Chapter Nineteen #2
“That is very generous of you, Mrs Denny. I look forward to hearing from you. I will be at Orchard Cottage until I receive your message.” The woman rose to her feet. “Thank you for consenting to see me, I understand that my lack of experience is not ideal.”
“I have no objection to working hard and learning together, Mrs Hawes, if you are willing to do the same.” Kitty rang the bell and Agnes entered to show the lady out.
“The Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy, Miss Jenks, Miss Matilda Jenks, and Mrs Annesley.” The footman John announced their guests as Elizabeth and Mr and Mrs Denny rose to their feet.
Darcy made the introductions, including that their cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, had turned up unexpectedly at Pemberley the evening before after more than three years on the continent.
“Welcome home, Colonel. I know that your family has missed you dreadfully.” Elizabeth curtsied. “Miss Jenks, Miss Matilda, it is very pleasant to see you again so soon.”
“We spoke of the matter with Miss Darcy, and everyone agreed that with all Mrs Denny must face as a new young bride, she ought not be punished for callers later for having been too devoted to her new family upon arriving in the neighbourhood.” Miss Jenks was very proper, but Kitty had already heard from Elizabeth all about her, and was not intimidated.
“If you will attempt to make yourself available for a short call each day at noon, Mrs Denny, we could ensure that you meet one or two local ladies at a time each day for under a half hour, but it would make it possible for you to accept their condolence calls later when you are expected not to go out.”
“Mr Walters spends a few hours with Mr Denny each day, as we all do,” Elizabeth supplied.
“And it is usually near that time. Mr Denny tires quickly, and his pain often requires the use of medication to help him rest for several hours a day. We ought to be able to be available for a half hour a day.”
“And you must not feel that you must provide refreshment at each visit, Mrs Denny” Miss Matilda said in hopes of not overwhelming their hostess. “The ladies will be coming for brief introductions, no one will expect you to extend yourself so far.”
“I do not think, as a daughter of my own mother, that I could countenance such an idea. Thankfully, our cook is skilled and of a good nature, she will not disappoint us,” Kitty insisted. “At the very least, I am certain that we can produce at least a plate of biscuits and a pot of tea each day.”
“Now, Mrs Denny, I understand that your housekeeper has left you?” Miss Jenks asked directly. “That happens so often when a new bride enters a house where no one expected to replace servants so soon. Do you have a plan to replace her?”
“I shudder to admit that my husband and I have much to do here at Hawthorne Vale, and a woman with the proper experience might hesitate to undertake the work,” Kitty explained.
“But a local lady, a Mrs Hawes, called this morning about the position. I suppose that it does not take very long for word about available work to spread around the neighbourhood.”
“We cannot give Mrs Hawes, the daughter of Mrs Sydney, a professional reference, but she is known hereabouts as a very proper woman of gentle birth, and she would most likely learn the position quickly and with ease,” Miss Jenks advised Kitty.
“Thank you. I feel that I still must write to the wife of her husband’s commanding officer to get a more recent character reference. We are facing so many challenges as it is,” Kitty observed.
“That is very prudent of you,” Miss Jenks said approvingly.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, I hope you have visited your mother. I am certain Lady Matlock and Lady Priscilla are overjoyed by your return.” Elizabeth turned the conversation, seeing that Kitty was nervous while serving tea and seeking to remove attention from her. .
“I have, Miss Elizabeth. I must admit, after some days I only wished to bolt for Pemberley to see my young cousin, for Darcy and I share the guardianship of Miss Darcy. Sadly, my sister followed me there this morning, and obviously intends to plague me for my entire visit.”
“Priscilla misses you terribly, Lizzy, and she would have been quite pleased to call upon you both today, but did not wish to overwhelm Mrs Denny with too many visitors.” Georgiana volunteered.
“She is calling upon you tomorrow, Kitty, with Miss Poole and Mrs Forest. And I believe that Mrs Beaumont will call upon you on Monday. She is the curate’s wife in your parish and lives much closer than those of us in Lambton do.
She will introduce you to a few of the ladies who are your closer neighbours over the next week.
Never for more than a quarter or half hour a day, we quite understand that you have other obligations upon your time. ”
“Georgie, it is so good of you to worry about me making friends or being lonely.” Kitty smiled warmly at her friend over her teacup.
“We had so much to think of when we arrived that it never occurred to me. I should hate for poor Lizzy to feel obliged to stay with me for three months entire to prevent my loneliness.”
“I understand that another of your sisters has recently arrived in Lambton and resides at the parsonage, although she has not been spotted in the village,” Mrs Jenks said subtly.
“Our eldest sister is married to Mr Darcy’s friend Mr Bingley,” Elizabeth began.
“Of course, we have met Mr Bingley at church when he visits Mr Darcy. A very obliging young gentleman. Your sisters have been remarkably fortunate in their choices, Miss Elizabeth.” Miss Matilda complimented.
“Thank you, you are very kind. In any case, Mrs Bingley, who has been married the longest of my sisters, was recently travelling north to visit her husband’s family in Scarborough.
She suspected that she was in an interesting condition, early days, of course, but she did not anticipate how ill travelling would make her.
She is the temporary guest of Mrs Collins while she recovers enough to resume their journey. ”
“That would explain why she has not been seen in the village. My understanding is that in those early days, some ladies are often ill for so many hours in the morning that they spend the afternoon napping.” Miss Matilda observed.
“We will send Mrs Collins a receipt for ginger biscuits and a tea that might help her, and pray that Mrs Bingley’s health improves. ”
Later that afternoon, long after the ladies had taken their leave and returned with Georgiana in the carriage to Pemberley, escorted by Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr Darcy caught Elizabeth in a quiet moment in the hall.
“Are you still taking your long marches each morning since you arrived?” he asked.
Elizabeth smiled. “I take a marvelously long walk every morning. Matthew often spends the morning with his father. It is when Mr Denny is most clear-headed and can answer questions, as long as he is in the mood to do so. Which is hardly ever. Then he often requires a pain draught after only a few hours, and Mr Walters sits with him around mid-day. Kitty spends as much time with him as she is able in the afternoon so that she may concern herself with her husband and the estate when she does not. I sit with him in the evening after dinner so that Kitty and Matthew may have their nights to themselves.”
“Miss Elizabeth, would you mind if I rode over in the mornings and accompanied you on your walks?” Mr Darcy asked nervously, fidgeting with his gloves.
“That would please me very much. Matthew insists that a groom accompany me, for I do not know the estate or the locals.” Elizabeth answered. “I am certain that the view would be much better enjoyed with someone to guide me.”
“I am very happy that you came north with your sisters, so that we might come to know each other better, as we planned to do when you returned to London.”
“So am I. I am quite certain that I will be very happy in Derbyshire, helping my sisters and watching their happiness bloom, and being close to your sister and cousin can only be another blessing.” Elizabeth blushed slightly. “I will probably walk out by six.”
“I will be in the fields behind the house in the morning,” he promised, taking her hand and bowing over it before giving her a dazzling smile and departing to join Denny for their planned meeting, where Darcy was to assist her brother in making sense of the steward’s ledgers.