Chapter Sixteen
“What a darling house! Oh, and look at the view!” Kitty exclaimed as everyone got out to stretch their legs at the home Gigi would be staying in for the summer.
From the outside it looked like it might have five or six bedrooms. It was just two stories and the attic.
It was impossible to tell if it had a basement from the streetside.
The beach access looked to be about one hundred yards away, maybe a bit more.
The windows from the back of the house would have an unimpeded view of the water.
Mrs. Young, Gigi’s lady’s maid, and the two footmen made sure everything of theirs was unloaded and taken in the house.
The butler and housekeeper gave directions to the rooms and waited patiently for the new mistress and the man in uniform to say their goodbyes to the other party.
The other two carriages and a luggage cart left to go further down the road.
“Welcome to Seaview Cottage. You must be Miss Darcy. I am your housekeeper Mrs. Riley, and your butler, Mr. Riley. Cook prefers to just be called cook.” The other lady had just joined them in the vestibule.
“Very nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Riley, Cook, this is my cousin and one of my guardians, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, and just joining us is my companion, Mrs. Bernice Young. The people who just left are my family and will be staying down the way a bit. They are welcome at any time. It is the Bennet family and my cousin Elizabeth Darcy.”
“Your brother is not with you?”
“He had an emergency at home. He will possibly join us in a few weeks. The colonel will only be here for two nights.”
Richard stepped forward just as Mrs. Young looked like she wanted to take charge. “If you would show us to our rooms to clean up, and then I would like to speak to the three of you…is there a study?”
Mr. Riley answered, “Yes sir. I will show you where it is and then take you to your room. Mrs. Riley will see Miss Darcy and her companion settled and we will meet you in the study.”
~~~~~
“I want to make it very clear, Miss Darcy is in charge here, not Mrs. Young. Her companion has lately shown a lack of judgement that has disturbed both Mr. Darcy and me. Mr. Bennet, who I will introduce you to before I leave, should be consulted if you have questions. Also, Miss Bennet, the other Miss Darcy, and John Smith can be trusted. I will leave the addresses that Mr. Darcy and I can be contacted if anything truly questionable arises.”
“Understood, sir. Are we to expect trouble of some sort?”
“I would not say ‘expect’, but there are several young women, and more than one heiress. Do you have trusted footmen here? We have brought two with us.”
“Yes sir, we have two also. Our sons, actually. What house will the Bennet’s stay in, if I may ask?”
“The Rock House.”
“Not a welcoming name, but a beautiful house. It is named aptly. It is quite famous in the area.”
“This will be Miss Darcy’s first foray as the mistress of her own home.
She will appreciate your guidance, and hopefully her companions also.
I will say again, Mrs. Young is not in charge here.
Her job is to assist and advise. Miss Bennet has a great deal of experience as the mistress of an estate.
She is rather quiet, from what I have seen, but she seems capable.
Feel free to consult her, if necessary, as well. That will be all for now.”
Mr. and Mrs. Riley and Cook quietly left the room.
Richard had a very odd feeling about all this.
He would need to talk with Mr. Bennet and John before he left about keeping a close eye out.
When he went back to London in several weeks he would find those papers with Mrs. Young’s references.
They had been in a hurry and only checked the first one.
He would have his mother check the rest.
~~~~~
“Oh Beth! Look at this view!” The Rock House had a basement and three stories visible from the front, and when they entered the front door, you could see straight through to a terrace that covered the entire back of the house with an unencumbered sea view.
All the girls went straight to it. The main floor had parlors and dining rooms, the first and second floors had bedrooms and sitting rooms. The attic was for servants and storage.
The butler, housekeeper, and cook had rooms in the basement, and there was a large pantry and wine cellar.
The young ladies would have the second floor, while Mr. Bennet, John Smith, Mrs. Russell, and Mrs. Greaves would take the floor below.
The last four smiled fondly at the young ladies. “I assume you are Mr. and Mrs. Fredricks? I am Thomas Bennet. This is Mrs. Russell and Mrs. Greaves, the companions to that gaggle, and Mr. John Smith, Mrs. Russell’s nephew.”
“We are very pleased to have such a lively group at Rock House. Our upstairs maid is showing your servants where your rooms are located, and we will show you up whenever you are ready.”
Jane came back in and joined them. “This is my daughter Miss Bennet. She will be our hostess and mistress of the house. Please consult her about meals and entertainments and schedules. She keeps that gaggle of geese in line.”
Mr. and Mrs. Fredricks looked rather surprised that such a young woman would be in charge. Seeing how she was dressed, they assumed Mrs. Russell would be mistress, but the kind looking young lady might just be in training.
“Very well. Miss Bennet, would you like us to serve tea, or shall you all retire for a time?”
“If you would show everyone to their rooms, please. We will have tea in half an hour. Please have someone stationed to show us to the main parlor. Does it have an ocean view?”
“The blue parlor and the main dining room both face the ocean, and so does the breakfast room. The green parlor, library, study, and a small sitting room all face west. Your servants are all housed in the attic rooms.”
“I hope there are adequate windows up there. I did not notice.”
Mrs. Fredricks smiled at her thoughtfulness, “Yes. Each room has its own window. It is not stifling in the summer months. There are also windows at each end of the hallway, so they receive a nice cross breeze most days.”
Jane barely raised her voice, “Come ladies. We will find our rooms and come back down for tea.”
The three younger girls had learned not to linger when called. It was only Beth and Lizzy who waited a minute longer before following everyone up the stairs. The hopes were high for a wonderful summer.