Chapter 4
Elizabeth was in her sitting room attending to her correspondence when the housekeeper, a respectable-looking, elderly woman, responded to her summons.
As Mrs. Reynolds was advancing in years, Elizabeth supposed she would soon be compelled to retire the loyal and faithful servant.
It was not something she looked forward to.
“You wished to see me, Mrs. Darcy.”
“I did. Thank you for your promptness. Please have a seat, Mrs. Reynolds.”
Once the elderly woman took a seat, Elizabeth sat across from her. “May I offer you tea?”
“That is very kind of you, madam, but I must decline.”
Elizabeth said, “Very well. I suspect you are anxious to return to your duties. I shall endeavour not to keep you. I wish to discuss the matter of your grandson, Samuel, and Ben. No doubt you are aware of their close camaraderie.”
“Oh dear, pray Samuel has not been making a nuisance of himself.”
“No, on the contrary, it warms my heart knowing Ben has someone of his own age to while away the long days. This is a first for him, you know. He relies upon his friendship with Samuel, and I can do no less than encourage it.” She took a deep breath.
“This brings me to the matter I wanted to discuss.” Elizabeth knew diplomacy was the order of the day.
She did not like to think she was going behind her husband’s back, but it was he who had insisted that he and the housekeeper were of one mind on the subject.
Elizabeth simply meant to test his conjecture for she could not fathom why anyone would not wish to see one’s own kin benefit from a first-rate education.
“What I am about to discuss is a cause for some debate between Mr. Darcy and me. Acting upon Ben’s wish to have Samuel join him in class, I asked Mr. Coolidge to factor young Samuel’s needs into his lesson plans in addition to Ben’s.
I see this as a wonderful opportunity for your grandson.
However, for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with Samuel himself and everything to do with a childhood friend of Mr. Darcy’s—a Mr. George Wickham—my husband is dead set against the scheme.
As I do not know the particulars, Mr. Darcy’s strong convictions are hard to countenance.
Were he to understand how much it would mean to you to see that young Samuel continues to benefit from Mr. Coolidge’s tutelage, I feel strongly that Mr. Darcy would not be opposed to the scheme. ”
“Mrs. Darcy, pray you will forgive me, but I can see where Mr. Darcy’s objections originate.
Indeed, it is not unreasonable for him to feel as he does.
” The housekeeper twisted a linen cloth in her hand.
“I know all too well of what he speaks. I do not know how much he told you about his childhood and his being reared alongside him, and I should hate to overstep my bounds by saying more than I ought.”
“He has said very little about his childhood friend. In fact, today is the first time I have ever heard his name mentioned. Mr. Darcy posits that his excellent father had done a great disservice in allowing Mr. Wickham to be reared in a manner beyond his sphere.”
“As I said, I am no stranger to my late master’s generosity.
He was George’s godfather. Where he meant to see his godson reared as a gentleman with every advantage as well as to give him the means to enjoy a gentleman’s life, despite the humble origins of the young man’s own parents, George regarded his good fortune as an entitlement.
He came to consider himself as equal to the heir of Pemberley, by virtue of the elder Mr. Darcy’s benevolence. ”
“Is that any reason young Samuel should suffer? The situations are not the same.”
“Mrs. Darcy, I fear that George Wickham turned out very wild—nothing at all like the fine upstanding young man he portrayed himself to be when the elder Mr. Darcy was alive. I can only attribute it to his realisation and ensuing bitterness that he indeed was never meant to be young Mr. Darcy’s equal in consequence—that a generous inheritance did not await him upon his godfather’s passing and he would have to rely upon his own devices to attain the manner of living he supposed he ought to have: one befitting a gentleman.
” Mrs. Reynolds sat up straight and spoke with conviction.
“Surely the elder Mr. Darcy would not have treated George Wickham with such favour had he any notion of how the gentleman would turn out.
“Mr. Darcy is an excellent master, and he is every bit as kind and as generous as his father. Everyone who knows him will say the same. If he has misgivings about the prospect of exposing my grandson to the same privileges enjoyed by Master Bennet, who am I to raise objections? I trust the master implicitly, and I am not apt to second guess him, especially where it regards my grandson’s well-being.
I believe he has been more than generous in allowing Samuel as many liberties as he has already. ”
“Mrs. Reynolds, you speak with such conviction. Of course, I can do no less than honour your wishes even if I do not agree with them. Young Samuel is such a pleasant lad—so even tempered and good natured. I have never heard a bad thing about him.”
“One would imagine, however, that the same was said of a young George Wickham, and, as I said, he turned out very wild. I don’t mind saying I would rather no such temptations be placed before my Samuel.”
“So, you are content that the lack of a proper education must surely increase his prospects of a life in servitude with no means of escape.”
“As long as my grandson is reared with strong guidance and given good examples to follow, I see no harm in that. We all have our own lot in life.”
“I did not mean to imply that such a life is less than honourable.”
“Indeed, we all have our parts to play. ‘Tis the way of the world.”
Elizabeth fell silent. She had done her best, but the odds were heavily stacked against her.
She had supposed that if Darcy knew how much it meant to Mrs. Reynolds for Samuel to enjoy such an opportunity, she could convince Darcy to go along with the scheme.
Alas, it was not to be. Both Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds were determined not to repeat what they viewed in hindsight as a mistake on the elder Mr. Darcy’s part as regarded his godson—the son of his own steward.
What would be the point in arguing with them both, especially as she was loath to relinquish such decisions when it came to her own son?
The question is: How shall I help Ben understand?
Mrs. Reynolds said, “I suspect this is not what you wanted to hear, Mrs. Darcy. It is the way it must be. I have never done anything other than my master’s bidding, and nothing anyone can say or do will ever change that.
” She stood and smoothed her skirt. “I beg your pardon, madam. I must return to my duties.”
Elizabeth’s ensuing discomfort of the elderly woman’s attitude would hardly be repressed. She seemed to take Elizabeth’s good intentions as an effrontery. This shall only complicate matters as regards our relationship, I suppose.
I cannot say I blame her—not entirely. Till this day, any mention of sending Ben away to boarding school riled her.
It was too soon. He was too young. Should Mr. Coolidge remain in their employ for the next decade, it would suit Elizabeth just fine.
Of course, Mr. Darcy would never hear of it.
It is as though he has every hour of Ben’s life planned.
Elizabeth drifted to the window and folded her arms over her bosom as she stared outside.
I know he only has Ben’s best interest at heart and only wants what is best for Ben.
Elizabeth was just unaccustomed to relinquishing control over Ben’s life.
For so long she had been the only one making decisions for Ben, and now Mr. Darcy had effectively relieved her of that distinction.
What a bittersweet conundrum she faced: being married to the best man in the world and having him shoulder her every burden, when anything having to do with her son she did not consider a burden at all.
Being Ben’s mother had defined her every waking moment for so long.
Ceding control to another is not going to be easy.