Page 11 of Chivalry & Chauvinism (The Victorian Vagaries #2)
Elizabeth, Darcy, and the rest of the family, with the exception of Granny Rose and the Dashwoods, who were still in full mourning, travelled to Newmarket, where they spent two weeks meeting with the stablemaster in charge of Elizabeth’s breeding program. Georgiana would turn seventeen in April, and Elizabeth found their new young palomino mare with the white mane and socks would be the perfect gift for her birthday. They presented it to her while they were still in Newmarket, for the young horse was not ready to journey to Pemberley. Georgiana named the mare Persephone, as she said the horse reminded her of springtime. The other young mare was a solid flax gold from mane to tail; sleek, shimmering, and glorious to behold. Elizabeth named her Athena, and planned to add her to her personal riding horses.
A number of gentlemen approached Elizabeth with offers to purchase her horses. Most left with their hopes unfulfilled. Elizabeth did not sell horses for racing, and had a strict policy that all buyers must sign a contract that the horses could never be raced, sold, or wagered away. If the purchaser wished to sell the horse, it could only be sold back to Elizabeth’s breeding program. Her trainers made unexpected visits to new owners regularly, and if a horse was found to be neglected, abused, or maimed in any way, or if there were any signs of bearing reins being used or even present in their stables, Elizabeth would confiscate the animals, and sue for damages. Elizabeth insisted that her horses were above the ill treatment many people inflicted upon their beasts, that to buy a horse from her stables was a privilege. She insisted upon only selling to those horse flesh enthusiasts who appreciated and treated their animals well. The Palominos were not for sale at any price.
Before leaving Pemberley, Elizabeth and Darcy had staked out a section of land that had been part of Brightling Abbey. Work had begun to build new stables and corrals to move Elizabeth’s breeding program to Pemberley. The best trainers and grooms worked in Newmarket, but it was also a good place to have secrets stolen by other breeders, and it was too far away for Elizabeth to manage with all of her new duties. Her trainers and grooms were willing to move with her operation, and Elizabeth would be able to give it much more of her attention.
The party continued on to Windmere, where they stayed while Darcy looked over the books and affairs at Rosings, while Elizabeth did the same at Windmere. As a favour for allowing him to live there while Rosings was rebuilt, and because there was not much else for a love sick, retired army officer to do in Kent, Richard had managed much of Elizabeth’s estate business, which was good practice for taking over Rosings. Darcy was only making sure all went as planned with the rebuilding and the upcoming spring planting, since Richard had handled most of the estate management while he was there to oversee the manor. The house was coming along very well, although they expected it to be some time before the manor was finished. When that time arrived, Darcy would stop overseeing Rosings, and would turn its management completely over to Richard.
*****
In mid-March, the family made its way to Netherfield. Charlotte had spent a pleasant month visiting with her family, and receiving calls from the ladies of Meryton she had known all her life. That she did not need to receive them as a guest in her mother’s house was a relief. Charlotte loved her mother and her family, but she had been a dependent in that house for too many years to return to the same again now. Lady Lucas was prodigiously proud of her young grandson, and visited with her friends nearly every day. Charlotte preferred the arrangement to a long visit in her parent’s house.
Lady Lucas only made one snide remark about young William being the future master of Longbourn once in Mrs Bennet’s presence before she found herself cornered later by her daughter. Charlotte informed her in no uncertain terms that Mrs Bennet was no longer her rival, but family . That Elizabeth had been nothing but generous and caring to Charlotte and young William, and all of the Lucases. She insisted the Lucas family must treat the Bennets the same. Mrs Bennet would be allowed to remain at Longbourn as long as she wished, dower cottage or no dower cottage, Charlotte declared, and demanded her mother agree there would be no more one upping one another. Mrs Bennet had ceased this behaviour once Jane had married Mr Bingley and Elizabeth told her of Lilac Cottage. Charlotte maintained that it was high time that Lady Lucas did so as well.
The Darcys enjoyed a quiet two weeks in Meryton. They visited their neighbours for parties and dinners, and spent much time with the Bennets and Lucases. Elizabeth hosted a grand dinner for the neighbourhood again before she left, promising a larger and much grander event when they returned after the season in the summer.
*****
One afternoon, Elizabeth came around the back of the house on her way to ask the stablemaster a question, to find Miss Carmichael in conversation near the stables with a strange man who appeared to be in his late thirties. Elizabeth had no fear for Miss Carmichael’s safety, even though the man towered over her and was ranting in an aggressive manner. “I beg your pardon, Miss Carmichael. Please forgive me but, sir, may I inquire as to your identity and business here at Netherfield?”
“It is none of yours, so mind your own,” the man said roughly as he grabbed Miss Carmichael’s arm and attempted to drag her away. Suddenly the man flipped over in midair, then found himself slammed heavily onto his back as Miss Carmichael easily evaded his grasp.
Elizabeth looked at the older woman. “Miss Carmichael, may I trouble you for an introduction?” she asked, as a number of her men gathered around to ensure her safety and that of the mistress at arms.
“Mrs Elizabeth Darcy, may I introduce my brother, Sir Eustace Carmichael,” responded Miss Carmichael flatly, with an expression that suggested that she found the words distasteful.
“I see. And what is Sir Eustace’s business here today? Of course, you know I have no objection to you receiving your family here, Miss Carmichael, but this man’s intent seems less than friendly. You are entitled to your privacy, but I hope that you feel that you can trust me as much as I trust you, and that, if there is a problem, I may be of some assistance,” Elizabeth said.
Suddenly Sir Eustace was on his feet and began ranting that his sister’s proximity to the family home in St Alban’s was causing a scandal. Elizabeth interrupted him with a request for two of her men to drag the man into Darcy’s study. When they entered the study Elizabeth asked the manservant to send her carriage for Sir William Lucas, made the introduction to Darcy, and encouraged Miss Carmichael to sit and explain the matter.
“I beg your pardon for the unpleasantness, Mr and Mrs Darcy. Since we came to Hertfordshire before you were married, my brother has been writing to me whenever we have been in the neighbourhood, demanding that I leave the county altogether. I have not responded to any of his communications, and after he began threatening to take a suit to the courts to force me to change my surname, I have begun returning his letters unopened. It had originally been my hope, now all of my sisters have long since married, that I might hear from my family, and at least correspond, but my brother believes my mere presence in Hertfordshire casts a shadow on the reputations of his daughters, who are very young. Not even eight years old.”
Elizabeth looked hard at the man. “Sir Eustace, I would like to say I am astonished, but truly there is quite little your family could do that would shock me. I have heard nothing but the worst possible accounts of your family since I was eight years old myself. It does not surprise me at all, that instead of being happy and proud that your sister has overcome such dreadful experiences and become empowered to teach other young ladies how to avoid those same circumstances and provide them with protection, that you would rather continue to bully and shame her. How dare you, when the shame is all yours, sir, yours and that of your father, who should have given her all of the support and protection she deserves. Not only to cast her into the streets over an incident that she could not control, that was your responsibility to protect her from, but then also to resent her for overcoming such obstacles, and even to attempt to steal her very name. How dare you, sir!”
“Then you will not be astonished when I dare to name you and your husband as an additional wrongful party, for purposely and willfully damaging my family’s name by employing my sister, and keeping her in Hertfordshire when she had been instructed by our late father that she is not welcome in the county! You will pay for damages to our family’s reputation, Mr Darcy! If my sister insists on remaining in Hertfordshire, and does not consent to changing her name, I will ruin her, and do not think I cannot ruin you as well!” blustered the red-faced, angry man.
Darcy laughed in his face. “Ruin us? How could you possibly ruin any of us? To begin with, Miss Carmichael’s reputation has already been dragged through the mud, it has indeed been abused so badly that it has nowhere to go but up. And indeed it already has come up. Mrs Darcy informs me that since she began residing in Hertfordshire, the local ladies have noticed the benefits she enjoys by employing Miss Carmichael’s training and skills to protect our household. Indeed, your sister herself has received several apologies from many local matrons for ever having contributed to the gossip that made your sister’s experience more difficult, and she has been welcomed by many of the genteel ladies of the community for tea and other visits during her free time.
“As a matter of fact, if your family’s reputation is suffering, I can only presume it is because of the behaviour of someone in your actual household, because while I have no idea of what your family gets up to in St Albans, Miss Carmichael is well respected here in Meryton. And as far as ruining me, I am already the envy of the ton for my foresight in allowing my wife to employ a lady of gentle birth and education with such skills to protect our daughter and sisters. Three of my acquaintance have written to ask where they might find a female guard for their daughters. I have never even heard your name spoken in London society. I highly doubt there is much you could do to harm me, and indeed, you might find my connections quite difficult to prevail against.
“And lastly, are you truly so deluded that you believe you hold control and rights over the entire county of Hertfordshire? By what right do you determine whom I may employ, or who the good residents of Meryton may welcome to their acquaintance and their homes? I feel you exaggerate your standing, sir. You would do best to return to St Alban’s and learn to keep your interest confined to matters that are actually your business. Your family cast your sister out, and no longer has the right to determine what she does and where she goes now. You may consider yourself officially warned to stay away from Netherfield lands entirely, and indeed from my entire household,” Darcy finished as Sir William was announced to the room.
The two gentlemen were acquainted. Sir William was a kind and gregarious gentleman, while Sir Eustace was rude and a bully. They were not good friends. With St Albans being an hour and a half away, the two gentlemen did not socialise often, but there was no escaping the acquaintance, no matter how distasteful Sir William found the other man. He listened carefully as Darcy explained the situation, and agreed that Sir Eustace’s demands were unreasonable and unjustified, putting him on official notice. Any trespass upon Netherfield lands by Carmichael or any of his servants or agents, or any public harassment of Mr and Mrs Darcy or their household would result in criminal charges. Sir William and several grooms escorted Carmichael on horseback to the outskirts of Meryton, and warned him that he was not welcome to return.
*****
Kitty seemed to still be quite distant since their last meeting, though she had tempered her disposition and managed to hide much of her sullenness. Miss Long reported that she attended to her lessons diligently and made favourable progress in her academics and accomplishments. Her skill in drawing had continued to improve, and Elizabeth was considering adding a painting master to her tutors.
A week before they departed Elizabeth invited Kitty to tea alone. As she poured, and Kitty bit into a lemon biscuit politely, Elizabeth spoke. “Well, Kitty… Mama, Lydia, and Miss Long have given me favourable reports of your time and behaviour since I was last in Meryton. Lydia still says you have not recaptured your former close relationship, and I am sad that I do not receive many letters from you. Still, I cannot punish you for being rather distant. Next year shall be your turn to debut. You have turned nineteen, and it is time you spent a season in London. Not out in society of course, but there are many daytime events and musical activities that are very appropriate for young ladies who are not yet out, and gives them a chance to learn to mingle in society before their debuts. Would you like to accompany us this season?”
Kitty set down her cup. “Me to London? I thought I would not go until Mary had her turn.”
Elizabeth responded, “Kitty, as you can see, I have quite a number of young ladies to bring out, and if I only take you to London one at a time, the last will be twenty-seven before you’ve all had your turn. This year is Mary’s turn to debut. Your turn to debut will be next year, whether or not Mary has married. But this year is your turn to spend some time in London unofficially, to gain some polish so to speak, just as Mary did last year. You must understand that you will not be out. The only night time engagements you will attend will be those hosted at our home or our family’s homes, though you may also attend the theatre and the opera. There will be no assemblies or balls. You will spend all of your time with Georgiana. She is still working with tutors and masters, and you may use that opportunity to improve your accomplishments. When you are not studying, you will attend daytime events together such as teas and musicales for young ladies, as well as museums, lectures, and other educational delights.
“I wish to make it very clear to you, Kitty. You must amend your address to everyone if you wish to go. Georgiana’s companion Mrs Annesley will have complete charge of you, and if you challenge her in any way, you will find yourself back on a carriage to Meryton the very next morning. When you met Georgiana last summer, she was aching to meet and befriend you, but you paid her no attention at all. I realise she was just a sickly girl, and you had exciting thoughts of a certain viscount. But she is very well now, and I will not have you being unkind or making her feel uncomfortable in her home. She is a lovely girl, and I hope you will make an effort to be friends.”
Kitty promised she would be all that was kind and friendly to Georgiana. Mr and Mrs Bennet were applied to for their approval. Lydia was given a number of gowns from Elizabeth’s collection to work on while they were away, and cheerfully assured them that she would be kept busy studying with Maria Lucas and Miss Long. Lydia had also discovered a book about crop rotation in the library at Netherfield, and bullied Mr Bennet into allowing her to attempt it in a particular field under Darcy’s guidance by correspondence. Mrs Bennet finally began to learn how to properly care for the tenants, and was kept occupied by Lydia with visits and baskets. Elizabeth expected the upcoming spring would be quite productive at Longbourn.
The family arrived in London on the first of April, and suddenly went from a peaceful existence to a whirlwind of preparations. The second day they were in town, Elizabeth dragged Kitty and Charlotte to Uncle Gardiner’s warehouses for fabrics and silks, then to the modiste. Neither of them were fully participating in society, and therefore did not need enormous wardrobes. However, Charlotte’s gowns from Lambton, and Kitty’s old gowns of Elizabeth’s would not suit for all of their needs. Charlotte and Kitty would both attend Mary’s ball, and they were each fitted for two ball gowns, eight evening gowns, and two dozen dresses for daytime events. Charlotte’s were all in half mourning colours, yet still very well cut and elegant.
Mary had the last fitting for her court gown, which she would wear when being presented to her Majesty, and her ball gown for the ball at Pemberley House. The announcement had been made in the papers that Darcy would be elevated at St James’s on April seventh, Mary would make her debut on April tenth, and the ball that would celebrate both of those events would happen at Pemberley House on April fifteenth.
They kept a low profile, and kept the knocker down until after the elevation and debut. There was simply too much to do to manage calls as well. Eventually April seventh came and went. The event was over so quickly it was anticlimactic, which Lord Matlock assured them was quite a common feeling after such events. But the moment came and went, and somehow, though they felt no different when it was done, the two of them were the Earl and Countess Darcy. [1] Elizabeth hated to do it, but there was no avoiding it any further. She had the knocker put up on the front door the day after Mary’s debut, and Elizabeth and Darcy began the exhausting process of receiving congratulatory visits and social calls.
There was positively no rest. Mary had been terrified to make her curtsy before the Queen, although she was gratified that Her Majesty had singled her out to speak to during the ceremony, and she had only done that with one or two other young ladies. The moment was over so quickly that Mary marvelled that she had ever been so nervous.
The ball was the most well attended event of the year. Everyone wished to be connected to the new Earl Darcy and meet his newly debuted sister. Elizabeth, Darcy, and Mary stood in the receiving line and accepted congratulations from their guests, and then took to the floor to open the dancing. Mary would open the dance with Lord Matlock, and by the time the dancing began, her dance card was completely filled.
Georgiana and Kitty were allowed to attend the ball, under the agreement that they would only dance with family, and that they would retire after supper. Kitty was difficult about this, but Elizabeth was adamant. “But Lizzy, I am nineteen! It is not fair! Why must I go up early?” she cried.
“Because it is what is appropriate. That is why, Kitty,” Elizabeth said firmly. “Until you have been presented to The Queen, you are not out in London society and therefore you must follow certain rules or face degradation that will do you no favours in the marriage mart. There will be another ball at Matlock House next month. You will be allowed to attend that ball as well, and spend the night at Matlock House with Georgiana. Do not fuss, dear; think of all the other enjoyable events you have to look forward to. And next year, you will attend everything.”
Mrs Annesley accompanied the two young ladies all night, though they had additional supervision by Elizabeth, Darcy and Lady Matlock. Charlotte kept a close eye on Mary in between sets, although she had to excuse herself twice to feed young William. Elizabeth had made no announcements about Mary’s dowry; there was no need to, since Mary was not looking for a husband among the ton, but there was much speculation regarding it. Since the elevation, much of Elizabeth’s business dealings and investments had become public knowledge. In any other circumstance this might be a tragedy. But Her Majesty had made it very clear that the business affairs of the Darcys were of great national importance, so their status was maintained regardless of their connection to trade.
And truly, they were of great importance. After completing the recent purchase of two more shipyards in the last of the shipping districts of the country, Elizabeth placed herself in the perfect position to be very useful to The Crown, and now had secured a contract for her shipyards to have an exclusive contract for construction, repair, and refurbishment of all ships commissioned by Her Majesty’s Navy as well as several enormous importers. Indeed, Elizabeth’s wealth had tripled the day the contract was signed, and the Darcys were now among the wealthiest families in the kingdom. Accordingly, the young ladies were subjected to even more attention and speculation than Elizabeth had been before she married Darcy. Miss Carmichael had her hands full all over again protecting them.
The ball was considered a raving success. Elizabeth invited Lady Matlock, Anne, and Arabella, the Viscountess Maverley, as well as her Aunt Gardiner, who had also been at the ball, to Pemberley House the following day. They spent it in Elizabeth’s private sitting room with the ladies from Pemberley House, and enjoyed a lively natter about the ball, the gowns, and the gossip from the night before. Elizabeth missed the old tradition they had adhered to in Meryton when she was younger, where the Lucas ladies would visit the Bennets after an assembly, and the ladies would discuss all the events of the evening. The ladies spent the entire afternoon sipping chocolate and tea, and eating biscuits, speaking of the new debutantes, the fashions, the jewels, and who had danced with whom.
Two days after the ball, the knocker went back on the door, and a bevy of gentleman callers descended upon Pemberley House, with flowers, poetry, and one gentleman even brought a talking bird as a gift. Mary had no idea what to do with the gift, and Elizabeth and Darcy desperately attempted not to laugh about it in the gentleman’s presence. Mary was poised in the face of so much attention, and it was soon clear that, dowry or no dowry, a connection to the Earl and Countess Darcy was indeed very attractive to many men.
Given her connections to Darcy and the Matlock family, Mary was far better protected than Elizabeth had been on her own. Eventually most men accepted that Mary was not interested in being courted. Still, however, there were a few persistent gentlemen who were very overbearing. Darcy was shocked at the attempted intimidation by one middle aged earl, who had recently lost his only son in a duel, a fortune to his son’s gambling debts, and his wife to an apoplexy upon hearing such news. “The man actually threatened to compromise her by starting rumours about her chastity. Is this what I have to look forward to with Georgiana?
“Luckily, in the case of Mary and Georgie, their behaviour speaks for itself, and the society matrons would eat anyone spreading such a tale, because they know their goodness and their dispositions. Hopefully they will continue to be protected and watched over by your grandmother’s dragon friends, who brook no nonsense. And in answer to your question, yes. This is what you have to look forward to, not only for Mary and Georgiana, but for all of my sisters, cousins, Maria Lucas when we bring her out, and do not forget Diane, and any other daughters we might have. By the time Diane comes out, you will have so much experience, you might begin a trade where you advise gentlemen on how best to bring out their daughters safely.”
Darcy groaned and held his head in his hands as Elizabeth left his study, giggling. Indeed, even Maria Lucas would have a dowry, for Elizabeth had spoken to Sir William privately, and he had invested a portion of it, and it had already grown handsomely. Maria’s dowry would be tiny compared with Georgie and the Bennet sisters, but she would certainly have one.
Of course, Richard hovered by Mary’s elbow at every event. The evening of their ball, Elizabeth had to take him aside and tell him that regardless of their understanding, he was going to make Mary the topic of gossip, and he needed to settle down and stop appearing so overbearing. Yes, there were other gentlemen, and Mary was going to dance with them. That was the whole point of the season. Elizabeth told him he could arrange with Mary to have the supper and final sets at all of the balls they attended, and that he was welcome to spend time nearby and see to her comfort and safety, but he must not hinder her conversations with others at events.
There was no reason to suspect Mary’s head would be turned by another gentleman, and Elizabeth urged Richard to step back and allow Mary this time to become accustomed to society. She pointed out that he could court her openly and respectably by calling upon her and squiring her for daytime activities as the other gentlemen did. Richard did not like it, and prowled the edges of the ballroom like a predator. He managed to keep from stirring too much talk, although the inclination between them was noticed by the dragon dowagers of the ton, who rightly assumed the couple had an understanding, and that Richard Fitzwilliam was allowing Miss Bennet to experience a season before marriage, behaviour to which they highly approved.
Elizabeth and Darcy managed to keep the worst of the fortune hunters and connection seekers at bay. Darcy helped the matter by stating loudly and in the presence of many gentlemen at White’s that it mattered little how much Miss Bennet’s dowry was, because she had no intention of selecting a husband from the ton this season. Her family would not attempt to persuade her, nor would a match for any of his sisters be approved before their majority. There was slightly less attention after that announcement, although there would always be gentlemen who could not accept no for an answer. Mary managed to avoid most of the worst gentlemen’s attentions, and focused her efforts upon making worthy connections and friendships with the ladies of the ton, many of whom liked her gentle and quiet demeanour. Elizabeth had engaged elocution masters for all of her sisters, and aside from Lydia’s occasional “La’s”, they all spoke elegantly.