Page 11 of The Winter of Our Discontent (Pride and Prejudice Variations #1)
“I will not forgive where no offence was given. Our arrival was not what any of us would have wanted it to be. Miss Darcy,” I said, turning back to the girl and squeezing her hands in reassurance before releasing her, “might you do me the great favour of presenting me properly to the housekeeper once Mr Darcy has been settled?”
“Of course,” she said, blushing and looking downcast.
“Might we show you to your room, ma’am?” her companion asked. “I believe Mrs Reynolds has gone down to the kitchen to see to the master’s comforts. We shall bring her to you when he is settled.”
“Bless you, Mrs Annesley. I would dearly love to lie down for half an hour.”
My suite was impossibly grand. A fire burnt in the grate, and at least a dozen lit candles made up for the gloom of the day.
My bed, though enormous, was dwarfed by the elegance of my apartment.
The draperies hung in heavy, decadent folds of rich brocade with silken tassels that bespoke the luxury of another time or perhaps even another world.
An elegant escritoire, polished to a high gleam, a chaise longue in front of a large window, and a dressing room the size of my bedroom at Longbourn, all impressed upon me that I had married a very rich man.
That self-same wealthy man was apparently housed in the adjacent set of rooms. I heard muffled thumps and voices, doors opening and closing, and the footsteps of a platoon of footmen and maids as they trampled to and fro in the hall.
Eventually, I heard the bear bark out a sharp command, unintelligible but loud enough to cause the commotion to instantly cease.
Thereafter, I heard rustling, tiptoes, and whispers.
I took off my shoes, gloves, and bonnet and sank onto the bed while Wilson quietly arranged the few necessaries she took out of my travel case.
“I shall see what the delay is with a tray and some hot water, ma’am,” she said with her lips pressed tightly together.
“I wish you would not. Miss Darcy will be along shortly with the housekeeper, and I am content to wait. I do hope you have a room of your own, though, and that it is not very cold.”
“Pray, Mrs Darcy, make no arrangements for accommodations for me.”
“I suppose to single you out would make your life difficult downstairs?”
“I would just as soon fit in, ma’am.”
Yes, so would I , I wished to confide. The perils, pitfalls, and privileges faced by a new mistress of a grand estate and the similar obstacles presented to her newly hired lady’s maid were tempting matters for discussion.
However, a tentative knock on my door had me bolting to my feet and scrambling into the dry slippers Wilson had set out for me.
“Mrs Darcy,” Miss Darcy said haltingly, “may I present our housekeeper, Mrs Reynolds? Mrs Reynolds, this is my brother’s new wife, Mrs Elizabeth Darcy.”
Our greeting was excessively formal. Mrs Reynolds looked severe as she examined me with her nose in the air until she realised, with a start, she was guilty of a gross solecism.
“I beg your pardon, Mrs Darcy. I see no one has brought tea. I shall see to it this instant. Is there aught else you need ma’am?” she asked stiffly, her cheeks turning dusky as she spoke.
“I would be grateful for a little hot water and the delivery of my trunks.”
This gentle reproof seemed to reverberate around the room.
Mrs Reynolds looked near to falling back as if she had been struck.
I suspected the woman, having been prepared to hate me, had intended to daunt and intimidate me through the simple expedient of knowing her business and lording over me.
I would be made to feel the interloper, the novice, the unwelcome ignoramus.
Instead, Mrs Reynolds entered into our association on the back foot as she murmured another mortified apology for her incompetence.
It occurred to me that perhaps Mr Darcy’s housekeeper would hate me a little less if only I could strike the right tone.
“I could hardly expect any attention before Mr Darcy was attended to. Might I ask how he fares?”
Once again, the entire room seemed to respond to my words. This time it seemed to exhale like a living thing along with everyone who stood therein.
The housekeeper suddenly looked much less like a resentful witch and much more like a kindly grandmother. She replied, “He is resting, ma’am. I believe you were right when you said he has caught cold.”
“He insisted on riding more often than I would have liked. But should we not call for his physician? He would not let Romney fetch anyone in Nottingham.”
“No, ma’am. He is not one for being physicked. I have made up a special tea for the headache as I have done since he was a boy. ”
“If he is in your care, then I may rest easy. You will let me know if he worsens?”
“Of course. I shall see to your refreshments ma’am, and may I welcome you to Pemberley?”
“I feel welcome indeed, thank you. When the maid comes with my hot water, I wonder if she would take Wilson to her room. I shall want to rest for a little while.”
Mrs Reynolds then deigned to notice Wilson, who curtseyed respectfully, and thus they were made known to each other.
Miss Darcy received a slight nudge from Mrs Annesley, prompting her to say, “If you are not terribly tired, Mrs Darcy, we planned to sit down to a light supper later, but if you would prefer a tray in your room, I perfectly understand.”
“I shall join you if I may. But will you come for me? I am afraid I would not know where to go.”
This invitation for a less formal acquaintance seemed to take the girl by surprise, but I maintained an expression of open goodwill, so Miss Darcy agreed to escort me with the look of dawning pleasure on her face.
You poor, dear, girl , I thought . I mean to have at least one friend here, and I will be relentless in making you like me .