Section I, Next Section
"Hello. Yes, that's right I'm available. I can start within the week. No, my company closed, notice isn't necessary."
Elizabeth looked around the apartment at all the stuff she had to pack within a week. Mother used to get boxes at the grocery store but that was so cheap and of course there was the danger of bugs. Her old boss had introduced her to the private fears and thrills of being a neat freak. Cockroaches had been high on her hit list of coffee break topics. Where does one find boxes? She thought. It had been three years since she had moved back to her parents house after college and boxes had not factored in anywhere into that move. She almost laughed out loud thinking of her burly father balancing her pink lamp in one hand, a duffel in the other all the while heaving the old second hand fridge strapped to his back. I guess I can't show up to Mr. Ceo's mansion carrying all my belongings one at a time.
"Yes I'll be there at 9. I can do light cooking but occasionally I'll need the weekend off. Does Mr. Darcy understand that I have only made the commitment for one year, he does, very good then. Yes, goodbye."
As soon as Elizabeth hung up with the agency she rang her sister Jane.
"Jane it's all settled. I start on Sunday. No Jane I'll be fine. The woman at the agency assured me my room was very nice and the workload would be basically just upkeep, evidently Mr. Darcy is a workaholic and is home very little."
" At least let me help you move your things? Is it very creepy in the house with all the furniture gone?"
"Well it's not what you call incredibly cheery but I have been trying not to look around to much. Now that the pictures have been taken down the nights have been a little easier." Elizabeth offered more than usual but she was feeling overwhelmed and needed to rest her head on Jane, even if it was just over the phone.
"Oh Lizzy I'm sorry all this has fallen to you. You have done such a good job with everything. I think I'll come up late Friday instead of Saturday, I could swap shifts with Suzy, she owes me. I dated her younger brother last weekend."
"Oh no, was it that bad", Lizzy laughed with tears in her eyes.
" Let's just say in the world of nursing a blind date to a Star Trek convention is equivalent to covering two of your weekend shifts."
"Sounds great. I'll see you then" Lizzy wanted to laugh but thinking of Jane not arriving for another 4 days was more than she could bear. She hurried off so Jane wouldn't worry.
"Yes Mrs. Young I expect discreet behavior, neatness and punctuality. If I don't see all of this the first week I'll have to make other arrangements." Darcy hung up the phone feeling uneasy about hiring a new housekeeper. It wasn't right, Reynolds had always taken care of everything.
He sat back in his chair and looked out the window towards the pond. Reynolds had always been old, at least she always seemed old to him but never frail. He thought of the winter she had taught him how to ice skate. All the other boys were playing hockey and he couldn't even stand up on his blades. She saw the disappointment when his father had rebuked him for making to many demands on his time. Reynolds took him out to the pond, opened a very ancient looking shoe box and produced a pair of well worn skates. She plopped down and started to lace up. She urged him, "William don't dilly-dally I have a dinner to put out yet and the sun is going down." She stayed out with him until he could skate the length of the pond without falling. He was positive that there was no one available with these credentials at "Young's Best Maids"
Sunday had come so quickly Elizabeth hadn't had time to settle herself on what the proper behaviour a maid should exhibit. She'd have to wing it and hope her new employer wasn't displeased. She knew she would have to squelch her temper, after all this was to be her livelihood for at least a year.
"Lizzy I think we turn down this road here." Jane read from the map and the handwritten directions. "Funny though this road isn't shown on the map."
"Jane I have a sinking feeling this is not a road but a driveway." Lizzy gaped.
"Elizabeth did you realize it would be this grand?" Jane asked in a worried tone.
"No not at all," Lizzy trembled with the thought of taking care of a house this size.
The sisters pulled up to a side door, thinking it might be more appropriate than using the front entrance. Elizabeth steadied herself, grasping the wheel very tightly. She cut the motor and looked at Jane. Their eyes locked and Jane stirred to offer an alternate solution. Lizzy stopped her with a wave. She left the car and walked to the house. Before she could knock an old woman answered the door.
"Dear, you must be Elizabeth. Did you find your way? We are quite secluded here. I'm Mrs. Reynolds"
"Mrs. Reynolds I think there is a mistake I had no idea Mr. Darcy's house was, was, was so...."
"Beautiful, isn't it though Miss. Don't worry about the size, half the house isn't used. We keep it closed off. Your duties will include Mr. Darcy's rooms, his office, the library, the parlor, the kitchen and the bathrooms." On conclusion Mrs. Reynolds laughed warmly, "My I have been busy here over the years."
Elizabeth smiled widely. She liked Mrs. Reynolds already. Perhaps this wouldn't be to daunting. "I'll just get my things. If it's all right my sister has come along to help me settle in?" Mrs. Reynolds smiled approvingly.
When they came in she showed them up to her room. It was on the second floor down a long hallway. The room was small, but the windows were pretty. There was a bed in the far corner and a door that led to a small bathroom. Everything seemed clean but stark. Jane anticipated Lizzy's impression of the room. "With some of your beautiful quilts it will look very homey." Jane and Lizzy squeezed hands.
"Miss Elizabeth you settle yourself in this afternoon then come down to the kitchen and we'll discuss your duties over supper."
"Thank you Mrs. Reynolds"
"Lizzy I must be going too. Will you be all right?" Lizzy nodded reassuringly." Call me as soon as you can."
Elizabeth saw Jane out and collected her last box full of clothes. She waved goodbye as Jane drove her car away. It would have to be sold but Jane assured her she would come up when they both had a weekend off to buy her something smaller. She was stranded here, at least for a while.
Supper with Mrs. Reynolds consisted of chicken with rice and a very long list of chores that had to be accomplished every week.
"Cooking will be done by Mrs. Brown but occasionally she takes a weekend off and you will be asked to prepare light meals. Can you cook dear?"
"Oh yes, that won't be any problem"
"Mr. Darcy will be back sometime tomorrow and I will be leaving in the morning."
"You're leaving?" Lizzy looked to the old woman for an answer but she said nothing, she only shook her head and smiled but Lizzy thought she saw tears coming to her eyes. She looked away so as not to embarrass her.
Once everything was unpacked she sat on her bed feeling restless and fearful, her quilting things still packed, she remembered a library being mentioned, perhaps she could borrow a book, just for tonight. She slipped on her sweatpants and sweater and made her way downstairs. The hallway was chilly even for September and she hesitated, thinking it was undignified to walk barefoot as a maid. She would put that on her mental list of appropriate behaviors for maids but right now she just wanted to get this over with. The house was inky dark and she had to feel her way down the stairs. Miraculously she found the library off the foyer. The floor was ice cold and she put an asterisk next to her entry on slipper wearing in mansions. She turned a small light on at the desk and started combing the shelves for titles. She chose a volume of plays by Tennessee Williams and went to the window for moonlight. She flipped to the contents searching the titles.
He saw the silhouette in front of the window as soon as he opened the door. He was tired and hungry and his impatience got the better of him. "Who's there, what are you doing there?"
Elizabeth had closed the book upon his entrance and had turned full face to her new employer.
"Oh, please excuse me sir, I am Elizabeth Bennet. I am the new housekeeper." Darcy had turned on a light and looked at her. Where were her shoes he thought. This is going to be trouble. I must set the right tone now.
"The library is not for the servants to use Miss Bennet and I would appreciate conservative dress while you are on duty as well as off." There that should do it. He turned his back as she began to speak.
Elizabeth's face was flushed with embarrassment. She was ready to retort but checked herself. She swallowed hard and simply said. "Yes of course, please excuse me I'm sure you're tired from your day." She scurried for the door and opened it noiselessly. Darcy had turned round with only time to see her barefoot and hand exiting lightly.
Morning burst into Elizabeth's tiny room in an unfriendly manner. She jumped up quickly to dress, worried about her to do list and still stinging inside over her bad start with Mr. Darcy. After discarding her first two outfits as not 'conservative' enough, something caught her side view out the front window. It was Darcy, standing in front of a cab, waiting. A few moments later Mrs. Reynolds appeared walking towards him, carrying her bags. Darcy, almost running, grabbed her bags and followed her. He placed the bags in the trunk and came around to where she was standing, he dropped his head while Mrs. Reynolds said a few words and placed a hand on his arm, at which point he looked up and shook his head back and forth. What could be going on, Elizabeth wondered, just then she saw the envelope emerge from his right hand pocket, he lifted it and handed it to her. Elizabeth thought perhaps she would refuse, after his behaviour last night she was almost rooting for that outcome, but she didn't. In fact, she accepted the envelope with a look of love and gratitude. It just didn't add up, doesn't this lovely, seemingly wise woman see what a lout this Mr. Darcy was, how could she have gratitude and love towards a person that was turning her out, no doubt because she was to old, or had made a little mistake like borrowed one to many library books. The last and most confounded thing, to Elizabeth, came at the end when Darcy stooped down to hug the old woman. All right Elizabeth reassessed, perhaps she had been with them a long time and maybe she was leaving on better terms than perceived but it was the tenderness of the hug. His hands came up around the little woman gently and for just a split second she caught him nuzzling his head into the crook between her neck and shoulder. It sent a pang through Elizabeth, a pang that every woman without children feels, will it ever happen to me, will someone ever love me so much.
Dusting and watering would be her first chores, thinking that Darcy would be leaving for the office after seeing Mrs. Reynolds off, Elizabeth chose his office to begin, it was set back from the main entrance and she thought maybe she could avoid him entirely for the day. No sooner had she started dusting the window shelves, carefully moving the knickknacks as she went, when she heard the door open.
"Not here, not now."
Elizabeth stopped and turned to look at him but he was already seated at his desk with his head behind the computer screen. Elizabeth replaced the plants and left the room. Oh this is not going well at all. She felt so sad and out of place in this house. What was she doing here. It wasn't that she wanted to be friends with him but he was so curt and thoughtless in his demeanor. She feared it was going to be a horror working here for a year, if she made it that long.
I should talk with that new one but not now. Darcy felt terrible he couldn't have a conversation with some girl about how she was going to do all the things that Reynold's should be doing. Why did she have to be so old now, a nursing home was not the right place for her, she should be here with me. Of course they said he'd visit but they both knew it wouldn't be often. It was truly good-bye. He ran his hands through his hair, his eyes watered and he banged the table hard. "Damn!" he pushed away from the desk and headed for the outdoors. On his way out he almost ran into Elizabeth watering the enormous flower arrangement in the foyer. He couldn't look back, he would deal with new problems later. Once outside he ran towards the stable and saddled Havana. He rode out with a vengeance.
Elizabeth worked through her list diligently, only avoiding the office, by 5 p.m. she heard footsteps coming in the kitchen back door. Her stomach tightened, now almost fearful of Mr. Darcy, for she had heard him curse before storming out this morning. Happily it was only Mrs. Brown, the cook Mrs. Reynolds had told her about, she popped her head into the parlor where Elizabeth was washing the windows, "Hello there"
"Hi, I'm Elizabeth Bennet from the housekeeping agency." Lizzy extended her hand warmly, hoping this would be an ally.
"My you're pretty", the woman smiled as she took a long look at Elizabeth. "Have you met Mr. Darcy yet?"
"Yes", Elizabeth tried not to show her reluctance but women have a way of picking up on first impressions.
"Ah, bit of a hard day for the poor boy I suppose. I'll make something special. Now what about you dear? Cup a tea? Looks like you've been at it all day. Let me guess, Mrs. Reynolds left a very detailed list." She laughed and shook her head. "One of the last great ones. You know she came with the Darcys from England, trained in the great British mansions." Mrs. Brown giggled like a girl and cocked her head. "Don't let the list scare you, she just loved them so much, she wants everything to be right, even more so now that she won't be here anymore."
Mrs. Brown's warm manner made Lizzy a little less skittish but she wasn't any less confused about the temperament of her employer. She followed her into the kitchen, thankful for a break and happy to have someone to talk with. She missed her mother so much at times like these, when she was unsure what to think, not wanting to make a poor judgment.
While the two women were talking about where they were from they heard the front door slam. Lizzy noticed Mrs. Brown look out towards the foyer, although she couldn't see it, and purse her lips and shake her head in a kind of, that's a shame, way. Lizzy studied her actions for some clue to what was going on.
"I can hear Mr. Darcy has retired to bed early so I think I'll wrap everything and put it into the fridge. I can't stay but will you reheat things if you hear Mr. Darcy come down later?"
Elizabeth cringed inside but outwardly smiled and agreed, wanting to be amiable and helpful to her new workmate.
Mrs. Brown left, with the promise of going over Elizabeth's list tomorrow, amending some of the chores. Lizzy ate some soup she had made, and then cleared the dishes. There had been no sign of Darcy and it was 8 O'clock. She decided her responsibilities were over and went upstairs to bed. She just removed her sweater and shoes when she heard him descending the stairs. Her head went back and her eyes closed. "Oh what should I do?" She quickly fetched her sweater and put her shoes back on. She reached the kitchen expecting to see him staring into the fridge but instead no one was there. She quickly took out the soup, chicken and bread and set it to warming. Just as everything was set out on the kitchen table a panic came over Lizzy. Oh no she thought, he doesn't eat in the kitchen like a servant. She went to the table about to gather everything to quickly set up in the dining room, thinking how pathetic he was going to look sitting there all alone, when he came in the door. The chicken and bread fell to the floor with a resounding clatter. Darcy stood there staring at her, no reaction, no sympathy, without instinct to bend down. Elizabeth could stand no more. This was so weird. It started as a quiet giggle and then she couldn't stop, she was full out laughing while she was bending over to pick things up.
"Mr. Darcy please excuse me but your entrances and exits seemed to find me in the most compromising situations." Her laughter was more sweet than mocking and was a relief from all the tension she was feeling.
Darcy looked down on her and was prepared to fire out another lecture on impropriety but changed his mind. "I see you have your shoes on this evening Miss Bennet and I suppose for today I can't ask for more than that. In the future I will eat in the dining room and not on the kitchen floor." He disappeared behind the door. Elizabeth ladled out some soup and buttered some bread. She set it on a tray and brought it out to the dining table. He was seated, alone, waiting and the image softened her urge to dump the soup in his lap. She set out the meal.
"I am sorry about the chicken..........sir," Lizzy choked on the 'sir' but she wanted to test out what she was to call him. He hadn't flinched over the 'sir' so she assumed it was acceptable. She went back into the kitchen and cleaned up the mess. She heard him moving his chair away from the table and she went back out.
"Sir"
"He turned at the door leading out of the dining room, with an impatient tone he said, "Yes, Miss Bennet"
"Sir, I managed to save your pudding?" Elizabeth smiled, feeling triumphant that she knew he loved such a childish dessert.
"Mrs. Brown made it?" he inquired, amazingly, with a straight face.
"Yes", she said. "She thought you might like something special today?' Lizzy said, half questioning half stating fact.
"All right." He sat back down, again waiting patiently.
Elizabeth brought out the pudding and placed it before him. She thought she detected a chuckle when he looked at it but she left quickly, happy that they had had a normal exchange.
Elizabeth's second week was much more quiet than her first. She barely saw Mr. Darcy which also meant she had not had any altercations either. Mrs. Brown was very helpful with directing her in the housekeeping and she even had some spare time to fix up her room a bit.
On Friday morning the phone rang in the office while she was cleaning.
"Hello...uh..... uh...oh Darcy residence." It was the first time she answered the phone in her new position.
"Yes I'm glad you can remember where you work Miss Bennet. Is Mrs. Brown in?" Mr. Darcy's voice was terse.
"No sir, she has stepped out." Elizabeth cringed over the way she answered the phone.
"Oh.....I'm having a dinner party tomorrow night and a guest of mine is very partial to apple tart. Tell Mrs. Brown to have it ready for Saturday....Can you do that?" His tone was skeptical.
"Yes of course Mr. Darcy, good-bye" Elizabeth put the receiver down feeling awful. Why does he assume I'm so inept. Not that I really care besides it was only a few little mistakes....barefeet, chicken on the floor....oh well." Lizzy giggled.
Mrs. Brown was upset by the short notice call for her apple tart. She explained to Elizabeth it was impossible for her to make and for that matter she wouldn't be here for the weekend. It seemed her husband had bought some tickets for a cruise. She had told Mr. Darcy about it months ago.
"Oh Elizabeth what will I do? I can't disappoint my husband but I can't leave Mr. Darcy stranded either?" Mrs. Brown was in tears.
"Now that's is quite enough. I am here and will cook and do whatever else needs to be done. You and Mr. Darcy must begin trusting me." Elizabeth put her hand on Mrs. Brown's shoulder with a strength that conveyed all would turn out fine.
As soon as she saw Mrs. Brown out with all reassurances and wishes for a wonderful trip, she walked back to the kitchen to form her plans for the weekend. No sooner had she settled in her mind that with this opportunity she would single handedly turn her image from undependable housekeeper to indispensable cook and confidant, she realized there was no food in the fridge and she had no car to convey her to the market.
"Drat............I could take a cab" no cabs always made her feel jittery, funny smells and scary drivers.....no she would walk. It was no more than 2 miles to the market and she would be back in time to make supper and the apple tart for the weekend.
The walk there was wonderful, she got to see much of the Darcy estate, making her way down the winding path of driveway. The fall colors were golden and red. Her face tingled with the chill in the air and her mind felt clear. There had been so many dark days in the last two years. The sale of her own family home had numbed her mind. She couldn't dwell on any more sadness. She shook her head a little, thinking the token gesture would ensure the clearness to stay and the dark thoughts be sloughed off like dead skin.
After the food had been paid for and the bundles packed she realized her miscalculation. In her zeal to impress she forgot that whatever she bought would have to be carried the 2 miles back to the house. At the edge of town she had to stop and rest awhile, the plastic handles of the heaviest bag dug into her fingers. She set everything down and looked around. It was quiet for a Friday, assuming the traffic could not be far away. She checked her watch and saw that there was no time to, it was almost 4:45. Mr. Darcy would be home soon and she still hadn't started dinner. Elizabeth picked up the pace and was turning in the driveway when she heard a car pull in behind her. The window rolled down. It was Mr. Darcy with a friend.
"Miss Bennet what are you doing?" He frowned and looked at the three bags she was carrying.
"Coming home from the market, sir. Dinner won't be long. I already have some of it cooked." She lied, but it was small.
He shrugged his shoulders and put his head down. "Why isn't Mrs. Brown preparing the meal?"
"I gave her your message but she said you forgot about her vacation weekend. I told her it was all right and sent her home, with the promise that I would cover for her." The strain of the bundles was starting to diminish even Elizabeth's smile.
"Oh you did?"
Just then a person and voice emerged from the other side of the vehicle, "Where I come from we don't let ladies stand with heavy bags. Darcy pop the trunk."
A fair-haired man, stepped easily towards Elizabeth.
"Miss Bennet I believe? I'm Mr. Darcy's good friend Charles Bingley. I'm sure filling Reynolds shoes has been a complete nightmare. Here let's put these in the trunk."
By the time Mr. Bingley closed the door Elizabeth noticed that the back door had been pulled open on the drivers side but no one was there. She knew it must have been Mr. Darcy. Without commenting she slipped in the back seat and looked down to avoid eye contact. They were at the kitchen entrance within seconds. The car stopped and Elizabeth could hear the trunk pop open. Before anyone could say a word she flew out of the car, snatched the bundles, slammed the trunk shut and waved thank you and ran in the kitchen chilled with anger.
"He is so impossible. I know now it is not just me but his friends see his ineptitude also."
She quickly set to work on supper, choosing what she thought Mr. Bingley might enjoy. With the table set and dinner almost prepared she started on the apple tart. She wondered where the two had gone and was sliding the tart in the oven when they burst into the kitchen.
"Darcy I tell you it looks worse than it is! I'm sure I don't need stitches. Here ....here is Miss Bennet. I'm sure she can patch me up quickly." Mr. Bingley looked pleadingly at Elizabeth.
"Charles I saw you fall off Havana and I'm not altogether sure that gash is the only thing wrong. You could easily have sprained your wrist as well."
While they were arguing Elizabeth had quickly gathered some first aid and set it out on the table.
"Even if you do decide to go to the hospital I think it would be a good idea to stop the bleeding first." Lizzy guided Mr. Bingley to a chair at the table, she laid his arm out carefully on the cloth, noting how much discomfort it caused him. She began to wash the wound and quickly saw that it would probably not need stitches. All the while Mr. Darcy stood over her, looking grim.
She turned to him, and with as much confidence as she could muster she said, "I don't believe he'll need stitches sir, the wound is superficial. His mobility is fine too. I can patch him up now if you like."
Darcy held her gaze, searching her eyes for the right thing to do. He finally broke away and said, "Yes, I think that would be a good idea." He quickly turned to Charles, "Drink old chap?"
"Sounds like the medicine I need." Darcy disappeared to fetch the drinks and Elizabeth applied ointment and a large bandage to the wound. Just as she was finishing Darcy returned with the drinks.
"Shall we go to the library Charles?" Darcy motioned out of the kitchen.
"Actually Darcy I think I'd like to sit here for a few minutes, my head is spinning a bit, and something smells so wonderful that I think that I should like to sit here forever." Bingley sounded a bit odd.
Darcy shot a look at Elizabeth with raised eyebrows.
"I think perhaps Mr. Bingley should have a glass of juice and some of the apple tart that's coming out in a minute, before he enjoys his drink. He did lose some blood and a little snack will restore him." Elizabeth offered.
"Yes, I agree." Darcy nodded in agreement.
Elizabeth moved to the oven and pulled out the tart, she poured the juice and laid out two places. The two men ate and it was evident when they had finished that Mr. Bingley was feeling better. Elizabeth could see his color had come back and his eyes looked clear.
"Miss Bennet I must thank you for your excellent nursing." Mr. Bingley said warmly as he stood to leave.
"Remember sir, you must change that bandage twice a day and if you have any pain or continued bleeding you should follow up with your doctor. I will leave the bandages in this cabinet for you or I'll help if you need assistance."
The two men left the kitchen and headed toward the library. Elizabeth cleared the dishes and was getting ready to set the dining table for supper, before opening the door she stopped upon hearing the two men discussing something.
"Darcy I must tell you I didn't think you could replace Reynolds but you have outdone yourself. Besides wonderful cook and nurse she is also very pretty."
"Oh Bingley please she is just household help don't gush." Darcy replied tersely.
"No Darcy you won't make me feel bad for paying someone a compliment. She's lovely and I'll go one step further and say I think you should have thanked her. What she did in there was not necessary."
Elizabeth couldn't believe Mr. Bingley's audacity, part of her wanted to cheer for him but there was an uneasy feeling too, why must, what seems natural, be explained to a grown man, a man of sense and education, a man who has lived in the world. She felt wrong listening in on this very private argument.
"I am in no mood to give consequence to a servant. If she does her job and occasionally does something a little extra she will be compensated at the end of the year. Everyone today expects to be praised for the job they are getting paid for."
Elizabeth couldn't see but Bingley just shook his head, not so much out of frustration but concern. He had seen Darcy slipping away over the last few years into a dark place, a place that had little room for joy, patience or even friendship. The men moved on to the library, with Bingley muttering his dissenting opinion.
Enough of this man, I will not spend another minute contemplating his motivations. He is not worth the trouble. Lizzy straightened up and continued her dinner preparations.
Darcy rose early on Saturday, secure in Bingley's health, he was anxious to visit with his horse. Although Havana hadn't sustained any injury when Bingley fell he felt the horse may need reassurances.
The air was cold and a mist hung between the low branches of the trees. It was September already and this would be the last weekend he would see his sister, Georgiana, until the holidays. He hoped everything was going well. Once he saw her face, felt her presence in the house he would be able to tell if she was feeling better. He swatted at some bushes with his riding crop, while en route, meaning the lashes for himself. How could he have let her become involved with Wickham. He should have been more involved in her comings and goings. Things would be different now, she would be ensconced in the boarding school in Maine and only leave to come home for the holidays. His mind wandered back to his impression of the Gray academy, and he felt that Gray could not have been a more fitting name. The rooms were stark and he winced now at the thought of himself demanding a private room for his sister, knowing that almost all the girls shared a room, ensuring, he supposed, easy friendships. He laughed to himself quietly, easy friendships seemed to him two mutually exclusive ideas. Charles had even been acting up lately with demands he just didn't have time for. Yesterday, for instance he wondered, how can Charles expect me to worry about the feelings of my housekeeper? She is well paid, not abused in any way or seemingly unhappy in her position. Oh Bingley is probably attracted to her and feels the need to draw her into the conversation. He had never seen anything that exceptional in her looks......except that one night he had come home and first met her.......he couldn't remember all that transpired because the scene played itself out so quickly.......but there was the barefoot and hand closing the door. It was so gentle and light, the hand tapped the door to start it moving and then she slipped out, using only the movement of air her body created in walking, to secure it closed.
"Miss Bennet what are you doing in here?"
"Oh sir, I hope you don't mind" she resumed stroking Havanna. " It's just that....well my sister Jane used to ride and I remembered her telling me that when you fall off a horse, even if the animal is not injured they can become well....insecure for a time." She produced the carrots that were half hidden behind her back and raised them. "Is this okay."
Darcy was dumbstruck, who did this woman think she was...."Yes I suppose but let's not make this a habit. He walked away towards the shelves on the other side of the stable to retrieve his gloves when he saw the bags. They were from the grocer in the village and one was filled with apples.
Elizabeth finished feeding Havana and turned to leave, she felt that Mr. Darcy was not pleased with her interference and she stamped her foot as she walked, mad with herself for not coming before she had walked to the market.
"Miss Bennet." Mr. Darcy called out, "....you've forgotten your packages."
Elizabeth came back, bending down for her bags. "You may ask for a car to go to the market." Mr. Darcy said loudly.
Elizabeth looked up at him, his gloves in hand, resting up against a table. He looked very handsome, the dullness of the day contrasted with his dark features creating an outline around his shape. "Yes sir, but I forgot something I needed for your dinner party tonight and didn't want to disturb anyone so early."
Darcy looked at her for a moment then moved toward Havana. "Very well then.......thank you." He muttered with his back turned.
Elizabeth cooked and cleaned throughout the day, expectantly listening for the weekend guests to arrive. Although he had not told her how many would be coming she felt confident it was intimate. Apple tart was not for business guests and that would have been catered. No, this was either family or very close friends. She had made up three bedrooms just in case.
Her second tart was finished by lunchtime and she hoped this one would not have to be used as first aid. She placed it on the table to cool and left the kitchen to cut some flowers for the guest bedrooms. Hoping she would find some late blooming mums, snapdragons or even a handful of impatiens, she walked close to the kitchen entrance, on the path of the driveway she saw an outcropping of colorful flowers. She strode along the drive thinking how the grounds might look in spring, wondering if there were any bulbs planted, perhaps by Pryce, the gardener or Mrs. Reynolds. She hoped for flowers, they had a way of making everything seem more bearable.
Once she had a nice mixture of earthy colored flowers she turned to head inside, before reaching the stoop she heard a car coming down the lane.
Georgiana Darcy squinted her eyes to see who was standing at the kitchen entrance. She was still upset with her brother for allowing Reynolds to leave before she could say a proper good bye. Surely, she would visit with her on the Christmas holiday but she regretted missing a last embrace in the kitchen.
As the car approached Georgiana could see Elizabeth a bit better. William is not pleased with her, I can tell, she is looking very nervous and intimidated, the down turn of the mouth the head tilted slightly to one side. Georgiana smiled wistfully, she looks like a little country bride standing at the door to a cabin, with her apron on and her wilting bouquet of mums.
"Hello, I'm Elizabeth Bennet, the new housekeeper." Elizabeth nervously introduced herself.
Georgiana sensed she was untrained, not agreeing with all the customs of wealth, but being intimately familiar she was quite sure this was an improper introduction. Never the less the young girl did what she was trained to do at her boarding schools, and handled the awkward situation with patience and grace. " It is very nice to meet you Miss Bennet I am Mr. Darcy's younger sister Georgiana. I'll be staying for the weekend before heading off for school."
Elizabeth had trouble guessing the girls age. She spoke well but there was unsteadiness about her speech that gave it a sense of being rehearsed.
"Well if you are heading off to school we had better feed you well this weekend." Elizabeth bent in a bit and smiled wryly, " I've heard the food is not very good at those places. Shall we get you settled in then." Elizabeth reached for Georgiana's bags with her free hand but before she could secure them the girl interrupted.
"Oh Miss Bennet it isn't necessary. I can find my way, besides I believe your flowers are wilting." Georgiana smiled and looked at them.
"Why yes I believe you're right." Elizabeth followed behind her but before the two could step halfway through the kitchen Mr. Darcy had come through the door.
"Georgiana," Darcy walked to his sister quickly, it seemed as though he might grab her and then lift her to his own height, but just as quickly as he approached he halted, catching himself.
"You're late. We were expecting you at noon." He grabbed her bags as he chided her gently.
"Yes well, I had to pack the rest of my things in boxes. I couldn't ask Pryce to load everything into the car so we made quite a few small trips."
"Well then I believe you made the right decision. We don't want Pryce leaving us as well." He put his arm around Georgiana and walked out of the kitchen.
Elizabeth mused over Mr. Darcy's words while placing the flowers in the guest bedrooms. She walked to the window in the last room and looked down towards the pond. She tried to imagine what the brother and sister looked like as children tramping about the estate, but her imagination was not up to the challenge. There was nothing in their manner that conveyed any trace of youthful joy. There was one moment when Mr. Darcy first saw his sister, a rush to his step.....
"Yes, you there by the window. My bags, I need help with my bags."
Lizzy turned to find a tall, elegantly dressed woman standing in the doorway looking very put out.
" Yes Ma'am I didn't see you there" Elizabeth stepped lively towards the woman.
" I believe you're the replacement for Reynolds?"
"Yes Ma'am, I believe I am"
" Well thank the lord. Perhaps now, William will bring this old place into the 21st century. I mean have you seen the kitchen, that table is laughable; it's right out of the 50's. And the curtains, well don't get me started on the window treatments.
Elizabeth brought the bags in from the hallway and placed them near the bureau.
"What do you say then....Oh, what is your name?"
"Miss Bennet."
"Yes, well Miss Bennet don't you agree? I mean William... ah Mr. Darcy has neglected the upkeep or should I say the modernization of this house."
Elizabeth knew what her answer should be but something inside her welled up, as if she were taking blows for Mrs. Reynolds and to defend her pride, she turned on this woman and with a cold calm stare uttered her response.
"When I first came to the Darcy estate the exterior frightened me, its grandness and intensity put me on guard, but when I entered the kitchen and saw the quaint furniture and original design I felt...well...let's say I knew there was common sense here."
"Caroline, we have been waiting for you. Darcy is getting impatient. He wanted to ride out an hour ago so that he could have enough time to visit with Georgiana before dinner." Mr. Bingley burst into the conversation with a pleading look.
The two women were distracted from their conversation but not before Elizabeth caught a look of disdain on Caroline's face. Mr. Bingley quickly realized that Elizabeth was also in the room and turned to address her.
"Miss Bennet, please forgive my rudeness. I didn't see you there at first. Allow me to introduce my sister, Caroline Bingley. I am sure I have interrupted instructions and plans, please forgive me."
"Not at all Mr. Bingley. Your sister has just arrived." Elizabeth laughed, smiling at Mr. Bingley's impeccable manners and thinking how his sister and friend could learn a great deal from him.
"Charles, go tell William that I'll be down in five minutes."
Charles turned to leave when Caroline ran after him. She stopped him in the hallway.
"Charles tell William that the housekeeper detained me for some of the time."
Elizabeth heard something about the'housekeeper' and moved closer to the door. She knew she shouldn't listen but her curiosity got the better of her.
"I'll do no such thing Caroline. Why would I even want to?" Bingley eyed her incredulously.
"You know that our relationship has been progressing and I don't want my being late to irritate him, especially on a wonderful weekend where we could have some time alone together."
"Ugh....I really don't like this." Charles looked down, disgusted with his sisters scheming. He raised his head and looked in her eyes, he could see that she genuinely liked Darcy and so relented, thinking it wouldn't cause to much harm.
Elizabeth was incensed. How could this woman abuse her, they had just met not two minutes ago. She stamped her foot in disgust, not wanting to be to near the door when Caroline reentered she crossed the room and very violently threw her bags on the bed, hoping that any breakables would indeed be broken.
Caroline breezed back in the room and walked to the closet to hang up her coat. Elizabeth eyed her, now with a different perspective. She was very tall, at least six inches taller than herself. She was very slim, no hips, her lithe figure was complimented by a pair of gray wool slacks cut to what Elizabeth thought was perfection, just skirting the ankle of her black boot. Her blouse was white, not cotton or silk but maybe a linen blend, the collar was unbuttoned down to reveal her collarbone that was adorned with just a thin cold chain. She was understated chic and Elizabeth was frustrated that she could not find an imperfection.
When Caroline got to the door she turned round before she left.
"I hope dinner won't be late this evening I am famished."
Elizabeth could only nod her head in acknowledgment, now feeling extremely self-conscious of her own appearance. She hurried down to the kitchen realizing it was going on 3 O'clock and she needed to put some finishing touches on the meal. While she was setting the table she couldn't stop imagining Mr. Darcy with Caroline Bingley. It didn't seem right to her, they would cancel each other out like negative numbers. She laughed out loud at this thought and was caught by surprise when she heard a voice behind her.
"I am very glad that you have time for amusement on such a busy weekend Miss Bennet. I trust with all this pleasure everything has been well prepared for our dinner guests this evening." Darcy couldn't help himself.
That was enough, he had pushed unfairly for the last time, she turned to face Mr. Darcy squarely and with an unwavering glare she said, "Yes sir, that is correct. Everything has been seen to, down to the smallest detail, including the dessert." Lizzy turned and walked into the kitchen and retrieved the apple tart she had remade for the dinner.
"Yes well I see that you have employed your time well. Perhaps much better than I have." He nodded his head and left the room.
Elizabeth was shocked. What did he mean, his behavior is so strange, he probably was mocking me somehow and I didn't realize.
She resumed her preparations and by dinnertime everything looked exquisite and smelled marvelous. The apple tart request and Mr. Darcy's sister helped Elizabeth to finalize her menu. She guessed that with such a homey dessert Darcy probably wanted to convey a sense of family to his sister before she went off to school so Elizabeth followed suit with a savory chicken dish, roasted potatoes and a vegetable casserole. She hoped it was not to simple for the rest of the company's taste.
Everyone was seated, Mr. Darcy at the head of the table, closest to the kitchen entrance, his sister to his right and Miss Bingley to his left with Charles next to his sister. The meal proceeded uneventfully. After serving, Elizabeth sat at the kitchen table, allowing them time to eat and talk but staying alert if she heard them wanting for anything. At one point Mr. Bingley expressed how much he was enjoying the chicken so Elizabeth brought out the plate thinking he might like seconds.
"Darcy you have found a wonderful housekeeper. I only have to think chicken and she appears from behind you." Bingley's eyes twinkled.
"William I had the most interesting conversation with your housekeeper this afternoon, didn't we Miss Bennet?" Caroline looked at Elizabeth with a cunning smile and a slight wink.
Darcy looked over to Caroline, confused as to what these two women could having a lengthy discussion over.
"We were both commenting on how you really need to update the house. It has become dark and rather drab really. Oh I know you enjoy playing the martyr up hear but you needn't keep everything how your parents left it, for goodness sakes Reynolds is even gone now, there should be nothing holding you back from making a complete overhaul. Don't misunderstand me I think it was admirable for you to wait for her to retire, feeling that she couldn't handle all that responsibility, but now you must make a change."
Mr. Darcy still held his fork and knife but had stopped moving them when Mrs. Reynolds had been mentioned. He looked down at his plate and stared for what seemed two full minutes. Elizabeth looked over at Georgiana, the girl had stopped eating and now just looked at her brother, her face betrayed a worry that sharpened her otherwise soft features.
"Oh come now, I know it is a major undertaking but I would love to offer my services." Caroline leaned into William.
"Thank you for your offer but I am not interested in changing anything right now. I am sorry if everyone is displeased with the surroundings but I have no plans for change in the near future." Darcy's voice was so calm and quiet it put everyone ill at ease.
Mr. Bingley, feeling his friends distress, and his sisters blunder quickly changed the subject back to food.
"Miss Bennet may we have dessert I have been longing for it since I first tasted it yesterday."
Elizabeth, happy to escape the tension disappeared to fetch the tart.
"How could she lie about what I said so easily. This is now twice in one day. Oh that woman is dreadful." Elizabeth muttered under her breath as she collected the dessert things.
"Who has lied about what you said Lizzy" A concerned voice came from the corner of the kitchen.
Elizabeth turned to find her sister Jane near the side door.
"Jane, what are you doing here? It is so good to see you." Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears, so happy to see Jane's face.
"What is going on here? Are you being treated properly?"
"Oh, yes yes, everything is all right." Lizzy sniffed quickly and composed herself not wanting Jane to worry.
"I come bearing gifts." Jane produced a key from her pocket and waved it in the air. "You are no longer stranded on your days off. My friend Suzy came through with a friend who wanted to sell his pick-up."
"A pick up? Oh Jane I've only driven compact cars."
"It's easy. I drove all the way here without a problem."
Elizabeth smiled, " I hope you didn't have to go on any blind dates for this." The two girls laughed, forgetting for a moment where they were.
Darcy and Bingley glanced at each other, each having heard the laughter. Georgiana and Caroline were talking and oblivious.
Darcy rose to investigate, not being able to imagine who the other person might be that was laughing, when Bingley stood and waved him to resume sitting.
"Let me go. I need to stretch my legs."
Charles immediately noticed Jane Bennet at the back door.
"Oh Mr. Bingley, forgive me, you have been waiting so patiently for your dessert. You see my sister has surprised me with a car." Lizzy explained.
Charles could not take his eyes off Jane. Her golden hair and fair complexion lit up the kitchen. When she smiled in greeting toward him he became fully entranced.
"What is going on in here?" Mr. Darcy pushed open the door looking very irritated.
"Oh it is my fault sir. My sister Jane has surprised me with a car and I forgot myself for a moment. I will bring out the dessert things directly."
Mr. Darcy and Bingley left the kitchen, one much quicker than the other.
When everyone had finished dessert and coffee Elizabeth felt it was acceptable to slip outside to peek at her new car. Jane had been waiting patiently in the kitchen and even pitched in with the dishes so that Lizzy would be finished a bit more quickly.
The sisters stepped out into the night air and it smelled wonderful. Mr. Darcy had lit a fire in the library and the smell of the smoke reminded Elizabeth of happier times, when she had been camping with her family.
The truck Jane brought was beat up but serviceable. Perhaps she could help Pryce with some of his gardening duties using the pick-up. Elizabeth slipped into the drivers seat while Jane stood at her window.
"Well, how are things going Lizzy?" Jane questioned.
"I'm really not sure. I like the work part, taking care of the house, cooking, cleaning but I feel that something more is expected or perhaps something is missing but I haven't figured out what it is yet." Lizzy looked confused.
"You're not alone Lizzy, I'm still trying to figure out everything I'm supposed to do and I've had my job for five years. Mr. Darcy seems very tense?"
Mr. Bingley walked around the side of the house down the path towards them.
"Good evening ladies it's a perfect evening. I was sitting by the fire thinking when I realized your sister would probably need a ride somewhere.....since she drove this car here....which I believe is presumably yours now Miss Bennet." He nervously looked toward Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled but turned her head into the shadow cast on the drivers seat so Jane and Mr. Bingley wouldn't see her expression.
"Yes Mr. Bingley you are very right. Jane and I were just about to call a cab to take her to the hotel in town.
"I see, then you will be staying on for the rest of the weekend?" Charles had turned to Jane.
"Yes, I'm afraid I don't know when I'll be back this way for a while and want to visit with my sister, even if it is only for a few hours." Jane was surprised by Mr. Bingley's inquisitiveness.
"I hope you don't think me to forward Miss Bennet but I felt you would not venture to ask Mr. Darcy if your sister would be invited to stay at the house, so I inquired for you.
He agreed quickly and mentioned that there was an additional guest bedroom already prepared." Bingley smiled with a hoping look in his eyes.
"Mr. Bingley you have once again been to kind." Mr. Bingley and Jane stepped back from the truck and chatted with each other. Elizabeth tried to appear interested with her new vehicle.
Actually she was thinking about Mr. Darcy's generosity, especially after Caroline's speech tonight. He probably thinks I despise the house and find it terribly dreary when it is so opposite from the truth. Upset with Miss Bingley, Elizabeth tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
It was getting late and Elizabeth excused herself from Mr. Bingley and Jane. She walked through the kitchen toward the library, knowing that Mr. Darcy usually ended his day reading in front of the fire.
When she entered her shoulders tensed to see Caroline Bingley sitting opposite Mr. Darcy, reading as well. Georgiana was on the same couch as her brother staring at the fireplace. It was deathly quiet.
"Sir, if there won't be anything else I shall turn in."
Darcy looked up from his book.
"Yes that will be all Miss Bennet.....good night."
Elizabeth nodded her head and said good night as well. She was turning to leave when Darcy cleared his throat.
"Ah Miss Bennet, thank you for making the dinner in Mrs. Brown's absence, along with all your other duties. Everything was quite good."
Elizabeth smiled broadly, it was the first compliment she had received from her employer and she hated to admit that she really needed it.
"Oh yes, the meal was very savory. You must have used quite a lot of butter and salt, a very special occasion meal. I myself usually eat so health consciously that a meal like that is such a treat." Caroline smiled triumphantly.
Elizabeth went upstairs shaking her head. She assumed Jane would be up soon so she changed her clothes and pulled out the quilt she was working on. She turned on the radio and sat down on her bed, with some pieces spread out in front of her. Her least favorite part of quilting was deciding on the pattern. There were so many sometimes she couldn't choose, she had trouble envisioning the finished product with the materials she had to work with. However, once she had finally chosen a method the work was what she loved, pulling all the pieces together, checking to see that everything fit correctly, cutting the proper shapes.
Not long before she started a soft knock came at the door and Jane entered.
"Lizzy your room looks wonderful. You have really made it cozy. I love the curtains."
Jane stood and admired the white quilted curtains with the blue flowers appliquéd on the side panels.
"Jane I think you are trying to distract me from my obvious question."
"What do you mean?"
"Jane......he is very handsome and from as far as I can tell very sweet."
"Oh Lizzy we were just talking. I'm sure he has many girlfriends."
"Perhaps, but maybe not for long." The two sisters laughed.
Jane had left the door open to Lizzy's room and they both noticed Georgiana walk by. Lizzy rose and went to the hallway.
"Miss Darcy may I be of some service? Are you searching for something?"
"Oh Miss Bennet I am looking for a needle and thread. I have ripped my riding pants and I know my brother wants to ride out tomorrow. Do you have one?"
"Why yes of course. Come in please."
Georgiana stepped in the small room and saw Jane half lying on the bed. There was a small ironing board set up against the wall with pieces of crisp material slung over. A small table was constructed from a wood plank balanced with some heavy books underneath, atop sat a sewing machine and small lamp.
Georgiana sensed that she had walked into an intimate moment between the sisters but she longed to remain. Elizabeth fumbled through a large basket and produced some brown thread and a needle.
"Would you like me to do this for you? It won't take but a minute." Elizabeth motioned her to come into the small room further. "You can sit and wait if you like."
Jane moved over and offered the girl a place on the bed.
"Are you looking forward to going back to school?" Elizabeth ventured.
"I am going back but not to the same school." Jane and Elizabeth quickly glanced at each other, not wanting to pry, they averted their eyes.
"You see my brother feels that Gray academy will be more challenging for me." Georgiana shifted in her seat beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"I'm sure you'll meet some nice girls there. Perhaps you'll even wind up with a great roommate." Elizabeth tried to lighten Georgiana's mood.
"William insisted on a private room for me. He feels that to much socializing will interfere with my studies."
Elizabeth and Jane did not dare look at each other. Their faces must have betrayed them for Georgiana rose from the bed and walked to the ironing board.
"This is really beautiful." She fingered the material. "Will this be a blanket?"
"Yes." Elizabeth walked over and stood by the girl. "Do you enjoy doing any sort of handwork?"
"I'm afraid I never learned. I know my mother loved embroidery, there are a few pieces about the house, but she died when I was very young and so I never had the chance to learn."
"Well...on your holidays from school maybe I could teach you some."
Georgiana turned, "Quilting, like this?"
"If you like." Elizabeth walked to her bedside table and picked up a book. This is a good place to start. I can also pull together some material you could start trying to cut while you're at school.
Georgiana lit up. She hugged the book to her chest.
"Oh thank you Miss Bennet." Elizabeth had to look away so as not to reveal that she was almost welling up. The girl needed attention and love so badly.
"I'll finish your pants this evening and give them back to you with the material tomorrow before you leave."
"Yes that'll be just perfect. Thank you again."
Georgiana left still clutching the book.
"I am worried about her." Elizabeth looked at Jane with concern.
"I wonder why she isn't returning to the same school? Do you think something happened?" Jane queried.
"Or perhaps Mr. Darcy did not find anyone or anything about the school suitable enough. Really Jane, he confuses me so."
"Perhaps your judgment is clouded by something?"
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth wondered at Jane's question.
"I don't know but there is something about his intensity that I find attractive and if I were in his company often I would feel compelled to find the good in him even if it were very hard to find, so when you hear about his poor behaviors you try very hard to overlook them."
"Well you have just done a wonderful job of describing yourself but I do not have your goodness Jane and with each incident I can assure you the opinion I have of Mr. Darcy becomes diminished."
"I will not argue with you about your feelings for Mr. Darcy, as I can see they are strong, as for your goodness I will not accept your own opinion of yourself." Jane rose and slipped her arm through Elizabeth's. "Now walk me to my room."
Elizabeth agreed, unsure how to take Jane's comments.
Elizabeth was up early preparing breakfast in the kitchen when Jane came in searching for her.
"Lizzy I must ask you something." Jane was flustered.
"What Jane?... anything." Elizabeth stopped her preparations and threw her tea towel over her shoulder.
"Mr. Bingley has asked me to ride with himself, Mr. Darcy, Georgiana and his sister. My first thought was that it was inappropriate but he pressed and assured me he had the total agreement of the others." Jane searched Lizzy's face for her reaction.
"Jane.....I must say I'm very surprised but if you want to go I think you should."
"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel awkward."
"I'm sure, have a good time I'll see you later."
The day passed quickly, with all the guests out of the house Elizabeth took the opportunity to straighten the guests rooms and prepare a light meal for supper, knowing that everyone would be leaving that night.
She was finishing up in Georgiana's room when the girl came in from riding. Lizzy turned to see her in riding pants and white shirt, she had removed her hat and her blond tendrils fell around her shoulders. She smiled warmly at Elizabeth and moved toward the closet.
"I have to finish packing quickly. I told William I was already finished so I could go riding out with everyone."
"Would you like me to help?"
"Oh yes. I need all the clothes in that bureau."
They started slowly being very careful to smooth everything out but sensing that time was getting shorter they both sped up, soon they were practically throwing the clothes in the suitcase. Their laughter grew louder and culminated when Georgiana tried to close the top and it was obvious it might never zipper.
"Wait." Elizabeth climbed on the bed and sat on top of the suitcase. Peals of laughter brought Mr. Darcy in from the hallway. With their backs turned they hadn't seen him enter. Georgiana finished the zipper and put her hands on Elizabeth's shoulders.
"Perhaps we should include an iron with your things. I'm afraid they are going to be terribly wrinkled." Elizabeth continued giggling and turned to face Georgiana, she immediately saw Mr. Darcy standing at the doorway. She jumped off the suitcase to the floor.
Mr. Darcy folded his arms and smiled. "Please ladies do not let me interrupt this lesson in efficiency. I must say your speed is admirable but I'm not so sure about your accuracy."
Elizabeth, although happy that he was not upset, felt very embarrassed about her position.
"I'm sorry, please excuse me." She practically ran from the room.
Darcy stepped away to allow her to leave. The top of her head breezed by just at the level of his shoulder. He watched her walk down the hallway wishing they had started off on a better footing.
Georgiana, Jane, Mr. Bingley and his sister got off and the house became quiet. Life at the estate entered a routine that Elizabeth found pleasing. She and Mrs. Brown became friendly and she had started visiting with Mr. Pryce, the gardener, out at his cottage. Mr. Darcy worked very late. Occasionally they would have short discussions on household topics but they were usually brief and then he would retire to the library and she would go to her room and work on her quilting.
Darcy's workload had not increased in proportion with the hours he had been putting in at the office. It had become an escape and an excuse. If he was working late Charles could not badger him about going out and meeting with friends. The last time he had, supposedly 'found' someone for him, it was a complete disaster. She had been pretty enough but her sense of humor was so grating, endlessly looking for a joke in everything that was discussed. Never again, he had sworn to himself.
He had stuck to his resolution about socializing until Charles had phoned that morning. William's interest was piqued when Charles invited him to a party at his sister's apartment. Normally that would not have been a draw but Charles revealed that he would be bringing someone Will was familiar with, Elizabeth Bennet's sister, Jane. Darcy was concerned about this relationship and so agreed, rationalizing that he was only going to monitor the two together and ascertain the degree of affection on both sides.
As soon as he entered the apartment he regretted his decision. Caroline cornered him with drinks and began her ego stroking. Little did she realize that with every compliment he recoiled from her grasp. Silently, he blocked out Caroline's monologue on the horrors of contemporary society and searched out Charles and Jane. He spied them near the window. They were speaking quietly and occasionally she laughed. He looked a bit nervous but that wasn't unusual. Bingley was so worried about never offending anyone he tended to talk a bit much. Darcy never minded this habit because they were always comfortable together but he had noticed it when they were with others. Darcy dismissed the flaw as a by product of an overly strict father. He, himself, had struggled with the same problem as a younger man but he allowed Charles more time to shed this juvenile habit.
Confident that Jane and Charles were not very serious he made some motions to leave. Caroline began to insist that he stay.
"Now William we won't let you go. You have been working much to hard. Isn't that right Charles?"
"I have to admit Darcy you have been very scarce lately."
William looked at Bingley, "Charles you know how busy I've been."
He hated this ambush. His life was fine the way it was besides what did Caroline and Charles know about work, their father was still alive, Bingley's father had been easing him into the business for the last ten years. He had been thrown to the wolves and scrambled to maintain his families holdings while raising his sister.
"Now William we are only trying to help you. Honestly, you have been almost reclusive these last few months and we're worried for you." Bingley put his arm around Jane and hung his head down.
Darcy was blocking their attempt to draw him out, but he did see Bingley and Jane standing very close and Charles using her strength to help him speak his mind to his friend. The casual friendship had jumped to intimate with that one gesture. He must talk with Charles, this was not proper for either party involved.
Darcy walked into the kitchen to pour himself a coffee and shortly after Charles followed behind.
"William I'm sorry about that back there. I hope we didn't make you feel uncomfortable."
Darcy waved his hand to assure Charles no harm had been done.
"It is I who have become concerned about you Charles. I see you are becoming serious with Jane Bennet. Do you think this wise?"
"Wise?....well yes. I like her very much." Bingley looked to Darcy.
"Tell me what does your sister think of your relationship?" Darcy hated himself for this question, for it was unfair, he knew the answer before he asked, Caroline would never condone a girlfriend for Charles that actually had to work, but he was sure that if two of his closest people were questioning this relationship he would begin to question himself. Darcy knew, by some, this would be considered cruel but it was necessary for Charles' safety as well as Jane's. They undoubtedly would both be hurt when the affair ended badly. William couldn't help admitting that Elizabeth Bennet's distress should this happen agitated him.
"You are referring to class? Yes of course Caroline disapproves but we both know to what depth of feeling that comes from. It is not in my best interest but hers. I have found someone wonderful and I want her. She is everything that has been missing in my life and I refuse to lose that to please others. I'm sorry if you are in disagreement William but your opinion comes without understanding. It pains me to say this Darcy but you are in no position to judge me. You have no one and the way you conduct yourself is ensuring your solitude. I am sorry friend but I am not ready to be old and without love."
Charles' words stunned Darcy, he stood motionless trying to collect himself. When he felt ready to speak his manner was calm and quiet, trying to appear unmoved.
"Please excuse my interference Charles. I hope that you will overlook my intrusiveness." With that he strode to the closet collected his jacket. He calmly left the apartment and walked quickly to his car.
He is making a mistake. I'm sure of it. He is only trying to stall the inevitable and thinks by disparaging my life he will make his own decision valid.
Darcy drove erratically out of the parking garage. Rain was falling and he flicked on the wipers.
"Jane Bennet indeed. I can imagine what his father will say when he brings her to the house."
He rode the gear shift hard and arrived in his village far to quickly. He thought of the look on Charles face when he tried to question his choice. He had been wrong and his friend, who was always so forgiving and understanding of everyone's feelings, had lost all his patience. He turned the curve that lead to the driveway, pressing hard on the gas pedal, he gripped the wheel , pulling it almost out of the mount in anger, anger at his own foolishness. All this time, he thought, he had been protecting Bingley, watching out for him, in his foolish loves, business, with friends, but the truth hit him hard and just before the car hit the curb he realized it was the exact opposite.
He skidded but the stonewall on the right side caught the car before it could spin out of control. Darcy was holding the wheel so tightly he had braced himself when the car made contact with the wall. He was unhurt but shaken. He tugged on the emergency brake and reached for his cell phone, then dropped it. He was so close to the house, and because the car was on the side of the rode he decided to walk up to the house and call the tow truck.
He was drenched by the time he reached the house and headed for the kitchen entrance.
He opened the door and saw a mist rising from the kitchen table. It was Miss Bennet, she looked up, gazing through the steam, her wispy hair was delicately curled by the steam that Darcy now realized rose from an iron. Her mouth pursed slightly and she cocked her head to the side, not understanding the situation.
"Mr. Darcy ....you are home.....and you are soaked." She moved around the table towards him. Are you all right. What happened?"
William could see the concern in her face and it warmed him down to the core. He shrugged his shoulders and noticed how tense they had been all day.
"Don't be alarmed Miss Bennet but I have had a small accident with the car." He knew she would be alarmed and waited for her reaction.
"Accident....but are you hurt...how far have you come... are you cold?" She wrung her hands and inspected him with her eyes. He knew she was looking for signs of shock or injury.
He waved his hand to allay her fears.
"Please I am fine but I must call the garage for the tow truck. I left the car on the curve just before the driveway." He carefully removed his shoes, left them by the door and walked out of the kitchen.
Lizzy quickly unplugged the iron and gathered her material. She put the kettle on for tea and waited by the stove. I wonder if he is hurt and doesn't realize. She went to the door and peeked out, listening for any strange noises.
When the tea was ready she went to the library.
"Sir?"
"Yes, come in."
Darcy had changed into black pants and a turtleneck sweater. He was seated in his wing chair near the fire holding a short drink.
"I brought you some tea....Oh I'm sorry you already have a drink."
"No it's all right I think tea would be much better." He began to rise to meet her halfway.
"Don't get up."
He obeyed. She came over and handed him the hot tea. She smiled, relieved that he seemed fine.
He didn't want her to leave that spot. She looked so pretty, with her furrowed brow and her little apron. She turned to leave and he struggled to think of anything to say.
"Miss Bennet I have been thinking about Miss Bingley's suggestion of updating the house and thought you might have some suggestions."
"....Oh sir, I....I must tell you....uh ...um."
"What, you can tell me. Don't be afraid."
He was so gentle at that moment that she felt perhaps she could tell him the truth.
"Miss Bingley spoke out of turn when she included me in her view of the house. I'm sure she must have misunderstood."
I'm sure she didn't Darcy thought. "So you like the house the way it is then. You wouldn't change anything?"
"Oh I like the house very much, especially the kitchen. It is grand but because you have not overdone its interior it retains a feel of hominess. No I wouldn't change a thing on the inside." Elizabeth had constructed her sentence so that she hadn't lied.
Darcy smiled for he sensed she was hiding a wish for something to be changed.
"You have chosen your words very carefully Miss Bennet." Darcy sipped his tea, averting his eyes from her and hiding his pleasure behind his cup."
"Yes, words can be so easily misunderstood. People can speak with all goodness in their hearts but because of the situation, they find themselves perceived by others as mean or cruel." Elizabeth folded her hands over her apron to hide the tea stains she had just become conscious of.
Darcy put his head back on his chair and let her words and voice seep into him. He wanted so much to believe her, but in the blackness of his mind he knew his argument with Charles that evening had not come from a good place in his heart, it had come from a very bad place, a section that had been in recent years growing exponentially.
Lizzy stared at Darcy while his eyes were closed. His usually strong frame appeared vulnerable, perhaps the ordeal with the car had exhausted him but it was more than fatigue that weakened him, it was a succumbing, a drowning. She unfolded her hands and dug them deep into her apron pockets.
"Not enough color." She blurted out.
He roused and looked at her, noticing the tea stains on her apron but trying not to look.
"Color? You mean on the walls?"
Elizabeth breathed a laugh, "No, sir I mean flowers. I arrived in late summer, early fall but there were very few flowers blooming outside."
"Oh I understand" He thought for a moment then rose from his chair and walked to the furthest bookshelf and took down what looked to be a photo album. The cover was dark brown, made of a hard cardboard and inside the pages were black paper. Darcy had to undo some very ancient looking ties that were the same material they make shoelaces from. He set the album down on his desk and flipped to the middle.
"Here it is", he smiled looking like he had been transported back to another time.
"Miss Bennet come here I'd like to show you something."
As she came to the desk he sat down in his chair, when she was by his side there heads were almost at the same level. She looked down at the photos. They were black and white with a deckled edging around the sides. Each one was slipped into tiny black corner holders. The picture he pointed out was of three people standing in front of a garden that must have stretched out for a mile. There were two men, one young and very handsome, tall with black wavy hair. The other was an older gentleman, holding a pair of pruning shears. There was a woman too, she was smaller with a pretty figure. With his free hand the older gentleman was holding up the woman's arm, as if in victory.
"Unfortunately you can't see the colors but at one time we had gardens here that were spectacular. I remember wandering through a field of sunflowers once that were twice my height and pretending I was in the land of the giants."
"Are these your parents, Mr. Darcy?"
"Yes, this is my father." He pointed to the younger gentleman. "And this was my mother."
Lizzy leaned in to look more closely at Mrs. Darcy.
"She was very pretty. Georgiana has her features I think but not her coloring."
"You are very observant Miss Bennet."
"Who is this Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth pointed to the older gentleman, who was holding his mother's hand up.
"He is why I have taken the album out to show you Miss Bennet. That's Pryce the gardener and driver.
Elizabeth shifted her weight and bent down closer to the photo. Darcy could smell the scent of her hair, it wasn't perfumed but had just a subtle hint of lavender.
"But he appears older here already. Mr. Darcy how can that be?"
"Pryce is 75 years old Miss Bennet. He still drives for me occasionally and maintains some bushes and plants but he tires quickly. I have seen you talking with him and I'm sure you have observed his hands, they are quite distorted now by arthritis. He tries to conceal the disease from me by wearing gloves but I have known about it for some time."
"He doesn't wish to retire? Is he without family?" Darcy watched Elizabeth as she questioned. Her right hand was placed on the desk for support and her weight was shifted to her right leg, the left foot was slightly raised out of her cream colored loafer. Such old shoes for such a young woman...
"He never married and I believe all his relatives are deceased. Only once do I remember him leaving for holiday. He was devoted to my parents and the estate. My mother took up gardening, probably at first to combat loneliness, but with Pryce's help she transformed the grounds. When my father would come back from a trip I remember the first thing he would do is walk outside with my mother, anxious to hear and see everything new that she had planted and was planning for the future."
Darcy pulled himself back to the photos, "I can't bring in someone new...not yet."
Elizabeth straightened, "...maybe I could do some planting, just bulbs now, allowing Pryce to instruct me on proper method. He could help me plan and buy the bulbs that way he would still maintain his title but allow me to do the grunt work. I have a pick-up truck now."
Darcy could not help but smile at this last statement, he pictured Elizabeth trying to load heavy bags of soil and plants into the back of her pick-up, realizing she had forgotten to take off her apron and little white house shoes.
He felt that he could trust her with this delicate situation and so agreed.
"I'll need you to keep me informed on your progress." Darcy quickly added.
"Of course."
The phone rang and Darcy rose to answer it.
"That will be the garage with the bad news."
Elizabeth took the tea things and left for the kitchen. While cleaning up and organizing her material Lizzy considered what bulbs she should plant. Perhaps she could go to the library in town tomorrow and take some books out for ideas. Shaking her head remembering Mr. Darcy's speech about the library being off limits to her. He seemed so different tonight.
Her mind replayed the image of Mr. Darcy in his wing chair when she first brought the tea in. It calmed her more than she could explain, he was where he should be and he was unharmed by the accident. His presence in the house comforted her, regardless of whether they were in the same room. The nights when Darcy came home at a reasonable hour and retired to the library to read while she sewed upstairs was beginning to feel like a comfortable relationship, "Oh I am so pathetic," she said to herself. My idea of a relationship is living with a man as his housekeeper and spending quality time in separate rooms. I need to get out more. I'm losing touch.
Before leaving the kitchen she noticed the shoes by the door. They were black wingtips. She reached down to feel if they were dry. Knowing that he would probably need them for work, if he were going to the office tomorrow. She carried them through the house but Mr. Darcy was gone.
"I'll just leave these in his room."
Lizzy went upstairs and saw that the door to his rooms was left open.
Perhaps he is in the bathroom or down in his study. I'll just leave them by the closet. As she entered she noticed the bathroom light was on. Glancing up, a vision was imprinted. The hand came down to deposit a blue object into the vanity draw so quickly that Lizzy knew he must have sensed the movement of her body across the carpet. His countenance convinced her that he felt he had not been seen but that one second had revealed something more than just the action of taking an inhaler, Lizzy assumed for asthma, but a secretive fear of someone seeing him.
Lizzy looked away, "Oh sir excuse me I just thought you might need your shoes."
Darcy had closed the draw, exhaled almost imperceptibly, and turned his back, leaning against the draw.
"Oh yes of course." His features tensed, Lizzy perceived the plane that they were on during their conversation downstairs had been wiped away, equality had been reduced by one glance. She felt exhausted and rose to leave.
The earth just beyond the kitchen was as hard as a rock. Lizzy had backed the blue pick-up around and lowered the back panel. Bags of mulch and soil littered the ground nearby. When Darcy drove in he saw Elizabeth with chin, on top of hands, on top of shovel tip looking out into the field beyond. He pulled into the garage and walked down the path toward the kitchen. The sun had gone down and darkness was beginning to press in on the periphery.
"I don't remember gardening being so messy." Darcy looked down at a dirty piece of notebook paper next to one of the empty bags of soil, with ink drawings of blooming flowers in a strip, marred only by the thin blue lines of the page.
Elizabeth turned, replaced her chin with her right cheek, to tired to straighten up.
"I would like to make a progress report but your soil is so filled with rocks that I have not accomplished half of my plan."
Darcy placed his hands on his hips, desperately trying not to smile while thinking that her master plan for his estates garden was sketched out on a note sheet. He took his suit jacket off and hung it over the pick-up's side. He rolled up his sleeve and loosened his tie.
"May I?"
Lizzy handed him the shovel and stepped back. She watched him dig in, one errant black curl bobbed with each pound of the shovel. The stones and rocks did not impede him and his trench was lengthening quickly. Darcy worked against the shadows and Elizabeth looked on as things turned from color to gray as the light faded.
He looked up and squinted with exertion, " Do you have the bulbs? Let's finish this off before we lose the light."
Lizzy opened the package of bulbs and handed him half.
They started at either end of the trench and worked quickly, placing and covering until meeting in the middle.
"What are we putting to bed here Miss Bennet?"
"Black bearded irises"
"Hmmm..."
They looked down at the freshly covered line. Elizabeth walked away first toward the truck.
"You do not care for Irises Mr. Darcy?"
"Oh yes. I just expected...well ...something different."
Lizzy turned and in the last few beads of light she stepped forward.
"Oh they are so beautiful, wait till you see them. After the crocuses and the poppy's you think nothing can cheer you more perfectly, but all the while, behind these delicate papers, emerge these gigantic stalks, with buds 5 inches tall. A deep purple, almost black, petal flops over and on each side there is a little furry strip, just like a beard."
Darcy lightly pressed the fresh earth with his wingtip.
" I look forward to the spring...Miss Bennet."