Chapter 2.16 #2
“So…” Darcy rose from his armchair and took a few steps toward the young woman, watching her carefully.
“You wish to travel such a great distance in your present state, but you refuse the payment Mrs Darcy offers you. May I ask how you plan to do that?” Darcy’s voice, although kind, startled the young woman who glanced at him with apparent fear.
“I will go talk to my aunt. Perhaps she can help me find a way…”
“I see…and do you think you will find employment in your village? I suspect it will not be easy, or otherwise, you would not have left before.”
“I am not certain, sir…but we will try…”
“Do your mother or siblings have jobs? Do you have other family there? Other relatives?”
“No—only the aunt who works here in London. My eldest brother—he is fourteen—works for anybody who might need him. He is very hardworking. My mother works too: she used to sew and stitch and even make dresses for the ladies in the neighbourhood. She still does so, but her fingers are weak, and she is a little slow now…and there are few ladies left. The village is very small.”
“Your mother knows how to make gowns? Then, did she teach you to sew? Mrs Hamilton told me you are very talented,” Elizabeth asked, growing more curious.
The notion that a young servant who had suffered so much—with no means and no certain future—had the strength and dignity to refuse the proposal of a viscount was equally astonishing and impressive.
It was evident that Darcy’s thoughts matched hers.
His preoccupation made his features severe and impossible to read.
“Yes, ma’am; when she was young, my mother spent a few years in Paris, working for a modiste.
She knows how to create all sorts of dresses and bonnets and reticules.
She was very good at it…then she married my father and returned to Oxfordshire until he passed away five years ago. He had poor lungs.”
All three Darcys looked at the young woman as if they had just begun to see her clearly. The maid’s sadness quickly overwhelmed both Elizabeth and Georgiana. Darcy continued to watch her then spoke solemnly.
“Maud, you said you feel indebted to Mrs Darcy and wish to repay her kindness. There might be a way for you to do that if you still wish to.”
The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief, and then she turned to Elizabeth, searching for help. However, both Elizabeth and Georgiana were puzzled and astounded by Darcy’s unexpected demand.
“Of course, master. If I can do anything at all…”
“I imagine you do not know it, but we own an estate in Derbyshire named Pemberley. It is actually very large. Only five miles away, there is a little town—Lambton—that is closely connected to Pemberley. Mrs Darcy’s aunt also lived in Lambton years ago.”
There was complete silence, everybody waiting eagerly for the master to reveal his intentions.
“Lambton has not had a good seamstress in years. There is a shop where a Mr Martin sells clothing for ladies and gentlemen, but there is nobody to repair or to alter them. Mr Martin is in his late sixties, and he takes care of the shop by himself. There is only so much he can do. Having a gown restored may take weeks to be sent to London and back, and it can be very expensive. And since we all plan to spend most of our time at Pemberley and we also expect a large party of visitors for the entire summer, I can foresee a significant waste of time and money for us.”
Maud looked still completely lost, but Elizabeth smiled graciously at her husband while Georgiana’s eyes suddenly widened in understanding.
“Oh, that is true! Mr Martin is a very nice man, but he brings the gowns from London, and they are often unsuitable. I remember that last year Mrs Annesley and I needed some bonnets, and we had to order them by mail—and we received them only in the autumn.”
“So, Maud, here is my request: What would you say to a move to Lambton, together with your family? You would be in charge of the daily clothing needs for Pemberley’s inhabitants, and you would also serve the people of Lambton.
You may work for Mr Martin first; I am sure he will be pleased to expand his business.
And we would also need extra help at Pemberley if your brother would be interested in working for us. ”
Maud stopped breathing and lowered herself to the nearest chair; then she rose to her feet in a hurry, apologising and hardly capable of speaking coherently.
“Oh, master, this is…could it be true? This is…would it be possible?”
Her distress grew, and the tears rolled down her cheeks while she continued to mumble her gratitude and disbelief. Darcy only dismissed her with a severe gesture, which could barely conceal his own emotions.
“Do I understand that you agree?”
The maid nodded, still tearful.
“Very well, I shall send Miles to you later so that you can provide him all the details regarding the location of your family. If your mother agrees, you will all be residing in Lambton by the end of next month. You may retire now; we will ring for you if you are needed again.”
Maud kept nodding at his every word, took a few steps, then returned to them again, and said, her lips trembling, “If I gave my life for you, it would still not be enough to repay you.”
Elizabeth smiled at her warmly, but Darcy dismissed her again with all seriousness.
“Maud, you have every reason to be grateful to Mrs Darcy, but for my part, I am not doing you any favour. I only demand you provide the services we lacked until now, and you will be paid for it accordingly. I do the same with everyone who works for me.”
“Of course, Mr Darcy, please forgive my foolishness. I will do everything to rise to your expectations,” she answered, struggling to control her tears when she understood the master would accept no sign of gratitude.
Maud left, and from outside the door, her sobbing could be clearly heard.
“Oh, brother, you are the kindest man that ever lived,” Georgiana said, embracing him.
“I am hardly that, dearest. Now that we are done with this, let us change and go for a ride; the weather is beautiful.”
When they went to change clothes, the solitude of their apartment allowed Elizabeth to kiss her husband and say, “You are indeed the best and kindest man who ever lived, my love. And very poor at receiving thanks and gratitude.”
He embraced her tightly, caressing her tenderly.
“My beloved, I am honestly telling you there is no need for gratitude. I have done everything out of the most selfish reasons. It is my intention to spend a lot of time outside showing you the beauties of Pemberley, and I suspect I will ruin many of your gowns. So you will need frequent and affordable replacements.”
Elizabeth remained speechless at that shameless assertion then burst out in laughter until her lips were captured in a passionate kiss—a promise of his previous statement.
∞∞∞
The same evening, just before dinner, Lord Buxton returned, and another meeting took place in the library. His astonishment at receiving Maud’s response angered him, and he was only calmed by Darcy’s presence. Maud could barely stand, yet her determination remained unmoved.
Eventually, the young woman excused herself and left. Rejected, the viscount expressed his displeasure and contrived several reproaches regarding Maud’s ingratitude, speculating about who might have intervened to change her mind.
Darcy lost his patience. “Cousin, for heaven’s sake, would you cease being ridiculous? Can you not see that this poor girl is more dignified than many other women you have met? She reasonably refused to be the cause for ruining your family.”
“My family would never know, even less so being ruined. I had everything arranged.”
“You are out of your mind. Your family is already ruined. Can you not see that? We tend to blame Beatrice, but are you any better?”
“Darcy, it is not for you to speak so.”
“You may be right, but this girl is under our protection. She wished to return to her village, alone, without means and ready to jeopardise her life and her family’s, just to separate from you.
Have some pride, man! She had the strength to reject you despite the fact that she seems to be fond of you.
Surely, you can recognise her worthiness.
She has more wisdom and more honour than many people with important wealth and connections.
She deserves a peaceful life and perhaps a good man to take care of her, although he would by no means be an earl. ”
“I cannot speak more of this; I will leave you now,” the viscount said, trying to control his temper.
Darcy’s voice remained sharp. “The feeling is mutual. Let this be the last time you call on me regarding this subject. You are always welcome to our house as long as your motive is a reasonable one. And please make sure your calls follow the rules of decorum. I will not receive any more visits before breakfast or at dinner time unless it is for something of the greatest urgency.”
The viscount was stunned for a moment then lifted his chin and answered with a superior air. “I will remember that. Good evening, Mr Darcy.”
“Good evening, Lord Buxton.”
∞∞∞
Three days before the Almack’s ball, Elizabeth was caught by a sense of uneasiness. She talked about it so much that Darcy teased her mercilessly and declared he would write Mr Bennet about his favourite daughter’s shocking transformation.
Georgiana—happy that she was by no means directly involved in the event—heartily supported Elizabeth and spent time in endless discussions with her.
At noon, Darcy planned to meet his uncle and cousins at the club, leaving the two ladies by themselves.
To their surprise and delight, Lady Matlock unexpectedly called at a rather unsuitable hour, which she had never done before.
Lady Matlock’s appearance was as flawless as ever, but her countenance was different. She was paler and thinner, and Elizabeth worried for her. She kindly accepted the offer of tea and spent half an hour talking to her two nieces.