Chapter Twenty
“My lord, my lady,” the Bennets’ new butler intoned after opening the door of the earl’s town house on Park Lane.
Lady Rumley looked around the spacious vestibule, her eyes wide, her mouth dropping open ever so slightly.
A good portion of Longbourn would fit in the front half of the town house.
She had no idea where to look next. Taking pity on his wife, Bennet asked the butler to summon the senior servants, and have them gather in the main drawing room on the first floor.
Lightly taking her elbow, Bennet guided his wife up the grand staircase, then down the hall to a formal sitting room. One where she would receive visitors on her “at home” days. Soon they were joined by the butler, and both the housekeeper and under housekeeper.
“Thank you, Bentley. Will you please introduce these capable ladies?” Lady Rumley asked, knowing she had to establish herself as the head of the internal workings of the household.
“Yes, my lady. May I present to you Mrs. Mary Larson, the housekeeper of this fine establishment, and Mrs. Christine Bentley, not only the under housekeeper, but also my wife.”
“I would like to meet with both housekeepers tomorrow morning, to go over the menu, employment issues, and look at the household accounts,” Lady Rumley said.
“Does nine o’clock tomorrow morning work best for you?
I would not like to interrupt your morning routine.
At least, not on my first full day as your mistress. ”
“Whatever you wish, my lady,” Mrs. Larson said, dipping her head with respect. “I fully expect you to look over the household ledgers and inventory lists.”
“I will do that, once I am more comfortable in my surroundings. Having spoken with the senior servants at Tetherwood, I am confident that you have done an admirable job here, Mrs. Larson.”
“Thank you, my lady. It has been an honour to serve the previous Bennet family, and I look forward to serving you.”
“Well, then,” Lady Rumley said, clasping her hands in front of her body to hide the small tremors she still experienced when learning how to behave as a countess. “We shall meet on Tuesday next. That gives me a week to get settled and visit family.
“Very good, my lady.” Mrs. Larson gave the countess a respectful curtsey and with a nod of her head, signalled to Mrs. Bentley that they could both go about their duties. The butler also gave his employers an impressive half bow, and closed the drawing room door upon his exit.
“Well, my dear. You have successfully navigated the first hurdle of being mistress of this quaint little house.”
“Quant! Little!” Lady Rumley cried out. “I thought Tetherwood was massive, but this monstrosity, in the middle of the city, is absolutely ridiculous. What do people do with houses this big?”
“They host outrageous parties and dine in a different room each evening,” her husband teased.
“Oh, you!” she huffed out with impatience. “I now understand why Cousin Arthur and his wife preferred to remain in Bedfordshire. We have only just arrived, and I am already exhausted.”
“You will adjust, Franny. I have every confidence in your abilities.”
“I agree with Papa,” Elizabeth said, having joined her parents after checking out her new suite of rooms, which was connected to Jane’s by a sitting room. “You were a good mistress of Longbourn, and a wonderful hostess. Nothing much will change except for the number of attendees, and their rank.”
“Sir William and Lady Lucas were the only people of rank I knew. How am I supposed to behave in the presence of earls, and viscounts or — heaven forfend — a marquis or duke?”
“Try to remember that everyone puts on their clothing, one article at a time, regardless of their rank,” Jane said upon entering the room and taking a seat beside Elizabeth.
“I could not help but hear from the hall that you were anxious, Mamma. Please remember that everyone, regardless of who they are, experiences some form of nerves or anxiety. They have just learned to cover it with a facade of calm.”
“Much like you?” Elizabeth asked. “You are famous for your serene countenance and enigmatic smile.”
“It served me well when I was overwhelmed with gentlemen seeking my company and I was not even sixteen at the time.”
“Oh, Jane, I am sorry I ever pushed you out at such a young age,” Lady Rumley fretted, bringing out her faithful lace handkerchief and twisting it beyond recognition. “I was so worried about the entail…”
“Mamma,” Jane soothed. “That is all behind us. I am only explaining how I dealt with the experience, and that I see others doing the exact same thing. I mean no disrespect.”
“Thank you, Jane. Thank you, Lizzy,” Bennet said from his comfortable seat by the fireplace. “Our family has gone through many changes since last November, and I, for one, am proud of you all.”
“Speaking of all,” Elizabeth began, “how is Mary? She has not written to Jane nor I.”
“Your sister is doing well,” her father said.
“Your Aunt Phillips has written that Mary continues to practice on the piano, and under the tutelage of an excellent teacher we hired from St. Alban’s, she is progressing at a remarkable rate.
Also, she is very close to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, who continue to guide her in her spiritual journey.
You will be glad to learn she has tossed Fordyce’s Sermons for Young Ladies into the fire. ”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Elizabeth said, heaving a heartfelt sigh of relief. “She clung to that book like a child with its favourite blanket.”
“She did at that.” Bennet glanced at his wife and lifted a brow.
She responded with a slight nod of the head.
“I have some information that should have been related to the two of you many years ago, and I hope you will let me tell you all that happened before asking questions, or hurling recriminations in my direction.”
Jane and Elizabeth exchanged glances before giving their promise to wait on judgement. Having gained their assent, the earl began the task of crushing his daughter’s belief in his honour and how Mary came to join their family.
“And Mary has no idea that she is your natural daughter?”
“She does now. Mrs. Allen wrote only two weeks ago that Mary had approached her to ask why their features were so similar. She thought all of us were related somehow, and that only she had the same shape of face, and nose.”
“Her answer must have surprised Mary. She is very moralistic and although she likes to portray herself as a strong, independent young woman with many accomplishments, she is very shy and retiring.”
“You have the right of it, Elizabeth, but Mrs. Allen knew our Mary could handle the truth, and your mother wrote to her over a month ago to tell her how much she loved and cherished her.”
“You did?” Elizabeth turned wide eyes in the direction of her mother. “Forgive me, Mamma, it is just that you have not always favoured Mary, or me and Kitty, for that matter. I am glad you extended the hand of a loving mother to our sister.”
“I may not have shown it, but I have loved that little girl since the moment she was placed in my arms. Yes, I went about everything wrong, but it does not change the fact that I love all my daughters, born of my body or not.”
“Mamma!” Elizabeth went to her mother and knelt by her chair. “Let us strive to remember only the things that bring us pleasure. We all have changed much since last year, so who am I to hold past grievances against anyone?”
Mamma cupped her second daughter’s cheek and smiled. A soft, sad kind of smile.
“My hoyden. I despaired of you ever becoming a lady, and look at you. Exceeding every goal, I thought you should attain.”
Elizabeth leaned into her mother’s palm.
“I could have been more gracious. More like Jane.”
“Then you would not have been my Lizzy,” her mother countered.
Their conversation was interrupted by the butler announcing the arrival of Mrs. Gardiner.
“Madeline,” Lady Rumley cried out upon seeing her beloved sister by marriage. “I had hoped you would come to see me.”
“I thought you might welcome a familiar face.”
“You are correct in your assumption, as usual.” Franny resumed her seat and waved a hand for Madeline to sit across from her. “Would you like some tea? I can have a maid bring a fresh pot.”
“That would be lovely, and while we wait, you can tell me all about Tetherwood.”
“I shall leave you ladies to your tea and catch up on some correspondence, the most notable being from Kent,” Bennet said, with a wink in the direction of Elizabeth.
“Apparently, a solicitor, at the behest of one Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has requested to peruse the documents pertaining to my inheritance, and the reason for excluding a distant cousin.”
“Oh, that buffoon!” Lady Rumley cried out, her eyes flashing with anger. “How stupid can one man be?”
“Very stupid, my dear.” Bennet leaned over and kissed his wife’s temple. “I shall see you at dinner.”
“Franny, I would like to personally introduce you to someone I consider a great friend,” Madeline Gardiner said, taking hold of her hand and drawing her forward towards Lucinda Fitzwilliam, the Countess of Matlock.
Formal introductions had been performed, quite ably, by Mr. Darcy when the Bennet family had first arrived at his town house on Park Lane for dinner.
The drawing room was long and handsomely appointed, the candlelight catching the glint of jewels and the sheen of silk as guests dispersed into smaller clusters.
Some conversations moved haltingly between strangers still finding their footing, while others had grown warm and lively, punctuated by laughter and the pleasant surprise of shared acquaintances and common interests.
Mrs. Gardiner now steered her sister-in-law towards a lady she held in particular esteem, one whose goodwill could open doors for Franny and her daughters within the upper ten thousand.
A woman whose posture alone announced that she had never once needed to seek approval from a room.
“Lady Matlock, Lady Rebecca,” Madeline said as they drew up before the two women.
Lady Matlock, upright in her bearing, was dressed in deep violet silk with a rope of pearls at her throat.
Beside her stood her daughter, Lady Rebecca, who watched their approach with quiet, appraising eyes.
“Formal introductions aside, I am so happy for my husband’s sister to meet you at last.”
“Lady Matlock.” Franny curtsied with care. “Lady Rebecca.” She offered the younger woman equal respect.
“Lady Rumley,” both ladies returned with elegance.
“Madeline has spoken of you often over the years,” Lady Matlock said, her dark eyes moving over the new Lady Rumley with the practiced ease of a woman accustomed to forming swift and accurate opinions. “I feel I know you and your daughters nearly as well as my own.”
“Then I am at a disadvantage,” Franny replied, her eyes bright with amusement. “I had rather hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit, but one can hardly manage that when introduced by someone so thoroughly acquainted with one’s true character.”
Lady Matlock blinked. Then the corner of her mouth lifted, and lifted further, until she was smiling in full. A smile that, Franny suspected, was not given cheaply. “You will do very well indeed, Lady Rumley, as I suspect you are much like your daughter, Elizabeth.”
The conversation soon turned to a proposed shopping excursion.
Lady Rumley had designs on Gardiner Emporium for drapery fabrics and counterpane materials, and Lady Matlock declared herself very willing to join her, adding that she had long wanted an excuse to see the new imported silks everyone had been talking about.
It was, by any measure, a promising beginning.
“Are you happy, dearest?” Darcy asked Elizabeth, his eyes moving between her face and the small gathering across the room where her parents stood among his relatives.
She glanced up at him and smiled. “I am. It appears as though Mamma has discovered a kindred spirit in your aunt, Lady Matlock and cousin Lady Rebecca. I feared she might be too nervous even to speak with them.”
Darcy chuckled quietly. “You forget your aunt is smoothing the path for her. See how she gently guides your mother’s nervous actions with subtle touches and — look — even now she has quietly placed her hand on the small of your mother’s back.
An instinctive motherly gesture as I have ever seen, and your mother calms almost immediately.
Note how her shoulders drop and her fan stills. ”
“Aunt Madeline is the kindest woman I know. She outshines even Jane with gentle good humour.”
“That is high praise indeed.”
“It is simply the truth. Jane and I owe our most formative years to Aunt Madeline’s care.
Mamma, having borne three children in four short years, scarcely had the strength for two little girls at her heels.
So, we remained in London nearly three years straight, then for the next twelve summers alternated between our uncle’s home and Tetherwood.
My fondest memories are firmly entwined with the family and the warm bustle that makes up twenty-three Gracechurch Street. ”
Darcy took her hand, his thumb tracing a slow arc across her knuckles. “I am grateful your aunt shaped you so well, for I love every aspect of who you are.”
“What has the two of you sequestered in a corner of the room, when you should be mixing and mingling with the others?” Jane teased, gliding up to them on the arm of Mr. Morgan.
“We were admiring how Aunt Madeline takes care of Mamma, guiding her like a mother duck with her baby duckling.”
“I suspect our aunt will cut the leading strings before night’s end.
Mamma is quite comfortable, now that the introductions are over with, and she can get on with the task of building a friendship.
” Jane glanced fondly across the room at their mother, who was laughing freely at something Lady Rebecca had said.
“Making and keeping friends is one of Mamma’s finest gifts.
In that respect, she is much like you, Lizzy. ”
“You are the second person in our family to say that very thing,” Elizabeth declared. “I only recognised it myself when Papa pointed it out at Tetherwood.”