Pemberley Manor by Kathryn L Nelson

Author:Kathryn L Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2013-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

Thirty-One

The days of December stretched out at a leisurely pace for the Darcy family, as the hectic activity of their early weeks together gave way to the establishment of the routines of daily life. Darcy began to feel a pride in Pemberley that he had not known previously, and on Sundays when they set off for Kympton Church, his former reserve was supplanted by a new awareness of the lives of those around them. Inspired by Elizabeth’s example of graciousness, Fitzwilliam and Georgiana began tentatively to re-establish their family ties with those neighbours whose warm regard for their father was a vivid memory. Their mother’s friends, led by the indefatigable Lady Margaret Westby, at first held themselves aloof, but between the shy sweetness of Georgiana, the new expansiveness of her brother, and Elizabeth’s ebullience, the attractiveness of the family began to draw down all but the hardiest defences.

Lady Margaret, wounded and perplexed by her failure at Pemberley, grew ever more distressed by the signs of defection of those she considered her allies. The brunt of her ire was felt most keenly by her husband and daughter as the number of her followers decreased, and she began to sense that rather than presiding over the court of social justice, she was swiftly becoming its victim. In spite of the depth of her convictions, even she secretly harboured a growing respect for Elizabeth Darcy, whose composure in the face of hostility remained apparently unassailable.

Far from hiding behind her husband’s protection, Elizabeth sallied forth into Derbyshire society with a determination and strength that brightened her eyes and put colour in her cheeks. With Georgiana in tow, she entered quietly but enthusiastically into the benevolent schemes of Mrs Hatfield, improving their effectiveness by a gentle infusion of sensibility and good humour, which effort brought her into contact with many households of the neighbourhood. Once having attained a foothold, she lost no opportunity to disarm the incivility aimed at her by employing her frank good nature. With his fears of her isolation allayed, Darcy allowed himself the luxury of dropping his defences, and with his full encouragement and proud approbation, Elizabeth Darcy took her first important steps toward acceptance as Mistress of Pemberley.

Although Georgiana had taken great pleasure in the company of Charles and Jane Bingley, she was not unhappy to spend a few days alone with her brother and Lizzy. So much had happened in a short time to alter her opinion of her brother that she welcomed time for quieter contemplation. He rarely alluded to the past, but she saw no sign of the moody restlessness that had often characterised his stays at Pemberley. Only Elizabeth was aware that a certain shadow still passed over her husband’s countenance from time to time. Sometimes, late at night, she would awaken to find him gone from her side, and she knew he was walking the halls lost in contemplation of a sorrow he could not define.

The interlude afforded Fitzwilliam Darcy and his sister more time

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