The Darcys of Pemberley Read Online Free PDF Page A

never
very much occasion to go into town anymore, so there is no need to
be this close to London. And we have found after living here for
some months that certain aspects of the neighborhood are not
completely … uh … agreeable. We would, therefore, like to make a
change.”
    Although he did not say the words, his
meaning was clear enough. They could all appreciate the idea that
it is possible for a woman to be settled too near her family.
    “Then where will you go?” Elizabeth demanded.
“Do not keep us in suspense! What is your plan?”
    With a shy smile, Jane answered, “We were
thinking that some place in Derbyshire might be nice.”
    The Bingleys could have been in no doubt as
to how their friends would receive this proposal. Exclamations of
delight immediately confirmed the general approbation of the plan.
Whilst the sisters expounded on their felicity, the men discussed
the logistics of the move and the task of making inquiries.
    “My resources are entirely at your disposal,
Bingley,” said Darcy. “I will send word as soon as I hear of
anything suitable. What specifically do you have in mind?”
    “You know that Pemberley has always been my
ideal, but I suppose it is not available,” Bingley said, laughing.
“And something on a more modest scale will do very well for us. Let
it be a place with a little charm, a good income, and within an
easy distance of our friends, and we shall be satisfied.”
    “Again, as with the other matter,” said Jane,
“we must ask you to keep this confidential until we are able to
find the best way of telling my parents. I am afraid they will not
be as pleased with our decision as you are, Lizzy.”
    “Indeed. I do not envy you the job of
informing Mama; she will likely go into hysterics. Our gain is
truly at her expense. I should be sorry for her loss, but I
cannot help smiling. Oh, Jane, to have you and Bingley close to
Pemberley – I could ask for nothing better!”

     

Chapter 4
     
    Pemberley
     
    Another visit was paid to the Bennets on the
morrow, as had been promised. The day passed unremarkably, and
everybody got their fill of everybody else before the party broke
up. Since the Darcys planned to depart for Derbyshire early the
next morning, they made their final farewells amidst the fuss and
falderal of Mrs. Bennet, the benign resignation of Mr. Bennet, and
the warm wishes of the girls.
    As the carriage drove away, Elizabeth looked
back to wave, saying farewell not only to her family, but also to
Longbourn. She had lived all but the last year of her life there.
Yet, despite the fond memories, she had forsaken her childhood home
without a qualm when she and Mr. Darcy married. Smiling at the
thought, Elizabeth marveled once more at the ease of her
adjustment. Pemberley had quickly supplanted Longbourn in her
heart. Her life and her future were there now, with her
husband.
    “How glad I shall be when we are at home
again,” she remarked en route to Netherfield. “We have
scarcely been gone above a week, I know, but it seems an age.
Although it is always charming to travel and to visit friends, I
shall be even more gratified to return to Pemberley. It seems that
every day I spend there makes me less willing to bear any other
place.”
    Darcy, sitting by her side, pressed her hand.
“It pleases me to hear you speak of Pemberley with so much feeling.
I daresay you love the place nearly as much as I do now.”
    “Oh, yes, but then Pemberley stole my heart
the first time I saw it.”
    “What a pity you cannot say the same for me,”
said Darcy dryly.
    “Yes, a great pity,” Elizabeth mused. “As I
recall, it took much longer for me to discover your merits;
they were so well-concealed.”
    Darcy raised an eyebrow. “If you were so long
in discovering them, perhaps the fault was not with the subject but
with the observer. I was much more astute. I accurately
assessed your virtues and wasted no time falling in love with
you.”
    “That was no great feat, sir,