Chapter 23 #2
“Not really,” Caroline replied with a mischievous, self-important grin. “Great fortunes usually come with an old, respectable name, genteel breeding, and important connections. People of consequence, as wealthy as they may be, do not work hard.”
Sudden recollections from the past roused Elizabeth’s spirit, as well as her annoyance, and Lizzy Bennet’s temper defeated Lady Elizabeth Alveston’s proper behaviour.
She slowly put her fork down on her plate and turned to Caroline Pemberton née Bingley with a smile, allowing no degree of petulance in her voice.
“It seems we are acquainted with very different people of wealth and consequence, Mrs Pemberton. Lady Kendal—whose name, connections, or breeding cannot be questioned—is certainly one of the most generous and hardworking people in all of England. And to my knowledge, although I have not had many chances to witness his actions, so is Mr Darcy. I have had the privilege of benefiting from his knowledge on several occasions, and I am still grateful for it.”
She dared a quick look at him out of the corner of her eye, then returned her attention to Caroline, who was now crimson with fury.
“As one who has had the good luck of inheriting my title, my name, and my fortune from the Fitzwilliam family, I cannot take sides in this dispute,” the viscount interjected.
“Mrs Pemberton is correct, generally speaking. I cannot claim to ever have worked hard in my life. But I cannot deny that Lady Alveston is absolutely correct regarding Lady Kendal and my cousin Darcy.”
“And herself,” Darcy suddenly interjected in a voice so grave that it silenced all the whispers at the table.
“I take absolutely no credit for myself in this matter. If I do anything, I do it for the benefit of myself, my sister, and those who depend on me. But Lady Kendal’s generosity towards absolute strangers and anyone who is in need is beyond admiration and praise.
She has dedicated her life and her fortune to working harder than most men, with no other gain than the joy of giving to others.
And Lady Alveston has learned from her and perpetuated kindness, generosity, and effort.
This I can testify, and there can be no debate and no alternative opinion. ”
For a moment there was complete silence. Everyone looked around the table. Faces were either pale or flushed. Mr Bennet looked at his favourite daughter, his heart pounding with pride. Lady Kendal smiled at Elizabeth and then turned to Darcy.
“Upon my word, when Mr Darcy declares there cannot be another opinion on something, not even I dare to contradict him,” the lady said, half in jest. “I remember my first encounter with him was a harsh argument—even a fight—and he was perfectly correct. As frightening as he appeared at the beginning, he has certainly improved on closer acquaintance, but I would still not argue with him.”
“Nor would I, especially because he is annoyingly often correct,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said.
“And if we are to be honest, looking at my wife, my mother, my cousin Georgiana, and especially at Lady Kendal and Lady Alveston with all the charities they are involved in, I feel ashamed of how little effort I put into the important things in life.”
“But this has always been the same! Charities and other similar things are a woman’s duty,” Mr Hurst unexpectedly joined the debate.
“And what are a man’s duties?” Darcy challenged him.
“Manly ones,” Hurst replied. “To provide the best life for him and his family.”
“Amen to that!” Pemberton approved enthusiastically.
“Excellently put,” the colonel interjected again. “But in truth, how do the two of you, or me, provide for our families? Each of us has had the good luck to marry lovely ladies of significant fortune. What responsibilities do we have?”
The colonel’s tone was half mockery, half defiance. The other men in the room either watched him approvingly or stared at him, bewildered and indignant.
“What do you mean, Colonel? Are you implying that we are neglectful of our duties?” Pemberton asked with barely repressed annoyance.
“Not at all. I am declaring openly that we have few responsibilities, if any. We—and other gentlemen like us—drink, hunt, play cards, eat, dance on occasion, and that is all. We pray for heirs, but even when we are blessed with children, we are rather indifferent to them.”
“You are very hard on your own kind, Colonel Fitzwilliam!” Mr Pemberton uttered.
“I do not believe I am anything other than honest.”
“It would be a pretty accurate description of the schedule of almost every man in this room,” the viscount admitted.
“And likely every gentleman in the whole of England. I am sure even Lady Alveston’s uncle agrees,” Mr Pemberton said.
“I do,” Mr Gardiner admitted. “And I have rarely found it to be an issue until tonight, but now I feel embarrassed by my leisure.”
“You should not be, Mr Gardiner,” Lady Kendal said. “From what I know, you actually work hard and are quite successful in providing for your family. Your efforts have helped you ensure a good living and an excellent reputation.”
“But you cannot compare! You conduct a business, Mr Gardiner. A gentleman by birth does not need to do that,” Mr Hurst uttered.
Intentional or not, the statement was truly offensive—and equally ridiculous, considering the late Mr Bingley had made his fortune in trade, and Mr Pemberton and Mr Hurst had both benefited from it by marriage.
“Of course not,” the colonel laughed. “We are actually incapable of conducting a business.”
“I do not understand your purpose in carrying on this disquieting and offensive conversation, Colonel. Do you suggest changing the rules of our society? Would you prefer seeing gentlemen attending children and running households and charities, and ladies hunting, drinking, and perhaps enjoying a cigar in the library?” Mr Pemberton enquired sarcastically, with apparent ill humour.
“I certainly am not suggesting that. I would simply like to see true merits properly acknowledged. On the other hand, I have seen ladies enjoying a drink and a cigar, and it is not the most unpleasant sight, I assure you,” the colonel responded with equal mockery.
Many eyes turned to Anne, who blushed and smiled, obviously amused by her husband’s claim.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy seem to have found great enjoyment in extending the dispute started by Lady Alveston,” Caroline said, and her sisters, Mrs Hurst and Miss Pemberton, nodded in agreement.
“If I remember correctly, Mrs Pemberton,” Darcy intervened after being silent for a while, “it started as a conversation between you and Lady Alveston. But I do admit enjoying a discussion on a subject of consequence, instead of the usual small talk at the dinner table.”
“We are certainly all in agreement that Lady Kendal’s actions are praiseworthy, and from what I have heard, highly supported even by St James’s Palace,” Bingley declared.
“For what has been accomplished in the last year, all the praise belongs to Elizabeth,” Lady Kendal declared. “In everything we achieved, her effort was far greater than mine. In this, you have been wrong, Mr Darcy, do you not agree?”
He met the lady’s challenging smile with one of his own, then he turned back to the others, explaining the little charade.
“Last year, when Lady Kendal decided to pass her responsibilities to Miss Bennet, her ladyship asked me for some assistance in the business of her estates. I claimed with certainty that it was impossible for Miss Bennet, and indeed for anyone with no experience and knowledge, to learn to manage such a diverse fortune in such a short amount of time. I am glad to admit I was wrong.”
He glanced at Lady Kendal, then at Elizabeth, then turned back to his companions.
“You were not wrong, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth responded.
He looked at her again and their gazes locked while she spoke further.
“I am still barely capable of fully understanding all the affairs and even less so in managing them. I am simply fortunate to have Lady Kendal, my uncle, and our solicitors to support and lead me. And I still have the book of rules and suggestions that you wrote for the apprentice I was last year,” she concluded.
Elizabeth wondered at her own boldness in addressing him in such a manner in a room full of people, considering her earlier anxiety in even seeing him.
She was well aware that all of his interventions during the evening were mostly for her and meant more than the others were able to understand.
And so were her replies—coming from the heart, hoping he would properly comprehend them.
“My dear Elizabeth, you are too modest,” Lady Kendal declared genuinely. “I can testify that you exceed all my expectations, every day. Your excellent character is only enhanced by your sharp mind and your kind heart.”
“Upon my word, Lady Kendal makes Eliza sound like a saint,” Caroline said jeeringly, laughing together with her sisters. “And Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam seem to support her. But we have known each other for long enough to know that is not the case.”
The offence was direct again, and Charles immediately scolded his sister. Lady Kendal looked positively angry and ready to interject, but Elizabeth offered her a comforting smile.
“Heaven forbid, Caroline,” Elizabeth answered sarcastically. “If I were a saint, I would not so readily remember some of the details from our past acquaintance. Like the letters you wrote to my sister Jane three years ago, or your claim of intimate friendship with Mr Darcy.”
Caroline choked on her food and spat it onto the table as she started to cough. Louisa and Miss Pemberton hurried to help her, while her husband only stared at her, puzzled.