Page 102 of Obligation and Redemption
While in London, Elizabeth truly enjoyed the benefit of the master pianist to help her improve on the pianoforte.
Also, since becoming a Darcy, she had the benefit of superior instruments.
Without the noise of her family and the competition for practice time, Elizabeth found that she could devote hours each day to the pianoforte without interruption.
With her natural talent as well as these other inducements, she was quickly on her way to becoming a true proficient, much to her surprise and delight.
Playing became a way of expressing her joys, sorrows and gaiety.
Elizabeth received several responses from the letters that she had dispatched upon first arriving at her new home.
She learnt that Jane had decided to return to Gracechurch Street with her relations for the duration of the winter and the upcoming Spring Season.
Her sister continued to pine for Mr. Bingley but had decided to move on with her life.
She could not continue in anticipation of his return to Netherfield, and there were many other men of her aunt and uncle’s acquaintance who might wish for a gentleman’s daughter, despite her limited dowry.
While at Longbourn, Elizabeth had met with her father and uncle to establish a way of transferring some of her pin money each month into Jane’s dowry.
After arriving at Pemberley, she directed the steward to make the necessary transactions starting with the lump sum of one hundred pounds, with a promise of fifty pounds per month towards Jane’s welfare during her lifetime.
In this way, Elizabeth hoped to avoid future missed opportunities for her sister owing only to lack of fortune.
As Elizabeth had no way of knowing how Mr. Darcy would respond to such an action, suspecting he would likely construe her efforts as mercenary, she chose to keep her husband’s steward from being informed about the specifics of the account, aside from the account number and name of the bank where the account was located.
Elizabeth’s regret for her sister had increased substantially since she overheard her husband’s conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam, and she felt the full weight of her sister’s lost hopes.
Knowing that Jane’s heart was engaged to Mr. Bingley and realising the difficulties her sister would encounter in overcoming her feelings, Elizabeth felt anew the resentment previously directed at her husband.
The justification in giving pin money provided for her by her settlement allowed her the means of assuaging Darcy’s involvement in her sister’s despair.
During the time of Darcy’s absence, Elizabeth thought little of her husband, for the remembrance of his presence only brought her disappointment; instead, she focused on those persons around her who needed her leadership and benevolence.
After Darcy had been gone over three weeks, Elizabeth received word of a tenant farmer’s family in need of aid, as the wife was expecting her fourth child; the other three were under the age of six.
The local midwife had ordered the poor woman to bed due to bleeding, and there was no one to prepare food and maintain the home.
By this time, Elizabeth had met all of the staff within the great house, and she was ready to move on to the estate at large, so Elizabeth determined to visit the family herself and begin the monumental task of being introduced to those who made Pemberley the great estate that it was.
As such, she requested transportation, a footman and Mrs. Carpenter to accompany her on her visit to determine the family’s needs.
She also had a basket of food prepared along with some sweetmeats to share with the children.
After about fifteen minutes of travel, she arrived at the tenant’s home and took stock in the well-kept lodging, seeing that there was plenty of wood to last the winter piled on the side of the house.
The footman assisted the ladies out of the carriage, then went to the door and knocked.
The blustery wind made walking to the door difficult as the ladies’ skirts risked tripping them.
A man of about thirty opened the door, and his eyes widened at the lady before him.
Elizabeth smiled and reached her hand out to him in greeting.
“Mr. Smithton, I am Mrs. Darcy and this is Mrs. Carpenter. I hope you don’t mind our visit. ”
The man found his voice and responded, “Please come in, out of the cold,” which Elizabeth and Mrs. Carpenter gladly did. “Forgive me, “ he said looking around the small room, “I didn’t know I would have such fine company, you see.”
“Please, do not be uneasy. I must congratulate you on the upcoming birth of your child. And I see that I must also congratulate you on the handsome family already in our midst.”
The man recollected himself and looked back to his two little boys, who were standing behind their father, peeking around him in curiosity. Neither was older than four. “Thank you. I am a blessed man.”
“I see you are busy, so I’ll get to the point. My housekeeper informed me of your wife’s condition and need for bed rest. And I would not have her put herself or your baby at risk by not following the midwife’s orders. So I came to see what might suit you as a means of keeping her off her feet.”
“I have been trying to keep things going myself, and I think I can manage on my own. I would not have anyone go to any trouble.”
Elizabeth looked around the cabin and saw that the man was not as proficient at keeping things going inside the home as he was outside.
There were dirty pots and dishes to be washed, and the room needed a thorough cleaning.
“I am confident that you are an excellent farmer, for Mr. Darcy has bragged to me about the prosperity so abundantly found at Pemberley. I noticed pulling up that your home is well kept with plenty of wood for the winter. I would wager that your wife has always been able to properly manage the inside of your home, and now you wish to help her.”
“As you say.”
“May I meet Mrs. Smithton? Or is she indisposed?”
“Certainly, right this way,” said the man, obviously uncomfortable with the mistress herself in his home.
He led her through a doorway that was covered by a sheet, holding it open as Elizabeth and Laura entered.
“Mary, Mrs. Darcy is here to see you.” Then he looked back to his guests.
”Mrs. Darcy, um Mrs. Carpenter, this is my wife, Mrs. Smithton. ”
Elizabeth looked towards the attractive young woman reclined on the small bed and the young girl sitting next to her, who had obviously been listening to her mother read.
The woman was trying to sit up. “No, please, do not get up on my account. I came to see what I could do to help your family until the baby comes.”
The woman looked to her husband, apparently unsure about what to say. Elizabeth, seeing their discomfort, turned to the man and continued, “I can tell that you must be proud of your family and your home.”
“I cannot say otherwise.”
“Your family is exactly the kind of family that Pemberley needs to thrive, so when there is an occasion that we can thank you for your hard work, we are anxious to do just that. And since this seems to be such an occasion, I hope you will grant me the privilege of providing assistance to make your wife confident that she is not overburdening you by having to remain in bed. I think that will make her rest easier, which can only help the baby.”
“What do you have in mind, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“When is your confinement, Mrs. Smithton?”
“The mid-wife says the beginning of April.”
“Very well.” Elizabeth looked to her companion. “Mrs. Carpenter, are you aware of anyone who might take on a position as maid-of-all-work temporarily? Perhaps one of the other tenants has a daughter willing to help before the growing season begins?”
Laura smiled, recalling just such a girl who had worked in the Pemberley kitchen and as a scullery maid on occasion, but was currently not needed in the big house and so lacked employment.
This would help her family, as her father was a tenant managing a smaller piece of property.
“I know the perfect girl, Patsy Hargrove. We can stop by her home on the way back and see if she would like the work.”
Elizabeth then turned to the couple. “Are you familiar with this girl?” They nodded.
“And would you find the arrangements satisfactory?” Their look of hesitation reminded Elizabeth that accepting assistance might come difficult for them.
“You would be doing me an enormous favour. I find I cannot sleep at night knowing that there was something I could do to help, but was unable. Please, accept my interference!” Elizabeth said with a smile and small laugh.
“You will find me quite the bother when I don’t get my way.
And you are not just letting me help you, but also Patsy who needs work, it would seem. ”
Then the man spoke, “We accept your help then, but only until the baby comes.”
“Thank you. And now, I brought you a basket from the Pemberley kitchen, including some freshly made bread loaves. And for the children, a special treat. I left it on the table in the other room. I will be right back.” Elizabeth left the room and returned with the sweetmeats and some bread and cheese for Mrs. Smithton.
Not wanting to overstay her welcome, but anxious to learn a little more about the family and other possible needs, Elizabeth sat for an additional fifteen minutes talking to the children and their parents.
She could tell that their clothing was in good shape and that the house was plenty warm, which encouraged her, giving her the confidence that their needs would truly be met with the addition of Patsy.