Elizabeth awoke in a beautiful room decorated in the pleasing palette of soft blue. The silk paper on the wall bore an elaborate floral pattern that distracted her as she sat up in bed. She was thankful for the beauty of the room as her dreams had been filled with horrible images from the night before.
A maid entered and curtsied to her. “Good morning, miss, tis Fiona I am. I will see to ye while ye are here in Carlisle at Fitzwilliam Manor.”
Pulling her blanket tighter to her chest, Elizabeth introduced herself. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Fiona. I am Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Yes, miss, your arrival is the talk of the house, I say. ’Tis been a long time since a sassenach lass has been under this roof. Mr. Darcy does not come to Scotland verra often.”
Elizabeth had not known her presence might be cause for gossip and then recalled how close they were to Gretna Green. The staff must think she was to marry Mr. Darcy!
“My father and I have come on a matter of family business. It is a lovely home, I presume, if this room is any measure of the place,” she blurted before she might think better of her words.
“Aye, it is a lovely home but left empty for too long,” Fiona agreed as she poked at the embers in the fireplace.
Not wishing to engage further in conversation, Elizabeth stood and went to the washstand. She dipped her hand in the basin and was surprised by the warmth of the water.
Fiona stood and nodded in the direction of the washstand. “Go ahead, wash your face lass. I took several dresses from your trunk early this mornin’ and pressed them for ye. I did not know which you might prefer.”
Elizabeth was grateful and did as Fiona said. Her mind still focused on the violence of the night before, she nearly forgot herself as she brought the cloth Fiona handed her to her face. “I am most happy to see morning’s light. Do you know if my father is well?”
“Aye, lass, he is well. Mr. Darcy sent for the apothecary earlier this mornin’ to see to him. He passed me in the hallway just as I was comin’ in to see to your fire. He introduced himself and asked after ye. I told him I would have you up and dressed in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, I did.”
The maid’s voice was comforting with its Scottish lilt and Elizabeth smiled. “I do thank you for your excellent care, Fiona.”
The young servant returned her smile and whirled around to retrieve the three dresses for Elizabeth to choose from for her first day at Fitzwilliam Manor. “I am pleased to have a lass to care for today. It is most boorin’ without guests, ye see.”
When she had finally dressed her charge, Fiona hummed a happy tune as she arranged Elizabeth’s hair. The ringlets that were left loose upon the nape of her neck made a most alluring picture and Elizabeth wondered whether Fiona might be wasting her considerable talents in an empty manor home.
The maid left her with a curtsey after telling Elizabeth where the breakfast room was located. “Cook will have the meal served for another hour at least but after that, she is stubborn as a bull about serving anythin’ again before luncheon.”
Elizabeth laughed, but she felt Fiona would not tattle to Cook. After smoothing her skirts, she looked around the room again and caught sight of herself in a long mirror by the closet. Her dress was a plain day dress but the color, a yellow the bright hue of a jonquil, complimented her complexion and placed a smile upon her face.
When she entered the breakfast room, the men stood and welcomed her into their midst. Mr. Darcy hurried to pull out a seat for her beside her father since there were no footmen nor a butler present. Mr. Bennet met her with open arms and kissed her upon the cheek. “How lovely it is to see you so well this morning, Lizzy. We had quite a scare last evening, did we not?”
Elizabeth stepped out of the circle of her father’s arms and nodded. She looked to Mr. Darcy and thanked him for his hospitality. “I do not think we might have made it safely to the next inn, sir. I am most grateful for the shelter of your home.”
Mr. Darcy was happy to accept her gratitude. “It is my great pleasure to have you and your father at Fitzwilliam Manor. It will provide safety for you as we continue the search for Miss Lydia.”
Mr. Bennet shook his head at Mr. Darcy but Elizabeth caught the movement. “Are we to remain behind, Papa? We are only a little way from Gretna Green. Surely we will find them today?”
He bade her sit before he would explain. “Let us eat first, Lizzy. I am well, but last night’s exertions have left me without the strength to journey further today. Captain Denny and Mr. Darcy will go to Gretna Green and see whether Lydia is there. I would hope that you might stay here with me and read in Mr. Darcy’s library. It is most amazing to behold. ’Tis a pity no one is often about to make good use of it.”
Her consternation was evident but Elizabeth managed to eat and listen carefully while Mr. Darcy, her father, and Captain Denny spoke of their plans for locating Lydia. If they found her, she would be brought back to Carlisle while Mr. Wickham was dealt with separately.
With her worry for her father uppermost in her mind, she decided that whoever found Lydia it would only be a short time before she too would be safely lodged at Fitzwilliam Manor.
There would be decisions made and arrangements decided that depended upon what exactly she and Lieutenant Wickham had done and whether they had married.