Page 25 of Unwillingly Mrs. Darcy
Kitty, restless from the days of travel, peered eagerly out of the window. Mary, in contrast, busied herself with a small book on philosophy she had insisted on bringing, pausing now and then to make thoughtful notes in the margins.
“She is not at all as I imagined,” Kitty said suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Elizabeth turned to her. “Who?”
“Miss Darcy, of course,” Kitty replied. “I confess, after all we heard from Mr Wickham, I expected her to be haughty and cold. But she is nothing of the sort.”
Elizabeth offered a small smile. “She has surprised me as well.”
Kitty nodded. “She is quite lovely, really. Perhaps a little shy, but very kind. I wonder…”
“What do you wonder?” asked Mary, her tone half-curious, half-dismissive as she paused her reading.
“Well,” said Kitty thoughtfully, “if Mr Wickham’s tales about her were untrue. Perhaps he was mistaken—or even lying.”
The words lingered in the air, heavy with the implications of all Mr Wickham had said and done.
“Mr Wickham has always had a knack for presenting himself favourably,” Elizabeth said carefully. “It is possible that his perspective was biased. What he claimed about Miss Darcy—and her brother—may not have been the whole truth.”
“Perhaps he thought it was the truth,” Kitty mused. “People see what they want to see, don’t they? Maybe he saw what he hoped, rather than what really was.”
Mary looked up sharply. “You are giving him far too much credit. He has rather loose morals.”
“Pray, I did not know you were such an expert on George Wickham,” Kitty teased.
“I am not, but I am in possession of my senses. He tried to charm Miss King until her uncle stepped in, then he tried to charm Elizabeth and then Lydia. He has no loyalty. And as for Pemberley and its master,” she gave a pointed look at Elizabeth, ”I remain sceptical. This arrangement may serve a purpose, but as for happiness…”
Elizabeth sighed inwardly. “I understand your doubts, Mary. I am not entirely certain what to expect, either.”
Kitty tilted her head. “Do you truly believe Mr Darcy is as proud as he seems? Or might he actually be different than we assumed?”
“Different how?” Mary asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. What if he’s secretly a knight in shining armour?” Kitty grinned. “It could explain everything! His helping us to pay for Papa’s treatments, and now bringing us to Pemberley. He might be trying to prove himself, in his own quiet way.”
Elizabeth couldn’t suppress a small laugh, though it was tinged with unease because she knew Mr Darcy meant to prove himself one way or the other. “A knight in shining armour?I think Mr Darcy would bristle at the idea. He is a man of substance and practicality, not romantic fantasy.”
Kitty frowned slightly, but her hopeful tone persisted. “Maybe, but a man can be noble without being sentimental.”
Elizabeth glanced out of the window as the carriage rounded a gentle bend. The trees parted, revealing a vast and verdant expanse. In the distance stood Pemberley, its grandeur undeniable even at this distance.
The conversation quieted as all three sisters took in the sight. The house rose up from among its lovely gardens, its stone façade bathed in the afternoon light. The long approach revealed pristine grounds, and groves of trees as well as flower beds, all arranged to perfection. It was both magnificent and imposing, a reminder of the life Elizabeth had stepped into. No wonder Mr Darcy had not bristled at the cost of the physician. Keeping up Pemberley had to cost a fortune.
Mary let out a contemplative sigh. “It is quite extraordinary.”
Kitty, for once, was speechless, her eyes wide with admiration.
The carriage slowed, and Georgiana and Mr Darcy, who had arrived slightly ahead of them, came into view. They stood near the front steps, clearly waiting to greet their guests. Georgiana smiled brightly and waved, her youthful enthusiasm a stark contrast to Mr Darcy’s calm reserve.
“Whatever awaits,” Elizabeth said quietly to her sisters as the carriage came to a halt, “we must try to meet it with an open mind. Pemberley is not just Mr Darcy’s home—it is mine now.”
“And ours, too, for a little while,” Kitty chimed in, her excitement returning.
As they descended from the carriage, Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy. He looked every inch the master of the estate, but when his gaze met hers, she thought she saw something softer—a flicker of uncertainty, or perhaps hope.
Kitty’s words lingered in her mind. Could Mr Darcy truly be a knight in shining armour, trying in his own way to bridge the gap between them? Elizabeth didn’t know. But she resolved, as they stepped into the shadow of Pemberley, to find out.
“Welcome to Pemberley,” Georgiana said brightly, her soft voice carrying a note of excitement. “I do hope you will find everything to your liking.”
