looked well and happy. I watched her as the carriage rolled up the drive, seeing in her face her delight at her new home.

The carriage pulled up outside the door. We went in. Mrs Reynolds had assembled the staff, and they welcomed us. Mrs Reynolds, I know, is delighted to see a mistress at Pemberley again.

We went up to our rooms. I went into her suite with Elizabeth. It was the only set of rooms she wanted altered, and it had been decorated just as she wished.

‘Do you like it?' I asked.

She looked round her appreciatively. ‘It is perfect.'

I went over to her and kissed her.

‘Do
you
like it?' she asked, looking round at the room again.

‘It does not matter if I like it or not.'

‘I think it does,' she teased me. ‘After all, you will be a frequent visitor.'

I smiled and kissed her again.

It was some hours later when we went downstairs.

‘Are you sure you do not want any of the other rooms redecorated?' I asked her, as we entered the dining-parlour.

‘No, I like them just the way they are. They remind me of my first visit to Pemberley.' She walked over to the window and looked out. ‘It is a beautiful prospect.'

I agreed. The wooded hill was lovely, and the river sparkled as it wound its way through the valley. I love every tree and every blade of grass, and it warms me to know that she loves it, too.

‘What did you think when you first saw it?' I asked her.

She smiled mischievously. ‘That I might have been the mistress of all this, if I had accepted you!'

‘And did you regret it?'

‘For a minute – until I remembered that I would not have been allowed to welcome my aunt and uncle here.'

‘I cannot believe I was ever so proud. If not for your aunt and uncle, we might never have met again. We will welcome them any time you wish to do so.'

I put my arms round her.

‘We must have them to stay soon. I have promised my aunt she can ride round the park in a phaeton and a pair of ponies.' She turned in the circle of my arms and stroked my cheek. ‘But we will not invite them just
yet.'

We have been at Pemberley for a week, and Elizabeth and Georgiana are getting on together as well as I could have hoped. Georgiana is starting to lose some of her shyness through her nearness to Elizabeth, and although she is not as playful as Elizabeth, she has ventured to tease me on one or two occasions.

I finally feel I can be a brother to Georgiana again, and not a father and mother. She is growing up now, and with Elizabeth to guide me, I no longer worry that I do not understand young ladies. If I am ever in doubt, I have only to ask Elizabeth.

Life is a great deal easier for Georgiana, too, because she has a confidante as well as a sister in Elizabeth.

Elizabeth received a letter from Lydia this morning, asking for help with some bills. I came upon her by chance as she was reading it in her bedroom. She looked up guiltily as I walked in.

‘Secrets?' I asked.

She looked rueful.

‘It is from Lydia. She is so extravagant that she has exceeded her income again. She writes to me that it must be nice to be so rich, and she asks for my help.'

‘You will not give it to her?' I saw her face. ‘You will.'

‘She is my sister, after all,' she said.

‘Let her ask Jane.'

‘She has already asked Jane,' said Elizabeth, her playfulness returning. ‘I feel she means to ask us each in turn.'

‘You should say no. Then she will learn to manage.'

‘Not Lydia! She will run up bills until the shopkeepers demand payment, and then she and Wickham will change lodgings and start all over again. Think of it this way, I am not helping Lydia, I am helping the shopkeepers she is cheating.'

With this she knew I would agree.

‘I never cease to wonder how it is that you and Jane turned out so well, when your other sisters turned out so ill,' I said, going over to her and kissing her on the cheek.

‘Kitty is not so bad,' said Elizabeth. ‘I was thinking of having her to stay with us. After our Christmas party next month, I am going to invite her to
stay on. Some superior company will do much to influence her for the better.'

‘If you must, you must. I would rather have you to myself.'

‘She will not be indoors all the time. She will go for long walks with Georgiana,' said Elizabeth.

‘Or long carriage rides,' I said, kissing her on the lips.

‘Or picnics,' said Elizabeth, kissing me in return.

‘My love, I had better lock the door.'

Elizabeth has ordered a phaeton and pair for Christmas. Her aunt and uncle will be joining us, and they will be here in just over a fortnight. Elizabeth has persuaded me that I must invite my aunt, too. It is time to put an end to the hostilities, she says, and she is right. I cannot be on bad terms with Lady Catherine for ever.

Jane and Bingley are coming to stay, and they are bringing with them Caroline and Louisa. Mr and Mrs Bennet will also be coming with Mary and Kitty, and Lydia will be one of their party. I have reluctantly agreed to welcome her, but on condition that Wickham does not come with her. I will not have him at Pemberley, now or ever. Elizabeth understands. She has no wish to see him, and we both know it would be mortifying for Georgiana.

The two people we will not see are Mr and Mrs Collins. Charlotte is in an interesting condition and cannot travel. Elizabeth has reminded me to look for a living for Mr Collins, something better than the one he has at present.

‘A larger house for Charlotte,' said Elizabeth, ‘and one with plenty to keep Mr Collins occupied. If there is something for him to do outside the house, perhaps some alms-houses to run, so much the better. And make sure the house has two pleasant rooms, so that Charlotte can have one as well as her husband.'

‘Very well, but I will not have them within an hour's drive of Pemberley. I like Charlotte well enough, but not even your friendship with her can reconcile me to her husband.'

In this, Elizabeth and I are as one.

Our guests will all be arriving on Monday. One more has been added to their number. Colonel Fitzwilliam will be coming with Lady Catherine and Anne.

At last, they are here. Bingley and Jane were the first to arrive, bringing with them Caroline and Louisa.

‘Mrs Darcy,' said Caroline, with an excess of civility. ‘How pleased I am
to see you again.' She smiled as though she and Elizabeth had always been the best of friends, then turned to me. ‘Mr Darcy, how well you look,' she said. ‘And Georgiana. How you have grown! It must be this Derbyshire air. It is so invigorating.'

Louisa was less vocal but greeted us pleasantly. Mr Hurst merely grunted before retiring to the billiard room. Caroline and Louisa went upstairs, led there by Georgiana, and Elizabeth and I were free to talk to Jane and Bingley.

‘So Lydia is coming?' asked Bingley, as we all sat down in the drawing-room.

‘Yes, she is, though not her husband.' said Elizabeth. ‘You do not think it wrong of me not to invite him?' she asked Jane.

‘Dear Lizzy, of course not. It is not as though he and Lydia have nowhere else to go. They have been to stay with us twice already. It is cheaper for them to stay with us than to live on their own. They gave up one set of lodgings before coming to us, so that they would not have to pay any rent, and then they took another set when they returned.'

‘How very distressing,' said Elizabeth.

‘Not to Lydia. She is the same as ever, exuberant and high spirited. She thrives on the change.'

‘The next time they come, I think I will have the servants say we are not at home!' said Bingley.

‘We are too convenient at Netherfield, that is the trouble,' said Jane. ‘They visit Longbourn, and then they come to us when they have outstayed their welcome there. And it is not only Lydia who visits us. It seems that every day my mother finds some reason to call. We are thinking of taking a house elsewhere.'

‘Poor Jane! You must come and live in Derbyshire,' said Elizabeth.

‘There are some very fine properties hereabouts,' I said.

‘I think we might,' said Bingley.

A coach drawing up outside alerted us to the fact that Lady Catherine had arrived. She descended with all state and entered the house. A few minutes later she swept into the drawing-room without waiting to be announced.

She looked round with a jaundiced eye.

‘The furniture has not been replaced, I see,' she said, without greeting either myself or Elizabeth. ‘I thought you would have put my sister's furniture in the attic and replaced it with something of inferior workmanship.'

‘Your ladyship cannot think I would wish to spoil my own home,' said Elizabeth.

‘Your home. Hah!' said my aunt.

Elizabeth cast me a satirical glance, but making a determined effort she welcomed Lady Catherine, Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam.

‘We meet again,' he said.

‘We do.'

‘And in happy circumstances. Darcy is a lucky man,' he told her.

‘Darcy is no such thing,' said my aunt. ‘He should have married Anne.'

Anne cast her eyes to the floor.

‘You had a good journey, I hope?' Elizabeth asked her.

Anne raised her eyes a little but did not reply. I was struck by the difference in her demeanour from the last time I had seen her, and I thought of what my cousin had said, that she had much more spirit away from her mother.

‘Anne's health is precarious. She never travels well,' said my aunt.

‘But the journey was good,' said Colonel Fitzwilliam. ‘Lady Catherine's coach is comfortable, and the roads were not too bad.'

‘Let me show you to your rooms,' said Elizabeth.

‘That is the housekeeper's job,' said Lady Catherine disdainfully.

‘Then I will ask Mrs Reynolds to show you the way,' said Elizabeth. She turned to Anne. ‘Allow me to show you to your room,' she said. ‘It is the room you always have. I asked Mrs Reynolds which one was yours.'

Anne cast a worried glance at her mother, but allowed Elizabeth to lead her upstairs. Jane went with them, whilst my aunt had to wait for Mrs Reynolds.

Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. ‘Elizabeth is afraid of no one,' he said, when Mrs Reynolds had taken Lady Catherine upstairs.

‘Of course not,' said Bingley. ‘She married Darcy! Though I think he is not quite so awful as he used to be. Marriage suits him.'

‘It suits both of you. Perhaps I ought finally to take the step myself,' said the Colonel.

Elizabeth rejoined us, and soon the other ladies found their way to the drawing-room. My aunt and Anne already knew Caroline and Louisa, and once the four of them had exchanged greetings, my aunt began to speak, only to break off as she heard another carriage arrive.

‘Who is this?' she asked, glancing out of the window.

‘My aunt and uncle!' cried Elizabeth, jumping up.

‘The uncle who is an attorney, or the uncle who lives in Cheapside?' asked Lady Catherine contemptuously.

Elizabeth did not reply, but went forward to greet her guests as soon as they entered the room.

‘Elizabeth! How well you look,' said Mrs Gardiner.

She was dressed fashionably, and had an air of style about her.

‘Positively blooming,' added Mr Gardiner.

I saw that Elizabeth was pleased by the look of surprise on Caroline's face. We exchanged glances, and our thoughts went back to the first time I had met the Gardiners, when I, too, had been pleasantly surprised.

There followed the usual conversation about the roads, and then talk of the Gardiner's carriage led on to Elizabeth saying; ‘I have the phaeton and pair all ready for you, just as you requested. As soon as you feel like travelling again, we will take it round the park.'

‘A phaeton and pair? What is this? An equipage for an outing? I must have my share of the pleasure. I like a ride round the park of all things. I would have learned to drive if Sir Lewis had taught me, and I would have excelled at it,' said Lady Catherine. ‘Sir Lewis told me so himself. You must let me know when you mean to go. I will come with you, and so will Anne.'

‘But there are only two seats,' Elizabeth pointed out.

‘Then Anne and I will take the carriage.'

‘I am persuaded your ladyship will not like the expedition,' said Elizabeth. ‘We will not only be going down by the river, we will also be going through the woods.'

‘What does that signify?' demanded Lady Catherine. ‘The woods are my greatest pleasure. When my sister was alive, we drove there often.'

‘But, as your ladyship informed me at our last meeting, my presence has polluted them,' said Elizabeth archly.

My aunt could think of no reply. I have never known her to be lost for words, and it was a welcome experience. She was not to be bested, however, and after a minute she overcame her astonishment and said: ‘Your mother and sisters are coming, I understand?'

‘Yes, they are.'

‘All of them?'

‘Yes, all of them.'

‘What, even the one who ran off with the son of Darcy's steward?'

‘Yes. Even Lydia,' said Elizabeth gravely, but with a smile in her eye.

‘I hear your mother received her at Longbourn, after her scandalous behaviour. It cannot be true, of course. The report must be false. No mother could endorse such infamy on the part of her daughter. She would immediately cast her off and leave her to suffer the consequences of her behaviour.'

In her estimation of Mrs Bennet's character she was entirely wrong. Mrs Bennet arrived soon after her brother and his wife, and not only did she endorse Lydia's behaviour, she gloried in it.

‘Lady Catherine, how good it is to see you again,' she said as she made her curtsy. ‘It seems like only yesterday you were visiting us at Longbourn, bringing us word of Charlotte on your way through the village. If you had told me then what I know now, I should not have believed you. My Lizzy, to marry Mr Darcy! Of course, it is not to be wondered at. She has always
been a very good sort of girl, quite her father's favourite, and though Jane has more beauty, Lizzy has more wit, though of course I should not call her Lizzy any more, I should call her Mrs Darcy. Mrs Darcy! How well it sounds. And to think, she is the mistress of Pemberley! I knew she could not be so lively for nothing. Pemberley is a very fine house. I had no idea it would be quite so fine. Lucas Lodge is nothing to it, and it is even better than the great house at Stoke. As for Purvis Lodge, it has the most dreadful attics, but Lizzy – Mrs Darcy – assures me that the attics at Pemberley are quite the best she has ever seen.'

‘I am sure she will give you a tour of them, if you ask her nicely,' said Mr Bennet drily, as he stepped forward and kissed Elizabeth. ‘How are you, Lizzy? You look well.'

‘I am well, Papa.'

‘Darcy is treating you well?'

‘Yes, he is.

‘Good. Then I do not have to challenge him to a duel.'

‘I hope you will go fishing with me instead, sir,' I said.

‘I will be glad to do so.'

‘And you, too, are included in the invitation, of course,' I said to Mr Gardiner.

‘It will give me great pleasure.'

‘What do you think of my bonnet, Lizzy?' asked Lydia, coming forward. ‘Is it not delightful? I got it yesterday.'

‘I thought you needed to economize,' said Elizabeth.

‘I did,' said Lydia. ‘There were three bonnets I liked in the shop, and I bought only the one.'

‘From all I have read, the practising of economy does not come naturally to females,' said Mary. ‘They must study it diligently if they are not to let their expenditure exceed their income.'

‘Well said, Mary. Very well put,' said Mrs Bennet. She turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam. ‘Such an accomplished girl. She reads I do not know how many books. She will make some lucky soldier an excellent wife.'

For the first time in my life, I saw my cousin nonplussed. He was not required to reply, however, for whilst Lydia went over to the mirror and began to admire herself, Mrs Bennet resumed her conversation.

‘When you drove away from us after your visit to Longbourn, Lady Catherine, I had no more idea of our being related than I had of the cat going to see the queen, but now we are family.'

‘Indeed we are not,' said my aunt indignantly.

‘But yes! Your nephew is married to my daughter. That makes us cousins of a sort. My cousin, Lady Catherine! How envious Lady Lucas was when I told her, for she is not a real lady of course, she was only made
a lady when Sir William was given a knighthood, on account of an address he made to the king. She was plain Mrs Lucas before that, and her husband was in trade in Meryton. He gave it up when he was made Sir William, but birth shows.'

‘It does indeed,' remarked Lady Catherine pointedly. ‘And this is the girl who ran off with the steward's son?' she demanded, turning to Kitty.

‘No, I am not,' said Kitty, blushing.

‘This is my second youngest, Kitty,' said Mrs Bennet. ‘Such a good girl! Such manners! And in the way to becoming a beauty. She will turn heads before she is much older, mark my words. Not that she has not already done so. Captain Denny was very taken with her, and there were one or two other officers who singled Kitty out, though she is so young, but—'

‘It cannot be you,' said Lady Catherine, cutting across Mrs Bennet and turning to Lydia. ‘You are a child.'

Lydia did not turn round but, having removed her bonnet, fluffed her curls in front of the mirror.

‘La! What nonsense you do speak!' she declared. ‘I have been married these four months. My dear Wickham and I were married in September. I am quite the matron.' She turned round and faced Lady Catherine. ‘I am so pleased to meet you,' she said, extending her hand as though she was a duchess and my aunt a farmer's wife. ‘My dear Wickham's told me all about you.'

‘Has he indeed,' said Lady Catherine awfully, ignoring her hand.

Lydia dropped it, unabashed, and turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam, going towards him with hand outstretched.

‘La! An officer. It does my heart good to see a red coat. It reminds me of my dear Wickham.'

‘I always liked a man in a red coat,' said Mrs Bennet to Lady Catherine. ‘Lydia takes after me.'