Posted on Friday, 4 August 2006
In the library at Pemberley
“Will that be all, sir?” enquired Reynolds as he placed the decanter of brandy on the small table next to where Darcy was sitting in the library.
“Hmm?” uttered Darcy snapping out of his reverie at the sound of the butler’s voice. “Oh, yes! That will be all, thank you, Reynolds. Good night.”
Reynolds turned towards the door and had almost reached it when his master spoke again. “Er, Reynolds?”
“Yes, sir?” replied the butler turning back to face his master.
“I would like to speak to you and Mrs Reynolds on a matter of some importance. I know that Kate has finished her duties for the day but would you ask her if she would join us here for a few minutes?”
“Of course, sir,” said the butler and he left the room in search of his wife wondering what this important matter could be. The master’s use of her first name, not used for many years, had not gone unnoticed.
Darcy, in the meantime, poured himself a brandy and sat nursing the glass as he gazed at the blazing wood in the fireplace. He felt so happy and at peace with the world and everybody and everything in it. Two weeks ago today had been the happiest in his life so far for his (and now he really could call her his) beloved and most beautiful Elizabeth had agreed to become his wife! He had returned to Pemberley for a very short visit to ensure that all business matters were taken care of for the next few weeks covering their wedding and the time following it, and also to ensure that the Master Suite at Pemberley was prepared for the proper reception of his wife and its new mistress.
Mr and Mrs Reynolds soon appeared, the latter with a rather worried look on her face. “Did he give no indication of what he wishes to see us about?” she had asked of her husband as they hurried to the library. “Is it to do with one of the servants?” “I know not,” had replied Mr Reynolds. “He did not look displeased. In fact, he looked rather the opposite – if a little distracted.”
Darcy stood to greet his faithful old retainers who had worked at Pemberley since he was four years old. He regarded both of them as almost part of his family and knew that he could rely on them in all matters. He invited them to sit on the sofa next to his chair and, much to their astonishment, poured each of them a glass of brandy. He remained standing and took up a position facing them with his back to the fire.
Mrs Reynolds studied his face carefully looking for any clue as to what was to come but saw none. As her husband had said, Mr Darcy did not seem to be angry or upset.
After a few moments of silence, she could stand it no longer.
“Mr Darcy, is something the matter? Has something happened?” she asked.
A small smile appeared on Darcy’s face as he lifted his eyes to look at her. It gradually widened until he closely resembled Mr Bingley at his most joyous.
“No, Kate,” replied Darcy softly. “There is nothing wrong. On the contrary, everything is completely wonderful!”
The Reynolds relaxed upon hearing this reassurance but were still at a loss to know what could have caused this change in their master. He had always been a serious boy and had become even more so following the death of his father when he had assumed sole responsibility for the estate. They had both noticed his mood of the last few months since his return from Rosings but had thought that that was due to the renewed insistence of his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, on his marrying her daughter Anne.
They looked expectantly at Darcy who stood absent-mindedly swirling the contents of his glass. At last he spoke.
“Kate, James, I have some wonderful news for you. I am to be married and Pemberley is to have a new mistress!” he told them, the grin on his face threatening to split it.
There was a stunned silence for several seconds before Mrs Reynolds carefully set down her glass and folded her hands in her lap, waiting for what was to come.
“Well, do you not want to know the identity of this most wonderful creature?” asked Darcy, somewhat confused at their lack of reaction.
Yes, they did but were almost afraid to ask. “Please, please, dear Lord, do not let it be Caroline Bingley,” was the prayer that passed through both of their minds.
“I am sure that we will be happy to welcome whoever has won your heart, Mr Darcy,” said Mrs Reynolds, pulling herself together. “We look forward to meeting her.”
“But you have already met her!” exclaimed Darcy.
Two hearts sank to the floor as they contemplated their, and the household’s, lives under Caroline Bingley Darcy – for surely, it must be her of whom their master spoke.
“In fact, you saw her here at Pemberley less than three months ago!” continued Darcy.
Two hearts sank to somewhere well below the wine cellars of Pemberley at this further confirmation of their worst fears.
“She was here with her aunt and uncle, and you, Kate, gave them a conducted tour of the house!” added Darcy.
Two hearts soared to somewhere well above the chimneys of Pemberley!
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet has done me the very great honour of consenting to be my wife,” announced Darcy, rather smugly it must be said.
“Oh, William!” cried Mrs Reynolds, reverting easily to the name she had used when Darcy was a child. “I am so pleased! She is just the sort of woman you need for your wife and just the sort of woman Pemberley needs for its mistress! She is a true lady. Your parents would be so proud of you.”
With that, Mrs Reynolds could restrain herself no longer and went up to Darcy and gave him a hug and a kiss. Her husband, being slightly less given to such emotional outbursts, restricted himself to a warm handshake and a “Congratulations, sir. I am sure that you have made an excellent choice.”
“Thank you,” Darcy responded, still smiling. “I am delighted that my choice of wife pleases you. Miss Bennet asked me to tell you that she is looking forward to meeting you both again. In fact, she has entrusted me with a letter for you, Kate. She has many questions about Pemberley and, for some unfathomable reason, felt that you would be better placed than I to answer most of them.” With that, Darcy reached into the inner pocket of his coat to withdraw the letter which he handed to Mrs Reynolds.
“Oh! There is so much to be done,” exclaimed Mrs Reynolds, taking the letter, sitting down once more and taking a rather larger sip of brandy than was sensible. When she was capable of speaking again, she continued. “When is the wedding? Where is the wedding? Will you be coming straight back to Pemberley afterwards? Or will you be going on a wedding trip? No, of course not, not at this time of year. Perhaps you will spend some time at the Town House? Will you be at Pemberley for Christmas?”
A breathless Mrs Reynolds paused at last and realised that her master and her husband were looking at her with some amusement.
“It’s all very well you standing there,” she resumed. “You men have no idea what is involved. The Master Suite hasn’t been used for over five years. It’s kept clean, of course, but it is not ready for immediate occupation. And then there’s…
Mrs Reynolds got no further as the library door burst open to admit a highly excited Georgiana.
“Oh, William! Have you told them yet? Isn’t it wonderful! I can’t wait to see Miss Bennet again. And to think that she will be my sister!” exclaimed Georgiana as she ran up to her brother.
“Well, my dear sister, if they did not know before then I think they will suspect something is afoot now!” said Darcy putting his arm round Georgiana’s shoulders and pulling her to him. “And as for seeing Miss Bennet again, why don’t you travel with me when I return to Netherfield next week? You would be coming for the wedding in a few weeks anyway.”
“Oh! May I, William?” cried a very happy Georgiana. “I shall be able to spend so much time getting to know her better!”
“Yes,” replied Darcy, a smile playing about his lips, “But I do hope you will allow ME some time with MY future wife. I should like to know her better too.”
“Oh! Yes! I didn’t mean that I would take up ALL of her time. Of course you will want to spend time with her. It’s just th- th- that……..”. at which point Georgiana stuttered to a halt as Darcy enfolded her in a big hug.
Mr and Mrs Reynolds left the room quietly, leaving their master and his sister to their happiness and to discuss how best to spread the joyous news throughout the rest of the household and the estate.