Chapter 16
Elizabeth looked around the large entrance hall.
It was cold, with only a few scattered candles still flickering from their hasty placement.
But she could imagine how imposing it would look when brightly lit and with a fire roaring in the enormous fireplace.
Twin staircases curved up from left and right to meet at a galleried walkway in the double-height room, and generations of Darcys glowered down from their portraits in gilded frames.
Tomorrow she would begin to discover about the house and the obligations of the mistress, although her heart quailed a little from the obvious unpreparedness of the house and staff for their arrival.
She attempted to look serene and composed rather than lost and anxious, while the colonel was preoccupied with the housekeeper. He was looking bemused and rather concerned.
But the other woman approached her, and curtsied. “Good evening, Mrs Darcy. I am Mrs Kerr, the deputy housekeeper. I deeply regret the mistress’s chambers cannot be prepared in time. Might I show you to a suitable chamber for tonight?”
Elizabeth nodded. “I thank you. I confess I am fatigued from the journey.” She glanced up the stairs where her husband had disappeared.
He had looked pale and unsteady. “Mr Darcy ought not to have travelled so soon after his injury, although he insisted. It is important that everything possible is done for his comfort so he may rest properly.”
Mrs Kerr looked up thoughtfully. “We had no notion that the master had been injured. I have sent two footmen after Mr Maunder and I am sure he will advise on everything possible Mr Darcy will need.”
Elizabeth nodded. “The main concern is that there is enough hot water quickly, I believe, and arranging suitable food.”
“I have sent a message to the kitchens already, madam. Now, may I see to your comfort?”
Elizabeth followed the woman up the stairs. “I am assuming the colonel is a regular visitor here, and his needs and wants may be accommodated? I believe he is staying but one night.”
The other woman smiled slightly. “Mrs Reynolds will do all she can. She is very fond of the colonel.”
Elizabeth tried to feel strong. A strange new house; they had not been expected — a feeling that she was unwelcome.
The colonel downstairs had been the only source of any comfort to her on the journey, although he had been mainly preoccupied with his cousin.
And he would be gone in the morning, leaving her alone among strangers.
Now she must climb not only the stairs — but the mountain that was the task of making a new life here.
She must become the mistress of a house so vast that she had barely seen its outline in the encroaching darkness when they arrived, and she must also forge allies and respect from the staff.
Not to forget an estate so wealthy that there must be many tenants who would rely on her.
Only then might she wrest some happiness from the future she had been forced into.
Deep within her, she wondered if she could ever rise to such a duty.
The deputy housekeeper stopped at an open door almost at the end of the corridor.
Inside, Elizabeth could see several maids busily removing dust sheets and readying the room.
Another was laying a fire in the hearth.
“I am dismayed that we were so unprepared to welcome you to Pemberley, Mrs Darcy. The mistress’s apartments will take some time to ready, and I hope you are not offended at taking this guest chamber for tonight.
It has been the most recently cleaned in our schedule and was aired only two days ago. ”
“Then it will be perfectly satisfactory, Mrs Kerr.” Elizabeth watched the maids finishing their tasks. It was a pretty room, larger than her chamber at Longbourn, although the decoration and furniture looked rather dated. She hoped the mattress was newer.
“I think I overheard the colonel telling Mrs Reynolds to assign a maid to you for the time being,” the woman said hesitantly.
“Emily has received some training in the work of a lady’s maid.
Please ask her to call me should you require anything at all.
I will have your trunks sent up to you at once. ”
“Thank you. When there is hot water to spare — do see to Mr Darcy’s bath first — I would like to bathe, and perhaps a plate might be made up for me without troubling the kitchen too much.”
Elizabeth would relish a bath once the chamber was warm enough. And she was very hungry; having to see Mr Darcy scowling and in pain had reduced her appetite while they journeyed. To eat up here, alone, would be a boon.
She wondered if there would be money available to refurbish outdated chambers; were the mistress’s chambers as bad?
But this room would be perfectly all right for the time being.
If she stayed here for more than a day or two, she could argue for a better mattress if this one was not right.
A thought crossed her mind; would Mr Darcy insist she must sleep in the mistress’s chambers?
No. I am certain he does not care where I sleep.
Unless it was to keep up appearances. It was well that she was alone because she could feel the heat of a blush creeping across her features.
She shook herself, such a silly fancy; he was not in any frame of mind to even think of her. Emily would be up soon with her plate, and she must be calm and collected.
The next morning, Emily brought a breakfast tray, and Elizabeth looked at it with satisfaction.
Steam curled up from the spout of the teapot, and there was thickly buttered toast with several little bowls of preserves and a dish of coddled eggs with finely sliced ham.
It was beautifully presented. “That looks wonderful, Emily. Thank you.”
Afterwards, while Emily laid out her clothes for the morning, Elizabeth drew the curtain aside, and almost gasped at the view. There were lawns and borders aplenty, but she lifted her gaze up and could see great majestic, craggy peaks, forming a jagged skyline.
With views like that, she could be very content in this chamber. She wondered how far it was to the foothills; they would make for challenging but exhilarating walks. But first — she must establish herself as mistress of house and estate.
As she descended the stairs alone, she saw one of the footmen slip from the hall, and a few moments later, she was greeted respectfully by the deputy housekeeper.
Elizabeth nodded at her. “Good morning, Mrs Kerr. I thank you for your attention last night. I was very comfortable.” It was true. The bed had been perfect for her and her exhaustion for the last few days had helped her sleep through the night.
“I am pleased to hear it, but must apologise again for the lack of welcome.”
“It was not your fault, and it is forgotten.” Elizabeth smiled. “I was hoping you might have some time this morning to tour the house with me. I should like to come to know the household. Or perhaps Mrs Reynolds would prefer to take the duty?”
“Mrs Reynolds sends her apologies, Mrs Darcy. She was somewhat distressed by the unreadiness of the closed house and is busy ensuring everything is under control. Would you care to start with the public rooms? We have begun to bring them to readiness, and in future we will see them so at all times. In the past, when we knew exactly when to expect the master, and the house was closed to people viewing the property, we protected the furniture when the house was unoccupied.”
“I understand.” Elizabeth nodded. “Beginning with the public rooms is satisfactory.”
As they walked towards the drawing room, Elizabeth steeled herself to ask questions. “Is Colonel Fitzwilliam still abed, or has he left early?”
“The colonel sent his apologies for failing to farewell you, madam, but he left Pemberley at dawn. I believe he has to report for duty soon and was riding to London.”
“Then I hope he has a safe journey. It was good of him to support Mr Darcy on the northward journey if that was the case.” And protect me from the difficulties that arose.
Elizabeth was shown the main drawing room, the dining room, the breakfast room, a small dining parlour, several receiving parlours, the music room, two further practice rooms and the mistress’s sitting room.
There was also the library — which she greeted with a cry of delight, the long gallery, the card room with billiard table, and an enormous, beautiful ballroom.
The final joy was a wonderful orangery, with the quiet background roar of the furnaces which kept it warm and the heavy, living atmosphere of the tropical plantings.
She knew that here would be wonderful place to sit and read during the winter months.
In a few days she might be able to arrange a more comfortable chair.
She also saw the estate office and map room, but declined to enter Mr Darcy’s private study.
“Thank you, Mrs Kerr. I think we have earned a rest. Please have tea and refreshments sent to me in my private sitting room, and take a moment for yourself. Is there paper and ink in that room? I wish to make some notes.”
She rested on one of the ugliest sofas she had ever seen, its legs were deeply carved and the fabric worn. However, it was very comfortable, and Elizabeth enjoyed the crumbly fresh pastry with a cup of hot tea. The tray was neatly laid out, and the maid was smartly dressed and efficient.
There was nothing wrong with the way the house was functioning that she had yet seen.
Everywhere had been spotlessly clean; the schedule even for a closed-up house was evidently quite strict.
But there were many signs of wear showing that the house had not been decorated for a very long time.
The curtains that dressed the great windows in the drawing room were the same deep crimson which had been fashionable some twenty years ago, and she had seen how faded the ones by the sunniest windows were.