Part 1

NEW IMPRESSIONS

Elizabeth Darcy, handsome, clever, and with great liveliness of mind and manners, was enjoying the speedy drive to London. It was an unusually cold day, this the second day of December. Snow had fallen during the night, but not enough to prevent family and friends from attending the double wedding at Longbourn, where Elizabeth and her sister Jane had married two young men of considerable fortune.

- I fear it will be more than three hours before we reach town, Mr Darcy said with a worried smile. The roads are worse than usual. I trust you are not cold?

- Oh no, no, I am quite comfortable.

She returned Darcy's smile as she took off her hat and placed it on the seat opposite, next to his. She shook her head lightly which made her dark curls dance around her face. The days excitement had added colour to Elizabeth's cheeks, and she felt them colour even more, as she met her husbands gaze.

She looked like a girl as she sat in the rocking carriage, legs folded underneath her, all bundled up in the beautiful fur Darcy had presented her as they drove off from Netherfield, where they had dined with the other newlyweds before continuing their journey.

Elizabeth looked out at the wintry landscape. Then, as she noticed Darcy's siluette reflecting in the window, she remembered another less happy journey from Rosings last spring, and frowned. How many things had not happened, since they were first introduced at the Meryton Ball. Pride and prejudice had indeed come between them!

But now this was all in the past, and she was happy, but for the fact that she and Jane were to live in different parts of the country, and thus not be able to confine in each other as before. Jane and her husband Bingly were to settle at Netherfield, in the near vicinity of the Bennet family. Elizabeth and Darcy had decided to live most of the year in Derbyshire, at the large Pemberly estate which had been in his family for generations. Elizabeth had visited the magnificent house and grounds in August, and was certain she would be very happy there, despite the fact it was more than 140 miles north of Hertfordshire and her family and friends.

- Elizabeth Darcy, he said quietly, as if talking to himself.

Her easy playfulness and the uncommonly intelligent expression of her dark eyes filled him with joy. He smiled. She was indeed different from all the artificial woman he knew.

Elizabeth reached out and Darcy took her hand but did not move closer. Yes, it was settled between them that they would be the happiest couple in the world! She truly loved him - this intelligent, taciturn, handsome and amiable man, who constantly revealed new sides to his character. Her first impressions of him as a proud and arrogant snob had altered as she grew to know him. And still, whenever they were alone, she sensed a tension she did not quite understand. It was as if he was holding something back, and at times she wondered if he regretted his commitment to her. She bit her lip. After all, he was marrying beneath him. She was a gentleman's daughter, no doubt, but she had no fortune to her name and their union would certainly be frowned on by his aristocratic relatives and highbrow London friends.

He noticed her pensive look and pulled her close and said in a mischievous voice:

- Did not your mother once say that a single man in possession of a large fortune, would be much happier with a Bennet girl as a wife? She was indeed correct! Did you not notice Bingley's silly grin at lunch today!?!

It was dark when they reached London. As the carriage came to a halt, Darcy took Elizabeth's hand and showed her into the entrance hall, where the butler and housekeeper, Mr and Mrs Adams, and a short line of servants were waiting. After a brief introduction, the servants returned to their duties. Tomorrow Elizabeth would meet the others.

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