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While on a tour of England’s northern counties with her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth Bennet is delighted to find herself visiting the beautiful estate of Pemberley and renewing her acquaintance with its master, the handsome Mr Darcy. However, when she becomes a guest of the grand house, Elizabeth soon realises that sinister tensions lurk beneath the surface. Why is Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, acting so strangely and is her new pianoforte really haunted? What secrets are the residents of Pemberley hiding? And could there be second chance for her to find happiness with the one gentleman who has captured her heart?
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Read an excerpt from Secrets at Pemberley:
The carriage pulled at last into the gravel driveway in front of the house and they entered the manor to be greeted by Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper. She was an elderly woman with a kindly face and an easy, friendly manner which surprised Elizabeth, for she had anticipated a more superior attitude from a servant of such a grand estate. That was certainly what she had been led to expect from her visit at Rosings Park and from the contemptuous remarks of some of Darcy’s acquaintances, such as Caroline Bingley. However, Mrs Reynolds welcomed them in a very civil manner and showed them over the various apartments and rooms of the house with almost as much pride as if it were her own property.
“And this is the music room,” she said, leading them into a beautiful sunlit room with a view overlooking the lake at the front of the house. It was decorated in light, pastel colours with a feminine touch. “It is Miss Darcy’s favourite room in the house and my master had it redecorated to suit her taste last autumn.”
“He sounds the most doting older brother,” observed Mrs Gardiner with a smile.
“That he certainly is, ma’am,” said Mrs Reynolds, nodding. “There is nothing he would not do for his sister.”
“Yes, we had heard of the fine instrument that he had purchased for her from London. I believe that is it?” said Mr Gardiner, indicating a beautiful pianoforte sitting in pride of place on the other side of the room.
Mrs Reynolds compressed her lips slightly. “Yes, Miss Darcy saw that instrument during a recent visit to London and set her heart on having it. She particularly liked the ornate rococo style. Mr Darcy, of course, immediately purchased it for her. Perhaps he is too overindulgent an elder brother at times...”
“Why do you say that?” asked Mr Gardiner, going over to examine the pianoforte. “It is a beautiful instrument and a fine addition to this house. Indeed, its appearance suggests a valuable antique.”
“There are other instruments as fine which might have been better choices,” said Mrs Reynolds, eyeing the pianoforte askance. “This instrument is old and... and there are stories attached to it...” She hesitated, then dropped her voice. “It pains me to question the master’s decisions, but ’twas not a wise move to bring it into the house.”
Elizabeth gave her a curious look. “What stories, may I ask?”
Mrs Reynolds looked uneasy and Elizabeth saw a flash of fear in her eyes.
“I know not the truth of it, miss, but there are whispers that this pianoforte is haunted.”
“Haunted?” said Mrs Gardiner in surprise. “And have you seen evidence of supernatural activity?”
Mrs Reynolds shifted uncomfortably. “There... There have been... The servants have heard things at night... music when no one should be playing...”
In spite of herself, Elizabeth felt a chill creep up her spine. She looked again at the pianoforte. It seemed so innocent, bathed in a ray of sunshine coming in through the windows. It was ridiculous to imagine a ghostly presence playing on its keys.
“Ah, well, these old antiques often have legends and stories attached to them,” said Mr Gardiner cheerfully. “Oftentimes they are nothing more than idle gossip and saucy tales spun to give the item more character. I have dealt with many such articles in my business. Do not let it distress you.”
Elizabeth remembered the music box from the Orient that her uncle had given her younger sister, Mary, and the belief that it too was cursed. Indeed, it was Darcy who had disproved that theory and shown that the horrific illness which had struck down the guests at the Netherfield ball was nothing more than an unfortunate coincidence.
And yet...
Elizabeth glanced at the pianoforte again, wondering if there was any grain of truth in the speculation about this instrument. Mrs Reynolds seemed like an eminently respectable, sensible woman. For her to take fright and view the instrument with such hostility suggested more than a passing coincidence.
“Is this a portrait of your mistress?” asked Mrs Gardiner, pausing in front of a painting situated on an easel in front of the old, disused fireplace. It was of a young lady dressed in a pretty muslin gown, sitting in a garden, her arms filled with lilacs.
“Yes. Is she not the prettiest young lady you have ever seen?” asked Mrs Reynolds, beaming with pride. “The master had this done during her recent trip to London. It was delivered together with the pianoforte last Monday.”
“And I have heard that her brother is very handsome too,” said Mrs Gardiner.
“Oh yes, there are none so handsome as my master!” gushed Mrs Reynolds. “If you follow me, there is a fine portrait of him in the gallery.”
Mrs Gardiner gave Elizabeth a mischievous look. “Lizzy can tell us if she thinks it is like, for she has seen the original and is in a position to compare.”
“Oh? Does this young lady know the master?” asked Mrs Reynolds, turning to look at Elizabeth with new interest.
“Yes. We... We met whilst he was in Hertfordshire.”
“Ah! Yes, the master must have had a grand time there for we were expecting him back much sooner. Indeed, the steward had several business affairs to settle with the master and was surprised to find him postponing his return several times. He had told us that he only intended to stay a few days at his friend’s estate, but it seems that he changed his mind. There must have been great attractions in Hertfordshire to hold his interest there for so long.”
Elizabeth coloured and looked away, but not before she caught her aunt giving her another shrewd look. They followed the housekeeper to the upstairs gallery—a long, stately room with several oil paintings hanging on the walls. Mr Reynolds halted before a large portrait of Darcy in riding jacket and breeches, standing next to his horse, and they gathered around her to look at the painting.
Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up at that handsome countenance. She had not seen Darcy for many weeks now and the sight of those intent dark eyes, chiselled features, and strong mouth stirred something in her heart that was almost like a physical ache. There was a hint of a smile at the corners of Darcy’s mouth, in the portrait, and Elizabeth vividly remembered a similar expression on the gentleman’s face when he had looked at her in the past. She wondered suddenly if she would ever see Darcy’s eyes on her again.
Unable to bear the feelings of pain and regret, Elizabeth turned abruptly and walked to the other side of the gallery. Here was a glass case containing several miniatures, many of them very old. It seemed as if Darcy was determined to plague her, however, for the first thing she saw upon looking into the case was a miniature of his likeness. It had obviously been done when he was much younger—his mouth had less of its present sternness and his eyes seemed less guarded—and she delighted in this glimpse into Darcy’s youth. Now that he was forever lost to her, she seemed to crave any additional insights she could gain about him, any titbit of information about his background or character.
Then she was brought short by the miniature next to his. She leaned forwards and peered through the glass. Yes, there was no mistake: it was a portrait of George Wickham! Again, done several years ago, when the highwayman’s face had not been so weathered by debauchery and dissipation. Though he undoubtedly had striking looks too, Wickham’s cocksure handsomeness was in complete contrast to Darcy’s quietly aristocratic demeanour. And even at a young age, one could see the weakness about Wickham’s mouth and the gleam of devilry in his eyes.
Her aunt and uncle had followed her over to the case and were now copying her interest in Wickham’s portrait.
“Here is another handsome young man,” commented Mrs Gardiner. “I did not know that Mr Darcy had a brother? Though there is no likeness between them.”
Mrs Reynolds joined them. Her mouth pursed in disapproval. “That is no brother of my master. That young man is called George Wickham and he has turned out to be a bounder and an utter disgrace to the family. Indeed, his name is never mentioned in this house anymore.”
Mr Gardiner raised his eyebrows. “In that case, why is his portrait here with the others?”
“He was a favourite of the late Mr Darcy’s,” said Mrs Reynolds stiffly. “That miniature was done in the old master’s time and, out of respect for his father’s memory, my master has not removed the miniature from the collection, though it gives him pain to see it.”
“He sounds a most noble gentleman,” said Mr Gardiner.
“Aye, he is,” said Mrs Reynolds fiercely. “Some call him proud, but I have never seen any improper pride. He is always affable to the poor and generous to all under his care. Ask any of his servants or his tenants. We are all in agreement that we could not have a better landlord or master.”
Elizabeth longed to ask more but she did not dare. Why was Wickham—a highwayman—here in a portrait in this fine house? What was his connection to this noble family? She had known from observing their past interactions that Darcy and Wickham had had a prior acquaintance—and that it was not a happy one. But she knew not the particulars and Darcy had never explained them to her. She had always assumed that his disapproval of her previous association with Wickham was due to the fact that the latter was a highwayman—but now she wondered if there was some other cause for Darcy’s hostility towards the man.
As for her own feelings, she was deeply ashamed of having been duped by Wickham’s smooth manners and easy charm. She had been lulled into feeling pity for him and her mistake had nearly cost her family its respectability and good name. She cringed now to think of her misguided behaviour at the Netherfield ball. Had it not been for Darcy’s intervention, both she and Jane could have presently been suffering the disgrace of imprisonment. It was yet another reason for Elizabeth to feel grateful towards Darcy. How many times in the past months had he watched over her and saved her from scandal and danger?
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They soon completed their tour of the house and Mrs Reynolds passed them over to the head gardener. The Pemberley gardens were extensive, featuring over a hundred acres of carefully cultivated land, including water features, streams and lakes, an impressive maze, a rockery, a rose garden, and a bountiful kitchen and herb garden. Mrs Gardiner was particularly taken with the Lake Gardens on the south side of the house, where a large pool of water took pride of place in the centre of a gallery of fanciful sculptures. They spent several minutes wandering amongst the sculptures, admiring their workmanship and attempting to guess their forms, before walking slowly back towards the house.
Elizabeth fell behind as she paused by the lake again to admire its calm beauty. Something broke its surface with a splash, then another, and she saw a shape that looked like a tail. Was it a fish? The head gardener had been boasting of the monstrous pikes inhabiting the waters of Pemberley—was this one of the impressive specimens?
Curious, Elizabeth made her way out onto a small ornamental pier which extended slightly into the lake. She reached the end and bent over, peering into the water. It was dark and difficult to see, but she fancied that she caught the hint of a sinuous shape moving just beneath the surface, a few feet farther out...
A rustle behind her made her glance back over her shoulder.
The bushes near the pier parted and a tall, handsome gentleman in riding clothes stepped out.
“Mr Darcy!” cried Elizabeth, jerking up in surprise.
She lost her balance, tipping backwards over the edge of the pier. She flailed her arms, desperately trying to save herself. Her foot slipped and then, with a cry of alarm, she plunged into the water.
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DARCY REVEALED
An unexpected mix-up leads Elizabeth Bennet to renewing her acquaintance with the handsome Mr Darcy during her stay in London. Amid a whirl of society balls, fashionable promenades in Hyde Park and dangerous flirtations, Elizabeth find herself unwittingly drawn to the haughty gentleman. But does Darcy return her feelings or does his heart belong to another?
Darcy Revealed is a sweet, clean, standalone Pride and Prejudice variation romance, inspired by Jane Austen’s novel.
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DARCY'S WAGER
When Elizabeth Bennet discovers that her sister, Lydia, has risked her reputation by staking a wager against one of London's most notorious rakes, she races to prevent a scandal before shame and ruin befall her family. But saving her own sister could mean sacrificing another: the sister of the handsome, aloof Mr Darcy. Can Elizabeth make a choice between her family and the man she loves? From the pleasure gardens of Vauxhall to the gambling dens of Piccadilly, join Darcy and Elizabeth as they banter, dance, and fall in love in this Regency romance for Jane Austen fans everywhere.
Darcy’s Wager is a sweet, clean, full-length standalone Pride and Prejudice variation romance, inspired by Jane Austen's novel.
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DARCY’S CHRISTMAS WISH
Fitzwilliam Darcy never forgot the little girl, with the beautiful dark eyes, who saved his life fifteen years ago... though he never expected to meet her again. But when he comes to Rosings Park to spend the Advent season with his aunt and encounters the enchanting, spirited Miss Elizabeth Bennet again, he discovers that at Christmastime, wishes can come true...
DARCY'S CHRISTMAS WISH is a sweet, clean standalone Pride and Prejudice variation - a holiday romance inspired by Jane Austen's classic novel!
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Penelope Swan is the pen name of award-winning mystery author, H.Y. Hanna. She has been an avid Jane Austen fan since her teens and is delighted that she can now live out her Regency fantasies through her books. You can find out more about her at: www.penelopeswan.com
