Page 47 of Master of Netherfield
Turning around William did not see his father’s valet present so he sent for Harris. When the valet arrived, William asked his man to help his father’s man to dress him in appropriate garments and then place his body in the coffin.
“Once... When... I would appreciate...” William stumbled with his words.
“Would the front parlour do for viewing, sir?” Mrs Reynolds asked. “Many gentlemen will come to see the old master today and tomorrow to verify that it is indeed him that has died. The vault in the chapel can be opened tomorrow and the coffin moved there or to the church...”
“The front parlour is fine. Two footmen are to remain with the coffin at all times and when visitors are not in the room, they are to keep the lid closed. Two additional footmen are to attend the door to the parlour and the butler, and his man are to remain at the front door until dark. No one comes to the house without someone there to open the front door,” William ordered.
“Very good...”
“Send riders to Lambton and to Kympton with the news and send two carriages to the parsonages. I wish to see both parsons before the middle of the afternoon.”
“Yes...”
“And have footmen keep a look out for my sister’s carriage. I do not want her to arrive with the coffin in the hallway. And no one is to tell my sister the news except for myself!”
“Yes, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Reynolds agreed.
**++**
“Georgie, will we reach the house before nightfall?” teased Elizabeth. “This park could swallow Netherfield Wood three times over!”
“I do not remember the road being so long when I lived here,” Georgiana admitted. “Pemberley is a full five miles from Lambton and my father owns all the lands about.”
“We have been on Darcy lands for most of the day,” Mr Bennet announced. “I had no idea the Pemberley estate was this extensive.”
“William tells me that our grandfather Darcy married a local heiress and united two large estates into one. There is another house near Kympton, but I think Father leases it to a rich nobleman who fled from France during the revolution.”
The four-day journey exhausted everyone. Mr Bennet and Elizabeth had asked Georgiana for happy memories of her father though they were few. Mr Darcy had largely ignored his young daughter as she grew, and her demeanour grew quieter as each mile brought them closer to the house.
When the carriage came out of the woods into the open fields, Mr Bennet knocked on the roof of the carriage to stop for a moment. They four travellers exited the carriage to stretch for a moment and in the distance, they could make out the house in the centre of fields with outbuildings and stables.
“Georgiana, Pemberley is...” Elizabeth could not find the words.
“It is huge is it not?” Georgiana said almost sadly. “In the winter, I used to run through the halls. The entire third floor is a ball room.”
“Come my dears, let us make the final ride to our destination,” Mr Bennet told his daughter and family friend.
When the carriage drew closer to the house, the door opened and several of the servants came out to receive the master’s daughter.
“There is William!” Georgiana said and Mr Bennet noticed how anxiously his daughter tried to catch a glimpse of William.
“Does he look well?” Elizabeth asked.
Finally, the carriage stopped, and a footman opened the door. William was there to help Georgiana down and then offered his hand to Elizabeth. Mrs Annesley and Mr Bennet followed them onto the gravel drive as William told Georgiana the news of the passing of their father.
Elizabeth heard the catch in his voice and took his arm as Georgiana embraced her brother as they both cried. Mr Bennet moved to stand between William and the servants to provide the brother and sister with a bit of privacy. Elizabeth was distressed by William’s tears and quickly produced a handkerchief.
Drying his face and comforting his sister, Darcy smiled at the young lady. “Thank you, Miss Elizabeth.”
**++**
Mr Bennet followed their host into the great house; Elizabeth on her father’s arm with the servants quickly coming inside.
“I want you to rest,” William told his sister. “I have to meet with the parsons shortly and we can have tea afterwards.”
“How can I be of assistance?” Bennet asked William.
“Thank you,” the young man replied. “I shall I speak with you later.”
