After a tearful good-bye, Elizabeth stepped into the carriage. As she sat down, its plush cushion startled her. She was not used to riding in such luxury. Anna handed her a blanket and a pillow, which Elizabeth accepted gratefully. As the carriage pulled away, Elizabeth gave a final wave of her hand to Mrs. Ketterling and then leaned her head toward the window, gazing out. She found each breath difficult to take as they made their way through Lambton, down the dirt road. It veered to the right, taking her in a southerly direction, each turn taking her farther away from Pemberley.

Her eyes turned upward to the sky as the sun climbed higher. She closed her eyes and wondered whether Mr. Darcy had taken his customary walk up the ridge to watch the sunrise. Had he waited to see the carriage off this morning? Was he grateful she was finally out of his life? A tear escaped through her closed lids as she reasoned that he certainly had to be.

* * *

The two ladies rode in silence for the first part of the trip. Elizabeth was grateful that Anna seemed to respect her wish for quiet and rest. The young girl likely assumed she was sleeping, as she kept her face away from her, her eyes closed except for those few times she opened them to see the scenery through which they passed. When she finally felt equal to it, she turned to Anna, stretching out her arms as if just awakening.

Anna smiled at her. “I hope you were able to get some sleep. I know it was an early departure.”

“Fortunately, I am an early riser,” Elizabeth reassured her. “I did not sleep well last night, however, so it has been good to get a little more rest.”

Anna nodded and then leaned forward, pulling up a large parcel. “If you are at all hungry, I have some things the kitchen sent along for us.”

“Thank you, but I have no need of anything right now.”

The girl continued to look in the parcel and pulled something out. “Mr. Darcy thought you might enjoy some reading material.” She held two books in her hand and extended them to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened as she recognized the book of Cowper’s poems that she had spent a good amount of time reading while at Pemberley. If he had not been aware of that, he may have recollected her mentioning the fondness she had for Cowper from their conversation at the top of the ridge. The other book was a compilation of short stories.

“I shall enjoy these very much,” she told Anna. She looked down at the books, her fingers stroking the supple leather of the covers. She then lifted her eyes to Anna. “Do you enjoy reading?”

“I do not have the time to read much.” She let out a nervous giggle. “Although I must confess that I often crawl into bed with a gothic novel.” Her shoulders shivered. “Sometimes I become so dreadfully frightened by those stories that I find it impossible to sleep.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I have read my share of them. Udolpho can have you imagining all sorts of things! The normal sounds a house makes at night suddenly become something ominous!”

Anna chuckled. “Hearing footsteps approaching down the hall is my greatest fear. I always imagine it is someone who has evil intent.”

Elizabeth’s hand remained resting on the books. “How long have you worked at Pemberley?” she asked.

The young lady smiled. “How long have I not? My grandmother was the late Mrs. Darcy’s personal maid. When my mother was young, she shadowed Mrs. Reynolds and recently became the housekeeper in the Darcys’ London home. My father is the butler, and one of my brothers is apprenticing as a steward there.”

“Is that why you are going to London—to see your family?”

The young girl nodded. “Yes, as well as the fact that I frequently go back and forth as needed.” Anna turned to look out the window. “When I was younger, I had a secret hope to someday become Miss Darcy’s personal maid. My grandmother taught me everything she knew about being the personal maid of a mistress, but so far I have not had the opportunity. I was too young when Miss Darcy began to require one, and she has been very happy with Ellen.”

“So you go where you are needed and do what is needed?”

Anna nodded. “I am frequently allowed to serve as a personal maid to guests who for one reason or other are without one while at Pemberley or in town. I truly enjoy tending to the ladies, helping them look pretty.”

“If you enjoy that so much, could you find employment elsewhere being someone’s maid? Certainly you have good experience and would likely get a good recommendation.”

Anna shrugged her shoulders. “I suppose I could, but working for the Darcys has been too good. I have heard too many stories about masters who treat their help harshly and with very little respect. I could not bear that. I would prefer to work for the Darcys doing what they need, rather than work for someone else, even if it was doing what I enjoy doing. I am still young and hope that one day there will be a position for me.”

She gave Elizabeth a sly smile. “I have always hoped that Mr. Darcy would consider me for his wife’s personal maid…” she let out a chuckle. “…if he ever decides to take a wife.” She shook her head and narrowed her brows. “There are so many women who have made fools of themselves over the man. He sometimes seems oblivious to it all, but then I think there are times he does see it and finds it appalling. Some wonder if he will ever find a woman who will love him for himself and not merely for his fortune, his estate, and his standing in society.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips as she listened. She wondered if the young girl had heard any of the speculation about her and Mr. Darcy in regards to the letter that was found. By her words and open expression, Anna did not seem to have any knowledge of it. Elizabeth hoped that word had not spread amongst the servants.

The time in the carriage that first day passed quickly. Elizabeth and Anna commented on the passing scenery, a poem Elizabeth read, or the food they enjoyed that had been sent along. They made two stops before making a stop at an inn for the night. Elizabeth was grateful for Anna’s company. They ate their evening meal together in the inn, and Elizabeth was adamant that they share a room. As they prepared for bed, Anna found herself doing those things a personal maid would do, and Elizabeth kept reminding her that she was solely required to accompany her to London, nothing else. She did concede, however, to allow her to arrange her hair the next morning. Elizabeth thought to herself that she would very much enjoy having someone like Anna attend her.

They continued on their journey early the next morning after a hearty breakfast. Elizabeth was more inclined to eat, as she was enjoying Anna’s company and was very well pleased with the way in which the young lady arranged her hair. She also knew that sometime this afternoon she would be home—at least at her aunt and uncle’s home. She would see Jane, and nothing could diminish her anticipation of that.

Elizabeth became more reflective the closer they came to London. Anna seemed to sense that and left her to her thoughts. Those thoughts prompted her to consider the possible scenarios she would encounter when she arrived. The most likely of these were that Lydia had not been found and no one knew anything more than what had been initially conveyed in the letter. There was also the possibility that she and Wickham had been found in a disgraceful situation and her family would already be suffering the dire consequences of that. Elizabeth found it difficult to hope that Lydia had returned home on her own volition, leaving Wickham before anything happened. She knew both her sister and Wickham too well to hope for that.

As Elizabeth nervously rubbed her hands together in contemplation, she knew her own chances of marrying for love were now lost. The one man she now loved would never consider an alliance with someone having such family members as those two. She would somehow recover, but it was Jane for whom she had the greatest concern. She wondered how loyal Mr. Bingley would remain toward her. A disgrace such as this would surely give him the right to break off their engagement. What he would do in this situation would certainly signify whether he put his love for her above all else.

At length, Elizabeth observed that they had reached the outskirts of London. They passed by an increasing number of houses, and they encountered more carriages travelling on the road. Her heart quickened its pace, seeming to mimic the bustle upon the city streets. It was now only a matter of time before she would know which of her conjectures were true.

As she kept her eyes to the window, she began to see sights that she recognized. Looking at Anna, she asked, “Will you be going directly to the Darcys’ town home after leaving me at my aunt and uncle’s?”

Anna nodded. “Yes. I have been at Pemberley over a month now, so I am eager to see my family.” She folded her hands and placed them in her lap. “I have nowhere else I would rather go.”

Elizabeth soon saw the park in which she often walked when visiting her aunt and uncle. Then they passed the row of homes that lined the street around the corner from their residence. The carriage made a final turn and stopped in front of their home.

A broad smile appeared on Elizabeth’s face. It was good to finally be at a place she could call home! She would soon see her family, and no matter Lydia’s outcome, she would have Jane and her aunt and uncle to help her bear it!

The door opened, and the driver helped her out as the manservant retrieved her luggage. Before turning to walk up to the house, she looked back in at Anna. “I do hope to see you again. Thank you for making the journey here pleasant. I appreciated your company and everything you did.”