Page 58 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)
O n Wednesday, her aunt arrived with an older, motherly woman, whom she introduced as Mrs. Bailey, cousin to her own companion, Mrs. Cousens. Elizabeth remembered the other woman who had often accompanied her between Longbourn and Gracechurch Street. She knew her aunt trusted her absolutely.
Her aunt presented her with a gift for the house, a very distinctive pottery vase. “Why, thank you, Aunt!” Elizabeth recognised the piece as one from her own Collection, and her aunt’s smile showed she knew it too.
“Charlotte? Where do you think we should put it?”
“On the table in the hall,” her friend said promptly. “It will make us smile every time we come into the house.”
“Of course.” Elizabeth placed the vase carefully on the side table for the moment and offered her guests tea.
She spoke to Mrs. Bailey for some minutes, before asking Charlotte to speak to her, and then took her aunt into the library for a private conversation.
“Well, Lizzy? Is having your own home as you imagined, or a responsibility too far?”
“Oh, Aunt! I am so glad you’re here.” Elizabeth didn’t burst into tears, but she thought it was a very near thing. “The peace and quiet is exactly what I wanted, but it is hard to find any private time to spend on my business, and I long to return to it; I have wasted enough time.”
Her aunt nodded. “And are you glad Miss Lucas is here? It is nice to have a friend, but I think you feel more responsible for her happiness than you do your own.”
Elizabeth blushed. “Yes, you’re right. I do feel that as I have taken her away from her home, and asked her to take a great risk, I must be sure she does not regret it.”
Eyebrows raised, her aunt spoke gently. “She agreed to come, and she seems to deeply value the security you have given her.” She hesitated.
“I know Edward is hoping very much that she will soon know it is you who have funded it, and not he.” There was a long pause. “Do you trust her enough to tell her?”
Elizabeth shrugged a little. “Of course I trust her, Aunt. But … well, a woman engaged in business? Connected with trade? What if she sees me differently, begins to despise me?”
“You have known Charlotte since infancy, Lizzy. Do you really think she is that sort of person?” Her aunt spoke quietly. “I think you are not doing her a favour. She must know that you have a secret — as I said, she has known you all your life — and perhaps she thinks you don’t trust her?”
“I didn’t think of that. Poor Charlotte.” Elizabeth looked up. “Do you think I should tell her?”
“That is your decision, Lizzy. But if you want my opinion, I think you will find it a relief. And trust is a gift you give just as it is a risk you must be prepared to take.”
“Very well. I will tell her everything this evening.” Elizabeth got up and moved around restlessly, before changing the subject. “You think Mrs. Bailey is the right person for us?”
“Again, that is your decision, Lizzy. If you interview her after lunch, then if you — or she — decide you do not suit, she can return with me. She has stayed with us several days, and I believe she is very like Mrs. Cousens. And you do need an older lady living here, Lizzy, to give you more respectability.”
“I understand. Thank you, dear Aunt, you have helped a great deal.”
That afternoon, before darkness fell, Aunt Gardiner and Mrs. Bailey left for London. Elizabeth had offered Mrs. Bailey employment as a companion to her and Charlotte, and the woman had accepted.
But Mrs. Gardiner needed company on the journey home and Elizabeth sent her maid with them, to escort Mrs. Bailey back to Oakfield the next day.
“I like her, Eliza,” Charlotte said as they stood at the door watching the coach leave. “Let us go in and have a hot chocolate and get warm.”
Elizabeth shivered. “January is always the most miserable month. Dark and cold. Thank you for seeing that they had warm bricks for the journey.”
Charlotte smiled. “I believe it is my responsibility as part of your family , Eliza.”
“It is what I have said, isn’t it? But I still thank you.” She sat beside her friend as they waited for the refreshments. “Have you decided which rooms you will give to Mrs. Bailey?”
Charlotte nodded. “I will go in a moment to see Mrs. Clifford and arrange that they are aired and checked for tomorrow.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I want to have a long conversation with you today, Charlotte. Shall we do that after you have seen to that, or after dinner?”
Her friend gave her an astute look. “Is it something we would be able to talk about over dinner? If not, then perhaps afterwards will be better.”
It was time. They sat in the smaller parlour, which they preferred in these dark evenings. The tea had been brought in, and the door closed. Elizabeth didn’t know quite where to start.
Charlotte took her hands. “It cannot be so very bad, Eliza. And if it is, well, I can be very good at forgetting, if you wish it.”
Elizabeth shook her head, smiling. “I am so glad you are here.”
“Should I start the conversation?” Charlotte nudged her. “Dear Charlotte, I have a secret I have been keeping from you …”
Elizabeth was startled. “You know?”
“Of course. Everyone knows. We just don’t know what it is.” Charlotte laughed. “And now you want to tell me, but you are afraid.”
Elizabeth stared at her. “You are very astute, my friend. I am afraid. I am concerned that you will think less of me once you know.”
Charlotte gave her a playful push. “You cannot think very much of me , Eliza, if you think as badly as that of the sort of person I am.”
“Oh, no! It is not that at all.” Elizabeth was dismayed. She reached out and took her friend’s hands. “When did you first suspect?”
Charlotte smiled. “I was eleven, I think, so you would have been about four. Your father came to see mine — he seemed to be in a state of shock and his colour was bad. I think father thought he was unwell.” She looked embarrassed, and fidgeted a little.
“I was only a child still, so you will have to forgive me, but I listened to see what I could hear they were talking about in the library. Your father said it was about you and you had just given him a tremendous shock.”
“And what was it about?” Elizabeth smiled inwardly. She had shocked Papa!
“I didn’t know then.” Charlotte looked chagrined. “Mama found me and boxed my ears for eavesdropping.”
“But I’m sure you know more than just that.” Elizabeth was curious. Her friend was a great deal more astute than many people realised.
“Oh, it was obvious, if you paid attention.” Charlotte shrugged slightly.
“You carried a little notebook around with you, and it had columns and figures. Whenever you stood outside the confectioner’s shop window, I’d see you look longingly at the confits and the peppermint drops.
Then you’d open your little book, and think for a minute until a look of determination would come over your face and you would say no, thank you.
I am not hungry .” She laughed. “Sometimes I longed to look in your book, but I always imagined you were saving up for something bigger.”
“You are very clever,” Elizabeth shook her head admiringly. “And you were right.” She looked around the room. “Those early privations have led us here.”
“Tell me about it,” Charlotte coaxed. “It seems incredible, but I always knew you dreamed of the impossible.”
Elizabeth settled in more confidently now, and told Charlotte of her dream that she could earn her way to independence.
She told her how her uncle and aunt had supported her and made all the difference, and how Papa had kept her secret.
“I could not have done as much as I have without them, so I cannot say I did this all by myself.”
“I always knew you were clever.” Charlotte settled herself further into the sofa beside Elizabeth. “But now I know how brave you are — and if you hadn’t had the support of your relations, you would have found another way.”
She gave Elizabeth a searching look. “Am I to understand that your uncle is only the face of my security and that you are funding it?”
Elizabeth blushed and nodded, and then Charlotte continued. “And the same for your sisters’ governess?” At Elizabeth’s further shamefaced nod, she laughed. “And how does your uncle like having to take all the credit for something he has not done?”
Elizabeth, giddy with relief that Charlotte did not despise her, laughed lightly. “Oh, he does not like it at all. But it has to be done, and I insist on paying him a proper rent for my portion of the warehouse, and my share of the shipping costs.”
“Oh, Eliza! May we go to your warehouse and shop? It would be such an experience.” Charlotte looked truly excited at the opportunity, and Elizabeth once again felt deeply grateful for such a good and loyal friend.
Inexplicably, she wondered if Mr. Darcy would have reacted as positively. Could he be trusted with her secret?