Chapter 38

 

June 18, 1813

Martha stood under the eaves of the barn roof, which proved to be an insufficient shield to the downpour, cursing her misfortune. Today was to be her day off, but she had switched days with Susan so Susan might go with her beau on a picnic. Now, here she was getting soaked and soiled, burdened with the impossible task of getting the Master and Miss Bennet’s attention, all the while knowing there was no possibility that Susan would be enjoying anything today except perhaps a fire. Martha had tried making noise, but they had not been able to hear her over the rain. They were in such a compromising position, she blushed just to look at them. She could not fathom actually approaching close enough that they might hear her. She was at a loss. She knew that Mistress would not fault or question her if she claimed she had been unable to locate them, but Miss Bennet’s mother did not seem to have nearly as much of an easy-going nature. Frankly, Mrs. Bennet intimidated Martha.

Her delay in returning had, in fact, irritated an already hostile Mrs. Bennet. So much so that she had sent Lydia to find Elizabeth. Georgiana had offered to send a second servant in search, but given how inefficient the first seemed, Mrs. Bennet had declined the offer. Mr. Bingley, as well as Jane, had offered to scour the house but wanting the young man to capitalize on his time with her eldest daughter, the offer was declined. This left Lydia.

At first, Lydia had great excitement at being given free rein to explore the enormous house at her leisure, but she quickly discovered that Elizabeth had been seen slipping out the back door. The prospect of facing this storm suddenly dampened any excitement she had felt with her assigned task. Armed with pattens, a heavy coat, a large bonnet, an umbrella, and with her skirts rolled up several inches, Lydia braved the outdoors. She found walking in the pattens next to impossible but the thought of damaging her boots seemed even worse.

How has this rain managed to create such havoc on the soil when it had not even begun until after Mama and I were settled in the parlor?

Elizabeth’s letters contained effusive praise for the grounds of Pemberley, but the area Lydia had been directed to had all the charm of an outhouse. She could not see how it would be possible to return to the inn in this weather, but, given her collective experience thus far, her enthusiasm for staying at Pemberley was beginning to wane. Lydia saw a figure leaning against the barn. She approached thinking it might be Lizzy but soon discovered it was the maid that been sent to find her sister. She stumbled toward her with annoyance until she turned her gaze in the direction that the maid had been staring. Then she saw them… and her mouth dropped.

“Lizzy! That is Mr. Darcy!” Lydia’s voice had been made to pierce through even the loudest symphony, and it managed to reach the ears of her audience with ease. Lizzy and Mr. Darcy tried to step away from each other, but in their haste, each managed to slip in the mud which was both slick as well as thick. Much to Martha and Lydia’s surprise, the victims of the storm burst out laughing at their unfortunate missteps. Every time they tried to stand, they managed to slide back to the ground until their bodies nearly blended in with their surroundings. At last, Lydia and Martha were forced to come to their assistance and managed to right the pair with only minimal damage to their own attire. The pouring rain worked its hardest to rinse the couple, but there was no denying that they made quite the sight.

Lydia would normally have taken a great interest in hearing how her sister came to be in a position that would allow her to even reach this state of dishevelment, but all her thoughts were on that kiss. And with Mr. Darcy, of all people! She simply could not hold her tongue until they reached a drier location. She didn’t even care that Martha was standing right there. She demanded answers.

“Elizabeth Bennet, what was the meaning of that?” Elizabeth feigned a look of ignorance, to which Lydia responded with, “Don’t you dare act like you don’t know what I am talking about! You know perfectly well I am speaking of that embrace and… and… why, Lizzy, you kissed Mr. Darcy! What were you thinking?”

“Lydia, I hardly think it so uncommon for a lady to kiss her fiancé.”

Words could not describe the look that fell on Lydia’s face, but it caused Lizzy to nearly choke from laughter. “Lizzy, he is engaged. To Miss de Bourgh. And he is the very same insufferable man that insulted you at the assembly.” Lydia was beginning to think the fall her sister had suffered weeks earlier had done more damage than she had been led to believe.

Mr. Darcy who could not help but overhear his future sister-in-law shouted to Lizzy an apology for having been so insulting upon their first meeting. He could see that he would need to repair damage with the entire Bennet family. He was grateful he had been able to make some headway with Miss Bennet. It was clear she was the closest to his Elizabeth.

Elizabeth spoke very little in response to Lydia’s questioning or Mr. Darcy’s apologies. She was too busy smiling and giggling to care right now about anything other than enjoying this feeling of euphoria. When they reached the nearest entrance to the house, Lizzy stopped. She looked down at herself and realized that if she proceeded indoors, she would leave a trail behind her just as though she were a snail, and someone would need to follow behind cleaning it up.

“Mr. Darcy, perhaps we should wait out here until some supplies can be brought to tidy ourselves up.”

Lydia, tired of the rain, pushed past her sister. Once indoors, she began removing all the items she wore to guard against the rain. “Well, I for one did not decide to roll around in the mud, and I will not be waiting for you to get tidied up before I find myself a warm spot near a fire. But know this Lizzy, I am going to the parlor. In all probability I cannot avoid an encounter with Mama, and she will ask where you are. So, you have about five minutes to come up with a better story than the one you just gave me.” And with that, Lydia left but not before giving Martha a look that said stay here and watch these two.

While Lydia was not considered the most clever of the Bennet sisters, she was the one that best understood Mrs. Bennet, and sure enough, it was almost five minutes to the second that Lizzy was faced with the disapproving scowl of her mother.

“Why! Elizabeth Bennet, how can you possibly… what… did this man do this to you?”

“Mama, Mr. Darcy has asked for my hand in marriage, and I have accepted.”

Mrs. Bennet’s scowl melted and was replaced with confusion. “But… Mr. Darcy, you said your cousin…”

“I assure you it was all a misunderstanding. I have made no commitments other than the one I have made to your lovely daughter. If it is agreeable to you and Mr. Bennet, I should very much like to apply for a special license and be married as soon as propriety will allow.” Darcy looked at Elizabeth, “If that suits Elizabeth, of course.”

“It suits me very much, Fitzwilliam.” Lizzy relished the sound of his name rolling off her tongue.

Mrs. Bennet began grinning and tears pooled in her eyes. She ran out the door and embraced her wet, dirty daughter in a tight hug. As Elizabeth started to wonder if the embrace would ever end, her mother moved to Darcy and held him tight. After a few minutes, she backed away not caring that she, too, was now very wet. All thoughts on her daughter’s appearance were now relegated to the realm of insignificance.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy, I always knew you were simply the absolute best of men. I have always said how much I like you. I am so very happy I will be gaining such a fine and handsome son.” Neither Elizabeth nor Darcy felt inclined to point out that less than an hour earlier her behavior contradicted these very words.

Georgiana then appeared along with servants who were carrying clean shoes, towels, and water. “Fitzwilliam, Miss Bennet, have you been in some sort of accident?”

Fitzwilliam, all smiles, replied, “No, my dear Georgiana. Today, I have found you a sister. Elizabeth has agreed to be my wife.”

Georgiana clasped her hands together with joy. Then she reached out, grabbed Elizabeth’s hand, and pulled her into the house. “Two hot baths are being drawn as we speak. Do not fear. They are being set up just off this hallway. Now, give me your shoes.”

Lizzy lifted the hem of her skirt to reveal that she no longer was wearing shoes. Georgiana burst into giggles which were music to her brother’s ears. Before Lizzy could protest, servants were washing her feet, tying the bottom of her skirts into knots so it would not drag on the floor, and patting her down with towels to try to remove as much excess water as possible. She was then whisked off to a nearby room, presumably to be bathed. Mr. Darcy experienced much the same.

When the two finally emerged again, looking clean and proper, they discovered that Mrs. Bennet had spent her time speaking to Mrs. Reynolds. She had compiled a list of suggestions for redecorating all the rooms on the ground floor, had been telling Mrs. Reynolds how meals should be chosen, and was beginning to evaluate the daily chores of the staff. Darcy smiled at the knowledge that the burden of future visits by his mother-in-law would be shared by all at Pemberley, and Elizabeth coaxed her mother away, giving Mrs. Reynolds an apologetic look as they parted.

As the trio retreated from view, Mrs. Reynolds could not help but think back to the Pemberley of yesteryear where laughter had rung through the halls and the house itself seemed to be teaming with energy. She had never expected that she would once again have the privilege to work in a home so filled with happiness, but already a little spark had been ignited and the cause could not be denied. She looked out the window as she thought of the young boy she had once known, the boy who had cried on her lap after learning that his beloved mother had died. That boy had grown into a fine man. The smile that she had believed to be lost forever had now returned with a vengeance. He had found his happiness, and with it, life would return to Pemberley. They would come to have children of their own, and once again the next generation would overcome their mischievous antics and grow into benevolent adults. It seemed amusing that a day such as this with its fierce storm, would give birth to such a bright and glorious future. It was as if God himself was paying homage to her complicated Master with the apparent contradiction. She whistled to herself as she walked down the hall, basking in a contentment she had not known for decades.