Mr. Darcy's Proposal (28 page)

“So this was directly overseen by Lady Anne?”

Mrs. Reynolds nodded.

“If you would show me what needs to be done, I would very much like to help.”

Mrs. Reynolds went on to explain how the baskets were made up, who received them and when. As she listened to all the details, she was again struck by the amount of time and money that went into this practice. Elizabeth was thrilled to have found something useful to do with her time. She could only practice pianoforte and do embroidery for so long—neither of these had ever been among her favorite activities anyway. Managing the house and staff was time consuming, but much of that remained in Mrs. Reynolds’ capable hands. This meant Elizabeth was free to devote more of her energies to arranging for the baskets and making deliveries. She knew from her experiences at Longbourn that tenants usually enjoyed it when the master’s family was directly involved.

First, Elizabeth learned as much as she could about the families on the estate, the number of children they had and their economic stability. Talking to people, drawing them out—this was something that would make the best use of her natural talents. She spent many hours with Mrs. Reynolds, Lucy, Margaret, and others familiarizing herself with each of the families and their needs.

When Darcy returned after a few days, she was glad to see him, but her mind was preoccupied with planning her charity work. Elizabeth never mentioned her intentions to Darcy although she was not certain why she was reluctant to talk with him about it. After only a week, she felt ready to begin although she still had a few concerns to discuss with Mrs. Reynolds.

“I am sure these families will not welcome being surprised by me when I call,” said Elizabeth. “Is there an appropriate way to let them know in advance that I will be coming?”

“I do not think that will be a problem, Mrs. Darcy. They probably knew which families you would call on within an hour of your making the decision yesterday. There are very few secrets here. Someone on the staff certainly knows the family or one of their neighbors. Rumors both good and bad spread here very quickly.”

Elizabeth smiled.

“I have arranged for Hardy and Jameson to accompany you today. They will take excellent care of you.”

“Mrs. Reynolds, I truly do not know what I would do without you. You are simply indispensable.”

“I am only doing my job, Mrs. Darcy.”

Elizabeth reached over and put her hand on Mrs. Reynolds’ arm. “Then you do it very, very well. Thank you for taking such good care of me.”

The housekeeper, who rarely showed any signs of being ruffled no matter what the situation, blushed with pleasure at Elizabeth’s words of praise. “If you do not mind my saying so, Mrs. Darcy, I am very glad that Mr. Darcy had the good sense to marry you.”

Now it was Elizabeth’s turn to glow a rosy pink.

***

Elizabeth’s first call was the Coopers. Mr. Cooper was not in good health, and his oldest sons at ages twelve and thirteen were barely old enough to take up their father’s responsibilities. There was also an older daughter who was probably fourteen or fifteen plus two younger children ages four and eight. All of them worked in some way to help sustain the family.

Elizabeth had learned that the Coopers like many farm families were very proud, so she took a basket that contained no more than what they usually received. The difference was that this time the mistress herself would be making the delivery.

Upon arriving at the Cooper’s small cottage, Elizabeth found Mrs. Cooper hanging laundry assisted by two of her daughters. When she saw Elizabeth, she wiped her hands on her apron, patted her hair into place, and rushed over to greet her. The two girls followed. The younger one peered out at Elizabeth from behind her mother’s skirts.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Cooper.”

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Darcy. You do our family a great honor by visitin’ us. This is my eldest, Cathy.” Cathy gave a quick curtsey.

“And who is this young lady?” Elizabeth inquired, indicating the little girl who continued to hide her face in her mother’s skirts.

Mrs. Cooper smiled proudly. “This is Janie, ma’am, my youngest.”

Elizabeth bent down to Janie’s level. “I have a very dear sister who shares your name.” Janie smiled but hid her face again.

“Would you like a sweet?” Elizabeth asked, reaching out to offer a treat to the little girl. A small hand appeared from behind her mother’s skirts and snatched it away.

“Now what do you say, Luv?” asked Mrs. Cooper.

A very small voice muffled by fabric answered, “Thank you, ma’am.”

Elizabeth was touched that even in the midst of poverty, this woman concerned herself with her children’s manners. Mrs. Cooper offered best wishes on the Darcy’s marriage and also expressed her condolences on the loss of Elizabeth’s father. Mrs. Reynolds had been correct that very little went unnoticed on the estate, especially when it had to do with the great house. While the two women talked—mainly about the other Cooper children—one of the footmen took the basket into the house.

Mrs. Cooper asked after Mr. Darcy’s health. Elizabeth returned by inquiring about Mr. Cooper and learned he was improving slowly. Elizabeth could see that in spite of their apparent troubles, she was a cheerful woman with a wonderful smile. Elizabeth thought she should take a lesson from her. How could she dare feel sorry for herself when she had so much and this woman so little?

“I should not keep you from your work any longer, Mrs. Cooper. It has been very nice to meet all of you,” said Elizabeth meaning it sincerely.

“We thank you for your generosity, Mrs. Darcy,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Maybe next time you can stay for some tea.”

“I would like that very much,” said Elizabeth even though she suspected that sitting down together for tea was something that would never really happen.

***

Elizabeth’s other calls that day were very much the same. At the next house, she talked with Mrs. Lee—barely more than a girl—who was expecting her first child. In spite of her condition, the young woman was doing all the heavy chores by herself. When Elizabeth asked her if she should not be more careful, she shrugged her shoulders as if to say who else would do it.

All of the women and children Elizabeth met knew immediately who she was and greeted her with warmth and respect. After reporting on her day to Mrs. Reynolds, Elizabeth realized making these calls had helped more to make her feel a part of Pemberley than anything she had done since her arrival a few months ago. Then she began to think about what she could do to help the Lees. Perhaps she could sew some baby clothes or a blanket.

Thinking about Mrs. Lee and the child she was expecting, Elizabeth began to wish that she too would be so blessed. She was still puzzled that Darcy had not come to her room at night. This was not what she had expected would happen. When they were first married, he used to put his arms around her and kiss her. At first, she had been reluctant, but now because of her loneliness she almost wished for that kind of closeness with him. Perhaps it would help her to feel more at ease in her new life if she had a child to occupy her thoughts. Until such time as that happened, she would have to be content with her work on the estate and in the parish.

Thirty Eight

“How do you do it?” asked Georgiana one day when she and Elizabeth reached the end of the piece they had been practicing.

“Do what, my dear?”

“Play with so much…so much feeling! The music seems to flow through you. I watch you and listen, but I just cannot do it. You seem to have the gift of finding the heart of the music,” said Georgiana.

“Thank you, but your praise is undeserved.”

“Oh, but it is. I may have better technical skills, my fingering may be smoother, but your playing has something more than that. My teacher has always said that what I lacked was passion. I never really knew what he meant until now.”

“Georgiana, you give me too much credit. I do not play nearly as well as you,” said Elizabeth.

“Tell me how you do it.”

“Well, I hardly know.”

“What do you think about when you play and sing?”

Elizabeth thought for a moment. “It is easier when the song has words. Then I think about what the words are saying and try to imagine they are my own. I am just telling the story.”

“But what if it is not about something you have experienced yourself?”

“Usually, I try to relate it to something I do know about.”

“So if it is a song about love and I have never been in love…”

“Yes, but you do know something of love. Just imagine that the song is about the love you have for someone such as your brother or a friend—or maybe your horse?” Georgiana giggled.

“I know it is not quite the same, but often it helps you to relate to the words.”

“And if there are no words?”

Elizabeth thought for a moment. No one had ever asked her this before. “Then I guess I make up a story that seems to fit the music.”

“A story?” asked Georgiana wrinkling her brow in thought.

“Well, all music has a mood. It may be light and happy, powerful and strong, or sad and mournful, for example. I imagine what the composer might have been thinking about when he wrote it. A happy tune with lots of fast notes could be about a joyful event. Do you see what I mean?” asked Elizabeth.

“I think I am beginning to understand. You have explained it much more clearly than my music teacher ever did. All he could do was tell me what I was lacking. He could not tell me what to do to find it.”

“I am very glad if this has helped you.”

“More than you know, Elizabeth,” said Georgiana. And then she shyly added, “May I give you a hug?”

“My dear sister, you never have to ask permission for that. I always welcome a hug from you.”

After their conversation about playing with more feeling, Georgiana’s music began to take on a new energy that had not been there before. Even Darcy noticed the difference. When he commented upon it, Elizabeth took no credit but simply said that she too had noticed the change and was delighted.

Thirty Nine

When Darcy offered again to teach Elizabeth to ride, she was still hesitant. Although she had ridden occasionally as a girl at Longbourn, she generally preferred the security of keeping her feet on the ground. Walking had served her well for many years, and she saw no reason to change. Finally, Elizabeth’s desire to get out and see more of the beautiful scenery in the area won out over her reluctance, and she agreed to give it a try.

The day after Darcy returned from an overnight trip to Matlock, he asked her to come out to the stable with him as he had something to show her. Remembering her resolve to think more of his happiness, she agreed. She was rewarded when she saw how pleased he seemed at this small concession from her.

As they walked to the stable, Darcy explained he had found a mare for her that was already very well trained and quite gentle. Inside one of the stalls munching on some hay was a beautiful little black horse with a white blaze on her forehead. “Her name is Sonnet.”

“Sonnet?” Elizabeth looked at him in disbelief. “What an unusual name.”

“If it does not suit, you may change it.”

“No, I like it,” she said thoughtfully.

Darcy produced an apple from his pocket and cut it into sections. Elizabeth fed the little horse as she stroked her head and talked to her softly.

“So would you like your first riding lesson tomorrow?” he asked. “Perhaps you might borrow some appropriate clothing from Georgiana until you can have something made up for yourself.”

“Oh, my, you have brought me a horse who does not come equipped with riding clothes? Perhaps I should send her back,” said Elizabeth with a twinkle in her eye. The smile she received in return made her efforts worthwhile.

Elizabeth thought Darcy would have one of the men who work in the stables teach her, but he insisted on supervising her lessons himself. The time she spent with him turned out to be quite enjoyable. Darcy was knowledgeable not only about horses but also about how best to introduce her to riding. In his teaching, he never tried to rush her or make her do something she did not feel ready for. His constant encouragement helped her confidence to grow more quickly than it otherwise might have. Several times, she almost gave up the whole project, but for some reason, she felt reluctant to disappoint him so she gathered up her courage and continued. Sonnet was sweet and docile just as Darcy had promised and after only a few weeks of daily practice, Elizabeth began to feel comfortable enough to undertake a longer ride.

***

One evening over dinner, Darcy announced he had planned a short excursion for them the next morning to one of his favorite places in the estate. It was a little less than an hour each way, and he was certain her riding skills had progressed enough for this short journey. He had already taken the liberty of arranging with Mrs. Reynolds to have a small picnic made up to take with them. When he explained his plans, Elizabeth was intrigued that he would go to such lengths to try to please her.