Mrs. Darcy
Chapter 17
“I wonder when Lizzy and that new husband of hers will deign to show their faces at Longbourn but I suspect that it will not be anytime soon, unless they need money of course, which no doubt they do” Mrs. Bennet mumbled to no one in particular as she was pouring the tea.
“I wonder if he wears regimentals” Lydia, the youngest, yet the boldest of Mrs. Bennet’s offspring said in a dreamy voice. “I could love a man in regimentals.”
“You are too young to be thinking of men, regardless of what they wear” her sister Mary admonished.
“Oh, pish-posh” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “Of course she should be thinking of men at fifteen. Not everybody is as cold and unfeeling like you are Mary.”
Mr. Bennet was flabbergasted. Did his wife just encourage their fifteen years old daughter to chase after men while she remonstrated their proper daughter who pointed out the impropriety of it all?
“Mrs. Bennet” he cleared his throat. “I want something to be very clear. Never will an unmarried officer be welcomed at Longbourn.”
“But Mr. Bennet, you cannot mean that! Lady Lucas told me that a militia regiment will soon be encamped in Meryton. How will they get the proper attentions from any gentleman if you are thus limiting...” his wife begun to screech while his two youngest broke out in hysterical sobs.
“I am not to be gainsaid over this Mrs. Bennet and I advise you not to disobey me this time” Mr. Bennet interrupted her sternly. He too had heard about the militia regiment’s imminent arrival. He did not even want to start imagining what kind of a havoc that could wreck in his household if his wife and the youngest girls went unchecked. “Know now that if you are not abiding by what I said, everybody’s pin money will be withheld for the next quarter and, if even that proves ineffective, I will withhold your allowances indefinitely” he said with finality and left the parlour, retreating to his book room and ignoring the pandemonium he left behind.
---$---
Darcy and Elizabeth were laying in each other’s arms, not yet asleep after they just made sweet love, both revelling in the feel of utter contentment that the simple fact of being in each other’s arms in the privacy of their own rooms gave them.
“You are a marvel my love” Darcy murmured in her ear. “I fully expect that Aunt and Uncle will come to eventually love you but I confess that I did not expect for them to accept our marriage this quickly. I know that they still harbour reservations and it will be some time until they will fully accept it, but this first encounter had been much smoother than I expected. Why, Aunt Rebecca even accepted your ‘rules of engagement’” he chuckled. “I am sure that it will not take too long until you will conquer many others of the ton. You do tend to have that effect on people” he chuckled pulling her even closer to his chest and burying his nose in her fragrant curls.
“I am nothing special” she demurred, nevertheless blushing slightly at his praise. “I find that most people tend to treat one the way one treats them.”
“Does that mean that you shall adore me for the rest of your life just like I adore you?” he teased.
“Of that you may be assured, but only if you behave” she answered with the impish smile he so loved, and gave him a peck on his cheek.
Darcy took a deep breath and decided to breach the topic that was nagging at him ever since they arrived at Darcy House, the day before.
“Does that mean that you would not object… that you would allow me… that you would not insist that we sleep in separate rooms?”
Elizabeth turned to face him and propped herself up on her elbow so that she could command a full look of his face, looking searchingly into his eyes. “Is that your wish?” she asked softly. She knew that the custom of gentility was for husband and wife to have different bed chambers. Their wedding night had been in a tent and then there was the sea voyage where the accommodations did not allow for separate cabins for them. The night before they were both so exhausted by the trip that they both fell asleep almost instantly after they made love.
“If you mean to ask if my dearest wish is to fall asleep with you in my arms and to awake the same way for the rest of my life the answer is a definite yes. I know however that this is not how it is done in our society so if you wish…”
“William” she put her fingers on his lips, smiling at him tenderly. “Remember the nature of the marriages in our society, a fact that even Lady Rebecca decried only this morning. In such marriages I believe it is a relief for both parties to have their own private space. I don’t think that it applies in a marriage where husband and wife love each other and take pleasure in each other’s company. I do not wish to be parted from you, ever. I too love to fall asleep with you in my arms and awake the same way.”
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The next morning Elizabeth knocked on Darcy’s study’s door. “May I importune you for a bit?”
“You never importune me, my love” he smiled up at her, laying down the letter he was perusing.
Elizabeth closed the door and went to sit in the chair in front of his desk.
“There is something I was thinking about for quite some years” she started hesitatingly. “You see, after the first couple of battles, the ones in Portugal, I was thinking of how hard the life of the nurses and doctors is. Most of the time we did not know exactly what to do. Before I left for Portugal I trained for two months with Dr. Carmichael here in London, but there was so much more to learn, things that we learned through trial and error right there, on the battlefield” she looked up into Darcy’s eyes, who nodded his understanding. “I was also thinking of the wounded men who had been evacuated from Vimeiro, too badly hurt or incapacitated for life, so they could no longer fight. Many of them were not yet fully healed. Just like the men we brought back with us.” Darcy nodded again. “While we were on our way to Talavera, I kept thinking that the nurses, and consequently the wounded, could very much benefit of a more comprehensive training before joining the troops, a training based on practical experience. And that the wounded who have returned home, many of whom need to recuperate more to fully heal or who need to adjust to a life so very different than the life they left behind before they went to fight, might benefit of a place which will help them in this process. So I had these thoughts…plans… I was thinking to ask Uncle and Aunt Gardiner to help me organize charity events to raise funds and maybe found a nursing school. And if enough funds were raised, maybe even a hospital for the recuperating soldiers.”
Darcy stood and walked around his desk, coming to sit in the chair next to hers, taking her hand. “And you would like to do that now?”
“Yes, I should very much like to do so” she admitted.
“I see this as an excellent idea and a very fitting charity work for ” he smiled. “We fund many charities my love. The Darcys always have and always will. What we will need to do is figure out how much funds will be needed to run them and see how much of it we can cover. The rest, as you said, will be raised through some charity functions. I am sure Aunt Rebecca will be just as happy to assist with that as will be your Aunt Gardiner. I am sure it can be easily done.”
“I am so happy that you agree” Elizabeth beamed at her husband. “I shall ask Uncle Edward if he knows of any buildings in Cheapside which could be used. I am sure that housing there is more affordable than it would be in the more fashionable parts of town.”
“Undoubtedly” Darcy agreed. “Why don’t you draw out a plan dearest? Of what you have in mind, the size of the establishments, the staffing and all that. Then I will have our steward here in London, Mr. Harvey cost it out. In the meantime, I will look into our accounts to see what we can spare for it. Would that be acceptable to you my love?”
“Very much so, and thank you!” she said enthusiastically, ready to start the work immediately.
---$---
Darcy and Elizabeth agreed that they should not place the marriage announcement in the papers until they paid a visit to Mr. Bennet. Elizabeth felt that she owed her father that much, if nothing else, for the fact that he was the one who helped her become the person that she was.
The evening before their planned trip to Longbourn they dined with the Gardiner’s at Gracechurch street. Elizabeth’s surprise was great when she found Jane ensconced in the Gardiner’s home.
The reunion between the two sisters was tearful and they clung to each other as if for dear life, much to the Gardiners and Darcy’s enjoyment.
Darcy was pleasantly surprised by the elegance and the refinement of the couple whose acquaintance he secretly dreaded before meeting them. Dinner was an intimate and pleasant affair with wholesome food, excellent conversation and easy manners all around the table. In fact Darcy could not remember when he last enjoyed a dinner outside his own house this much, except for those in La Bisbal.
“Your mother has not changed a bit” Mrs. Gardiner warned Elizabeth.
“Your father is trying though…” Mr. Gardiner amended.
“Trying to be a more involved father, husband and master of the estate?” Elizabeth asked incredulously.
“No, that would be going a bit too far” Jane laughed although the slightly forced quality of her laughter showed how much disappointed she was with her parents.
“Now he at least tries to silence Fanny whenever she becomes too… excited. Which admittedly is quite often” Mr. Gardiner muttered.
“Too little, too late” Mrs. Gardiner’s lips pressed into a disapproving line but very quickly she tried to amend her comment. “I mean, his efforts are laudable…”
“We know him well Maddie” Mr. Gardiner chuckled. “Lizzy, Jane and I know very well what he is, and I dare say that Darcy here has a pretty good idea too.”
“Indeed Gardiner” Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and lifted it to his lips. “The more I hear of them the more I wonder at my wife’s fortitude.”
“Oh, Lizzy is a different species altogether” Mr. Gardiner chuckled.
“Uncle!” Elizabeth cried colouring with embarrassment at his praise.
“It is true Lizzy. You have your father’s wit and your mother’s liveliness. You somehow managed to get the best from them both” Mrs. Gardiner lovingly squeezed Elizabeth’s hand “without getting any of their faults.”
“Uncle, Aunt, Jane, we have an idea that we would like your help with” Elizabeth said brightly, trying to deter the attention from herself.
Then she, with help from Darcy, expounded at length on the founding of the nursing school and the hospital.
“Why, this is a marvellous idea!” Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed. “Of course I shall be happy to help with it, Lizzy.”
“And I think I know the perfect place for it” Mr. Gardiner said. “I expect you want them to be close to each other, so that the nurses can ‘practice’?”
“That would be ideal” Elizabeth beamed at her uncle.
---$---
Darcy was bemused by Elizabeth’s insistence that they take their unmarked, least luxurious carriage for their trip to Longbourn, but as he had learned to trust his wife, he said nothing about it. If she wished for it to be so, certainly there was a very good reason behind it.
They reached Longbourn shortly after breakfast time, just as the ladies of the house retreated to the parlour while Mr. Bennet, as was his habit went to hide himself in his book room.
“Mr. and to see you ma’am” Mrs Hill announced, her face not giving away the identity of the callers even though she had been unable to withhold a quick, heartfelt hug to her dearest Miss Lizzy in the hallway.
“Hmm… we know no Darcys” Mrs. Bennet mused but she nodded to her housekeeper to show the visitors in. When Elizabeth entered the parlour she was received by cries of surprise from Mary, and she was instantly engulfed in her sister’s arms.
“Lizzy! It has been so long since I last saw you. I missed you so! And I cannot say how happy I am to see you well!” Mary exclaimed while clinging to her sister, her eyes more eloquent than any words that she could utter.
Elizabeth embraced her and held her tight. “I missed you too” she whispered, “more than you can imagine.”
“Ah, Miss Lizzy” Mrs. Bennet screeched. “So you deigned to come and see us after all! Well, I must inform you that Longbourn cannot accommodate two more people. Your husband will have to find the means of supporting you. Should he not be wearing his regimentals?” she gave Darcy an appraising look.
“William, let me introduce my mother to you. This is Mrs. Francine Bennet of Longbourn. Ma’am, this is my husband, Mr. Darcy” Elizabeth forced herself to at least try to be polite, yet withholding Darcy’s status and the name of his estate even though the manner of her introduction implicitly implied that Darcy was of the higher status. “He is not an army man. William, this is one of my most beloved sisters, Mary” she smiled at her sister affectionately. “Kitty and Lydia are my youngest sisters but I expect they are at their studies now.”
“So what do you do if you are not in the army Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Bennet asked, disdain thick in her drawl.
“I am a farmer ma’am” Darcy deadpanned, having picked up on Elizabeth’s wilful omission of his status, causing her to bite the inside of her cheeks to prevent herself from laughing.
“A farmer!” Mrs. Bennet scoffed disdainfully. “How unfortunate, although obviously this is the best that Lizzy could ever achieve” she scoffed.
“Might I bring it to your attention Madam that your only daughter who is actually married is the one who distanced herself from your presence for three years?” Mr. Bennet’s half amused voice came from the doorway. ”We might just have hit on the solution on how to get suitors for our daughters Mrs. Bennet. Ones that actually stick around long enough to marry them, I mean.”
Mrs. Bennet’s face flushed an ugly red. “I do not wish for a mere farmer upon my beautiful Jane, or my dearest Lydia for that matter. And if the Darcys think that they can impose on our benevolence they are utterly mistaken. I will not stand for my worthy daughters having to retrench only because your favourite daughter married a mere farmer.”
“You are perfectly right my dear” Mr. Bennet’s mocking voice gave Mrs. Bennet an uneasy feeling, sensing that there was something that she did not know of, something that made her husband so amused. “To this day I still wonder that you agreed to marry a mere farmer yourself, knowing of how ambitious you had been for all your life.”
“What a nonsense. You are a gentleman not a farmer!” Mrs. Bennet scoffed.
“Are not all landed gentlemen glorified farmers when it is all said and done my dear?”
“Well, no!” his wife cried with conviction. “There are the gentlemen who own the land and then there are the mere farmers who just work it. We have all the tenants that we need, we have no room for this… Mr. Darcy to…”
“I am extremely gratified that you take such a close interest in our estate matters my dear. Until now I did not think that you even knew that we have any tenants, let alone being aware of the adequacy of their number, given that you never acknowledged any of them nor did you take any interest in their welfare. However, I am afraid that Mr. Darcy is not seeking gainful employment at Longbourn. You see, I just got an express from Edward informing me…”
“We will not take on their upkeep, especially not without him doing any work…” Mrs. Bennet started to screech.
“Mrs. Bennet!” her husband lifted his hand to silence her. “You are making quite a spectacle of yourself, as usual. Mr. Darcy is one of the wealthiest gentlemen in all of England.”
“But… but… but he just said that he is a farmer…” the woman spluttered blinking furiously.
“As I pointed out earlier my dear, we landowners are nought but farmers. I am happy to discover that Mr. Darcy has a wry sense of humour” Mr. Bennet’s eyes twinkled and he gave a nod to his son-in-law.
“Indeed” Darcy bowed towards his father-in-law, “although not enough to enable me to tolerate such disparagement of my dear wife as your wife had been displaying ever since we arrived. You need not worry ma’am” he turned towards Mrs. Bennet with a withering look, cold disdain dripping from his voice. “We shall not stay for any meals, so your expenses will not increase with the need of feeding us. I had hoped that Elizabeth’s description of you had been coloured by the hurt feelings of a very young girl, but now I can see that in fact, she had been far too kind in her description of her mother. You madam will never be welcome in either of my homes. After all, as you just pointed out, one must be very careful of whom one receives in his homes and whose upkeep one takes on, mustn’t one? One has to be very careful how one spends his money when one’s income is only slightly over twenty thousand pounds a year, would you not agree Mrs. Bennet?”
“Twenty… thousand…” Mrs. Bennet choked. “Oh, my dear Mr. Darcy you mistook me completely! I am ever so happy that you are my son now! Of course, it is such a pity that you did not meet my beautiful Jane first as I am sure that you would have much rather chosen her instead of Lizzy but…”
“Enough Madam!” Darcy snarled in his most forbidding, Master of Pemberley voice. “ and I shall leave now. We do not want to be late for our aunt and uncle, the Countess and the Earl of Matlock’s dinner party that they are giving in the honour of . What I said stands. You ma’am shall never be welcome to visit us. We just wanted to let you know sir, that an announcement of our marriage will be in the papers in the next couple of days” Darcy told Mr. Bennet turning his back on his mother-in-law. “Having just met that woman” he inclined his head in Mrs. Bennet’s direction, “your actions, or the lack thereof, are somewhat more understandable, even though I still cannot fully condone them. I could not listen to her day out and day in either” the corners of his lips lifted slightly. “However, although ’s wellbeing is now my responsibility and I fully intend to ensure her happiness, that of the other Misses Bennet is still yours. It would behove you to take a better care of them than you did of your most worthy daughter.”
With that, Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth and she happily took it. Mrs. Bennet’s hysterical wails followed them as they exited the house, after another heartfelt hug between Elizabeth and Mrs. Hill.
“I am so happy for you Miss Lizzy” the old housekeeper muttered with teary eyes. “You have found your place.”
“That I have, and it is by the side of the best man I’ve ever known” Elizabeth blinked to keep her unshed tears at bay. “I shall be forever thankful for your goodness to me over all these years.”
“ Now I understand your choice of a carriage” Darcy grinned at his wife as he handed her into the simple, but still more than comfortable chaise of four she insisted they take.