“It certainly is… and it is blossoming with summer flowers of every hue. It has several natural paths that wind their way throughout, and one that takes you to the top of the ridge behind the home. Tomorrow you will be able to see just how beautiful it is!”

Elizabeth looked toward the back of the house and noticed the silhouette of a ridge. It did not seem terribly high, and she thought momentarily about how she might like to take the path to the top.

As Elizabeth turned away, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She was grateful that she was no longer in mourning and had begun to wear colours again. For some reason that she could not clearly understand, the mere thought of walking through Pemberley and being in Mr. Darcy’s presence while dressed in drab blacks and greys was not something she wished to do, despite still missing her father exceedingly.

Elizabeth excused herself from the maid and walked across the wide hall to check on Emily. She peeked in and saw Emily pulling out a doll and her toys from a small bag. “Do you like your room, Emily?” she asked, walking in.

“Oh, yes,” Emily answered. “But I am glad to be in a room so close to Mama and Papa and you and Aunt Rosalyn. I think it is a very big house.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Yes it is,” she said as she walked over to the window and peered out. Emily’s room looked out over the back courtyard, and she could easily see both wings at either side that extended back. She could not even imagine how many rooms Pemberley had with its three stories and considerable length. She noticed once again the ridge behind the house and wondered what the view was from the top. She smiled as she considered that there would be much to explore here!

* * *

Elizabeth thought it was prudent that she take a tour of the house so she would become familiar with its layout and learn what areas there might be that were not open to her and Emily. But more than that, she was simply curious to see it. Rosalyn was more than happy to accompany her. Emily remained in her room to rest.

They encountered Mrs. Reynolds in the hallway, on her way to see if anyone wished to do that very thing. The Willstones declined, also wanting to rest, leaving only Rosalyn and Elizabeth to enjoy an intimate tour. The elderly woman, tall and stately with silver grey hair, began by giving them a brief history of the home, telling how it had been in the Darcy family for over two hundred years and had regularly provided a source of steady income for the villages nearby. She fervently told them that she had worked as housekeeper for twenty years, that she had been employed at Pemberley for over thirty-five years, and how the Darcys have always been greatly esteemed by all the servants, tenants, and local villagers.

She brought her hands together with a clap. “Well, enough of that. You wanted to see the house, so see the house we shall!”

As they walked down the hall, the housekeeper explained that most of the rooms in that wing of the house were guest apartments. “But here,” she said as she came to a stop, “is Miss Darcy’s favourite sitting room. Come in, please.” They stepped into a spacious room that occupied the opposite corner of the house from Elizabeth’s room. Instead of a window on each wall at the corner, there were two sets. In Elizabeth’s perception, it was two or almost three times as large as her room.

There were several plush chairs and sofas placed around the room. A writing desk and a number of tables occupied the space.

“We have another sitting room downstairs as well,” began Mrs. Reynolds, “but Miss Darcy is especially partial to this room. Most likely it is due to the large windows and the beautiful prospect overlooking the south and east.” As they looked about, she continued, “Miss Darcy spends much time here and often took her studies in here.”

“I can see why she enjoys this room so much,” effused Rosalyn. “It must be the finest room in the house.”

“It suits Miss Darcy, but it has had very little done to it over the years. I do believe her brother is planning to make some improvements on it for her… he dotes on her endlessly. But, oh, it is to be a surprise, so please do not mention it to her.”

“We would not spoil Mr. Darcy’s surprise for anything!” exclaimed Rosalyn. “He is certainly a wonderful brother!”

“Most attentive to his sister, yes. And to all his servants and tenants as well. I have never heard one complaint uttered against him.”

Rosalyn caught Elizabeth’s eye and, with a slight nod of her head and a smile, gave Elizabeth all the assurance she needed that Rosalyn had determined there was no man finer.

It is going to be a very long two weeks, Elizabeth thought to herself.

As they walked out, Rosalyn asked, “Is this room used solely by Miss Darcy? Does she consider it her private sitting room?”

“Oh, no. It is frequently used by our guests. Feel free to come in at your leisure. If Miss Darcy requires time alone, which she often does, she has a private room off her chambers that gives her all the privacy she needs. They are located just down the hall in the opposite direction from your rooms.”

Mrs. Reynolds extended her hand down the hallway. “In addition to Miss Darcy’s chambers, Mr. Darcy’s chambers are also located down this hall, as well as a beautiful suite that will one day belong to the Mistress of Pemberley, when he takes a wife. I have never seen a grander suite, but unfortunately, that wing is private.”

Mrs. Reynolds walked ahead. “Follow me, please.”

Elizabeth was not surprised when Rosalyn leaned in to whisper, “How I would love to see that suite!”

Elizabeth looked at her with a resigned smile. “Perhaps someday you shall.” Those words could not have made Rosalyn happier. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, they seemed to leave her mouth with a bad taste.

From there they went down the stairs. “You will see several of these rooms tonight, so I shall only point them out.” Turning at the bottom of the stairs, she showed them where the dining room and the parlour room were.

She then came to a stop in front of an open door.

“This is Pemberley’s greatest distinction. The library at Pemberley is one of the largest and most complete in the whole of Derbyshire. It is the Master’s determination and love of reading that keeps it growing and up to date. Shall we?” she asked as she allowed the two ladies to enter.

Elizabeth stepped in. Her gaze travelled down the length of the library in one direction and then the other. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. “I could lock myself up in here for a month and never come out!” she exclaimed as she spun back around. “It is beaut…” She stopped when she saw Mr. Darcy step out from a row of books.

“Hello, Mrs. Reynolds. Ladies.” He held a leather-bound book loosely in one hand, tapping it lightly with the fingers on his other hand. He looked at Elizabeth with a small smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. “I fear, Miss Bennet, you would grow quite hungry locked in here for a month. Unless, that is, you made arrangements with the staff to slip your food under the door. I cannot say I have ever heard of anyone surviving solely on a diet of books.”

Rosalyn’s laugh seemed to Elizabeth to be just a little artificial as she said, “You are so right, Mr. Darcy, but as Miss Bennet would most likely choose reading over any activity, including eating, she might determine to prove you wrong.”

“Well, then, it is settled. Arrange for Miss Bennet’s belongings to be brought down here, Mrs. Reynolds, as well as her meals.”

Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. She was more grateful than she was surprised by Mr. Darcy’s light teasing. It at least removed the mortification she felt knowing he overheard her comment. “I thank you, sir, but my chambers are more than sufficient.”

“You are pleased with Pemberley then?”

She understood his question all too well. Nodding her head, she answered, “I am very well pleased.”

As if suddenly having an afterthought, he looked at Rosalyn. “And you, Miss Matthews, are your accommodations to your liking?”

A smile flashed across her face. “Oh! They are superb! Everything is positively splendid! I could not have asked for anything more!”

Darcy nodded his head. “I am glad to hear that. Now, if you will excuse me… unless, Miss Bennet, you are quite certain you do not wish to move in here. I can certainly make the arrangements.”

Elizabeth laughed. “As great a temptation as that might be, I must decline, for my duties as governess would prohibit that.”

His eyes narrowed for a brief moment, and then he replied, “Yes. Your duties.”

He gave a polite bow and then walked out of the library as the ladies stepped farther in. “Feel free to take some time to look around,” Mrs. Reynolds told them. “This is a wonderful collection. You are more than welcome to borrow any of the books to read while you are here. Just leave them on the desk when you are finished so they can be returned to their proper place.”

Elizabeth stepped in one direction and Rosalyn the other. As Elizabeth walked deeper into the library, the smell of leather and the dark, rich wood of the shelves made her think of her father. Her eyes glistened with tears as she thought just how much he would have loved spending time in here. It was her father who had passed the love of reading on to her. She walked to the far end, passed a row of shelves, and ran her fingers along the spines of the books, reading the array of authors and titles.

As she perused the books, her mind raced between thoughts of her father and also how Mr. Darcy had eased her discomfort just now. She had a sudden recollection of the look that had crossed his face when he questioned her about moving her belongings into here as being the same look as when they had been at Netherfield. It had been in the drawing room as she and Miss Bingley had been taking a turn about the room.