Page 7 of Chivalry & Chauvinism (The Victorian Vagaries #2)
They returned to work, and as the rooms were put together and the mattresses carried up, Elizabeth made the beds with fresh linens and graced each with an embroidered cushion herself. The servants assured the Darcys that having proper beds off of the floor, with proper mattresses and linens, was perfectly sufficient for one night, and that they were perfectly content to use their existing blankets for one more night.
By some miracle, they were finished with the task in time for dinner, which was a simple affair, considering the amount of work the servants did that day. The family did not change, and Elizabeth requested a buffet dinner be served, so the servants did not need to wait upon them as much. Georgiana still did not know about Mrs Reynold’s departure and would likely be broken hearted, so Elizabeth arranged for Will and Lady Rose to join the girl for dinner that night, so the news could be broken to her gently and quietly by those who knew her best.
The next morning after Elizabeth broke her fast with Darcy and Diane in Georgiana’s sitting room, and then taken a walk with Darcy, Diane, and Beau in the lovely grounds of Pemberley, she boarded her carriage with Mrs Pottinger to pay a call on the Merriweather sisters. Mrs Pottinger was in awe of riding in such a fine carriage and not even being expected to ride up top with the driver.
When the carriage arrived at a small but well appointed house at the edge of Lambton, Elizabeth stepped down and was greeted by two genteel women who appeared to be slightly younger than Mrs Reynolds. Mrs Pottinger made the introductions to Miss Stella Merriweather and Miss Marion Merriweather, and Elizabeth did her best to set the older ladies’ fluttering nerves at ease as they settled to take tea in their comfortable, if slightly threadbare parlour. Elizabeth was well versed at setting people at ease in conversation, so she spent a few moments telling the sisters about her background, and how she met Mr Darcy. The Misses Merriweather responded in kind, telling her about their family and life in Derbyshire.
The ladies were the daughters of a gentleman and indeed had grown up at Brightling Abbey, and were cousins of Sir Langley, who sold Elizabeth the property adjacent to Pemberley. The elder Miss Merriweather had been intended to marry Sir Langley, and he was to inherit their father’s estate, for their father was old fashioned and did not believe in leaving property to females. When their father died unexpectedly six months before the wedding was to take place, and with no settlement having yet been signed, Sir Langley jilted Miss Merriweather, causing a scandal in the county. He refused to allow the sisters to remain in the dower house, and indeed his only claim to charity was that he deeded to them a small yet genteel house at the edge of Lambton that was part of their father’s estate, and released the ladies’ dowries to them.
Due to the fact that Miss Merriweather was openly jilted, the county determined that something must have been lacking in her respectability, ruining any future marital prospects for herself and her sister. Eventually, the rumours died down, and since the man in question never married and was uncivil and semi-reclusive in nature, eventually the sisters were able to ease back into local society. They were again well respected in the village, though their marriage prospects had never recovered.
Elizabeth was outraged at the man’s ungentlemanly conduct. He had been a bear to deal with during the negotiations for the sale of the property, and sent Elizabeth and her Uncle Hexham scathing letters when he learned of their plans for a school in his former home. The man had even threatened to sue them for fraudulent activity for not having told him their plans for the house. Elizabeth was unconcerned about his ire. There was no law that a person must inform a seller of what they plan to do with a property when they purchased it. She purchased the estate at his asking price, and she would do with it as she pleased. Another letter arrived at Pemberley shortly after the announcement in the paper of the Darcy’s nuptials. The idea that the Darcys, who were rivals of the Langleys for so many generations that neither the families nor the county could remember what the dispute was about, had obtained ownership of any part of the property, was so offensive to the gentleman that the content of his language was quite severe. Darcy burned the letter and instructed the staff to return any further communications from Sir Langley unopened.
Elizabeth said that she was certain that all of the artefacts from Brightling Abbey had not yet been sold in London, and promised to have her uncle look to see whether anything precious might be returned to the ladies from their ancestral home.
The ladies spent a comfortable half hour getting to know one another. Miss Marion Merriweather then led them to a room on the second floor of the house that was stocked to the ceiling with the most lovely handmade quilts Elizabeth had ever seen. They counted thirty-eight quilts that would be appropriate for their needs, and Elizabeth shocked and excited the ladies when she purchased all of them. This would not only ensure that each servant had their own quilt, but also ensure there would be a few extra in the servants’ linen closet. Elizabeth wished to have a number of additional extra quilts made, and wished to purchase a number of larger sized quilts to include with the tenants boxes at Christmas. This would diminish their supply significantly, and Elizabeth, determined to supplement the kind ladies’ income, also declared that she would buy quilts for the servants and tenants of her other estates as well. After making arrangements to pay the sisters to hire a girl to assist them, and commissioning a great number of quilts to be made, she promised to send a great quantity of fabric remnants from the trunks at Pemberley for the sisters to work with. The sisters were beside themselves. They had sold nearly three year’s supply of quilts in one afternoon and were elated at their good fortune. Elizabeth thanked them for the lovely visit, invited them to call upon her at Pemberley at any time, and boarded her coach with Mrs Pottinger. The footmen filled a cart with the quilts they were taking, and headed back to Pemberley.
Elizabeth and Mrs Pottinger made their way to the general store at Lambton. There, Elizabeth placed an order for a large number of additional soft wool blankets for the servants to use to supplement their comfort during the harsh Derbyshire winter. She also ordered lanterns to safely hold candles for each room, and several boxes of candles for servant use. She left with a great quantity of linen and flannel for the servants to use to make nightwear. The mistress and the cook chatted as they rode back to Pemberley in the carriage. Mrs Pottinger marvelled at the ease with which the new Mrs Darcy conducted herself with people of all ranks, silently thanking the Lord for sending them such a mistress.
They returned to Pemberley triumphant, with the servants carrying the quilts upstairs, exclaiming over the lovely quilt patterns and claiming their favourites. Elizabeth informed them that good quality soft wool blankets were on order from the mercantile, and that they should sleep very comfortably this winter. The quilts were a gift to the servants from the house, she declared, and if any were to leave their service, the quilts would be theirs to keep. She turned over the linen and flannel to Gretchen with instructions to distribute it fairly among the servants so that each had enough linen and flannel to make new summer and winter nightwear. Four maids were in the upstairs servants’ hall, sewing comfortable feather pillows, and as Elizabeth returned downstairs, she encountered an older man she did not recognize coming up the stairs to the family wing with the young footman William.
“Mrs Darcy, may I introduce Mr John Morris? He is here today to assist Miss Darcy with her plans for a surprise for the servants’ rooms,” said the footman.
“Good morning, Mr Morris, and thank you for your kind assistance to Miss Darcy. I am certain you must have heard of our problems with the servants’ quarters. It is an embarrassing, regrettable affair, and we are doing our best to rectify the matter.”
“Indeed you have done so, and most efficiently and considerably too, Mrs Darcy. You must not suffer any embarrassment over the matter. A mistake was made, a rather large one regrettably, but it was not yours or the master’s mistake. You rectified it as any truly caring master and mistress should, and all of the estate will admire you for it. The tenants have heard of your goodness, ma’am, and we all rejoice to know Mr Darcy has such a wife to assist him in his labours,” said Mr Morris pleasantly.
Mr Morris showed her the framed watercolour he was carrying. “Miss Darcy has dozens of such paintings and sketches. She sent for me to come and build frames for them. I am known in the county for building frames. Each servants’ room shall have two to hang on the walls. I am bringing this one up for her approval before we finish the rest.”
“What a kind and thoughtful gesture! I am quite in raptures at Miss Darcy’s idea,” Elizabeth exclaimed as she accompanied Mr Morris and William upstairs and found Georgiana, Mary and Charlotte sewing curtains for the servant’s rooms. “What industriousness! You must take care not to tire yourself, Georgie. You are still building your strength.”
“It is a simple pattern, Eliza. We can each finish several in a small amount of time, which is good because the three of us will have them all completed by tomorrow. Mary and I are making sure Georgie rests and does not overwork herself,” said Charlotte.
After Mr Morris displayed the framed watercolour for Georgiana’s approval, he returned downstairs to continue working.
*****
Two days later, all the pictures, mostly landscapes of Pemberley and other places Georgiana had visited, or of flowers from the gardens were framed, and they and the curtains were hung. Elizabeth sent for a local piano tuner, and he arrived that very morning to repair and tune the small upright pianoforte Elizabeth had asked the servants to place in the room. The upstairs servants’ quarters were mostly finished, only waiting for the plumbing to be installed and for the work tables and shelves to be constructed to go in the new upstairs servant’s hall. Sarah, Gretchen, and one of the footmen knew how to play the pianoforte, and for a small bonus in their wages, had agreed to give lessons to those who were interested, of which there were several.
After speaking with Mrs Pottinger, Elizabeth rearranged their plans for dinner that night. The meal would be served in the upstairs servants’ hall, and the entire family and staff would celebrate together the completion of their hard work. Even Georgiana would come up for a short while. Hazel and her new kitchen maid prepared many tasty party foods, and the atmosphere on the third floor was festive and happy while Mary and Charlotte took turns playing the pianoforte.
When they were done with the meal, Darcy called for everyone’s attention. “I would like to thank the person whose compassion and care made all this happen. As you all know, for many years I searched for that lady who would be my partner in all things, whose love and care for Pemberley and those who live and work here would equal my own. For many years, she eluded me. I met nothing but fashionable society ladies, who would just as soon step on a tenant as ensure their needs were met. Ladies who were more interested in the fortune and connections the Darcy name would bring them than in the hard work and dedication that a great estate like Pemberley requires. When I met Mrs Darcy, I knew she was the woman I had long prayed for. It took much convincing, for so many years amongst the sycophants of the ton had ruined my disposition. Mrs Darcy taught me how insufficient my pretensions were to impress a woman worthy of being pleased. I am grateful such a fine lady gave me a chance to prove myself to her, and we all now reap the benefits of her consideration and care. I do not know about the rest of you, but I am all eagerness to begin the work of making Pemberley the best house to live or work in all of England, for with such a lady as Mrs Darcy as our mistress, there is no question that we shall be successful!”
“Mrs Darcy!” “To Mrs Darcy!” “God Bless Mrs Darcy!” came the cries from the staff as everyone cheered. Elizabeth blushed and hid her face in Will’s jacket. The rest of the evening was quite enjoyable. Elizabeth spoke with nearly everyone while they circulated in the room, and learned pieces of information she found interesting. Elizabeth spoke with Mr Ripley, who informed her that Mrs Reynolds hailed from the Darcy estate in Scotland, and wished to retire there if it were possible, where she still had siblings. Mrs Reynolds was still at the inn at Lambton at the estate’s expense until they were able to address her pension, and he was in communication with the steward there regarding the preparation of a cottage for her.
She also spent some time speaking with Mr Morris, who was a tenant on the estate. She learned that he had no wife left, and that his only living son had been sent for an apprenticeship in engineering. Georgiana had been employing the man to frame her favourite watercolours for years when she wanted to make a gift to someone. When Georgiana heard about the problem in the servants’ quarters, she sent for Mr Morris the next morning, and made arrangements to outfit a large number of her watercolours and sketches with simple but attractive wooden frames. People came from all over Lambton and Kympton to have him make frames for them in his spare time. He had the materials he needed already, and made quick work of framing and hanging Miss Darcy’s work in the servant’s rooms, although they were not behind glass. Each room had a watercolour, and a sketch of scenes of Pemberley or views of the estate, as well as the seaside and other places Georgie had visited. With the embroidered cushions and curtains, the rooms were comfortable and inviting, and the servants were all touched by the gesture.
Elizabeth and Darcy gave the servants the rest of the evening off while they and the rest of the family retired to their chambers. On her way out, Elizabeth obtained Mr Ripley’s attention again and asked him to send two farm labourers to Mr Morris’ farm for the next three days. She was sure the man had neglected his own work to come to Miss Darcy’s call, and wished to ensure he did not fall behind or struggle to catch up with his work, knowing he had no sons to help at home. She instructed that the labourers should plan to spend three whole days at his farm, assisting him with his work, or with any improvements or repairs that could be made to the place, and that any costs should be charged to the estate.
The rest of the week was spent mostly in correspondence. Elizabeth still had her business affairs, which had been sadly neglected since her arrival at Pemberley. She was thankful for the help of Mr Montague and her Uncle Gardiner in keeping her business affairs manageable, and she spent much time in conversation with Mr Banks on the handling of certain matters. Colonel Fitzwilliam was applied to in the matter of finding a deputy steward to assist Mr Banks with Elizabeth’s affairs. There would be much more travel now that Elizabeth lived so far away in Derbyshire, and it was hoped that a deputy steward would provide Mr Banks with some respite.
*****
The day came for Mrs Gardiner and Kitty to come for their visit. Georgiana’s health had improved, and she began to spend more time downstairs each day. However, she still took dinner in her apartments, for by the end of each day she was always very weary. Elizabeth watched Kitty’s behaviour the first day, and then she and Darcy sat down with her aunt privately to discuss the matter. Kitty had somehow become as silly and nervous as Mrs Bennet once was. Mrs Gardiner could only answer that Kitty had made the acquaintance of a young gentleman who paid her some attention, and had not spoken a sensible word since.
According to Darcy the young man, who Kitty referred to as Willoughby, also known as the Viscount St Claire, was the heir to the Duke of Leeds. Aunt Gardiner indicated that the young man had called on Kitty two or three times, and showed every civility. Kitty had barely spoken of anything else since. Darcy said that the young man, who was about twenty-two, was sent each summer by his father to learn to manage the enormous estate nearby that was kept for his heir to live at until he assumed his title.
Darcy had never met the duke, but he was rumoured to be a hard and demanding man. He could not imagine him allowing his heir to court a young untitled lady from a modest estate in Hertfordshire, no matter the size of her dowry. Kitty’s dowry might be generous, but it would not satisfy the richest dukes. Darcy always thought the young man could not be learning much during his visits if he did not stay long enough for the harvest, but it was not his business to educate someone else’s heir.
Elizabeth attempted to speak of the matter with Kitty and was firmly rebuffed. She made a mental note to discuss the matter in a letter to Lydia, who she hoped could bring Kitty back down to earth when she returned to Hertfordshire. They enjoyed the week with Elizabeth’s family tremendously, even if Kitty was difficult. Elizabeth planned several stimulating activities, including some that even Georgiana was able to participate in. Elizabeth had the Mother Superior and the nuns to tea before her aunt left. It was an enjoyable affair, attended by ten nuns, all of the ladies of Pemberley, and Evie of course.
Georgiana met Elizabeth’s ward and they spoke of what she was learning at the academy. For now, Evie was receiving a basic education in academics, and of course classes in diction and elocution. Elizabeth spoke to Evie and the Mother Superior about acquiring someone, a genteel widow perhaps, to teach Evie the pianoforte and French, because as Elizabeth’s ward, Elizabeth wanted to be sure she received a genteel lady’s education. When Evie graduated from the academy with her nursing and midwifery certification, Elizabeth was determined that she would be an intelligent, accomplished, and respectably genteel lady who just happened to be skilled in a profession. They agreed to meet at the dressmaker in Lambton to equip Evie with a respectable wardrobe reflecting her status as Elizabeth’s ward, and Elizabeth sent a note to the woman’s shop requesting an appointment.
Darcy expressed some concern about Evie. “I do not wish to stand in the way of the girl’s good fortune, Elizabeth, but my family has already experienced the consequences of elevating one’s ward too high. Of course the girl is no Wickham, but I am concerned that if you do too much, she will come to have expectations.”
“But as you can see, my dear, I am not elevating her too high, nor setting a standard that might create expectations.” When Darcy asked her to explain, she pointed out sensibly, “ I have housed Evie as an orphan in a convent, not installed her as a daughter of Pemberley. I will also provide her with a modest wardrobe, but have not outfitted her like a princess. And I have arranged a genteel education and training in a trade, rather than enrolling her in London’s finest ladies seminary. Evie owns a comfortable house in Cheapside in her own right, which is being leased to generate a future income, and provide for her retirement or marriage.
“Evie is being given a purpose in life, and her path has been laid out for her based on her own wishes and interests. Forgive me, but by treating Wickham as a beloved son of the household, and sending him for a gentleman’s education, your father led Wickham to believe he would live a life of comfort and privilege. Your father did not seem to take into consideration that Wickham was unsuitable for, and disinterested in the path your father chose for him. He ought to have been sent to Merchant Taylors rather than Eton. If your father wished him to take orders, he ought to have gone to Oxford rather than to Cambridge with the son of the house. I believe Wickham was the architect of his end by the consequences of his own choices. But the fact remains that he was raised as a gentleman and never given the means to continue as one. I believe the steps we have taken for Evie will allow her to improve herself, but will not give her expectations of climbing farther than is possible. She certainly will not have been given any reason to expect me to disown my children in her favour, or give her a dowry large enough to satisfy a duke.”
Georgiana took an interest in Evie, and asked to be allowed to have the young girl visit her weekly. She also requested to be allowed to begin her education on the pianoforte and in French herself, as well as lessons in sewing and embroidery. Georgiana was only just beginning to play again, and was anticipating sharing her skills with another girl besides Mary. She had looked forward to meeting Kitty, but that had been uncomfortable. Kitty barely acknowledged Georgie, preferring to speak only of her primary concern, which of course was all things to do with Viscount St Claire, or as Kitty referred to him, Willoughby.
Uncle Gardiner arrived the day after Kitty and the rest of his family. He arrived in good spirits and was happy to be with his wife and children again. Behind him followed a wagon of treasures which had been liberated from the Brightling Abbey estate auction for the Merriweather sisters, who, Elizabeth believed, deserved to have a few heirlooms from their home. The items included a painting of their mother, and another of themselves as girls, in addition to some small rugs, clocks, mirrors, and furniture. Elizabeth wrote a small message to the Merriweather sisters, and sent the delivery on to the little house in Lambton.
Uncle Gardiner was pleased to see Elizabeth joyfully established in her new home, safe from fortune hunters, and even more happy to have the opportunity to fish in Pemberley’s river for a week before the family would depart. Darcy happily obliged his new uncle, and the family dined on fish nearly every night that week. The excess fish not needed for their table was given to the gamekeeper to be passed onto any families on the estate that would benefit from it. In the afternoons, the children clamoured to show their father the ponies, and demonstrate what they had learned in the lessons Darcy had given them. Uncle Gardiner jested that Darcy would surely henceforth be his favourite nephew, and replace Elizabeth as his children’s favourite cousin.
Diane was beginning to settle in at Pemberley. She enjoyed her cousins’ visit immensely, and wept again when they boarded their carriage to return to London. Kitty did not help matters either, weeping inconsolably and begging Elizabeth to allow her to remain in Derbyshire to be close to Willoughby. Even when her uncle and Darcy pointed out that the gentleman would not be there, since he was in the habit of returning to London at the end of each summer, and that she would be closer to him at Longbourn, Kitty was insistent that it would please her just to be close to his estate.
Elizabeth finally lost her temper and chastised Kitty severely. She was a guest at Pemberley for an entire week, and the young man did not present himself at Pemberley once, neither to call upon her, nor to bring himself to Mr Darcy’s attention as it would be proper to do if he were courting a young woman who was related to him and visiting his house. Elizabeth upbraided her sister for regressing in her studies, and in her character development, when she had made such great progress in Hertfordshire before she left with Aunt Madeleine.
“I have already informed you, Kitty, that we have no plans for you to wed so young,” Elizabeth admonished. “You will not turn eighteen for two more months, and you have been informed that I will not release your dowry if you marry this early. I was so pleased to have you spend time with Aunt Madeleine, and instead you have embarrassed me terribly. You have certainly earned no new bonnet, nor any new gowns with behaviour like this.”
This sent Kitty into a rage worthy of Lydia in her former days, but Elizabeth would hear no more. Kitty was not to be encouraged to be courted by any gentleman at such a young age, especially one who did not present himself to Mr Darcy or even write to her father. Kitty’s behaviour while in Derbyshire was not acceptable, and either she would turn herself about and dedicate herself to her studies upon returning to Longbourn, or there would be no more gowns, bonnets, or rewards of any kind.
Elizabeth also wrote to Mrs Bennet, explaining Kitty’s behaviour and pointing out that while it might seem to be a blessing for her to be courted by a man of such rank, it was hardly promising. She made sure Mrs Bennet understood there was no indication whatsoever that this young man’s attentions were honourable, for young men of his rank were well known to see girls of Kitty’s as easy marks. As a result, Kitty should be watched, and made to attend her studies diligently when she returned home, lest she impulsively do something that might ruin herself or her sisters. Elizabeth promised that should the young man return with honourable intentions to seek out Kitty, Elizabeth would be glad to have her return to Pemberley.
*****
September passed, and the estate brought in the harvest. Elizabeth learned that during Lady Anne’s time there was a splendid harvest festival each year to celebrate with the tenants, but the tradition was abandoned after her passing. Elizabeth, Georgiana, and the other ladies, armed with Lady Anne’s household journals, studied her plans and made the necessary arrangements for Elizabeth’s first harvest at Pemberley. This first event was a modest but joyous harvest festival, with the intention of expanding the celebration and making it more grand the following year.
Mr Ripley finally heard from the steward in Scotland that a cottage was ready, and met with Mrs Reynolds at the inn to explain her retirement settlement. She was offered a cottage on the estate in Scotland near her home village, and a comfortable pension. Any physician or nursing care would be paid by the estate, should she ever require it. Mrs Reynolds accepted the offer gratefully, knowing she was lucky to receive anything at all after the manner of her leaving, let alone such a kind and generous offer. She might have earned it with her years of faithful service, but most employers would have turned her out with nothing after her language to and about Mr and Mrs Darcy. She wrote them a short note, thanking them for their kindness, and then after saying farewell to her acquaintances in the village, and taking tea with Georgiana and Lady Rose as a take leave, boarded the train and departed for her retirement in Scotland.
The trial for Mrs Bower came and went, greatly upsetting Georgiana and Mrs Pellham, who Elizabeth had made a point to visit a number of times. Darcy and Mr Pellham had been required to give evidence in court, and Mrs Bower was sentenced to be hanged for murder and attempted murder. It took all of Elizabeth’s and Mary’s comfort and encouragement to ease Georgiana’s distress regarding the matter.
Charlotte was nearing the time of her confinement and together she and Elizabeth hired another nursemaid, and arranged the nursery. Since Charlotte wished to have quiet and not disturb anyone else in the family wing during the first few months after her child was born, she remained in her rooms in the guest wing when the work on the bathing chambers in the family wing was complete. Her apartments were next to the temporary nursery Elizabeth used for Diane while they stayed in the guest wing, and they planned to use those rooms for the infant and nurse when the child was born. Construction continued near Charlotte’s rooms as they continued to install the plumbing in the guest wing, though she insisted it did not disturb her. However, Elizabeth noted that Charlotte preferred to nap on a daybed in a small parlour at the back of the house during the day when the men were working.
*****
Elizabeth invited the Lucas family to visit at Pemberley during Charlotte’s confinement and the workers were racing to complete their work in that part of the house before Charlotte gave birth. Their efforts were successful, and Elizabeth and Darcy were pleased with the rooms when they were complete. The couple rewarded the workers with a generous gratuity before the men moved onto the second floor guest and third floor servants’ quarters.
All the ladies of the county called on Elizabeth, and she began to return their calls. There were some jealous ladies who behaved in an unfriendly manner, but knowing they were only unhappy not to have caught Darcy for themselves or their daughters, Elizabeth ignored their rudeness. She also met all the tenants, taking each of them a basket when she called, and made extensive lists of their needs and the work she wanted done to their homes.
Colonel Brandon dined with the Darcys several times at Pemberley, and his company was always enjoyable and pleasant. Since Georgiana was still recovering, they were not accepting many invitations, but they dined at Delaford with Colonel Brandon several times.
After Mrs Hayes accepted the permanent position of housekeeper, she threw herself into the management of Pemberley with gusto, dragging Gretchen along for the ride. She managed to put the tradition of Sundays off for the servants into practice. Since Elizabeth did not hold with working her servants from six in the morning until nearly midnight, she hired more staff to allow them to work in shifts rather than all day.
The ladies maids and valet would retire after preparing the family for dinner and turning down the beds. The family would begin taking care of themselves at bedtime, with the exception of Lady Rose, who needed the assistance of her maid more than the rest. Georgiana and Mary could easily assist one another with buttons and the like, as they had become used to spending time in one another’s rooms before bed. Georgie was relishing having sisters to do such things with, and Mary was used to such arrangements at Longbourn. Charlotte was more accustomed than any of the rest to always wearing clothes that she could manage without help and doing her own hair, so although Elizabeth assigned a maid to assist her, Charlotte could easily manage without her at night.