Page 15 of Superior Connections
A s the dinner progressed, so did Lady Rosseford’s story.
“I was younger, not as clever, and had less experience than you, girls, when I had to adapt to the life of an officer’s wife, travelling for months across the seas, then living in India, forced to survive on a small income and with debts to pay. My first husband, Jeffrey Lambert, God rest his soul, was the sweetest and kindest man that ever breathed. His health was his only weakness, and military life did not suit him. Then I suddenly found myself as a gentleman’s wife, when Jeffrey inherited the estate in Derbyshire. It was small but satisfactory and enough to improve our lives. I had to earn my place in Derbyshire society, where the Darcys were a great support to my husband, then in the lower circles of London society. There were very few people of consequence who desired our acquaintance, but we were patient and took one step after another. And then, when things were somehow settled, I found myself a widow, in charge of the Derbyshire estate, with tenants and servants depending on me.”
“Oh…I am so sorry, Aunt. I have been selfish and ungrateful,” Jane whispered.
“Do not apologise, my dear. I only wished to tell you how well I understand you.”
“Dear aunt, what happened to the Derbyshire estate? Was it sold?”
“No. It is called Greenwood Park. My second husband, Lord Rosseford, helped me to find a diligent steward — Mr Curtis — who managed it quite successfully for ten years, then passed the responsibility to his son. The Curtis family lives at the property to this day. The tenants are content, the servants are content, and the house is well taken care of. I have no intention of evicting them as long as things remain satisfactory.”
“Indeed, why ruin a successful arrangement?” Mr Gardiner agreed.
“You are cleverer and stronger than me, Aunt,” Jane said. “Lizzy is much more like you. I could not have handled so much responsibility alone. Lizzy can do anything.”
Elizabeth laughed and embraced her; Lady Rosseford smiled. “My darling, one cannot be sure what one is capable of until one is forced to actually do it. You need to trust yourself more and to acknowledge your worth. This is why parties and connections will be helpful.”
“Aunt, forgive me for asking, but did Lord Rosseford have no family? Was there nobody to claim his fortune?” Elizabeth enquired.
“Sadly, the Lord granted me no living children, with neither of my husbands. Jeffrey had two brothers and two nephews, with whom I correspond and have met once since I returned. Each of them received their fair share of the family fortune when Jeffrey inherited his estate.”
“How fortunate he left it to you and it was not entailed,” Elizabeth said.
“True. Unfortunately my father was incredibly angry when he found out I intended to marry Jeffrey, so after he refused and I eloped, he declared I — and all women — were not worthy of anything. Hence the entailment on Longbourn. It is my fault that you are in danger of being homeless when Thomas dies. I have been planning for at least ten years to purchase an estate for you in Hertfordshire, but only now have I achieved it.”
“Dear aunt,” Elizabeth answered, “I heartily disagree with the blame you take upon yourself. You cannot — and need not — remedy something that was someone else’s fault.”
“It is my desire to do it, Lizzy. I have only a few years to live, and I have no children. What should I do with all this money? I shall give some to charity, but why not protect my family too? I would never have purchased this house or Stoke Park if I did not wish you all to benefit from them. At my age, I do not need a house with twenty rooms when I can hardly use two.”
“I pray you have many more years to live, Aunt,” Jane whispered tearfully.
Lady Rosseford patted her hand. “So, to end my story, Lord Rosseford had no immediate family either, only some distant relatives. He was a prudent and methodical man — he had everything written, settled, and sealed. One of his nephews inherited the earldom and the estate that goes with the title, but what I own now is my lawful wealth, from the income on Greenwood Park, from the yearly interest on my savings, and from other affairs I helped Lord Rosseford with in Ireland.”
“What an extraordinary woman you are, Aunt. And what an extraordinary life you must have lived,” Elizabeth said.
“It might have been extraordinary, but it was certainly not easy. I just knew how to adapt to it. And when I needed help and support, I returned to be reunited with you, my only blood family,” she concluded with an affectionate and tender yet sad smile.
“So, Jane, my dear, do not worry. London society is not much different from that of Meryton. It is larger, with more annoying people, but the rules are mostly the same.”
The evening came to an end rather early, as tiredness defeated Lady Rosseford. On their first night in London, Elizabeth and Jane spent another hour together, talking about the lady’s new revelations. There was so much to accept and to understand, and the changes to their lives proved to be more significant than they had foreseen — though they did not necessarily welcome all of them.
The exhausting day helped Elizabeth sleep well that night, and she woke up in the morning earlier than the others and full of energy. She dressed herself but remained in her room for a while, watching London slowly awakening. There was mist over Hyde Park, but she hoped the sun would show its face at some time during the day.
Eventually, she lost her patience and went downstairs, exploring the rooms and admiring the library, which immediately brought back memories of Mr Darcy.
Mr Gardiner was the next to come down, and they enjoyed some coffee and conversation before the rest of the family joined them for a late breakfast.
Lady Rosseford arrived last, looking pale again, with dark circles around her eyes, which worried Elizabeth exceedingly. Before anything else, a good doctor needed to be found, and Elizabeth was determined to accomplish it that very day.
They had not even finished breakfast when the butler brought in a card and announced Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy.
“Please send them in,” Lady Rosseford said after a brief moment of stupefaction.
∞∞∞
The two gentlemen entered, Mr Darcy looking as serious and Mr Bingley less joyful than usual. Seeing the family at the table, they immediately stopped.
“Lady Rosseford,” Mr Darcy said, “we apologise for this impromptu visit at such an improper hour. We heard you had arrived and just wished to present our greetings. We shall leave you now.”
“Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley, do sit down. Why would you leave so soon? We woke up a little bit late, but you are more than welcome to join us.”
The two gentlemen hesitated a moment, glancing at each other, then Mr Darcy sat, and Mr Bingley did likewise.
“I am the one who should apologise,” Mr Bingley said. “Darcy insisted we should wait another hour at least, but I disregarded his advice.”
“Do not worry, Mr Bingley. There are times when impatience is better than prudence. Have you had breakfast? Please enjoy anything you wish from the table.”
“We have eaten already, your ladyship,” Mr Darcy said. “Your company alone is a pleasure.”
Elizabeth felt her heart pounding and wondered whether the others could hear it. Jane looked so distressed that she kept her eyes on her plate.
“Gentlemen, allow me to introduce Mr and Mrs Gardiner and their children. Mr Gardiner is Mrs Bennet’s brother, and they have been of invaluable help to me since I returned to England,” Lady Rosseford said. “By the by, Mr Darcy, Mrs Gardiner grew up in Lambton, quite close to Pemberley.”
From that moment, with such an agreeable subject of common interest, the conversation flowed, despite Elizabeth and Jane’s lack of participation.
“This is a beautiful house, Lady Rosseford. I am pleased you purchased it and it will finally receive the attention it deserves. I was just saying as much to my aunt Lady Matlock.”
“Ah, Lady Matlock is one of those whose acquaintance I would like to make. Does she live nearby?”
“Yes, just a few houses down from here.”
“How lovely. And you, gentlemen, do you live far away?”
“My house is about a ten- or fifteen-minute walk away,” Mr Bingley said. “But Darcy’s is on this street too. Only ten houses away, I believe.”
The lady nodded. “And do your sisters live with you, Mr Bingley?”
“No…Caroline used to, but at present, she is staying with my sister Louisa and her husband.”
At this, Elizabeth glanced at Jane, who looked angry, while their aunt continued her enquiries.
“I see. Mr Darcy, I hope you found your sister in good health?”
“Yes, thank you. In fact, if I am not asking too much, Lady Rosseford, I was wondering… It is not my intention to trouble you often with my presence. I imagine you are very busy. But would you allow me to introduce my sister, Georgiana, to you? And to Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth, and Mr and Mrs Gardiner, of course.”
Elizabeth held her breath again, and her eyes finally locked with his for an instant.
“I am sure I speak for everyone when I say we would be absolutely delighted,” Lady Rosseford replied, and everyone nodded in approval. “In fact, since we are all here and you live so close, you should have brought her with you.”
“Oh, I did not want to bother you. I knew we were already intruding and—”
“Nonsense. You may bring her at any time, even now. There are very few people I would like to meet more than Miss Darcy.”
“You are very kind,” he answered, apparently surprised by her statement. “Should I go and fetch her now?”
“If you wish — and if Miss Darcy is willing to come, of course. I thought it would be nice since Mr and Mrs Gardiner will go home later today.”
“Oh…very well, then,” he said, standing up, still looking slightly confused. He glanced at Mr Bingley, who appeared equally puzzled.
“If you wish, you may stay with us until he returns, Mr Bingley,” Lady Rosseford suggested.
Once that was settled, one gentleman left, and the other remained. Without his friend, Mr Bingley looked slightly lost and uncomfortable — very different from his demeanour in Hertfordshire.
“Miss Darcy is one of the most accomplished ladies I have ever met. And she is only fifteen,” Mr Bingley said, trying to resume the conversation and clearly unaware of Jane’s anxiety.
“Mr Darcy speaks very highly of her, and so did your sisters, as far as I remember,” Elizabeth replied. “I understand they are intimate friends.”
“Who? My sisters and Miss Darcy? Oh, not really. They are older than her and do not have much in common. And she is not yet out, of course. We see her but rarely when we are in London.”
“Then I must have misunderstood.”
“I am sure my sisters said as much, but they have a tendency to exaggerate. We spent the last three summers at Pemberley at Darcy’s invitation, and they…”
“Yes?” Lady Rosseford enquired.
“My sisters tend to assume more than there is.”
“Have you completed the business that brought you back to London, Mr Bingley?” Lady Rosseford asked. “Are your plans settled?”
“Yes,” he said, his face changing colour. “But I have no plans. I shall just be here for the time being…I mean in London.”
“Well then, hopefully we shall meet again on occasion. Perhaps at some parties.”
“Yes…I hope so,” he said.
Elizabeth knew her aunt had not finished tormenting the poor gentleman, but the more uneasy he looked and the more unusually he acted, the more distressed her sister became. Mr Bingley repeatedly glanced at Jane; she hardly looked at him at all, both trapped in their own deep turmoil.
They had liked each other from the beginning; their acquaintance had been smooth, comfortable, and pleasant from the first day they had met at the assembly — until the ball.
And while Mr Bingley was aware of the reason for such a dramatic change, Jane was an innocent and ignorant victim, and Elizabeth’s heart ached for her.
Having finished their breakfast, the party moved to a parlour, and fortunately for both Mr Bingley and Jane, Mr Darcy soon returned with his sister, and the formidable presentation took place.