Reverie & Rancour: A Pride & Prejudice Vagary by S. E. Granger

Author:S. E. Granger [Granger, S. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

As January turned to February, Elizabeth found herself strong enough to venture out of doors once more. Daily exertion soon laid to rest her fear that she had inherited her mother's nerves, restoring her equanimity and her capacity for sleep at night likewise.

Her husband continued to cause her great perplexity, though not through any relapse into his erstwhile resentment. Indeed, he was everything attentive and generous, so far as his onerous duties and Elizabeth's determined reserve permitted it. Her insistence on taking the air each day seemed to cause him considerable distress, but rather than forbid her the exercise, he merely insisted that she bundle up warmly. Indeed, his solicitude was so reminiscent of Mrs. Reynolds' affectionate fussing that it caused Elizabeth no small measure of mischievous delight. When his responsibilities permitted it, he insisted upon accompanying her on her rambles, and in spite of her apprehensions, she found him to be a congenial companion. He showed himself to be comfortable with silence but possessed of a startling abundance of information regarding the local geology, flora, and fauna. She began to suspect that any breach in their present harmony would occasion her distress not only because he had the power to inflict humiliation and discomfort upon her, but also because she would miss his company.

In spite of these apprehensions, Elizabeth considered herself quite content, and her happiness was only increased by Georgiana's companionship. Of course, the girl still lapsed into shyness upon occasion. Elizabeth had begun to suspect that she had faced some serious disappointment or adversity which had left her with a poor estimate of her own worth. Determined not to force a confidence, nor to drive away her one true female companion, Elizabeth declined to pry and instead focused her energies on coming to know Georgiana through small details: her preferred embroidery stitches, her passion for Herr Mozart's compositions, her adoration of roses, which she confessed reminded her of her mother. Engaged thus in light but companionable conversation, they wiled away many hours.

As Elizabeth returned to health and the worst of the winter weather passed, the time to journey to London drew nigh. Colonel Fitzwilliam departed Pemberley a fortnight before the rest of the family to join his parents in Town. Elizabeth had already written to Jane to request her company at Darcy House for the season, enclosing a separate note for her father, entreating his permission. That invitation had been eagerly accepted, though Elizabeth sensed between the affectionate lines of Jane's letter that her father might have exhibited some reluctance. Nonetheless, the arrangements had been made. Jane would spend a sennight with the Gardiners before moving to Darcy House once the family had arrived.

The Darcys would depart for London on the second of March, this time taking five days to make the journey, rather than three. Elizabeth remained uncertain if this concession exhibited consideration for her health or merely for Georgiana's comfort, but no matter the cause, she found herself grateful.

These arrangements firmly in place, Elizabeth set to the work of packing.

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