Page 13 of Lydia Acquires Adoration (Bennet Ladies Liberation #5)
Chapter Twelve
Lydia could not believe a grown woman, in service no less, would have the temerity to behave in such a manner. How Mrs. Netter thought she would retain her position after such a show of impropriety Lydia would never know. At this rate, the woman was practically fit for bedlam.
Taking a deep breath to control her anger, Lydia began in a calm voice saying, “Mrs. Netter, I do not particularly care what Mr. Blakesley thought of your work here at Swarkstone Park. His thoughts are irrelevant, as are, quite frankly, your opinions about me. Though you should know that opening your mouth to spew such filth only shows evidence of your ignorance. What is relevant is that I am not satisfied with your work here. Not only is the work being done slipshod, but you are not seeing to the staff that are present as you should. You are petty, small-minded and cruel to the staff who serve under you. I am surprised anyone has remained working here under your tenure as housekeeper. I will not have that in my home. Before you started your rant, I was going to see you were let go with a letter of reference and a small stipend. I will no longer be doing so.”
“You cannot do that. You have no actual power here. I will tell the new master that you do not know what you speak of. Gentlemen like things to proceed in an orderly fashion. Without me, it would be chaos. He will not let me go.”
“And you would be wrong to think so.” Sebastian’s voice had Lydia turning to see him standing in a doorway. He took the time to smile at Lydia before turning a glare on Mrs. Netter, stating, “What kind of man would I be if I did not stand with my wife in all things? I think you and everyone else will find that the management at Swarkstone is going to be very different from what it was under Mr. Blakesley.”
Eyes narrowed, Mrs. Netter’s glare flicked back and forth between Lydia and Sebastian. Then exclaimed, “You do not have the power to do anything, not yet. You have not been officially named that child’s guardian.”
Lydia moved to stand next to Sebastian, eager to appear united. Then, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, she said, “That is true, Mrs. Netter. We cannot do anything today, but know this, the day that we return, you had better be gone. If you are still here when we return, I will not think twice about suggesting to Mr. Burgess that you be charged with trespassing.”
The odd puce color that she had been turning only seemed to intensify as Mrs. Netter stared at them both. Then, turning, with her head in the air, she stalked away. Lydia shook her head as she watched the woman leave.
Taking her by the shoulders, Sebastian ducked slightly to look into her eyes, asking, “Are you well, Lydia? Please tell me you did not let that woman’s venom get to you.”
Smiling fondly into his concerned countenance, Lydia was quick to respond. “She was so ridiculous I could not take her misconceptions seriously. Though I will be glad when she is gone, and we can install someone who is actually capable of doing a good job.”
Gesturing into the room with a warm smile, Sebastian said, “Would you care to come sit and talk with me and the steward, Mr. Burton, or did you have something else that needs your attention?”
Though Lydia would have liked to spend time with him, she knew that they were all working on a timetable. So, shaking her head no, she explained, “I still need to check in the nursery with my maid. If we are going to be bringing Clara back here, I want to make sure everything is ready for her. I would also like to speak with more servants before I have to change for dinner.” Looking at Mr. Burton further in the room, she asked, “Mr. Burton, will you be joining us for dinner? I would love to get the chance to speak with you.”
Glancing at Sebastian for a moment before he looked at her, he said, “If you are willing to have me, I will look forward to having dinner with you all.”
“Then I will see you both then.” She smiled at Sebastian before she turned to go. Lydia couldn't quite describe the mix of emotions she experienced in that moment. She did know that having Sebastian's immediate support felt comforting and reassuring to her. Taking to the stairs, Lydia could not keep the smile off her face on her way to the nursery.
Fanny watched the interchange with a smile on her face. Maybe her daughter would have a better marriage than she had originally thought. Mr. Burgess had not even hesitated to support Lydia. The man fully supported her against the horrible Mrs. Netter. If he kept this up, she would have to start liking the boy.
After Lydia had left to go look at the nursery, Fanny approached him, saying, “That was very well done, Mr. Burgess. It is always wise to stand united in front staff.”
Mr. Burgess’s eyes widened as he turned to face her. “Mrs. Hawkins, I did not see you there.”
“That is understandable. You had your attention on the confrontation between my daughter and that horrible woman. It is my belief you will do much better without her at the reins.” Gazing down the hallway in the direction that Mrs. Netter had slunk off, Fanny shook her head. Turning to her future son-in-law, she exclaimed, “That woman should not be trusted with anything more significant than a feral cat. At least a cat would have the ability to defend itself.”
With his eyebrows raised into his hairline, Mr. Burgess gestured into the room he had been standing in the doorway of, inviting her to enter. “Mrs. Hawkins, would you have a moment to speak with me and Mr. Burton?”
“Of course.” Walking quickly into the study, she smiled at the man sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk. Taking a seat, she said, “Actually, I believe there are a few things that I found that you might need to be informed of.”
Settling in behind the desk, Mr. Burgess asked, “What were you able to find, Mrs. Hawkins?”
“Lydia’s inspection of the common rooms downstairs revealed most of them to be grimy and dusty. My inspection of the servants’ quarters is what I believe was the deciding factor for Lydia when it came to dismissing Mrs. Netter.”
“How so?”
“Apparently the lower servants, of which there are some ten odd people left, are housed in the most unacceptable conditions. I found leaking windows, drafts, and mold, not to mention inadequate bedding and furniture.”
“We will have to make sure that we make repairs and bring in appropriate supplies for them all.” Tilting his head, Mr. Burgess added, “I understand why that would upset Lydia, but I cannot see how that would have been Mrs. Netter’s fault. Mr. Burton also has had problems getting permission to make repairs on the tenant farms.”
Shaking her head, Fanny grit her teeth just thinking about what else she had found. Taking a deep breath, she explained, “Due to the number of staff that has left Swarkstone, there are actually many vacant servant rooms. Most of the vacant rooms are in much better condition, but Mrs. Netter forbid the lower staff to move into those rooms because they were too good for the lower staff. In fact, the staff is in all the worst rooms. All except for Mrs. Netter herself and the cook. Their rooms are practically opulent in comparison.”
Mr. Burgess coloring darkened, and he ground out, “Mrs. Netter and the cook have been living in comfort while forcing the other staff to live in damp rooms with inadequate bedding?! No wonder Lydia was insisting on letting her go.”
“I found it quite ironic that she found the dusty common rooms plenty adequate, but her own suite of rooms was spotless. I think she had the staff cleaning her rooms and the staff areas, not the rest of the house. There was more than a month’s worth of grime in some of the rooms.”
“Mr. Burton, do you know much about Mrs. Netter?”
Scrubbing his hand over his face, Mr. Burton said, “No, I do not live here. I have a small cottage of my own closer to the other side of the estate property. I have had minimal interaction with the staff here and no involvement in the management of the house. That has been under Mrs. Netter’s foresight since the death of the former mistress.”
Mr. Burgess nodded, looking away from them both, and Fanny wondered if he was thinking of his older sister who had died. Eventually he said, “It seems that after five years without a mistress overseeing the household, she may have let matters get to her head. Regardless, she will no longer be an issue once Lydia and I have any say in the matter. I will add housekeeper to the list of staff we will be needing to acquire.”
Fanny stood, saying, “I will go assist Lydia in exploring the nursery and determining what supplies may be required for Clara.” Walking to the door, she stopped, her hand on the handle. “I wanted to make sure you know how thankful I am for the support you showed my daughter. If you continue to demonstrate your respect for her, I might find myself genuinely pleased with the match.” Fanny only stayed long enough to see the bright smile creep across Mr. Burgess’s face.
Shaking her head, Fanny made her way up to the nursery. She could see why her daughter might be inclined to agree to the match with the boy. His good looks were undeniable, and whenever he smiled, it was as if his charm multiplied. Though with his black hair and her blonde hair, it would be a wonder if their children did not come out with stripes.
Standing in the room that Clara had once occupied, Lydia couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over her. She knew that with a reduced staff and no child present, it would not make sense to clean it regularly, but it was more than the dust that was so off-putting.
Discolored and chipped paint covered the walls. While the color appeared to have once been a light blue shade, it had faded into an indeterminate gray in splotches. The entire atmosphere of the space was bleak and depressing in a way that no child’s room should be. Shaking her head, Lydia began to catalog the furniture to see if there was anything worth salvaging.
Seeing her look of disgust, Oakley, her lady’s maid, said, “I would never leave a child in this room. They would have nightmares for sure.”
Inspecting the child’s bed that was against the far wall, Lydia realized it was no better than anything she had seen in the servants’ quarters. Frustrated, she gave it a kick only to have it teeter precariously. Getting down on the floor, she inspected the legs of the bed, only to realize that they were uneven. It appeared that a piece of wood had been wedged under one of the legs to keep it steady.
Lydia stood with a huff and stomped over to the old, worn toy chest against the other wall. Opening it, she found half a dozen broken toy soldiers and eight wooden blocks. The lone cloth doll that was missing an eye almost made her want to cry. Closing the lid, Lydia surveyed the surroundings, hoping to discover something that could have brought Clara happiness. There was no bookshelf, no soft blankets, and the windows were so caked with grime that they obscured any view of the garden below.
She felt like screaming. It was one thing to leave dust to pile up in a parlor or sitting room, but to have a child consigned to a nightmare inducing room with practically no toys was outrageous. Lydia looked at Oakley and said, “This is ridiculous. I will not allow Clara to stay here.”
Stalking across the space, Lydia jerked open the door that presumably housed the nursemaid’s room. The bed was in better condition than the one that Clara had been relegated to. There was a desk and an empty bookcase, but on the whole, the room was also depressing. It had the same chipped and faded paint, and its two windows were also so grime coated that they barely let any light in at all.
Lydia wanted to run her hand down her face in frustration but knew that she would just smear dirt all over herself. Going back out into the main room, she sighed, saying, “It will take much effort to remodel the space into something acceptable.”
Oakley nodded and with a grimace said, “There is also an extension of the nursery through the door behind that chair that is in even worse condition that seems to have been closed up from the time of the first King George if what is left of the paper on the walls is any indication.” Nose wrinkling, she added, “I wholeheartedly agree that Miss Clara cannot return to this room. But it will take time to correct. What will you do in the meantime?”
Lydia took a deep breath and blew it out through her pursed lips. Her first instinct was to keep Clara with her until she brought the nursery up to her standards. Surely Sebastian would not be offended by her care and consideration of his niece? It was not as if they had a love match like her sisters. They would not be sharing a room or a bed. Not yet, at least.
Scrunching up her face, she decided to go with her instinct. Facing Oakley, she smiled, happy to have come to a conclusion. “I will have her stay with me until it is done.”
Eyes wide, Oakley asked, “Are you sure that is wise?”
“What is not wise?” asked mother as she walked into the nursery, frowning.
Facing her mother, Lydia explained, “I have decided that since Clara cannot possibly stay here in its current condition, she will stay with me in the mistress’ suite until it can be remodeled.”
Her mother looked around the room, her lips a hard line, before turning back to Lydia and saying, “While I agree, that she cannot stay here. I do believe that you should at least consult with Mr. Burgess about your thoughts on the sleeping arrangements.”
Tilting her head, Lydia thought back to some of their previous conversations. While she suspected he would be fine with having Clara staying with her for a time, it would be rude to assume. Nodding her head, she said, “You are right. I should have that conversation with him. It is only fair.” Lydia looked at her mother and Oakley and asked, “Do you think there might be any furniture we might use for the nursery in the attics?”
Sebastian supposed that he should not have been surprised that the dinner that night was not the best. He was not opposed to simple fare, but the meal had been so cold that the sauce had almost congealed. The question was, had it been the cook who was causing problems or Mrs. Netter?
Mrs. Netter was the one who had brought in the meal and served it. So it was possible that she had intentionally delayed serving them for that very purpose. After the way Mrs. Netter had acted, he half suspected that she would do something in retribution. Either way, he would be happy to not have to worry about her after they returned to Pemberley.
Looking down at the list he was compiling, he tried to distract himself from his grumbling stomach. There were so many things that they needed to see to and what they were able to do would be dictated by the funds that were made available by Mr. Coulson. Sadly, as he did not know what those funds were, he could not really make any plans to fix anything. He just had a list of things that needed to be accomplished.
He knew there would be some money at least, so he was trying to decide what order things needed to be done in. A soft knock at the door allowed Sebastian to look away from his concern for a moment. Looking up, he said, “Enter.” Lydia’s smiling face came around the door, and Sebastian could not help but smile in return. He would spend time with her over ledgers any day.
Coming part way into the room, she asked, “Do you have a moment to discuss a few things?”
“Of course!” Gesturing to one of the chairs on the other side of the desk, he added, “Come sit. I have just been trying to make a few lists of what we need to take care of and decide what order to address it all in. I know we will not have the funds to do everything all at once.”
Leaving the door open as she came into the room, Lydia took a seat. Sebastian could see through the open door that her lady’s maid sat in the hall, and he wondered if she was there for propriety’s sake or to make sure that none of the staff were eavesdropping. Mentally shrugging, he determined it could very well be for both reasons. Lydia nodded as she made herself comfortable, saying, “I well remember that issue from my time back at Longbourn. We did not have the funds to see to all the problems, so it came down to determining what had to be handled first and sorting things out from there.”
Smiling at Lydia across the desk, he asked, “Have I thanked you today for agreeing to be my wife? Having you at my side to help me muddle my way through the early days here is already proving invaluable.” Sebastian loved the way Lydia’s eyes sparkled at his comment.
“It brings me joy to be of use, and I genuinely hope we will be able to grow close as we work together. In fact, the first thing that I was hoping to work on with you was the issue we discovered with the nursery. Had you ever seen where your niece had been living?”
Casting his mind back to when he had arrived to get his niece not much more than a week ago. Sighing, he said, “I was not impressed with what I saw, but I did not spend much time there. I am curious to hear what your opinion of the nursery is.”
A frown firmly settling on her face, Lydia’s eyes grew hard. “What I found there is appalling. If I ever come across the person who thought that place was suitable for a child to spend their days, they will deeply regret their decision.” Pausing, Lydia seemed to take several deep breaths before continuing, “There is no way that we could possibly have Clara stay in that room without extensive changes. At the very least, it will need a fresh coat of paint, a new bed, and thorough scrubbing. But with everything that needs to be done, I do not know when we can have her room ready for her to stay in.”
“I completely understand not having her stay in there until we can fix it up for her. Clara deserves to have a bright and cheerful place to call her own. Though I am wondering where she will stay in the meantime.”
“I am thinking we can create a play area for her somewhere and once we have a nursemaid for her, she should be fine, at least during the day. As for the nights, I was considering having her stay with me in my bed. Apparently, she has been having bad dreams and problems falling asleep and I wanted to be there for her as she adjusts. Only I wanted to discuss the idea with you before we put any plans in place.”
Sebastian leaned back in his chair as he considered the implications of Lydia’s statement. He loved that she was so concerned for Clara. It was her love for children and her care and concern for his niece that had promoted her to suggest that they marry. Her statement that she wanted to have his niece in with her at night, however, brought home the point that she was not in the marriage for him. Somehow, that made him feel a little lonely.
He was not the sort to demand husbandly rights, but he had hoped that they would grow closer, and things might naturally progress. His desire was for them to cultivate companionship and a sense of ease in each other's company, even if love should elude them. How would they begin the work of growing closer together with a five-year-old in their midst?
Was that Lydia’s goal? To put off any unwanted advances on his part, at least for a time. Or was she truly just concerned with caring for his niece and thought nothing of the implications of her suggestion? Either way, Sebastian would not force the issue. Maybe it would be good and give them the time to work on their friendship. Reminding himself to smile, he said, “I am sure that your presence during the night will provide Clara with a sense of reassurance and comfort as she navigates this period of adjustment.”
“That is what I am hoping for. If she feels more secure, she might start coming out of her shell.”
Nodding, Sebastian picked up the list on his desk and handed it to Lydia. “While you are here, would you mind looking over the list of what needs to be done with me? I do not want to forget anything. I would also like your opinion on what we can put off and what we must take care of immediately.” Though he might not have said it, Sebastian was already putting the remodeling in the nursery at the top of his list. He tried to convince himself that his only intention was to provide his niece with the environment she deserved. It was wholly unrelated to his desire to have his wife to himself.