Page 9 of Reputation, an Easy Thing to Lose (Reputation Verse #1)
Chapter 8
Truth Hardly Ever Acknowledged
Pemberley, Derbys hire
3 October 1812
E lizabeth Bennet sat at the vanity in her room staring at the wedding ensemble gracing her bed. It was too much. She had never owned anything so beautiful. She would never be able to be simple Lizzy in such a gown. Then again, less than an hour after donning the silk masterpiece, she would forever cease to be simple Lizzy and instead become Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, mistress of Pemberley and Darcy House London, even if only a select few people would know her as such.
“Come, Miss, do not look so severe. Today is your wedding day! I know what you need, a nice warm bath with rose water and soft petals. Let me call the kitchen and we shall have you feeling better in a t rice.”
Looking behind her to the young maid brushing out her hair, Elizabeth smiled. “Thank you, Marianne, you are correct, of course. I was just wool -g athering . And a hot bath sounds lovely. I should be looking and feeling my best for Mr. D arcy.”
Marianne Marshall had been a wonderful new addition to the household. Elizabeth was introduced to the young woman in London the day before they all left for Hertfordshire. Marianne had been told by Richard Fitzwilliam that she would be an upstairs maid and would also prepare Georgiana’s new social companion for her important social gatherings, but upon removing to the Darcys’ employ, she learned that the position was as Elizabeth’s exclusive lady’s maid. It was strange to Marianne that Darcy would hire a full time abigail for a social companion, but she had been brought up not to question the Fitzwilliams or say anything to anyone that could violate the family’s trust. During the ride to Derbyshire, she again found it odd that Elizabeth and her sister, the young and pregnant widow of the former Pemberley steward’s son, rode with the Darcys and Richard in the family’s carriage, instead of in the second carriage with the other servants. The final oddity proved too much for the quiet young maid. Elizabeth was given a large suite of rooms in the family wing that connected to the rooms that Georgiana had always occupied. Marianne went to her great aunt, who also served as the housekeeper of Pemberley, Mrs. Reynolds, and asked if such treatment was common for a paid compa nion.
Mrs. Reynolds said flatly that it was not, but if Marianne wanted to stay with the Pemberley staff, she would make no other inquiries about the Darcys’ personal decisions. All information about the family was to stay inside her lips, and not venture forth where anyone could overhear. Not two days later, after the carriage taking her mother, Richard, and the young widow back to the beautiful seaside town had gone past the bridge near the park gate, Mrs. Reynolds called together all the inside house staff and the head grounds staff for an important mee ting.
“I have some wonderful news. We shall be having a wedding here on the third of October. Mr. Darcy is going to wed Miss Elizabeth Bennet by special license in a private ceremony, presided over by our kindly old vicar, and celebrated at the Pemberley family chapel. This day also happens to be our new mistress’s twenty -f irst birthday. I will have a special breakfast prepared to commemorate the wedding, and a cake for the lady’s birthday. For reasons that I will not share generally, the Darcys’ wish is for this marriage to be kept secret from society at least through to the next London season, even from certain members of Mr. Darcy’s family, including Lord Matlock, Lady Catherine, and the Fitzwilliam Cou sins.
“I am relying on each of you to protect them. We must not let one word of this slip to anyone, especially our own family members who serve the Fitzwilliams or de Bourghs. If servants from other employ ask questions about the family, shun them and report it to me, so that I may warn Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. I shall entertain no questions, nor will I tolerate anyone speaking of this after this mo ment.”
Since that moment, absolutely no one had spoken a word, even to each other, about the abnormality of the Darcys’ marriage, especially not Marianne. She was now the Head Lady’s Maid of Pemberley. Personal servant to the soon - t o -b e mistress of the house, and she now reported to no one except the mistress and master. She was a young girl of only nineteen, and had only ever played lady’s maid to a few female visitors who came to the Fitzwilliams’ Scarborough estate. Her total experience consisted of a handful of days that could be counted without utilizing her toes. Panic began to build inside her.
After Mrs. Reynolds had dismissed them to their duties, Marianne fled the servants’ quarters to find Lilian Grayson, Georgiana’s lady’s maid and Marianne’s cousin. Lilian would know what t o do.
Lilian had been extremely supportive of Marianne in the last three days and had spent many hours teaching her the ways of the house. But Marianne had been terrified of offending her new mistress and had said hardly one word to Elizabeth while performing her duties. Finally, the day before the wedding, Elizabeth could take it no more.
“Marianne, are you unhappy here at Pemberley? I know it is a long way from your family, but you will be able to visit them if you wish and if this situation is too much, you will be welcomed back into Lady Gwyneth’s employ until a position you prefer can be secured for you.”
“Oh no, my lady! I am perfectly happy here. I have little experience being the personal servant to such a grand lady and would not want you to suffer from my mist akes.”
“Well, I’m certainly no grand lady. That honour I will reserve for Mr. Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine, and similarly, I have little experience with having a personal servant. So far, we are equals. You may relax, for you shall not offend me in any way, I am sure. Perhaps we shall learn how to navigate this new life toge ther.”
Since speaking so frankly the morning prior, their subsequent interactions were much easier. They even giggled together over the mess of tangles that was under her bonnet while Elizabeth dressed for dinner last night. This morning, Marianne had laid out her new gown and was simply effusive over the fineness of the silk. She asked Elizabeth who had made such a wonder, and the stunned young bride could not even begin to g uess.
It was now Elizabeth’s turn to p anic.
After Marianne left to fill her bath, Elizabeth turned her attention back to the gown on her bed. It was made of fine, ivory Chinese silk and trimmed with soft pink Indian ribbon. Lying next to the gown were matching gloves, a new bonnet, silk slippers, and a new warm pel isse.
How in the world did she think she was worthy of being Mrs. Darcy? How was she going to fit into this world of wealth and responsibility? How was she ever going to put on that fabulous dress, which probably cost more than her usual annual allowance and then some?
Marianne came back into the room to find Elizabeth with tears streaming down her face.
“Miss! Whatever is the ma tter?”
“I do not know if I can do this. I am just a simple country gentleman’s daughter with no dowry at all. I have only eight dresses to my name, now nine with the one on the bed. No one knows my family; we were not very well off and now my mother and sisters are scattered to our various relations, relegated to genteel poverty. How am I to take over the position of mistress to this beautiful estate, and entertain the highest of society in Lo ndon?”
Marianne came and picked up the hairbrush again, trying to soothe her mistress. “I know that I am not an authority on the workings of high society, but it seems to me that a rich gentleman like Mr. Darcy, who has connections to the Matlock Earldom and I am sure many other high society persons, could have married any one of the titled, dowered, and perfectly snobbish women of the ton if he cared one bit about such nonsense. But he did not. He has chosen a delightful young woman from a good gentleman’s family with character and wit, because he loves you. Lady Gwyneth is always going on about how the persons of the ton , and especially the women, are not to be trusted and only ever look out for themselves. It seems to me a much better thing to be born in the country and live a simple, happy life. I am sure that the people here at Pemberley shall be much happier with a mistress who cares for them, rather than one who is always worried to get her petticoats d irty.”
A little bell sounded from Elizabeth’s dressing room.
“Now, that will be your bath all ready and hot! Let us get you into it before it cools too much. If we hurry, there will be plenty of time to wash some of the rose water into your lovely hair and let it fully dry before the cere mony.”
Elizabeth soaked in the tub until the water cooled. Marianne helped her thoroughly wash her long dark hair, then produced a soft, small pillow to place on the edge of the tub. Her hair was pulled over the edge to drip dry while she relaxed. After she got out of the bath, Marianne brought in fire -h eated towels to finish drying her hair and some large tin rollers to make nice, manageable curls. As the final pins were going into her incredible coiffure, there was a knock at the door connecting her rooms to Georgiana’s. Elizabeth bid her soon - t o -b e sister to enter, and welcomed the young lady with a soft s mile.
“Hello, Lizzy, I hope I am not interrupting your preparations, but I wanted to give you these things before you finalized your dress for the ceremony.” Georgiana presented Elizabeth with the most beautiful natural pearls comprising a necklace, bracelet, and earrings. The tears Elizabeth had been crying on and off since seeing her new dress started to fall a gain.
Georgiana worried her lip and wrung her hands. “You certainly do not have to wear them today if you would rather not, but they are rightfully yours to do with as you please. They have been in the Darcy family for four generations. Usually, the mistress of the house presents them to her son’s bride on the morning of their wedding, but since my mother is not with us to perform the honour, I have come. Each new mistress has added to the set before giving them to her new daughter - i n -l aw . The original stock of pearls was obtained in India by my great -g randfather when he went as a young man with the East Indian Company. He made the necklace as an engagement gift for my great -g randmother and gave her the rest of the pearls to do with what she wished. When my grandfather became engaged to my grandmother, Great -G randmother had matching earrings made and gifted the set to the new bride. Similarly, my grandmother had the bracelet made for my mother. Unfortunately, I was not able to make anything new to be ready for today, but I sent one of the largest left in the stock to our jeweller in London and commissioned a ring as your wedding pre sent.”
Elizabeth was now crying in earnest. “Sweet Georgie, of course I would be honoured to wear your ancestor’s pearls on the day I join their ranks as mistress of Pemberley. I am sorry to distress you with my tears, but I cannot imagine the expense that you and your brother have gone to for my attire today. The dress waiting for me is of such a quality that I have never seen its equal. How I shall ever be worthy of all you and William have give n me?”
Kneeling beside the vanity chair, Georgiana took Elizabeth’s hands and looked imploringly into her eyes. “Lizzy, William is incredibly lucky to have become worthy of your affections. We have lived a life full of privilege, envied by many in society, but none of the money that pays for fine clothes or precious jewels has ever made either of us happy. My happiest moments are of sitting in my mother’s rose garden while my father or William read me a simple child’s book.”
Georgiana turned her head to look out the window. Though she could not see anything from her position on the floor, she knew that beyond the glass was the south lawn and her mother’s beloved roses. “Our money could not save my mother from the dangers of childbirth, or bring my father back after suffering a stroke. My Aunt Catherine has lived her life in pursuit of nothing but rank and money. She has always been miserable, suffering marriage to a man she hated, with no real friends to which she could turn for compassion. Think of Miss Bingley, who is so unpleasant, chasing after my brother’s money without any consideration for what might make either of them h appy.”
Looking back to the vanity, Georgiana gestured to the pearl jewellery. “These trinkets, they are nothing compared to the worth of your gift. You have brought joy back into this massive, empty house. There are many days I wish we lived as many of the respectable gentry, instead of paragons of le bon ton . Then, no one would try to use us ill for their own financial g ains.”
Another knock at the door brought all three young women gathered around Elizabeth’s vanity out of their thoughts. Marianne opened the door to Mrs. Reynolds who was carrying a small, wrapped pac kage.
“Miss Darcy, Marianne, I am sorry to interrupt Miss Bennet’s toilette, but I must ask you to leave us. I require a few moments alone with our beautiful bride.” Mrs. Reynolds smiled kindly at all the young women as Georgiana went back to her own toilette and Marianne went to help the downstairs maids complete arrangements for the wedding break fast.
Mrs. Reynolds then placed the package on Elizabeth’s vanity. “This is a gift from Mr. D arcy.”
Shaking her head at the generosity of her new family, Elizabeth joked, “How could I need anything else? He has already procured me this extraordinary dress and Georgiana has just now given me the Darcy family pearls. I do not know what else is left to be given, unless he has a miniature tiger as my new pet wrapped in that box.”
“While I cannot say for sure what is inside the box, I’m sure it is not some kind of animal.” Mrs. Reynolds chuckled. “But my lady, your Uncle Gardiner was the one to procure the wedding costume. Mr. Darcy did ask him if he knew of anyone in London who could make a dress for you for today, but I believe that the material came from your uncle’s warehouse, and the dress maker was one of your uncle’s fri ends.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “You mean that Mme. Devy made this dress for me? She has made many of my best dresses over the years, and she is a highly sought after modiste, but I have never seen something so wonderful! If only I could thank her! I shall have to write to my uncle and ask him to pass along my thanks if he believes it would not jeopardize our situa tion.”
“I am sure you shall get your chance, dear. Miss Darcy and you shall be having your season wardrobe made by Mme. Devy upon your return to London. Miss Darcy usually has most of her dresses made by the dressmaker in Matlock and has only purchased a few dresses a year from Mme. Devy while in London. But since she will be debuting in the spring, she will require a full wardrobe of the best and latest fashions. I sent the letter myself requesting appointments in early April for you both just yesterday. She is notoriously difficult to get into in advance of the season. But now, I believe you should open this beautifully wrapped box.”
Elizabeth picked up the box and let out a large breath before taking off the ribbon and opening the top. Inside lay a beautiful silver hair comb with mother of pearl inlaid. There was a note.
My dearest Elizabeth, this was my mother’s favourite hair comb. I remember her wearing it to the most important social functions and always on my parents’ wedding anniversary. I hope you love it as much as she did. Happy Birthday, Dearest. I shall dream of all the future birthdays we shall share while I await your entrance into the ch urch.
“Mrs. Reynolds, will you place this into my hair?”
“Of co urse.”
The comb was nestled into the pile of curls coming out of Elizabeth’s coiffure. It was luminous against her dark hair. The motherly housekeeper then helped Elizabeth into the rest of her clothes. At ten minutes to eleven, the bride was ready to proceed to the chapel two floors b elow.
Before turning to leave, Mrs. Reynolds gave Elizabeth one last parting gift. “Miss Bennet, I know you have come here to marry without your mother or any close female relation to prepare you for this event. I must say you have handled all of this with aplomb and grace. Now, I shall ask your indulgence for my imprudent words, but tonight should be a joyous joining. There may be some discomfort at first, but trust Mr. Darcy to guide you and be gentle. He is a good man, as his father was before him. It is a much better thing to perform your wifely duty with a man who loves you.”
With no more words to be said, Elizabeth walked out of the door, down the stairs, and to the entrance of the Darcy family chapel. Once the vicar was in his place, Mrs. Reynolds opened the double doors, and the ceremony joining Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet as man and wife b egan.