Posted on Friday, 1 July 2005
The young sixteen-year-old slowly walked across the empty gallery. The house was unusually quiet with only the discreet movements of servants being occasionally heard. Her father was in town on business, as her mother was in confinement, and her brothers, with the exception of the two youngest were at school in Harrow. The only company she had, apart from the playful Arthur and Philip, was her governess.
"Elinor!" The recognizable voice cried. The beautiful girl spun round. It was Arthur. The fair headed child confidently walked towards her, without a care in the world.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be having your Latin lesson at this moment?!" Elinor Darcy replied to her nine-year-old brother.
"I suppose I should be. But I am so weary of Latin. I shall not need it if I am to be in the Army as Papa intends," Arthur replied and his sister disarrayed his hair.
"I am sure Wellington took a great interest all in his studies. Do you not want to be a great General such as him?"
"Master Darcy?!" The stern voice called from the gallery entrance. Arthur hid behind his sister. It was Mr. Thompson. Arthur and Philip's tutor, "Ah, Miss Darcy,"
"Sir, I believe you are looking for that mischievous brother of mine,"
"Indeed I am," Mr. Thompson, a man well into his forties replied, "Do you know of his whereabouts?"
"Well..." Elinor answered, but stopped when Arthur pinched her back, "Ah! Arthur!" Elinor moved aside to reveal her brother and Mr. Thompson laughed.
"Come on Master Darcy. How will Mr. Darcy feel knowing you had tried to escape the joys of Latin again?!"
"Alright. I am coming," Arthur complained and begrudgingly followed his teacher.
All of the Darcy children had their individuality. Elinor, being the only daughter, naturally had inherited her mother's delightful wit. She was without doubt one of the most beautiful creatures in all of England. Far prettier than any of her Aunts had been. With dark silky hair, sapphire blue eyes and flawless ivory skin, she had blossomed into a striking woman. Everyone commented on it, even the prestigious, Mrs. Caroline Brudenell. But that was most probably due to selfish desires of her own, regarding her son, Andrew, marrying Elinor. Her brothers all had the same blue eyes, but their heads ranged from golden blonde to the dark hair of their father.
Having been brought up by two loving parents, each of the seven, soon to be eight children were of good character. A couple had small inclines of pride and a couple of others were sometimes thought of as spoilt, but overall they were happy and caring siblings. The Darcy's were a close-knit family.
Elinor Frances May Darcy walked towards the window. Despite being the height of June, England's weather permitted it to rain. It had now rain for several hours. As her boredom grew, the rain became heavier and the sound of it against the window panes terminated the silence across Pemberley. Elinor could not wait until everyone was home and Pemberley was full again.
"Morning Mama," Elinor cried as she crept into her mothers suite. Elizabeth Darcy sat by the fire, in her favourite armchair.
"Ah, Elinor, I was wondering when you would come," Elizabeth Darcy cried and gazed upon her daughter. Elizabeth was one thing but proud. But when it came to her children, she could not be more proud.
Elinor walked across the room and kissed and gently hugged her mother. She was eight months with child and relished in it. She was glowing. Elinor sat on the blue seat opposite her mother.
"How are you?"
"Well. I will be even better once your dear Papa and brothers are home," Elizabeth expressed and smiled. Elinor replied to her mother with the same expression. Her mother and father had a special marriage. It was a bond that no one could break. They truly loved each other, anyone could see it. He adored her, as she him. They hated being apart. Elinor had pledged to herself that she would only ever marry for the same sort of love her mother and father had. She had observed the way her father would study her mother. Whilst her mother carried out her daily activities of correspondence with her sisters, or instructing the housekeeper or simply drinking tea or reading a book, her father would simply gaze at her. Not that Elinor wanted this constant attention, but she wanted the same love. If she could not have it, she would simply become a spinster!
"Have you seen Arthur or Philip today?"
"Only Arthur. He is trying to avoid Latin again. I told him that he would have to study if he wanted to be like Wellington!" Elinor replied and her mother laughed.
"Have you heard from any of your cousins recently?" Elizabeth questioned, "I had a letter from Jane this morning. Freddie is to go to Cambridge with Tom is the Autumn,"
"Mama. Freddie is my cousin. I will never marry him. He is like another brother of mine. Anyhow, how would Florrie ever forgive me?" Elinor replied and her mother smiled. Freddie was the elder son of Charles and Jane Bingley. Like both his parents he was kind and considerate, perhaps too nice for his own good at times, but he never said a bad word against anyone.
"I never implied that!" She teased and they laughed
"Of course you did! Like Papa always says, you become more like your Mama in the want of marrying me off everyday!"
"I am nothing like my Mother. If you had only knew her, you would clearly see it,"
"I can still remember her slightly. I remember her constant complaining of her nerves. She hated us playing. We apparently had no compassion on her poor nerves," Elinor giggled.
"Poor Mama. I do miss her and Papa,"
"But, you have us now," Elinor replied and her mother smiled. Yes, she had her own family.
"So does Florrie still have designs on Freddie?"
"Not like that! Since we were little Florrie has always said she was going to marry Freddie. Of course, she would never say such things now. She is far too bashful and proper," Elinor explained and thought of her best friend and cousin. Florence Spencer, or Florrie as she was fondly known was daughter to Georgiana, her fathers sister. Florence, a year younger than Elinor, lived in London with her family. She was so shy, yet so delightful. Elinor loved her very much and if it would not mean being away from Pemberley she would like to visit her more often than she was able to. At that point there was a knock on the chamber door.
"Come in," Elizabeth summoned and the door opened. Elinor jumped to her feet and hugged the two boys as they ran towards their sister and mother.
"What are you doing here? We did not expect you until tomorrow," Elinor cried and hugged them both tightly.
"We rode on ahead. I could not wait to get home. I have missed Pemberley all year. Henry and John will come tomorrow in the carriage. They are stopping off at Sotherfields," Eighteen-year-old Thomas replied. Tom was blonde with the blue Darcy eyes. In countenance however, he was most like his father, Fitzwilliam Darcy.
"Lord Mama, you look like you are about to explode? When's this little one due?" Edmund Darcy declared to a rupture of laughter. Edmund was the older twin of Elinor. He was dark too, like Elinor. Out of all the Darcy children, Edmund was the jester. He could make anyone laugh.
"July Edmund," His mother informed.
"No doubt it will be another brother?!" Elinor sighed
"It could be a girl," Elizabeth added, and secretly hoped it would be. She loved all her sons, but with Elinor reaching marital age, she worried about being in a house full of men.
"Out of seven children, only one girl suggests it will be a male Mama," Thomas replied
"Would you really want to put another creature under the same unbearable fortification that you suffer Elinor? I pity the poor fellow that has to ask Papa's permission for your hand," Edmund laughed and Elinor smiled.
"It is not that bad. I am to attend the Pemberley Ball in September this year. It will be my first ball!"
"And Papa is allowing this?" Thomas questioned. Elinor glanced at her mother whom simply smiled.
"I am allowing it," Elizabeth declared, "Your Papa will listen to me,"
"True Mama, true, but can you convince Papa even on the subject of Elinor?"
"If Mama cannot, I am sure I can!" Elinor replied. She was truly the apple of Darcy's eye. Of course, Fitzwilliam Darcy loved all his children, but his daughter could do no wrong. Being just like her mother had been what he had wished for in his daughter. He absolutely adored her.
The rain eventually stopped, and the beaming sun appeared. The five siblings at Pemberley decided to go for a picnic in the meadows on the far east of the estate. It was where they always had picnicked since they were all children.
"What have you all got planned for tomorrow?" Thomas questioned.
"Philip and I have lessons with Thompson. How I cannot wait until I am old enough to join the Army. I long for adventure!" Arthur cried and continued to play ball with Seven-year-old Philip.
"You should be careful. The ground is still slightly wet. You don't want to get too filthy!" Elinor played mother.
"Look who has matured. I can remember a few summers ago when we all swan in the lake and you got filthy yourself!" Thomas laughed and Elinor glared at him.
"A lot has changed since then,"
"Yes, Elinor does not have fun anymore," Arthur cried
"I am not a boy! Just because I am surrounded by them does not give me the right to behave like them!" Elinor declared and her brothers all laughed, which led her to smile.
"Look!" Philip Darcy cried, "Its Papa!"
They all looked across the valley in which they saw the rider gallop across the open field. Finally they would all be together again.