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them. To which Darcy had replied, "But of course, dearest, for after the initial astonishment, I think we got on very well indeed. For my part, it was the day that saw the resurrection of my hopes. I shall never forget the happiness I felt after I had seen you here at Pemberley." This time, Elizabeth, who had never seen it in Winter, almost gasped at the first view of the house, its graceful architecture thrown into relief by the starkness of the Winter landscape and the dark foliage of the pine and fir trees in the grounds around it.
    Jane, who by now had changed her seat so she could see the way ahead more clearly, was asking questions about the estate, and Darcy, with the courtesy of a gracious host, was answering her enquiries.
    Listening to them, Elizabeth wondered again at her blindness in believing Wickham's wicked lies that had Mr Darcy as a haughty, short-tempered man with little or no patience for those he presumed to be beneath him. Every circumstance had proved her wrong, as she experienced not only the love and affection he lavished upon her but much more the generosity and genuine graciousness of his behaviour towards all members of her family. As a husband, brother, and friend, Mr Darcy had passed every test. Involuntarily, Lizzie smiled, and Bingley caught her eye as she did. Bingley, whose admiration for his friend knew no bounds, smiled broadly and said in his own amiable way, "I told Jane, Darcy would be the man to tell her about Pemberley; he's so besotted with the place."
    "I can understand why," said Lizzie, as the carriage crossed the bridge and drove to the great front door.
They alighted and went up the steps into the hall, to be received by Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper, who had not seen them since the wedding. Her delight at having her Master back was so apparent it was quite moving, especially to Elizabeth, whom she greeted with warmth and deference, asking if they had had a comfortable journey and showing them into the saloon, where a lively fire was burning and a table was laid for afternoon tea. There, waiting for them was Georgiana, whose greeting was as affectionate and warm as their parting had been, just a week ago. She was obviously delighted to have her brother home again, and of course, now her affection extended to Elizabeth.
Jane was overwhelmed with the scale and grace of the rooms and the elegance of the furniture and accessories. "Oh Lizzie," she whispered, "It's beautiful." Elizabeth's eyes sparkled, but she forbore to tease her sister, as she had done on that night many months ago when she attributed the first stirrings of her love for Darcy to her appreciation of his beautiful estate.
After tea, they were shown upstairs to their rooms--to rest awhile before dinner, which was always at seven in the Winter unless they had company, other than family. Mrs Reynolds, concerned for their comfort, provided Elizabeth and Jane with a lady's maid, her niece, Jenny, a pleasant young woman with a strong family resemblance to her aunt. Mrs Reynolds hoped she would be satisfactory, and Lizzie, who had shared a maid with her mother and four sisters, assured her that Jenny would do very nicely. Before leaving them, Mrs Reynolds took the opportunity to explain that she had, in consultation with Miss Darcy, decided that it was not appropriate to present the household staff to the new Mistress of Pemberley as soon as she had arrived after a very long journey. However, the staff would be ready to receive them in the hall before dinner. Lizzie thanked her for her kind consideration and added she was looking forward to meeting them. She understood the formal protocol, and as Darcy explained later, it was a significant day for the staff, too. There had not been a Mistress of Pemberley for many years, since the death of his mother. "Will you be there too?" she asked, a little anxiously, and sensing her nervousness, he smiled and answered, "Of course, my dear," and she was instantly at ease again.
When they