Chapter 2 #3
When she had met the other ladies in the saloon, her eyes were drawn to the magnificent plasterwork on the ceiling before she sat in what she assumed was a Robert Adam chair near to Miss Darcy.
There had been a formal introduction between her and Jane and Miss Darcy, Mrs Annesley, and Mrs Lanyon.
The latter was refined and reserved whilst Miss Darcy was uniformly silent.
“This is a marvellous chamber, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth had said to her as soon as Caroline stopped monopolising her attention. “Did you select the furniture?”
She had shaken her head and, at Mrs Annesley’s prompting, answered something or other about it being her mother’s favourite room and not wanting to change it.
Her conversation with Mrs Lanyon had been even more commonplace.
They had exchanged a few words, that “the weather ought to be more settled for this time of year,” and “the roads were good, and the travelling pleasant despite the rain,” and “let us hope that August would not be rainy and cool like July and June.”
Elizabeth moved aside the pelisse she had tossed on the chaise lounge in her bedchamber and sat.
It was time to dress for dinner, although it would put her back in Darcy’s company.
She had hoped her summer travels would distract her from all of her confusion about him since Hunsford, and here she was, in his house.
The minutes in which they were alone in the entrance hall were some of the most uncomfortable of her life, and he did not seem at ease either.
And he now has the impression that I am miserable here.
She had seen the flash of sorrow in his eyes when she said that.
What followed was an uncharitable rebuke, but she had deserved it.
Still, she had always known that he was not a good-tempered man, and his words in the entrance hall showed how angry he still was at her rejection.
There was a knock, and a servant entered and immediately opened the wardrobe to sort through her gowns. “Good evening, Miss Bennet. I am Carew, Miss Darcy’s lady. She sent me to help you dress.”
Elizabeth stood in surprised silence whilst Carew swiftly selected a gown, and then put away her pelisse and began to organise her toilette table.
“I admire your purple pelisse, but you ought not to let merino wool lie about. How unfortunate the weather is so cold that you still need it in August.”
This young woman, who was scarcely older than she, was bustling about her room and handling her things with authority.
“Carew, you don’t—that is, I thank you, but your help is not necessary.
I can see to myself and my own things. And the lady who waits on my sister comes whenever there is an evening party or a ball. ”
Carew nodded before striding towards her and untying her gown.
Out of habit, and a small amount of trepidation, Elizabeth raised her arms and let the purposeful woman go about her work.
“Yes, ma’am, but Mrs Bingley’s lady won’t want to tend to both of you at Pemberley, not if she wants her new mistress to appear to an advantage.
Mrs Hurst, Mrs Lanyon, and Miss Bingley all have their own ladies, and it won’t impress anyone if it seems as though her duties must be shared. ”
“And will not Miss Darcy feel the same slight? Is she not as concerned with rank and appearances as her brother?”
The maid tugged too sharply on her ties, and the ring she wore scraped Elizabeth’s skin.
“No, she has no such pride, and neither does he. And it was the master who asked her if she could spare me for your sake when he realised you did not have your own. Odd that he asked Reynolds if your maid’s chamber would be too far if you were put in this room.
Anyway, neither of them wanted you or Mrs Bingley to appear at a disadvantage. ”
Elizabeth felt the unexpected compliment and consideration of Darcy’s insistence. “You must thank Miss Darcy for me. I will try to do it this evening, if she will speak with me.”
“You ought to thank the master, too.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I am not certain I ought to, since he has demanded extra work from his sister’s servant. You will not like me or him the better for it.”
Carew’s prim, pursed mouth relaxed into a small smile. “We all like Mr Darcy. He is a thoughtful master and a considerate landlord, and liberal to the poor.”
“Still,” Elizabeth said as she was firmly led to sit before the glass to have her hair brushed, “you ought only to answer to Miss Darcy.”
The maid’s large blue eyes met hers in the glass. “I grew up at Pemberley; my father is the carpenter and my mother was a maid, so it is only natural that I listen to Mr Darcy.”
She thought of how angry he was and how hastily he had left the parsonage after their quarrel. He was so certain I would say yes. “Mr Darcy does like to have his own way.”
Her hair was pulled taut as Carew said sternly, “Every servant would give him a good name, from Mrs Reynolds to the scullery maid. He does not take advantage, nor does he let the girls earn favour with him by trying. We have no women of all work at Pemberley.”
“Oh! Heavens, no! I did not mean to imply anything improper.” Good God, since I arrived inside the house, I have said everything wrong. “I never considered Mr Darcy would—I never thought him irreligious or . . . I only meant that he is a man who likes to have the power of choice, not that he . . .”
Carew’s stern gaze softened, and the brush moved more gently through her hair.
“Every maid knows that offering Mr Darcy anything more than folding back the shutters or lighting the fire whilst he is still abed will have you on the first mail coach. He is a generous master. He had me placed with his sister two years ago, and anyone on the estate is guaranteed work or a reference. And you ought to see the dinners and dances he puts on for the tenants, labourers, schoolchildren, and the people in the village.”
“He seems an excellent landlord for a man who likely only spends half of his time here.”
“If he marries, he might be more often at Pemberley, but, as Reynolds says, I do not know who is good enough for him.”
Elizabeth watched the colour drain from her own face in the mirror, which led to Carew frowning and turning her face roughly to apply some application sure to brighten her under the candles this evening. “It–it is to your credit that you should think so of Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth managed to say.
“’Tis the truth. I grew up in the park, and he is only a few years older than me. He was a sweet-tempered boy, good-natured as he grew older, also. Never cross, never abusing his position.”
This was praise most opposite to her ideas. That Darcy was not a good-tempered man had been her firmest opinion. As Carew moved about her room with authority, tidying up and laying out her nightshift for later, Elizabeth asked, “Is Miss Darcy very like her brother?”
“Mr Darcy, as you seem to know, is sure of his place in the world and all the responsibilities that come with it. His sister is the opposite. Whilst the master will walk into any room and command attention, Miss Darcy creeps in as though she fears she might break something. Mr Darcy does his best to encourage her.”
Carew finished putting the room in good order, and Elizabeth thanked her and Miss Darcy for their attention as she left.
Darcy is a caring master, a responsible landlord, a devoted friend, and an attentive brother.
She did not regret refusing Darcy’s offer of marriage, but she did regret the hateful things she had said to him.
It was disgraceful how she had misjudged him and trusted Wickham.
As Elizabeth went to the dining room, she had a more gentle sensation towards Darcy than she had ever previously held.