Teaching Eliza, page 25
After several days of the tour, during which the travellers stopped at a variety of interesting and beautiful places, they arrived at Arlenby. “This is where I grew up,” Mrs. Gardiner told her niece. “There is the village, down that lane, and through those woods is a stream…” She glanced meaningfully at her husband, and Lizzy detected a tale hidden in those simple words. “The house,” Mrs. Gardiner continued, “is very old, with parts dating back to the Normans, but the main building, where the family lives, is modern and most comfortable. There, there are the stables, and there the storage facilities and there—” they rounded a small curve in the road and the house came suddenly into view, “There is Arlenby!” The house was a modest manor, with four storeys rising above a beautifully designed lawn, not rambling, but tidy and compact. There were small towers at each of the two front corners to the house, and Mrs. Gardiner pointed to one, saying that the room inside had been her favourite place as a child. The ancient parts to the house were at the back, beyond the new kitchens, and were safe to explore should Lizzy feel the desire to wander through half-ruined rooms during her stay. “If you discover a ghost, please invite it to dinner,” Aunt Gardiner teased, “for we would have all residents of the house be happy and pleasant company.” Lizzy decided the entire prospect was wonderful.
The travellers were greeted by their hosts, who had been waiting at the main doors.
“Harry!” Mrs. Gardiner cried and flung herself into her brother’s arms the moment she had alighted from the carriage. Sir Harry beamed his welcome and greeted his brother Gardiner with the warmth one shows a friend, not merely a relation by marriage. These men had a history and shared adventures, and their mutual respect and admiration was evident.
“Miss Bennet!” Sir Harry greeted Lizzy as she stepped out of the carriage. “How delightful that you were able to join your aunt and uncle. My wife was most pleased to hear of your acceptance.” Lady Grant, Lizzy’s own friend, echoed these sentiments. “Come, Lizzy, and I shall show you your room, and we may have a great gab like schoolgirls before we are called upon to be ladies again at dinner!”
Three days passed in pleasant companionship. After the growing sense of alienation from her friends and family in Meryton, and the more recent ado around Charlotte and Richard’s elaborate wedding, Lizzy reveled in being able to enjoy the easy and intelligent company of her aunt and her friend. Lady Grant had a pretty young daughter, now three years of age, and much time was spent in dressing, undressing, and redressing little Emily’s dolls, and creating fantastical stories about fairies, wizards, and the gnomes who lived under the mushrooms in the woods. Lady Grant told her friends that while Sir Harry had been granted a second estate along with his baronetcy, the family had decided to retain Arlenby as their primary residence, for it was here that they felt most at home.
On the fourth day, Aunt Gardiner expressed a wish to travel into the nearby town of Lambton. She had spent much time there as a child, and had several acquaintances she hoped to visit. “There is a very good book shop in the town, Lizzy,” Lady Grant said, “and some small but well-stocked shops should you wish to buy presents for your sisters. The town is not large, but it is very prosperous, due to the proximity of several important estates. You must have heard of Pemberley, for that is Professor Darcy’s estate.”
Lizzy did not know if she paled completely or flushed deep red. All she knew was that, at the sound of the name of Darcy’s estate, she felt her head grow light and saw the world spin askew for a moment. She looked up sharply to see whether her reaction had been caught by either of the other two women, but they both had their eyes on young Emily as she pressed another outfit for her dolls into every available hand.
She had known, of course, that Arlenby and Pemberley were within a few short miles of each other, but had not thought to be travelling near enough to the other estate to risk an encounter with its inhabitants. And yet Lambton, the town of which Lady Grant was speaking, relied upon that estate for much of its prosperity, enough that it must be very near indeed. “...only five miles distant, and on good roads,” Lady Grant was saying, though the words swam in Lizzy’s ears. “but I have not heard that the family is in residence. Miss Darcy is said to be in London now, with her aunt and uncle, and no one has seen the professor in several months.”
“Then Professor Darcy is not at his estate?” Lizzy was confused, and slightly concerned, for Richard had told her that Pemberley had been Darcy’s intention when he departed London.
“I know not what happens within the walls of the manor house, but from the little rounds of gossip and news-sharing, no one has seen him since the previous summer.”
“Oh!” If he were not at Pemberley, where could he be? Ought she to write to Richard to express her concerns about his cousin? Surely he had better information than she, although if the man had wished to vanish, he could send false news to his family. She was loath to disturb the colonel with a letter, for he was recently wed and only now beginning to settle into his newly acquired estate, but she could not write to Freddy—even the most loosely held notions of propriety forbade that—and it would never do to raise such concerns with Lady Malton. But the professor’s wellbeing took precedence in her thoughts, and she was resolved. She must inform Richard through a letter to Charlotte, and this she must do at once, for she could not rest easily if she did nothing to alert Darcy’s family as to his absence from Pemberley.
She therefore begged a few minutes before the small party would depart for Lambton to write some quick letters, explaining that she would like to put them in the post from the town, and when this wish was granted, hurried to her room to compose her notes. Her words were concise and free from the elaborate artifice so common amongst fashionable circles, and within a very short time her letter was blotted and sealed and the direction clearly inscribed on the outer envelope. Placing it in her reticule, she laced her boots and donned her bonnet and prepared herself for a visit to the town Darcy might call his own.
It was not a long drive between the Grants’ estate and the little town, but it was a most pleasant one. The countryside was striking, its verdant hills contrasting with dramatic crags of rock, and cut through with sparkling streams and rivulets. “Pemberley lies yonder, on the other side of the town,” Lady Grant explained as they drove. “We seldom see the family, but they are known in the area for their excellent management and good works. Professor Darcy is regarded as an eccentric and a rather private sort of man, but he lets his charitable actions and care for his lands speak when his own words are lacking. He is, if not beloved, much respected.”
Lizzy listened with interest. She had not, heretofore, considered the professor in his role of master of an estate. Seeing him amidst his towers of books and diagrams of vowels, it was difficult to imagine him planning out planting schedules or negotiating compromises between feuding tenants. And yet, seeing the area in which his estate lay, it became clear to her that a great many people depended upon his good management of the land, and the prosperity of the region and of the town which they had just now entered spoke of his success in that endeavour. “Yet another project successfully concluded,” she mused somewhat uncharitably, but she was also impressed beyond what she had thought by the diligent exercise of his responsibility and the profits thereof.
The town itself was delightful. Many of the buildings were old, seeming to date back to the time of the Tudors, with their wattle and daub construction, or built of sturdy stone, and the central marketplace stretched along a quickly flowing river, whilst the houses and cottages lay behind, climbing gently up the surrounding hillsides. Lizzy longed to return one day soon with her sketchbook and pencils so she might attempt to capture the picturesque village on paper. She did not claim much merit as an artist, but she enjoyed the exercise and wished to preserve what she could of this lovely scene. She said as much to Lady Grant, and the lady suggested some suitable times for a second visit.
The carriage stopped in front of a well-kept inn, where the passengers alighted. Lady Grant gave some instructions to the coachman and groom, and the carriage then drove off towards the stables where the horses and their drivers would wait until the ladies were ready to return home. “We shall take tea here,” Lady Grant gestured to the inn, which housed an elegant tea shop as well as the expected tavern, “after I have completed my business.” The lady had already explained her wish to consult with the chandlers and the dressmaker, and wished also to examine patterns for a new set of china which would include Sir Harry’s new coat of arms, and thus she departed in one direction with her maid behind her, leaving Lizzy and Mrs. Gardiner to wander in the other to explore the town at leisure.
Lizzy’s first stop was the inn, where she left her letter to be sent in that day’s post. The innkeeper was a pleasant and friendly man with news about the town and a good word for everyone, and he complimented Miss Bennet on her choice of friends and family, for he remembered Mrs. Gardiner as a lass, spoke kindly of her brother, and had nothing but compliments for Lady Grant. “How fine a lady ye never did see in these here parts, always with a coin for the wee ‘uns and a moment for a word wi’ their mums and da’s, leavin’ smiles in her wake.” His inn was as clean and well-maintained on the inside as on the out, and Lizzy was happy to know she would return in a few hours to take tea and taste some of the delicious looking cakes set out on a shelf for display.
The shops in the village proved most amenable for a day’s distraction. As well as the expected array of baker, apothecary, milliner, and general goods store, Lizzy was delighted to see one shop dedicated to selling chocolates, another specialising in finely crafted woodwork and toys, a well-furnished bookseller, and a tailor’s shop with some beautiful and fashionable clothing on display in the window. She hardly knew where to begin, resolving to visit each in turn in hopes of finding some perfect present for each of her sisters and parents. The bookseller, she knew, she would leave till the very last, there to best enjoy her time until she had to leave to meet Lady Grant at the inn.
Mrs. Gardiner kept Lizzy company through much of her exploration, exchanging news with those shopkeepers who remembered her from her youth and asking after children and grandchildren. As they entered the book shop, however, Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed, “I do declare! That is Old Mrs. Broadhead across the street! She was my nursemaid… will you excuse me, Lizzy, if I go to greet an old and dear acquaintance?” Lizzy happily approved of this plan, declaring that she should be more than content to wait in the book shop for Mrs. Gardiner’s return.
She had turned to browse some of the newly arrived novels the bookseller had on display when a fellow browser, a respectable-looking woman of middle years, greeted her in most polite terms, and upon hearing Lizzy’s friendly response, asked, “Are you an avid reader, Miss?” Lizzy nodded, and the lady added, “I must beg your forgiveness at my forwardness, but I am rather in need of assistance.”
“I am your servant,” Lizzy smiled warmly at the woman and executed a genteel curtsey.
“I am looking for something diverting for a young woman—only sixteen years old—who is a bit of a shut-in, rather lonely, and in dear need of diversion. My tastes must be far from hers, but you are much closer to her age. Have you read anything you see here that might be suitable?”
While far from an expert in speech and pronunciation, Lizzy had spent enough time working on and discussing such subjects with Professor Darcy that she could recognise in the lady’s words the foundation of a good Derbyshire accent, overlaid with a carefully applied veneer of the speech of the elite. The lady made no efforts to hide her origins, but clearly had spent much time in the company of the upper classes, enough to modulate her tones to suit their ears. Was she a local schoolmistress? A spinster aunt or cousin, now companion to the young girl being asked for? Or perhaps an abigail to a fine lady in the vicinity?
When Lizzy paused over the selection of books and considered these questions, the lady spoke further, explaining herself. “My charge is the young miss of the estate where I am housekeeper, a very well-learned young woman, but very shy and in need of something to broaden her interests. If not a respectable novel, is there, perhaps, a travelogue you have read that the proprietor here might have? Or perhaps something of natural history? I have not had the minding of such a young girl since my own lass was that age, and now I am a grandmother, so that was many years gone.”
The woman’s tone was friendly and her concern for the young woman palpable, and Lizzy was most happy to assist her in finding some appropriate book. She asked more questions about the girl’s interests and commented freely and candidly on what of the bookseller’s collection she herself had read and would suggest, and the two fell into easy conversation.
As Lizzy saw Mrs. Gardiner emerge from the building across the street, the woman, whose name was Mrs. Reynolds, asked most cautiously, “I may seem most presumptuous, Miss, but I do believe my young charge would very much benefit from your conversation, and might appreciate a visitor. As much as she has closed herself off from the world, she cannot remain without the companionship of those closer to her own age forever. She has only me and her… well, the rest of the staff to amuse her, and it will not do! Might I impose upon you to pay her a visit? If you tell me of your direction, I can have a carriage sent to fetch you and then return you in the evening.”
This was hardly what Lizzy had been expecting when she had entered the shop a half hour previous. Uncertain how to respond to such a surprising request, she looked with grateful relief at her aunt, who had just walked in through the shop’s door. Seeing Mrs. Reynolds, Aunt Gardiner hurried over with a large smile on her face and greeted the lady warmly. At once, Lizzy felt easier, for if her aunt were friendly with the lady, her request could not be construed as something alarming.
The usual exclamations of surprise and inquiry as to the other’s’ health were eventually concluded, and Mrs. Reynolds then exclaimed, “My dear Mrs. Gardiner, I had no notion this delightful young lady was your niece. What a treasure, having so sweet a girl amongst your relatives. You must be surely proud of her. I was just asking Miss Bennet if she would do Miss Georgie the honour of visiting with her. The girl is quite withdrawn from society, and I believe she would do well with a friend, even for a short visit or two. Miss Bennet has recommended some books for me to bring home today, and perhaps they might discuss them. You and Lady Grant are most welcome as well.”
So Mrs. Reynolds knew Lady Grant, and knew that Mrs. Gardiner was connected with the Grant family! The familiarity and friendliness between the households further eased Lizzy’s disquiet, and she now felt rather curious about this young lady who never left her house. She had never heard mention of the Georgie family and wondered if there were some mystery to be solved therein! “Ah, this comes of reading too many novels!” she laughed in her head.
“Is the young lady ill, Mrs. Reynolds?” she asked aloud at a suitable lull in the conversation.
“Nay, not ill in body, but most troubled in spirit. My sweet Miss Georgie has a melancholia that renders her quite unwilling—unable, even—to venture from her rooms. If you can raise her spirits, you will be a miracle worker, a true gift from the heavens.”
Mrs. Gardiner left Lizzy with little choice when she nodded furiously, “Then of course, we must attend! I shall inform my sister of our intentions. When would be convenient?”
The following day was settled upon, and the offer of the carriage repeated and then refused, for the Grant carriage would do quite well. Warm greetings of farewell were offered with the knowledge that everyone would meet again the following day.
“How exciting this is, Lizzy!” Mrs. Gardiner gushed as they walked back down the high street towards the inn for tea. “You shall be doing a good turn to a sweet but troubled young girl, and you have just procured an invitation to Pemberley!”
Pemberley? Once again, Lizzy felt herself grow faint. At no point had Mrs. Reynolds mentioned that she was the housekeeper at Pemberley—for Professor Darcy, no less! And who, then, was Miss Georgie? The girl was sixteen, and Darcy only eight and twenty, so certainly not a natural child, but then who? A cousin? A niece? A ward, perhaps? Was that why there had been no mention of the Georgie family. Unless… Could ‘Georgie’ be the girl’s Christian name instead? Georgina or something of the sort? With a sense of horror, she recalled rare and cryptic mentions of a sister, always with the suggestion that the girl was not to be discussed for some reason or another.
Darcy himself had breathed scarcely a word of her. Neither, Lizzy now realised, had he mentioned parents, grandparents, childhood friends, or any other family members with whom she was not herself acquainted. Professor Darcy was a particularly private man, she was coming to understand. What other secrets did he hold so close?
More to the point, how could she possibly visit his estate, walk through his home, partake of his hospitality? Even were he not there, as it seemed he was not, being in his home seemed too intimate an act for one who had abused him and then run off from him so recently. But… Mrs. Reynolds had betrayed no recognition of her name, had not made any little noises of awareness, had raised no eyebrow, nor nodded in cognizance of some familial intimacies. The housekeeper must be as ignorant as to Darcy’s goings-on in Town as his Town friends were aware of his affairs in the country. And Miss Georgie, whoever she may be, would also be quite unaware of any previous relationship between the master of the estate and the young woman come to visit with her. She need never know of the alarming sensations borne of hand upon hand, of the heightened awareness of his presence while waltzing, or of those kisses that still fueled her dreams despite her commands that they stop. Shuddering, Lizzy forced those memories away and steeled herself. No, as long as Darcy remained firmly elsewhere, wherever that may be, she could visit with Miss Georgie with complete calmness and equanimity.
