Page 8 of Chivalry & Chauvinism (The Victorian Vagaries #2)
Elizabeth hired another kitchen maid to assist Hazel in the mornings. Hazel and her kitchen maid managed breakfast and lunch, and began the preparations for the evening meals. Mrs Pottinger and the other kitchen maid took over in the afternoon, managing tea time and dinner, and set out what was needed for the morning. It did not escape Elizabeth’s notice that Hazel could usually be found in the kitchens with Mrs Pottinger even when she did not need to be there. The girl had a strong regard for her work and was devoted to her mentor. Elizabeth appreciated such dedication, and hoped that when the time came for Mrs Pottinger to retire, that Hazel would step into her position.
The servants were better rested, fed, and treated than ever before, and they had always considered themselves very well cared for other than the matter of the beds. They all threw themselves into their work with new energy, ablaze with the excitement of Pemberley becoming the best house in the kingdom in which to live and work, in their opinion.
One afternoon, Mrs Hayes came to Elizabeth. “Ma’am, there is an Italian at the back door claiming to be the new cook, and we are trying to hide him from Mrs Pottinger and Hazel in my office until we understand from you what your plans are.”
“An Italian chef? What on earth?” Elizabeth left her new study with Mrs Hayes and looked in on Will. “Darling, you have not planned a surprise for the kitchens, have you?”
“Indeed! Is he here?” Darcy leapt up from his desk and led Elizabeth and Mrs Hayes downstairs. The man in Mrs Hayes’ office was well known to Elizabeth, and she exclaimed, “Mr Farinacci! How marvellous to see you!”
“Lady Astley! Forgive me, Mrs Darcy, I had not heard that you married again, Signora.” answered the chef, kissing her hand.
Elizabeth turned to Darcy. “Darling, what is this?”
“I have found you an Italian Chef!” replied Darcy proudly.
“Oh! Oh heavens!” cried Mrs Pottinger who was passing the open doorway just in time to hear his words. The woman burst into tears, which drew Hazel quickly and soon everyone was in an uproar.
Elizabeth led Mrs Pottinger to a chair and said, “Mrs Pottinger, I hope you know that regardless of what my husband has in mind, your position here is quite secure. Please do not distress yourself for a single moment,” she whirled on Darcy and the chef. “Please tell me you have not poached Her Majesty’s favourite chef, and that you did not intend to sack our own beloved family cook without warning.”
Darcy looked struck. “Of course I did not. I intend Mrs Pottinger to stay. And Mr Farinacci did say he had worked at Buckingham House, but I did not think I was poaching him. I thought you would like to have an Italian chef for special occasions, here and in London.”
“Thank you darling. That was truly very thoughtful of you,” Elizabeth smiled at her husband, then eyed the Italian speculatively and asked, “I am aware that Her Majesty has been trying to keep your services for some time now, and that you have not been happy at the Palace. I am sorry for her that she was not successful. Did you give Her Majesty proper notice, and train an appropriate replacement when you left her service?” The chef did not meet her eye. “Sir, you know I cannot retain you if you have left Her Majesty without a proper replacement. You have said for years you wish to open a cooking school, yet you do not even train competent assistants to leave behind in your place, and I do not approve of that. Who has been left in charge of the palace kitchens?”
Mr Farinacci muttered something unintelligible, and Elizabeth shook her head. “This is not acceptable. We must continue this conversation upstairs in Mr Darcy’s study.”
Elizabeth assured Mrs Hayes and Mrs Pottinger that no one need be concerned for their place, and that she and Mr Darcy would settle the matter. She and the chef followed Mr Darcy upstairs to the study after asking that tea be sent up.
When tea was poured and they had settled into their chairs, Mr Farinacci spoke to Elizabeth in Italian. Darcy looked at Elizabeth with his eyebrow raised. “Mr Farinacci, my husband does not speak Italian, so despite my delight at having the opportunity to do so with you, let us converse in English.”
Mr Farinacci coughed and said, “My apologies, Mr Darcy. I just observed to your wife that while your intent to surprise her with an Italian chef was charming, it amuses me that there is little service I can provide in her kitchens that she is not already capable of herself.”
Elizabeth’s grandmother had been quite skilled in the culinary arts, and spent much time in the kitchens with Elizabeth before her death. After her passing, Lord Hexham was amused by Elizabeth’s desire to continue to learn the dishes of her grandmother’s country, and gifted her many books on the art of Italian cooking. When she struggled to perfect a dish, her Uncle Hexham would hire an Italian chef to assist her. Mr Farinacci was that chef before he went to work at Buckingham House.
Elizabeth was aware that the man had been discontent in his position at the Palace for some time, but it was difficult to leave The Queen’s service. Everyone feared they would offend Her Majesty by hiring him. The man dreamed of opening a world class hotel and cooking school but lacked the support to do so.
“Mr Farinacci, you flatter me. While you are technically correct that I have the ability to make many of the dishes you are famous for, I have too many demands upon my time to be able to do so with any regularity. For now, I would be willing to offer you my sponsorship if you would reside here for a time and train my cook and her assistant in the art of Italian cooking, and later, my London chef. For this, I will offer you my sponsorship to begin your hotel and cooking school, but we cannot proceed until you settle the matter with Her Majesty. I cannot imagine what dinners at the Palace must look like under the present circumstances. I remember being at a dinner the last time you attempted to leave Her Majesty’s kitchens. The result was not appetising and was especially embarrassing to The Queen. You must find her an acceptable replacement. How do you recommend that we do so?”
The Italian said, “Mrs Darcy, you humble me by reminding me of my responsibility to leave Her Majesty’s kitchens in good order. Sadly, there are not so many truly authentic Italian chefs in England, and regardless of fashion, Her Majesty prefers an Italian chef to a French one. However, there is an Italian I know of who is of renowned reputation, right here in Derbyshire. The man’s name is Giraldi. He worked for a family here in Derbyshire who have met with financial troubles and rumour has it that they have recently let him go. He might serve for Her Majesty, if he has not already found another position.”
“Mr Giraldi is well known in these parts. Do you mean to tell me that Lord and Lady Staunton have met with such difficulty they have actually sacked their chef? I am troubled to hear that,” said Darcy.
Elizabeth, who met the Countess of Staunton when the lady called upon Pemberley recently, was saddened to hear of their neighbour’s troubles, but she rose and rang the bell to ask for Mr Banks to be sent for. When he arrived, Elizabeth asked him to locate Mr Giraldi and to ask the man to wait upon them at his earliest convenience, providing him with transportation if necessary. A room was prepared for Mr Farinacci in the servants’ quarters, and they would wait until Mr Giraldi was located to continue their discussion.
It was only two days before Mr Banks announced Mr Giraldi to Darcy’s study. The man was residing at an inn in Derbyshire while he waited for correspondence relating to a new position. They were soon joined by Elizabeth and Mr Farinacci, and when tea was poured, Elizabeth explained the matter to Mr Giraldi. The man seemed to regard his contemporary as an idiot for wishing to leave Her Majesty’s service, but agreed to travel with him to London. Mr Farinacci needed to make his apologies to Her Majesty, and present Mr Giraldi as a possible replacement. The men boarded a mail coach the following day, carrying a letter from Elizabeth to Her Majesty, explaining that she would only employ the man if he was able to rectify his mistake and receive Her Majesty’s pardon.
She had also spoken with Mrs Pottinger and Hazel about the matter. She found them both to be particularly excellent English cooks, but Darcy was correct in thinking that she would like to have expanded expertise in the kitchens. If Mr Farinacci returned from London successful in his endeavour, she explained that she wished them to learn from him.
She also told the man that she would require that he learn the art of English puddings and desserts from Mrs Pottinger. Her Majesty’s only complaint regarding Mr Farinacci was that he spent too much time inventing exotic new desserts, and had no talent for traditional English puddings. He clearly disliked the idea, but Elizabeth felt that Mr Farinacci could use a little humility, and made it a requirement for their agreement.
Mrs Pottinger was unsure of the arrangement, but would never argue with her mistress. Hazel was excited about the opportunity to expand her skills. Elizabeth promised that if all went well, she would hire a chef to tutor them in French cooking later, although like many good British cooks, Mrs Pottinger and Hazel were both adept at a goodly number of French dishes already, but this would allow them to expand their skills.
Elizabeth preferred Italian cooking, although most hostesses of the ton wanted the best French chefs. Mr Farinacci returned four weeks later, having been successful in his endeavour, and bearing Her Majesty’s thanks to Elizabeth for having taken the matter in hand. Her note to Elizabeth jested that the Darcys had earned a dukedom just for this service to The Crown. Their new Italian chef joined their kitchens, and began learning the ways of Pemberley’s household staff immediately.
Georgiana’s health was still improving steadily. Mr Gibson visited again from London, and was quite pleased with her progress, considering the setback after the issue with the companion. She still tired easily, but she had returned to much of her routine, and took exercise each morning with Elizabeth, Darcy, Diane and Beau. Soon, she would resume riding her horse.
*****
One morning during their walk, their little group turned a corner in the garden and found Mary in a tender embrace with Colonel Fitzwilliam. The interlude appeared rather too passionate for it to have been the first time such a thing had occurred, and Elizabeth was not pleased. Mary started when she realised they were being observed, then turned red and fled to the house in tears. Georgiana, who had somehow not noticed that Mary and Richard were in love, was shocked and distressed by the scene, while Darcy’s face was thunderous. Georgiana fled in Mary’s wake, and Richard, followed by Darcy and Elizabeth, marched to the house to discuss the matter in Darcy’s study.
“Richard! How could you behave in such a manner! You, guardian to a young girl, and after our experience last summer! My wife’s sister! An innocent and gently bred girl, under the protection of my house!” exclaimed Darcy.
Richard sank into a chair and scrubbed his face with his hand, sighing heavily. He looked up at Elizabeth and her face was set in stone. “I am sure you did not intend to act dishonourably, Richard, but you know how sheltered and innocent she is. I trusted you!”
“Of course I never intended to act dishonourably. Mary agrees with you that she should not marry until she reaches her majority and so do I. I want her to be ready, and to have experienced her season before we wed. It is just difficult to put into practice,” Richard finally replied.
“Well do not think this is a compromise because I will not allow it. Mary will follow our plan, and the most important reason for that is because our father is unlikely to allow her to wed unless her husband or myself pays him for the privilege. I cannot assist her to elope before her majority without his consent, for he would not allow me to take my other sisters under my care later when it comes their turn. It is not too much to ask you to wait a few more months,” Elizabeth admonished.
Richard said that he understood, and Darcy spoke. “Cousin, I comprehend your struggles, but I believe the best way to manage them would be for you to return to see to the rebuilding of Rosings. You will have no temptation there, and Elizabeth has already stated you may stay at Windemere for the duration of the rebuilding. One of us really ought to check on the work. You can see Mary again in November, when the ladies go to town to order their wardrobes for the season and then return to Pemberley to celebrate Christmas.”
Richard did not appear to like it, but he agreed. Elizabeth went upstairs to find Mary, who was alone in her room, crying. “Lizzy, I am so ashamed! I feel like such a wanton. What must Georgie think of me?”
Elizabeth soothed her sister. “I do not believe that you are a wanton, nor does Will. We understand that you have no defences against such an experience as this, which is certainly overwhelming to a young lady with no previous knowledge. I believe you understand now why young ladies are guarded so carefully?”
Mary agreed that indeed she did. “No one considers you compromised, Mary, but it does seem clear that you and Richard must have an understanding.” Mary sniffed and nodded. “I do not object, but you must agree that it is not ideal for him to remain and put yourselves both to such temptation. And we must be a good influence upon Georgiana. For now, Richard will return to Rosings to oversee the work there. He should have gone long ago, but Georgiana’s illness has given him a reason to remain in your company, since he would always have stayed for Georgie anyway. He will come to London in November, and see you when we are in town to order our wardrobes, and then return to Pemberley with the Matlocks and Anne for Christmas. I am certain he will come to London for the season and court you respectably then, as you deserve,” said Elizabeth.
“I have caused him to go away because I could not control myself. It is my fault!” cried Mary.
“Mary, I am certain that you could not have been so heedless of sense that you threw yourself at his head, could you? Or was it something mutual that just happened?” Elizabeth asked.
“I suppose you are right. I would never have thrown myself at him. We were too close for a moment and it just happened,” Mary whispered.
“So there you have it. It was not your fault. And anyone with sense would know that as the more worldly and experienced party, it is Richard who bears the greater share of the blame. He is a gentleman and is expected to behave as such,” Elizabeth said firmly.
“Lizzy, could we write to each other while he is away?” pleaded Mary.
Elizabeth considered the matter for a moment. “You shouldn’t really, unless you were already betrothed,” she said, contemplating. “I suppose it would be alright if you had an understanding and you had the permission of and corresponded through myself and Will. But I am concerned, Mary, that such a private method of communication might encourage the two of you to become even more intimate, which would be highly inappropriate.”
“Lizzy, I promise you. I will not write anything intimate or carnal, and I will not respond if he were to write to me in that way. I want to earn your trust again. I just worry for him. We do not hear him because his rooms are so far from ours, but Richard suffers terrible nightmares from his experiences in the war. His valet sleeps in his dressing room in case he needs to be awakened, and he says he has worried Mr Darcy several times. I cannot stand to think he must bear such burdens alone with no one to confide in,” Mary said.
Elizabeth considered this new information. She always placed the bachelors at the far end of whatever house she was in, so she would not have heard anything. She had heard of officers who suffered in this way after returning from battle. She could now see clearly why Mary’s gentle nature might be a balm to the man who had seen so much unpleasantness. “I shall discuss it with Will, and consider the matter tonight, Mary. Will should advise me, as he knows his cousin quite as well as I know you.”
Mary agreed, and Elizabeth sought out Georgiana, who was crying in her own room. “Georgie, why on earth are you crying, dear?”
“I suppose I am silly, Lizzy; I just feel so young and stupid for not seeing that Richard and Mary had an attachment. I thought I had gained some discernment, but apparently I am as naive as I always was,” Georgiana hiccuped.
“You shouldn’t feel silly. My sister has always been very reserved and shy, and would have hidden her feelings carefully. I have known they were in love since June, and even I had not realised how close they have truly become. You are also still only sixteen, Georgie. You have a number of years to gain discernment. You will learn it when you come out into society, and begin to meet new people. No one is born shrewd,” Elizabeth soothed. “The trick is to acknowledge that you lack discernment before you enter society, and commit to not entering any attachments until you have gained it.”
“I am ashamed to admit that I am a little jealous. Not of their romance; of course not! But I feel like I have always been special to Richard, and now I will lose him,” Georgiana wept.
“Georgie, you could never lose Richard any more than you could lose your brother when he married me. He loves you just as much as Will does, with a kind and brotherly heart that is steadfast and loyal. Your cousin is all that is honourable, and devoted to your well-being and happiness. That will never change. When he marries Mary, you will have another person who loves and is devoted to you, which I am sure is how Mary feels already. You have become very close since she arrived, and I know she regards you as a sister. Mary knows how close you and Richard are, and your approval will mean everything to her. She would never want to come between you,” Elizabeth reassured her.
Georgiana’s spirits rose, and Elizabeth returned downstairs to the study. Richard had departed to go down to the stables. She related the content of her discussion with Mary to Will.
“She is correct about the nightmares,” Darcy acknowledged. “He terrified me out of my wits with his screaming a few times, before I understood what was happening. I then moved his rooms to the guest wing, so he would not frighten Georgie. I agree with you that Mary’s gentle and calming nature must be a comfort to him. It is kind of her to worry about him; I know that I most certainly do. I believe if we presented him with the idea, and made it clear that no communications that are intimate or carnal in nature will be tolerated, it might be alright. We should not like to read their correspondence, but if you feel you can trust your sister not to respond to any communications of that nature, then I will not object.”
The next day, Elizabeth and Darcy informed Richard that he may correspond with Mary, although only by including a letter to her enclosed with one addressed to Elizabeth or Darcy and Mary must do the same. Elizabeth informed him they reserved the right to read any letters at any time, with or without cause or warning, if either felt it necessary. They also must not address each other by name in their letters but by first initials only, in case the correspondence fell into the wrong hands.
Richard thanked Elizabeth and told her he understood the requirements. She looked at him hard. “I certainly hope you do, sir, because if you cross the boundaries of propriety with my sister again, you will no longer be in want of a wife, but perhaps a choir to join. I believe they are always in search of a good falsetto.”
“Darcy, do not allow your wife to make a eunuch of me!” exclaimed Richard as she left the room.
“If you cross the line again, Richard, I will do it myself,” answered Darcy. Richard left for Rosings a few days later, just before the Lucas family arrived.
*****
Charlotte was overjoyed to see her family, and Elizabeth could see that joining Kitty and Lydia at their lessons with Miss Long was beneficial to Charlotte’s sister. Miss Maria Lucas thanked her when there was a quiet moment. Elizabeth assured her that she was happy to sponsor her education, and assist later in her debut, as long as she was diligent in her efforts at improving herself.
Lydia accompanied the Lucas family and was most pleased to make Georgiana’s acquaintance. She enjoyed looking through Georgiana’s wardrobe and poring over fashion plates with her new sister immensely, and Georgiana found a new interest in retrimming bonnets. The two girls spent much time practising a piece of music, and one night when they deemed themselves ready, Georgiana debuted her newly recovered piano skills as she accompanied Lydia in a moving ballad. The sheer beauty of Lydia’s singing accompanied by Georgiana’s playing was enough to make more than half of the party weep.
There was hardly enough time for the newcomers to settle in before Charlotte’s son joined them. The babe was a healthy child with a fine set of lungs, and Charlotte doted upon him, naming him William, for his father and maternal grandfather. Elizabeth was asked to be godmother, and Lord Matlock offered to stand as godfather. He promised to sponsor the child’s education at Eton, and later Oxford, as thanks for Mr Collins’ sacrifice for his family.
Elizabeth, knowing well Sir William and Lady Lucas’ fondness for society and company, made an effort to host a number of parties, and to accept a few invitations. Though Charlotte could not attend, she dined in her rooms with her sister and the younger ladies on those evenings, knowing that her parents would appreciate the distinction of being invited by Elizabeth’s neighbours, and would have much to tell their friends when they returned to Meryton. Elizabeth knew that Charlotte tired more and more easily the further her condition progressed. Later as she recovered, Charlotte appreciated the opportunity to dine and retire quietly after enduring her mother’s enthusiasm all day, so Elizabeth ensured that the family entertained or accepted an invitation at least three times per week. As always, the family dined very quietly on Sundays, and so Charlotte’s energy was preserved. The hostesses of Derbyshire were generous, and kindly included the Darcys’ guests in all entertainments.
After the Lucases and Lydia returned to Hertfordshire following the christening, the entire Darcy family travelled to London to order wardrobes for the upcoming season. They left Charlotte and young Master Collins to rest quietly under the capable supervision of Lady Rose and Mrs Hayes. Stopping in Hertfordshire for a week on their way to town, Elizabeth held a dinner party at Netherfield while they were there, to have the opportunity to see the four and twenty families of the neighbourhood all at once. Kitty’s behaviour was slightly improved, if rather sullen. While Elizabeth ignored her rudeness, Mrs Bennet and Lydia indicated Kitty may not yet have earned a new bonnet.
While in Hertfordshire, Elizabeth learned that while they were travelling, news arrived that Mr Bennet’s aunt had become a widow. Elizabeth did not know their aunt and cousins well, though she had met them during her childhood. It had been many years since Mrs Josephine Dashwood visited Longbourn. Elizabeth barely knew her daughters, particularly her youngest, Margaret. Mrs Bennet was full of the news, and although she had not gotten on particularly well with her husband’s aunt, was distressed that Mrs Dashwood had apparently not escaped the hedgerows. Alas, the ladies’ situation was reported to be dire. Mr Bennet ought to have invited his aunt to return to her home, but instead he ignored her letter. As much as Fanny Bennet did not wish to live with Josephine Dashwood, she did not wish the lady or her daughters to be homeless, and she found the topic distressing. Elizabeth said nothing, but looked meaningfully at Will, who studied her knowingly.
As they returned to Netherfield in the carriage after their call, Darcy spoke, “All right Mrs Darcy. Out with it. I can see you are concerned for your cousins. What are you planning?”
“I am not planning anything yet, of course, though something must be done. Absolutely no relation of mine can ever go hungry or in need. Even if I were inclined to be so cruel, it would be a stain upon our family name, the height of dishonour, even. The two eldest girls are of marriageable age, and if they are tucked into a cottage or dower house somewhere, you know they will never be well married. We are practically drowning in girls and widows as it is, but I would hate to see them end in genteel poverty like the Merriweather sisters if I can do something about it,” said Elizabeth.
“Tell me about them,” encouraged Will, taking her hands in his own and stroking her palms with his thumb.
“My father’s Aunt Josephine was the youngest of her siblings by many years, an unexpected child of a third wife,” Elizabeth began. “So many years younger, that she was slightly younger than my father’s age rather than closer to her own siblings. She did not marry young, and by the time my father inherited, my aunt was still a spinster in his house. To my understanding, they do not get along particularly well. When my father inherited, his aunt visited some friends, and met an older man, who was widowed, and had a son away at school. With an eye toward his domestic comfort, Mr Henry Dashwood proposed to Aunt Josephine, and she accepted.
“They lived together for a few years, I believe, before being shocked when despite being in her mid thirties at the time, Mrs Dashwood suddenly bore two daughters two years apart and then a third six years after the second. Like I said, my father and his aunt, while not openly hostile, did not care for one another. While she is not remotely as crass as Mrs Bennet, Mrs Dashwood also suffers a bit from her nerves, and the two ladies are not fond of one another. Mrs Dashwood made an effort to visit in the summers when we were young, in the hopes that we children would grow up knowing one another. Over the years, the visits diminished. I have not seen them since I was sixteen. Elinor was about nine, I believe, and Marianne must have been seven. Little Margaret was quite small indeed. The older two seemed like well mannered girls, though it has been a full decade since we last met. Mr Dashwood’s estate was entailed, and my aunt’s portion likely will not yield much, barely enough to manage genteel poverty. I shudder to think how they will live. The girls’ older half brother ought to keep them. It is only right. But his wife Fanny is a cruel, greedy woman, and will certainly not suffer them to remain in her home. I have always avoided her in society. It is a shame that Aunt Dashwood’s husband made no provision for them. What are men coming to these days?” she lamented.
“John Dashwood was too far ahead of me at school, but I know him from town, and I agree with you about his wife. A nastier woman never drew breath. What do you think we should do?” asked Darcy.
“I would like to write to my aunt, and invite her to retire to Pemberley with her daughters for the duration of her mourning,” said Elizabeth “That will give her a considerable time in which to breathe, and not fret about her living arrangements. It will also not be an open-ended invitation, or require us to fulfil promises we had rather wished we did not make before we came to know them better.”
“That seems eminently sensible. As you say, we do have an abundance of young ladies and widows in the house. I do not begrudge your family a place to live, nor even your cousins your support in their marital aims, but I agree you should know them better before you make any permanent or long-ended offers you might come to regret,” stated Darcy.
“They will be in full mourning for six months and half mourning for another six. I believe they could stay at Pemberley during the full mourning, if you do not believe it would disturb your grandmother to have them there while we are in London during the season. If I am satisfied with their dispositions, I shall invite them to stay at Pemberley until the two older girls marry, and provide them each with an acceptable dowry to help the matter along. I believe they have already had small debuts in town. I observed the announcement for Marianne some months ago. That will make things easier next year if we take them to London. They were both pretty as girls when they were younger. I am certain we can find them suitable husbands. Once the elders are married, I am sure one of them will take their mother and younger sister in. If I am not satisfied with their dispositions, or if I think hosting them indefinitely would be too unpleasant, I will offer them the dower house at Windmere, and give my aunt an income.”
The letter was written making the offer; Mrs Bennet was comforted to know Elizabeth would ensure the lady and her daughters were safe. A week after they arrived in London, Elizabeth received a letter from her cousin Elinor, thanking her for her kind offer, and accepting with gratitude. Elizabeth remembered her as a quiet and demure girl, a bit like Jane on the surface, with her elegant serenity, but with a kinder, softer, more sympathetic disposition than Elizabeth knew her sister to actually have. Elizabeth replied, assuring her cousin that they were very welcome, and she would send a carriage to Sussex to collect them in a few weeks, when the family had made their way back to Pemberley.
*****
Elizabeth made a point of writing to Kitty and Lydia weekly while in town. While Lydia responded regularly, Elizabeth only heard from Kitty once during their month in town, and it was not a particularly friendly letter. Miss Long reported that Kitty did most of what was assigned to her but not all, and that she was sullen and rude. And so it was that a bonnet was acquired for Lydia, but not Kitty. Elizabeth, Mary, and Georgiana visited Uncle Gardiner’s warehouses to search for fabrics, met with the modiste, and shopped at the milliner and shoemaker. She ensured that she acquired plenty of mourning accessories such as black lace, gloves, and bonnets for her cousins, and sent it all to them in Sussex posthaste. She also acquired what they would need for half mourning, with the intention of giving it all to them later at Pemberley.
The Darcys dined with their families, and went to the theatre and the opera. Elizabeth and Darcy accepted only a few formal evening engagements, for they had to accept at least a few. Astley House was renamed Pemberley House for lack of a better idea. The entire family had debated the new name for days on the journey, and eventually decided it did not matter what they called the house. As long as it was not named Astley or Darcy House, any name would do. Diane and her Gardiner cousins visited each other nearly every day they were in town, and Georgiana spent an enormous amount of time with the children.
Elizabeth persuaded Her Majesty to delay Darcy’s elevation with the premise that it would be the height of rudeness to accept an elevation and then bolt for the country without some socialising first. Elizabeth rationed that since she would be giving a ball and chaperoning Mary for the season, that would satisfy the ton, if Darcy were to be elevated shortly before the debutante’s ball.
Darcy spent quite a bit of time visiting with Bingley at their club, although he felt rather awkward there now, knowing his wife owned the place. However, Elizabeth assured him her uncle, and solicitors had the only contact with the management, and she kept no spies among the staff. They dined with the Bingleys, and invited them to dine at Pemberley House. Jane was her usual cool self, but Elizabeth and Mary were prepared for it, and did not give her the opportunity to snub them by any invitation of participation. Georgiana was slightly rattled by Jane’s cool demeanour, so she stayed close to Elizabeth and Mary. After dinner at Darcy House, when the sexes separated after dinner, Bingley confided to Darcy that Jane was fraught with anxiety over not yet falling with child.
“She seems to have fixated upon Mrs Darcy in her anxiety. She insists that if Mrs Darcy falls pregnant before her, she would be a failure. I have reminded her that it has not been quite a year, and her aunt reassured her that it took her a few years to begin producing children, and Mr Gardiner did not complain. I would not complain even if we did not have any, although of course I hope that we will. But I have nothing entailed and whether we have only girls or even no children at all, it will not matter to our estate. Jane is my sole heiress, and she shall inherit everything if something were to happen to me. She does not need to conceive to gain her security. I would even be willing to adopt a gently born orphan if it were necessary. I should not like her to be childless. I wish her to be happy.”
“She does not need to feel that we are competition, because we are not even trying for a child just yet,” said Darcy.
“Not trying? But surely you are…” trailed Bingley.
“Of course we are. However, you must know that there are ways of preventing conception while still enjoying a full married life, and being the widow of a late physician, Elizabeth knows how to employ them,” replied Darcy. “We ran into problems when we arrived at Pemberley after our wedding. Nothing to shout about, but the sort of issues that pile up when the house has been without a proper mistress for many years. Between Georgiana being ill, Mrs Reynolds retiring, and with all the changes and solutions being implemented at Pemberley, it seemed like a poor time to conceive, particularly considering that Mrs Collins was expecting, and she is making her permanent home at Pemberley. Her son was born shortly before we left. We have decided to wait until a year or so after our wedding before we begin trying to conceive. The renovations will be complete at Pemberley and Georgiana will be completely recovered, so it will be a better time.”
“That is wonderful! Jane and I must send Mrs Collins our congratulations! Are you making many renovations at Pemberley? I remember Caroline had many dreams of redecorating it,” Bingley inquired.
“Not so much in the way of redecorating, no,” answered Darcy. “Elizabeth is used to the conveniences of modern plumbing, so we are installing it throughout the house. The only rooms being redecorated are the small library, which is now Elizabeth’s study, Elizabeth’s apartments of course. There is to be a new nursery, for of course Miss Astley came to Pemberley with us, and Mrs Collins was expecting. Other than that, only Georgiana’s apartments have been redone, for they had become a sick room. The servants’ quarters were sadly neglected in the absence of a proper mistress. They were completely refurnished, although Elizabeth managed that from what was available in the attics, and what could be found in the village.”
“The servants’ quarters! That is rich! Caroline would have an apoplexy!” Bingley jeered. “You have certainly found a rare woman, Darcy! She sounds like your perfect match!”
“I cannot disagree with you. I am sorry about your wife’s troubles. It sounds like a very painful topic for her. I hope you can convince her of your devotion, regardless of the outcome,” replied Darcy as they stood up to join the ladies in the drawing room. Bingley was dejected to enter the room to find his wife sitting alone by the fire with her tea as her sisters played and sang by the pianoforte. Jane had a lovely singing voice. There was no reason for her not to join her sisters.
Bingley realised shortly after his marriage that he had married a cold fish. He had hopes still of her warming up a bit, and he loved her. She said she loved him, and he believed she did, in her own way. But what he had at first taken for gentle serenity had proven instead to be icy reserve, particularly when any of her sisters were mentioned, not even just Elizabeth. He believed that Jane had suffered too much embarrassment from her mother’s and sister’s behaviour for too many years, and that it had caused her reticence. He could almost imagine it was like being married to Darcy, except that marriage had seemed to bring Darcy to life, and he was much more warm and expressive than he was before. Bingley could only pray that they would conceive the child Jane longed for, and that her happiness would soften her.