Chapter 1 #2
“I have received a letter from my brother Bennet. There is a note for you too, Lizzy,” Mr. Gardiner said.
“And I have received one from my aunt Templeton—quite strange I must say,” Mrs. Gardiner said. “You remember her, do you not, Lizzy? She is the one who lives in Surrey, married to a doctor. She has been very fond of you since you were little.”
“I do, of course. I last saw her three years ago—I was not so little then as to forget her,” she smiled. “I hope she is well.”
“She is—in regard to her health—but she has sent me some strange news. Her son, my eldest cousin, is still in Lambton—the small village where I grew up. He is a tenant on a nearby estate—Pemberley—and his wife runs a shop in the village. Apparently, there was some sort of influenza, brought in by one of the villagers who returned from the army, and many people have been unwell. The disease has passed, but apparently it caused some major financial troubles for everyone. They are worried how they will survive this year.”
“Oh dear…” Elizabeth whispered.
“Indeed. Even more strange, she said she has received a letter from her good friend Mrs. Reynolds—the housekeeper at Pemberley Manor. Mrs. Reynolds is unwell and she is seeking someone to help her with the management of Pemberley’s household for three months.
Apparently, there are some troubles there too.
Mrs. Reynolds is asking for a recommendation, but they are looking for someone more accomplished than most young ladies.
Do we know anyone like this, husband?” she asked in jest, handing the letter to her husband, who took it with amusement and curiosity.
“So they are searching for a highly accomplished maid?” Elizabeth joked.
“Well, not just a simple maid, it seems,” Mr. Gardiner answered as he read.
“The person they need will occupy the same position as Mrs. Reynolds, will be responsible for the management of the entire household, including expenses and salaries, the hiring of new staff, and will have access to some highly valuable things in the house. To be honest, I would not dare recommend anyone; the responsibilities are huge and that person must not be just highly qualified but eminently trustworthy too.”
“This is a strange request, indeed,” Elizabeth uttered. “Why cannot some of the other servants help Mrs. Reynolds? I assume there is at least one maid and butler who have proven their loyalty over the years.”
“I cannot answer that,” Mrs. Gardiner replied. “But it does sound strange to me too.”
“Oh, dear!” Mr. Gardiner exclaimed. “I am ready to go there myself. Or to send you, my love,” he addressed his wife, laughing. “It says that if the person is found and complies with her duties accordingly, the master is willing to pay her as much as five hundred pounds per month!”
“What?” Elizabeth uttered unceremoniously.
“This must be an error. Or a joke,” Mrs. Gardiner said, rolling her eyes. “Perhaps it is fifty pounds. I am sure Aunt Templeton must have added an extra nought by mistake.”
“It might be, but I doubt it. The letter says ‘the shocking salary of’…” Mr. Gardiner read. “Well anyway, let us not bother too much with it. We know nobody who might meet those requirements, so we can only wish them good luck in their daunting quest.”
The rest of dinner passed in light conversation, but as the evening progressed, Elizabeth became less voluble and more tormented.
What she had first considered unthinkable slowly made its way into her mind, fighting its way through her reasoning.
Hours ago, she was praying for a chance to help her father.
And out of the blue, fate seemed to have sent her a sign.
She did not consider herself accomplished or skilful at anything.
But she knew she could work hard, she could easily bear effort, she was a fast learner, and reasonably good at calculation.
And on top of everything, she was certain and proud of her loyalty, her honesty and her commitment to anything she promised to do.
Three months, with a payment of five hundred pounds a month—or even less would suffice—would equal almost the income of Longbourn in a year.
Of course, her parents would never agree to her engaging in such employment, but about that, she had time to consider her arguments and to convince them.
“Lizzy? Lizzy darling, are you unwell?” Mrs. Gardiner’s voice startled her and she turned to her companions, two people who she loved dearly and admired even more.
“What is it, my dear? You look pale and quite disturbed,” Mr. Gardiner said.
“I… I was thinking…” she hesitated, looked at them, then averted her eyes and finally looked at them again. They both seemed deeply worried about her reaction, and their concern turned into the deepest amazement and disbelief, when she spoke further.
“Uncle, Aunt… Would you mind… Could you recommend me to be Mrs. Reynolds’ help? This would be my best chance of helping Papa. Do you think I could rise to the expectations of the job? What I do not know, I will learn! I promise I will not disappoint you!”