Chapter 25 The Radcliffs
When the carriage drew up before the Radcliffs' handsome manor, Mr. Darcy himself handed the two ladies down.
Mr. and Mrs. Radcliff greeted their guests at the entrance and invited them all inside for tea. Darcy accepted, and the four visitors followed Mrs. Radcliff into her elegant drawing room. Introductions were made, and Elizabeth immediately felt herself warmly welcomed into the household.
She watched as the energetic woman, who appeared to be in her early forties, rang the bell for tea. When the servant had departed, Mrs. Radcliff settled beside Mrs. Gardiner and affectionately took her hand.
“Maddie, you look remarkably well. You did not bring little Edward with you.”
“No, Elena. As this is but a brief visit to bring Lizzy to you, he has remained at home with my eldest niece, Jane. We shall stay only three days before returning to London. Edward has pressing business on behalf of a client. But we shall see you again when you come to London for the Season, shall we not?”
“Yes, I will send a note when I am in town.”
The two sisters soon fell into easy conversation, but they could not long hold Elizabeth's attention. She looked instead to Mr. Darcy, who was conversing with Mr. Radcliff and Uncle Edward, on her other side.
“Do you intend to return to London for the Season, Darcy?”
“No. My plans are not yet settled. I am considering the purchase of land in America. Should matters proceed as I hope, I may travel there early in the new year.”
All the guests were captivated as Mr. Darcy spoke of his plans to travel to Boston to invest in property there.
The half hour passed swiftly, and Elizabeth felt an unexpected pang of sadness when he rose and, looking to his hostess, said, “We have imposed upon your hospitality long enough. If we leave now, we shall reach Pemberley before the dinner hour. My household is expecting us.”
The company rose and accompanied the Darcys to the front door. Georgiana walked beside Elizabeth.
“Lizzy, I hope we shall meet again very soon.”
Elizabeth gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze. “I am certain we shall. We are but five miles from your home, I believe.”
Mr. Darcy corrected. “Pemberley lies only three miles from Ashcroft Manor.”
Elizabeth's face brightened. “Is that so? Then, Georgiana, we are certain to meet again. If your brother permits, you may ride out to visit me whenever you are at leisure, and I shall look forward to seeing you again. Perhaps we might even visit Arbor Low together. You may show me the barrow and walk with me about the henge.”
“I should like that very much, Lizzy,” Georgiana replied.
Mr. Darcy raised an eyebrow. “You wish to visit the stone circle, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I do, sir. I have read a great deal about it and have formed a lively desire to see it with my own eyes, to walk among the ancient stones, climb the barrow, and trace the circumference of the henge.”
“I hope you will not be disappointed, ma'am. In the spring, it is surrounded by wildflowers, making it a particularly charming destination for a picnic or a country walk. At this season, however, there is rather less to admire.”
Mr. Radcliff spoke then. “Now I beg to differ, Darcy. The banks of the great earthwork are still clothed in green grass. Here and there they are touched with gold, but the place remains remarkably lovely. Though Arbor Low stands upon a hill, the surrounding countryside is dotted with woodlands of ash, beech, sycamore, oak, and hawthorn. It is a charming place, and I would wager that two young ladies such as yourselves would find it entirely to your taste.”
Elizabeth looked to her new friend. “Well then, I believe it has been decided. Let us meet at the monument and enjoy a walk together.”
Georgiana's eyes brightened with excitement. “May we meet tomorrow?” Catching herself, she added anxiously, “Or is that too soon? Perhaps you have other plans.”
Elizabeth looked to her aunt and uncle, the question plain upon her face.
“Lizzy,” Mr. Gardiner said, “I know you will not sleep contentedly until you have seen the stone circle with your own eyes. We shall not make you wait. Indeed, I shall escort you there myself. It is a delightful walk.”
He looked to his wife, amusement lurking in his hazel eyes. “I imagine Maddie will wish to remain behind and visit with her sister, and she will not miss me in the least. In fact, I shall be doing her a favor by removing myself from the house so that she and Elena may enjoy a comfortable visit.”
The two older ladies laughed at his jest, and the matter was settled. They would meet Georgiana at eleven o'clock the following morning at the ancient monument Elizabeth had spent so many hours reading about.
As he was on the point of leaving the house, Mr. Darcy paused and said, “Miss Elizabeth, I shall accompany my sister on her ride to the henge, if that is agreeable to you.”
Elizabeth was pleased by the proposal, though she took care not to betray it.
“That would be most kind of you, sir. I have a great many questions about the area, and perhaps you will be able to answer some of them.”
“I shall do my best.”
He bowed, then took his leave.
Dinner was a pleasant affair. The two Radcliffs were kind-hearted people who missed having their children about them. Mrs. Radcliff fussed over Elizabeth, making certain she had enough to eat. Did she enjoy the fish? Had she enough wine? Would she care for another bun?
Elizabeth cast amused eyes toward her aunt, who answered with a knowing look, as if to say, I told you she would be delighted to keep you as long as ever you wished to stay.
Elizabeth was happy. At long last, she felt there was something she could do besides pore over old accounts of mysterious happenings at the henge.
Tomorrow she would meet Dr. Wynn, Madeline's father, and learn all he knew of the local folklore and the ancient traditions of the people who had once inhabited this region.
She only hoped he would trust her enough to share those stories and that he was not so advanced in years that the old lore had faded from his memory.
He must still be in reasonably good health, for he was spending the day with friends in Bakewell. Elizabeth had been disappointed to learn that he was not at home, and on this first evening, it would be rude to pore over her studies rather than attend to her hosts.
She found herself longing to withdraw to her chamber, open the second volume she had purchased at Hatchards, and continue her studies. Perhaps within its pages she would discover more accounts of mysterious disappearances and, hopefully, some clue as to how such marvels had come to pass.
Elizabeth was grateful when Uncle Edward rose and said, “James, I hope you will forgive me, but it has been a trying day, what with the broken wheel and the anxiety of getting it repaired. I believe I shall retire early and rest my weary bones.”
He grinned as he spoke.
Aunt Madeline stood as well. “Elena, I too shall retire.”
Elizabeth rose. “Mr. and Mrs. Radcliff, thank you for the delightful dinner and for welcoming me into your home. I believe I shall follow my aunt's example and retire for the night.”
Mrs. Radcliff accompanied her guests upstairs and saw that each chamber was supplied with every comfort. A maid had been assigned to attend Elizabeth. Upon the hearth stood a kettle of hot water, while a hip bath had already been placed near the fire.
“Miss, I have hot water ready for you. I imagine you will wish to wash away the dust of the journey.”
Elizabeth was grateful for the unexpected luxury. “Yes, thank you. I should like that very much.” Then added, “Please call me Elizabeth. And what is your name?”
“I am Anna Somers, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Thank you, Anna. I shall sleep much more comfortably after a hot hip bath. We have not enjoyed a proper bath these past three days of travel.” She laughed softly. “It seems quite a luxury.”
“Yes, Miss. That is exactly what Mrs. Radcliff said when she ordered the baths prepared.”
She moved toward the door. “Ring if you are in need of anything. I shall attend you while you remain here at the manor.”
The maid was about to leave when she stopped and turned back.
“Miss, I quite forgot to tell you about the water closet. There is one at the end of the hall. Be certain to lock the door, for it serves all the guest chambers. There is also a chamber pot beneath the bed should you have need of it during the night.”
“Anna, have you time to show me how it works?”
The maid grinned. “Certainly, Miss Elizabeth. When you have finished your bath, ring for me, and I shall be pleased to show you.”
Once Elizabeth had been made ready for bed, she donned her dressing gown, and the two women walked to the end of the corridor. Anna opened the door to what appeared to have once been a guest bedchamber. A partition wall had been built across part of the room, creating a smaller enclosure within it.
They stepped inside.
Against one wall stood the water closet.
Anna pointed to each part as she explained its purpose. Beneath a polished wooden seat was a porcelain bowl. High upon the wall hung a cistern fitted with a pull handle.
“When you have finished, Miss, you simply pull this handle.”
She demonstrated the motion.
“The water falls from the cistern into the bowl and carries everything away through a drain to the cesspit. The flush is worked entirely by gravity.”
Beside the cistern stood a large glazed earthenware jar with a fitted lid. Anna lifted the cover to reveal fresh water within.
“We keep this jar filled in case the cistern requires replenishing. When the family is at home, it often needs to be topped up before the servants make their next round.”
Elizabeth was impressed. “What a remarkable invention.”
Anna asked, “Is there anything else I may do for you before I retire for the night, Miss Elizabeth?”
“No, thank you. I shall need nothing more.”
When Elizabeth was at last alone, she crossed to her trunk and withdrew the volume by John Brand. She ran her fingers over the gilt lettering on the cover.
Observations on Popular Antiquities.
This was the book the clerk had described as a collection of superstitions, fairy beliefs, ghost stories, omens, customs, and folk traditions. Surely within its pages lay some clue that might help her save Lydia, and perhaps even her father and mother.
The thought filled her with such anticipation that her hands began to tremble. She prayed she would not be disappointed, and then she opened the thick volume and began to read.
Time slipped away unnoticed.
Only when the candle flame began to waver and sink into the socket did Elizabeth realize how late the hour had grown. She glanced at her little watch. It was well past midnight. She had been reading for more than two hours.
Rising from her chair, she stretched the stiffness from her back.
The first two chapters concerned the ghost stories of Derbyshire.
Some apparitions were said to haunt ancient manor houses, others lonely roads, and still others secluded woodlands.
Elizabeth found these tales of little interest, but she persevered, lest she overlook some detail that might aid her own search.
For now, however, the hour had grown too late.
Indeed, it was already the morrow. Reluctantly closing the volume, she moved to the bed.
Then, with a soundless laugh, she did a little dance, remembering that in but a few hours, she would finally see Arbor Low with her own eyes...
and the very handsome, exceedingly amiable Mr. Darcy, who had promised to act as her guide.