Page 46 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
Elizabeth felt a slight gratification that her own replies were not kind, and she was relieved that her husband called her impertinent answer “perfect .” No matter the nature of their relationship, he was displeased with the meeting and with Lady Stafford’s attitude.
He was even harsher when he told James that he might visit after he finished his business with the lady.
And yet, instead of leaving their impolite company, Lady Stafford insisted that she still had important things to discuss with him.
Who could this woman be? If only her aunt would return sooner, she might help her understand!
But Jane and Mrs Gardiner were far away, and her only companion was her diary, so she turned to it as to her closest friend and filled three long pages before her mind began to ease and rest.
Eventually, she rang for Molly to ask for some tea.
Surprisingly, the maid did not appear, so Elizabeth rang again.
Two more attempts were required before Molly finally arrived, and Elizabeth wondered whether everyone in the house had made a pact to upset her that day.
She was about to ask Molly about the delay but the maid’s red, swollen eyes and her torment, poorly hidden behind a proper smile, turned Elizabeth’s discontent to worry.
“I beg your forgiveness for being late, Mrs Darcy. I did not hear the bell. I am so sorry.”
“Please do not trouble yourself so, Molly. What is the matter? You seem very ill, truly!”
“Oh, I am fine, ma’am. Thank you for your concern… I am well… What is your wish?”
“My wish, Molly, is for you to sit down and tell me what is wrong. You are obviously not fine, but apparently, you do not trust me enough to tell me about your problem.”
“Oh, please do not say that, ma’am! And please do not ask me to sit in your presence. I could not possibly do that. I am truly well, it is just that…”
“Yes? If you are well, is anyone else not well? Is that it?”
“Mrs Darcy, I do not know how to say it… It is Janey— I do not think you remember her…”
“Of course I remember Janey. What happened to her? Molly?”
“It is just… Janey has worked in this house for almost four years now. She has three children, and her husband left them a month ago. Her younger daughter, Cathy—she is four, and she is very ill. She has been ill for some time now, and Janey is so sad and worried, she barely sleeps at all at night. She is tired, and that is why she broke the vase…and Mrs Thomason was upset. She said the vase cost more than Janey’s pay for a whole year…
but Janey will pay for it, and we will help her…
Mrs Thomason said Janey broke two plates last week, and she overlooked that, but the vase cannot be concealed and—”
“Molly, wait, wait! Please speak slower. I cannot follow you! Janey’s daughter is four, and she is very ill. Who takes care of her when Janey is not at home?”
“Oh, her daughter and son—they are eight and nine, I think—such good children… ”
“Very well. So, Janey broke two plates last week and now a vase?”
“Yes, a very expensive one. Mrs Thomason said the vase belonged to the family for many years… And Janey should pay for it but it will take some time…and Mrs Thomason said she cannot say what will happen to Janey but she is such a hard working girl and she…”
“Molly, does Mr Darcy know that Janey’s daughter is ill?”
The maid looked at Elizabeth in complete shock as if she did not comprehend the question.
“Mr Darcy? The master? I do not believe he knows. Why would he?”
“Why? Because he might help! Does Janey have a doctor who treats her daughter? Does she have money for that?”
“Oh, Janey could not possibly trouble the master with her problems. None of us who work in the house have children, only Janey. She started working after Cathy was born…but she promised from the beginning that the children would not affect her work here.”
“What about Miss Darcy? I imagine she does not know, either. But Mrs Thomason knows. And she decided to have Janey pay for the vase. Am I correct?”
“Yes ma’am—Mrs Thomason has been very good to Janey. Most housekeepers would not accept a servant with small children…but now she said she is not certain what will happen.”
“Molly, please tell Mrs Thomason that I want to speak to her. I shall wait for her here.” Elizabeth struggled to keep her temper while the maid hurried to obey her request.
Mrs Thomason was another one who treated her with superiority, even from the beginning of their acquaintance, and now she dared to make such serious decisions without even informing the mistress of the house!
Surely, the housekeeper did not take her seriously enough to report to her what was happening.
Well, this has to end immediately! She would not pretend to be amused and untouched by other people’s rudeness any longer.
She had to respond appropriately to her position.
And helping a servant who had been working for the family for more than four years and was suffering for her ill child was a way to start.
How was it possible that nobody in the family knew about it? When Hill’s husband caught a bad cold, everyone at Longbourn—including Mr Bennet—worried about him until he got well. But Mrs Thomason knew, and she made all the decisions about the staff—so what else was possibly needed?
Elizabeth needed all her strength to maintain her composure when the housekeeper entered. She seemed troubled and avoided looking at Elizabeth.
“Mrs Thomason, a situation regarding a broken vase has come to my attention, and I would like to know the details.” Elizabeth forced herself to sound calm.
The housekeeper stared at her in obvious surprise, disturbed and pale.
“It was entirely my fault, Mrs Darcy. I broke the vase, and I am willing to take full responsibility for it! I cannot express how deeply I regret it, and I leave it to you to decide how I should pay for my mistake.”
It was Elizabeth’s turn to stare at the housekeeper, her lips parted but unable to speak. She rose from the sofa and paced the room, attempting to recover, then stopped in front of the woman, narrowing her eyes while searching her face.
“Mrs Thomason, I know it was not you who broke the vase.”
“Indeed, it is all my fault, Mrs Darcy, and nobody else is to blame. I assure you that—”
Elizabeth put her hand on the housekeeper’s arm and forced a smile of comfort.
“Mrs Thomason, let us talk of Janey and her daughter. We will worry about the vase later.”
Mrs Thomason’s amazement was such that her legs weakened, and she sat in the nearest chair, looking at Elizabeth in disbelief. She covered her mouth with trembling fingers and needed some time before she was able to speak clearly.
As Mrs Thomason revealed the entire story to her, guilt overwhelmed Elizabeth. She blamed herself for judging the housekeeper hastily and thinking her rude, cruel, and self-important. She came close to censuring Mrs Thomason when, in truth, she did nothing but try to help in the best way she knew.
“Mrs Thomason, I was wondering: Why did you not tell Mr Darcy about this situation? Does Janey have a good doctor to take care of her little girl? Does she have enough money to take care of her? It must be a terribly difficult situation for a single woman.”
“Ma’am, there are twenty-two servants in this house, all well paid and treated better than in other places.
That is enough help from the master. There are so many people depending on him here, at Pemberley, and on all the other estates he runs that it would not be possible for him to take on the burden of individual problems. Most households do not accept servants with small children because that always causes trouble at work.
Janey was recommended by one of our loyal servants.
I liked her, so the master agreed to hire her.
At that time, Janey’s mother was still alive, and they were all living in her house.
Her husband was always a rascal and did not help her at all. Thank God he left…pardon me, ma’am!”
Mrs Thomason’s arguments were sound, and Elizabeth felt guilty again. The housekeeper saw things more clearly than she did. Mr Darcy could do only so much—which was more than other masters did. It was time for Mrs Darcy to do the rest.
“You are right, of course. I shall speak to Mr Darcy, to decide how to proceed. Please do not worry about the vase. I know Lady Anne would value the well-being of a child more than any vase, and Mr Darcy could not think differently. ”
“Mrs Darcy, I do not know what to say. Thank you, ma’am… I do not want to upset either you or the master with the situation of a servant. We will find a way to—”
“Mrs Thomason.” Elizabeth interrupted the woman as warmly and calmly as she could. “It is my duty as the mistress of this house to be troubled with everything regarding those who live here—servants or family. Let us speak again later. You may go now.”
The housekeeper left the room, and Elizabeth sat on the bed, deeply troubled.
The entire story affected her so that her previous worries seemed insignificant, and she felt ashamed for giving them so much consideration.
Not only Mr Darcy but also she—as Mrs Darcy—had many people depending on her and many responsibilities.
Why should she care about some Miss Bingley or Lady Somebody?
She rang for Molly again and sent her to inquire whether the Master had returned home. Molly answered without delay: he had been in his library for more than an hour.
She quickly changed her gown, arranged her hair, then left the room in a hurry. It was time for Mrs Darcy to have a long and difficult discussion with Mr Darcy.
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