The Pemberley Chronicles Read Free Page A

the rest of the evening. As on previous occasions, when they had been alone together, neither needed to say very much to express feelings deeply held: sensations that Darcy had struggled for months to overcome and Elizabeth had not known she could feel. Yet, now, as they discovered their need for each other, they flowed easily and naturally. As always, there was a mixture of passion and playfulness between them; of laughter and love, which would ensure that theirs would be an ardour free of the cloying effects of excess. Elizabeth's excellent sense of humour and Darcy's quiet dignity would always lighten and balance their marriage.
    Elizabeth decided to postpone her reply to Jane for a day or two. She wanted time to absorb and enjoy the experiences she was sharing with her husband. She did not feel capable of putting her present emotions on paper; she could barely
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    express them to the man she loved so much and then only with some degree of shyness and much loving encouragement. She longed to share her joy with her beloved sister but wanted more time to hold it close to her own heart first.
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    Clifton and its salubrious environs afforded Elizabeth and Darcy many hours of entertainment. Having visited many more castles--old and new, some in the strange pseudo-Gothic style--than either of them had hoped to see in their lives, they decided they would see no more but would enjoy a leisurely drive through the West Country. They stopped at Kingsweston to admire the exquisite prospect stretching across three counties, broke journey at Cheltenham, and then proceeded to cross the border into what was for Elizabeth new, uncharted territory amongst the mountains and valleys of Wales.
    The wildness of the Welsh landscape, at times almost over-powering, added a new dimension to their enjoyment. Travelling slowly, without the pressure of timetables, Darcy and Elizabeth found time and solitude conducive to their mood. That Darcy ardently and sincerely loved her, Elizabeth was left in no doubt. For her part, she was learning to enjoy being so deeply loved and found new excitement in falling more in love with a man she admired and esteemed. That this man was now her husband--a circumstance unthinkable a mere six months ago--made her smile.
    More and more she longed for the days when they would be at Pemberley together, the environment in which she was sure they would find the greatest happiness, where their dearest wishes could be fulfilled. As they travelled, they had talked of their future plans, and Darcy made it very clear to Elizabeth that she would be Mistress of Pemberley in her own right and should feel quite comfortable with her role. He invited her to talk with Mrs Reynolds and suggest what changes she felt were needed. "You must feel free to suggest whatever you decide is appropriate, Lizzie, because Pemberley is your home now, and I shall depend on you to tell me what needs to be done to improve it."
    It was of no use to protest that there appeared to be very little that needed improving in such a gracious dwelling. Darcy would reply with a degree of reasonableness that there was always something that needed improvement.
    Darcy was finding that he was enjoying more and more the lightness and humour that Lizzie constantly brought into their life together. Almost in spite of himself, he enjoyed her teasing ways and often found himself responding in like manner. As he later confessed to Bingley, Lizzie was clever enough to balance playfulness and gravity with ease, never overdoing one or the other, and her keen sensibility told exactly how far she could go, never embarrassing her husband in any way. While this was new to Darcy, it had also brought an element of fun and liveliness into his life, which had been too serious for too long. Since his father's death, he had carried all the responsibilities of his family, and it had left very little time for the lighter side of life. He was almost thirty years of age and determined that