Chapter 23
Anne
Anne decided to go back to Rosings. She had met with her solicitors and the London physician she most esteemed; she had purchased new clothes for herself and Mrs Jenkinson, plus more than a few books to augment her excellent library; and she had enjoyed visiting Georgiana as well as her aunt and uncle.
As to the original goal she had in coming to London, she had no doubt accomplished as much as she could.
She had visited Darcy House once more, that time with Georgiana and Aunt Helen, and by agreement with the housekeeper, she inspected an entire lineup of maids.
She was easily able to identify the woman who had spoken to her so confusingly about a small trunk and four bedsheets.
Aunt Helen had interviewed the maid at length while Georgiana and Anne waited in the music room. Georgiana loved the pianoforte in Darcy House best in all the world and was happy to envelope herself within its clear sounds.
Anne rarely got to hear her cousin play. “You are so brilliant!” she complimented Georgiana. “It would seem impossible for anyone to play any better than how you played last autumn—but just now you did play even better!”
When Aunt Helen returned to them, looking a bit grim, they walked swiftly back to Matlock House, and once Georgiana had returned to her lessons with Mrs Green, Anne insisted that she be told what had occurred.
“Very well. You must know that it would be impossible for a maid who had accepted money to steal from her employer to continue on at Darcy House.
I spoke with her until she finally reported a particular footman who also took money from your mother with the promise to help her as needed.
Both of them insisted they were the only agents that they knew of.
“Naturally, they were turned out of the house. I went to Mrs Taylor, the housekeeper, and she was the one who let them go. I did suggest a bit of mercy, since both of the servants seemed to be very impressed with your mother’s story—she told them that she had promised Darcy’s mother to watch over him.
Luckily, Mrs Taylor had a merciful solution.
She informed me that her cousin ran a household in Manchester and was an extremely sensible, practical manager who had little patience for folly.
Mrs Taylor intended to send the two servants to her cousin with an explanatory letter. ”
Anne was relieved. “I am glad to know that they will not be turned out onto the streets of London with no letter of reference.”
“I hope that they have learnt a lesson and will continue in service with more loyalty to their next master,” her aunt responded.
Anne could not think of another way she could be of use to Darcy, so she informed Mrs Jenkinson that they would leave for Rosings the next day.
She was very grateful that she had not missed a messenger Darcy had sent from Oakhaven; he arrived that very afternoon.
He was surprised and relieved to discover that Anne was there rather than Kent.
Anne eagerly read the news Darcy had sent.
She had truly never wished to marry Darcy; she hated the cold, and Derbyshire was much, much colder than Kent; plus, she knew in her bones that she would not be able to safely carry and birth a child.
She had no desire to marry anyone because of her assurance that she should never attempt to bear a child.
In this, her two most trusted physicians agreed.
However, Anne had always thought that Darcy was the best of men, and as she read novels, she could not help picturing him as the romantic hero.
His letters had always been more frequent than letters from anyone else, friend or family, despite the difficulty on his part of having to send them by private messenger.
She was truly stunned—and pleased—to have received one while he was on his bridal tour.
When she read the letter, she cried. First, because Darcy was so obviously deeply happy.
He told brief anecdotes about the sights he and Elizabeth had seen, and every one of them was charming—from his wife’s childlike desire to put her feet into the ocean, and the way he had contrived to find a spot where she could do so unseen by anyone, to his delight in her raptures over a sunset picnic.
He referred to Elizabeth darting around the circles of Stonehenge and striding across the moors of Cornwall, and Anne felt joy that he had found a lady who could not only be so physically strong, but also who would actually be willing to do so much walking… let alone darting!
The other reason Anne wept over his letter is that Darcy wrote such caring thoughts about her, Anne.
He said that he and Elizabeth were both concerned that her mother might take actions or start rumours that would make her own life worse, and if anything like that should happen, she was to let him know immediately, and he would find a way to help.
He also promised to help if their uncle and aunt’s physicians did not suit her for any reason, and he asked if she was comfortable with taking over the decision making at Rosings.
“I think the world of your steward,” Darcy wrote, “but if he does not defer to you over your mother, I could write to him and insist that he do so, or I could replace him. Also, I believe that you should feel safe in your own home, and I encourage you to hire a new housekeeper and servants, and ensure that they will be loyal to you, first and foremost. Please let Elizabeth and I know if you need any support for such an endeavour.”
The letter was proof that he and Elizabeth had taken time, during all the delights of their bridal tour, to discuss her needs. It was such a testament to how very wonderful they both were.
She would write two letters to Darcy and Elizabeth, sending one letter to Fraoch Hall in Ireland and the other to Pemberley.
She had no idea how long it would take a letter to reach his estate in Ireland, but of course Pemberley would be his final destination, and a letter sent there would definitely reach him. Eventually.
Feeling stronger for Darcy’s promise of support, Anne met with Aunt Helen one more time to discuss the idea of making a massive change in the servants of Rosings.
She was, after all, the owner and mistress of the estate—not her mother—and she really should feel safe to get letters that her mother did not snatch up and read before she had even laid eyes on them, and she really should be able to tell Mrs Jenkinson about Darcy’s news without fear of eavesdroppers.
With that new goal in mind, Anne put off her return to Rosings.
When she went, her uncle, aunt, and cousin Georgiana would accompany her, and they would bring new servants.
The old servants would be turned out with one extra payment plus letters of recommendation—but she would fill the house with people who were aware that she was mistress.
It was quite a thrill to contemplate.