Chapter 3 Introductions #2
Mrs Reynolds shook her head in confusion, but finally decided that either Mrs Darcy was somewhat peculiar, or she was stepping very lightly in the master’s absence.
It was obvious that something was not right between master and mistress, but she saw no way for that to be resolved before the master returned.
It seemed they were destined to maintain the status quo during his absence, and the new Mrs Darcy was biding her time.
At least, that was the only explanation Mrs Reynolds could produce.
Elizabeth said, “I presume it must be about time for supper?”
“You are certain you do not wish to eat in the dining room?”
“Absolutely! I hope you can explain my reasoning to the staff adequately.”
“Leave that to me. As you suggested, your mourning can explain quite a lot. How shall we serve it?”
“Molly needs to eat as well. She should dine with the staff occasionally, but more often than not she will just eat in the maid’s chambers after I finish, since I might need her to help me prepare for bed. She should just bring meals for both.”
“Very well, madam. I assume this means you will not be dressing for dinner?”
“That is correct. Pray explain it as part of my mourning ritual. It is unconventional, but hopefully it will not seem terribly odd.”
“As you say. Come along, Molly. Let us get you a tray.”
With that, housekeeper and maid left the room, and Elizabeth wandered over to a window to enjoy its prospect.
The hill, crowned with wood, which they had descended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance, was a beautiful object, even in the dead of winter, and she assumed it would be stunning in spring or summer.
Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, with what would, in better times, have been absolute delight.
There was no doubt that Mr Darcy was entitled to some pride.
He had been a very clever boy, who chose his ancestors extremely well.
The niggling thought that he carried the heavy weight of being responsible for maintaining it all and passing it on either whole or improved to his heirs, only briefly occurred to her; but while it flitted through her mind, she fleetingly tried to think better of her husband.
It was, however, a small success, unlikely to be repeated.
She still stood looking out the window and brooding when Molly returned with supper.
She had told Mrs Reynolds Molly would eat in the maid’s chambers, simply because she did not want the housekeeper to die of any more shocks for the day.
However, now that they were alone, she told her they would eat together, and she was not to be dissuaded.
Her eating alone while Molly ate cold food made no sense whatsoever.
They spent the meal talking about general subjects and the neighbourhood.
After supper, Elizabeth asked, “Did you keep up your lessons?”
Molly smiled brightly. “Yes! Mr Bartlet set me a course of study, though I am not doing so well now that I have employment.”
“We shall have to rectify that. I cannot have a maid who does not read and write well, and we have a lot of time. We shall make a proper lady’s maid of you.
Mrs Reynolds will conveniently forget most of your other duties, since she no longer needs to prepare meals for the dining room.
You will be with me most of the time. Where are your slate and books? ”
“In my room.”
“Go retrieve them. We may as well use the evening for study. Let us work for a fortnight becoming accustomed to our routine, then I will lay out a course for you, and make sure you have a few hours for study each day. Mrs Reynolds need never know.”
Molly was surprised; but in the end, no matter how peculiar their situation, the lady was Mrs Darcy, and she was the mistress. If she said her maid was to use her work time to study, Molly was not one to argue. It certainly beat the scullery.
A half-hour later, both women were comfortably ensconced by the fire.
One had a copy of a recent novel about two sisters that she had been surprised to find in the library, and the other a children’s story.
Elizabeth was content to have Molly read aloud for half an hour, then she repeated the process, to give the younger girl a taste of what she was working towards.
The day finally ended, and Elizabeth gratefully changed into her nightclothes and retreated to bed.
The maid’s chambers had a small bed that was better than the one in the servants’ attics, so she allowed Molly to move in if she chose.
While it was true that Mr Darcy had not allowed her a lady’s maid, nothing said Molly could not learn to be one in good time; and her husband, in an uncharacteristic bit of sloppiness, failed to prohibit a scullery who acted like a lady’s maid.
As she drifted off to sleep, Elizabeth reflected that, sooner or later, she would have to start acting like the mistress.
She had little doubt that Mr Darcy would prefer to instal a spy in her suite in the form of a hand-picked lady’s maid, and on that point, she wanted to be prepared to put her foot down and insist on her own choice.
It might be her only chance to ensure she had someone trustworthy nearby at all times.