The Pemberley Chronicles (31 page)

Elizabeth, despite her reservations, had to admit that this was probably true. It was neither the time nor the occasion to say it, but she knew that however straitened her own circumstances had been, she could never have countenanced marriage to Mr Collins.

As she prepared for the funeral, Elizabeth wondered whether she may not, one day, come to look upon present events as merely another turning point in Charlotte's life, rather than the dreadful tragedy they seemed to be at this moment. Charlotte had always been able to ride calmly over the rough as well as the smooth waters of life. Elizabeth was certain she would do so again. She was, however, sufficiently sensitive to Jane's feelings to keep her thoughts to herself.

After the funeral, which was suitably solemn and full of high sentence, and a mournful little gathering at Rosings, where a tribute was paid to the faithful service given to Lady Catherine and her household by the late Mr Collins, the families repaired to the parsonage at Hunsford.

There, among her friends and family, Charlotte put aside her black bonnet and veil and served tea and biscuits in the parlour. Her face was grave and pale, but she was calm and collected as she slipped into her household routine and her daughters likewise, all but little Amelia-Jane, whose eyes were still red with weeping. "She was her father's favourite," Charlotte remarked, as Jane tried to coax the child to eat a biscuit. Elizabeth was touched. She had not believed Mr Collins would have had a favourite child, so full of correctness and pompous moral rectitude had he seemed whenever they met. Could he have had hidden depths of feeling, as a parent? "He spoilt her," Charlotte continued, "I think he was trying to make amends for the disappointment he expressed so openly, when she was born. He had wanted a son, you see, Lizzie," said Charlotte, as usual, putting it all into perspective. Jane and Elizabeth nodded, both unable to make any response. It was not the picture of Mr Collins they had had.

Later, as they prepared to leave, Elizabeth and Darcy extracted from Charlotte a promise to visit them at Pemberley. It was a promise Charlotte would find no difficulty in keeping, so grateful was she for the support and kindness of her two childhood friends and their husbands, for whom she had a good deal of respect.

She agreed to come to them just as soon as she had completed the formalities and attended to all her obligations at Hunsford. "Lady Catherine has been very kind. She has said I can take all the time I need and has offered me the help of her manager for the paperwork. But, I am anxious to get it done as soon as possible, Lizzie; I shall not outstay my welcome," she said firmly.

"Then you must come to us, dear Charlotte," Elizabeth said, "And bring the children. Cassy longs for the company of a little girl; it will do all of us good." "We can promise you a peaceful Derbyshire Autumn," added Darcy, and

Charlotte, despite her dark widow's weeds, smiled.
"It is always so peaceful at Pemberley; I love it above all other places. Thank
you both for your kindness. Yes, I shall be with you, soon."
Returning to Derbyshire, they found the Fitzwilliams in a state of high
excitement, engaged most assiduously in the campaign for the election they
knew was coming. There was much activity at Oakleigh also, because Richard,
the Gardiners' eldest son, was expected home from Paris, where he had completed his studies to become a physician. Caroline and Fitzwilliam, well aware
of his strong social conscience, were eager to involve him in their campaign for
reform, while his parents simply longed to have him home again, after almost
two years in France.
Following the death of King George and the defeat of the Tory government
led by the Duke of Wellington, the Whigs, pledging reform, had won the support of the powerful merchant and middle classes. Reformists, who had found
new inspiration in the exciting developments in Europe, particularly in France,
supported the Whig proposal as a good start, though it did not give them even
half of what they wanted. Compared to the achievements of the bloodless Paris
Revolution, of the "three glorious days," which brought the downfall of Charles
X, the Whig's proposals for change had seemed to provide little, but Fitzwilliam
explained, "They were the best they could get and would whet the appetite of
the middle classes for electoral reform."
Lord Grey was promising a Reform Bill which would change the electoral
system and give a share of power to the men who, through industry and trade,
were building the wealth of their nation. Hitherto, Parliament had been dominated by the aristocracy and the landed gentry: it was time for the rest of the
people to assert their rights, too. This became the catchcry of Fitzwilliam's supporters, as they organised meetings and street parades. They knew only an election and a new Parliament could deliver a genuine Reform Bill. While no
women could vote and most ordinary people, who did not own land, were shut
out of the Parliament, Caroline and her husband believed that getting information into the homes and hands of the working people would pay dividends
in the future.
To their amazement, Darcy and Elizabeth returning from a visit to the
Gardiners, found Caroline in a tiny pony trap, with her two children and her sister Emily beside her, handing out pamphlets outside the inn at Lambton. There appeared to be a great deal of interest, as people stopped to ask questions, and Caroline, obviously well-schooled by Fitzwilliam, had all the answers down
pat. "I cannot believe it," said Elizabeth, "she used to be so shy." Darcy laughed, "She'll have Fitzwilliam run for the Ministry, mark my
words. She may be little, but she has one of the brightest minds of any young
woman I know. Mr Gardiner confessed to me that he was sorry Caroline had
not chosen to go into the business. He believes she is far smarter than Robert.
He's very proud of her." Elizabeth had to agree that her young cousin was surely
the bright light in her family. Emily was studious and quiet, with a nice sense
of humour, but without the distinctive charm of her elder sister, and Robert,
though a polite and good-looking young man, seemed not to be filled with
enthusiasm for anything at all. There was an unfortunate flatness about his personality that discouraged all but the most superficial engagement. Caroline, on
the other hand, was always enthusiastic about any task she undertook, her fine
eyes sparkling as she threw herself into her work, whether she was collecting
donations for the poor or signatures for petitions. There was no doubt that her
husband benefited to a great degree from the charm and grace that came so naturally to her. It was an advantage that many ambitious young Parliamentarians
would have given a great deal to acquire.
Her brother, Richard, who, while he was not the eldest, had the advantage of
height and weight over both his sisters, had remained something of a mystery to
all but his immediate family. By the time the family moved to Derbyshire, he was
at boarding school, and while his younger brother ventured no further than
Cambridge before moving into his father's business, Richard had decided he
wanted to be a physician. So single-minded was his pursuit of this ambition that
he excelled at his studies in Edinburgh and was recommended by his masters to
study further in Paris, where he soon lived up to his earlier promise. Now, he was coming home with plans to practice, not in fashionable
London or Bath, but in Birmimgham.
"Why Birmingham?" asked Elizabeth, for she knew her aunt had hoped he
would return to live at home and work in the district.
"That was exactly my question, Lizzie," said Mrs Gardiner, confessing she
was disappointed, but her son had made up his mind, as his reply, which she
removed from her pocket book and gave Elizabeth to read, made quite clear. In answer to his mother's query, Richard wrote:

Because, my dearest Mama, they need doctors in Birmingham, where no one wants to treat the working people. In Derbyshire, you have at least some good surgeons and a hospital. The ordinary people of Birmingham have nothing. If they are too poor to get a doctor, they simply die at home. I have been greatly privileged by my education, and I feel I must give something back to the people who need help. But have no fear, Mama, you will have me at home as often as you wish, when I am not working, Oakleigh is where I shall lay my head. You may soon tire of having me around. Dear Mama, a friend, who has worked with me these last two years, is also coming to England. He is Paul Antoine, the youngest son of a family I have come to know well. He will join me in my practice and work as my assistant. I am sure you will like him very much. His mother was English, but sadly, she has died, and this will be his first visit to England in ten years. He is rather shy; I hope we can make him welcome. I know you will. I long to be at home with all of you.

Your loving son,
Richard.

It appeared to Elizabeth, as she handed back the letter, that her aunt had already accepted that her son would work where he wanted. She was clearly happy he was returning and grateful that he had no plans as yet to leave the family home. Mrs Gardiner loved all her children, but there was never any doubt that Richard was the very apple of her eye. She was exceedingly proud of his achievements and, fiercely loyal, would not criticise his decision, even though she was disappointed with it.

Elizabeth was convinced that once Richard was back among them, his mother, having been converted by her son to his point of view, would become his greatest advocate. Already she spoke warmly of the unselfishness that must surely have influenced his decision, a sentiment that Darcy and Elizabeth could only endorse, even though they had some reservations about its wisdom.

Some days later, Fitzwilliam and Caroline were dining at Pemberley. When Elizabeth revealed Richard's plans to work in Birmingham, Fitzwilliam's response to the news was very different to hers. He pointed out that Birmingham, with its famous Political Union for Reform, led by Thomas Attwood, was fast becoming a centre for the Reform Movement. "It is an excellent place for a clever young man like Richard to work. He will not only come into contact with many of the working people and their families, he will understand their problems and be able to press for reforms that would help alleviate their misery. Believe me, Lizzie, they need him far more than do the middle class matrons of Derby." Elizabeth was unwilling to let that barb pass, and a riposte was on the tip of her tongue, when Caroline intervened to soothe her irritation. "Dear Cousin Lizzie, do not let him tease you. For shame, Fitzy," she chided and continued, "What he really means is Richard is not just a good physician; he will be a doctor with a conscience and an understanding of the need for changes in places like Birmingham. He will be able to use his influence with the local councillors and Members of Parliament to help those who will otherwise have no one to speak up for them. Am I not right, Fitzy?"

The endearing sobriquet, which no one else was permitted to use, softened Fitzwilliam's countenance and brought a smile to the faces of both Darcy and Elizabeth. Fitzwilliam nodded, admitting his wife was right and what was more, she had expressed his ideas far more succinctly than he had done, but Darcy did add a cautionary note. "I am quite sure Richard will work hard at helping the sick people of Birmingham, and I have no doubt at all of his sincerity of purpose, but he will need more than his physician's skills to convince the councillors to spend any money on a hospital. I believe they have resisted all efforts to improve the conditions at the cottage hospital that provides such inadequate care for the poor, and they cannot be persuaded to pay for an extension to the schoolhouse. I wish him well, but I fear he faces an uphill struggle."

After dinner, the conversation turned inevitably to the election and the promised Reform Bill. Fitzwilliam was certain that Lord Grey would keep his word. Darcy was not so sure. He pointed out that the Whigs were every bit as "aristocratic" in their attitudes as the Tories. "There are no great democrats among them," he warned, adding that the Whigs were used to having their own way too.

But Fitzwilliam was reassured by the increasing dependence of the Whigs upon a new constituency--the middle class. They, together with the educated professional and academic representatives, were bound to press harder for reform, and he was convinced that Lord Grey would not betray them. Amidst mounting political tension, into which Fitzwilliam and his supporters were inevitably drawn, the year drew to a close. In London, a storm was brewing over the intransigence of the Tory Lords on the first Reform Bill presented by Lord Grey, and there was every appearance of fresh elections being called, which would be fought on the issue of reform.

Charlotte Collins, delayed by the need to visit her late husband's relations prior to leaving Kent, arrived at Pemberley in Autumn. Tired of the controversy, Elizabeth welcomed the arrival of her friend, knowing her to be quite uninterested in matters political. It would be refreshing to discuss domestic and family matters again, as she was sure they would need to, if they were to help Charlotte.

Charlotte brought only her two younger daughters, Rebecca and AmeliaJane. Catherine, now a young lady of sixteen, had been invited to stay on at Rosings for Christmas. It was a privilege that Charlotte, who had refused the same invitation for herself and the rest of her family, was happy to let Catherine enjoy. "I appreciate the value of Lady Catherine's patronage," she explained to Elizabeth, "And while I could not accept it for myself, I felt Catherine could only benefit from the experience; she is a sensible girl and will not let it go to her head. She knows that we cannot hope to match the kind of style that Lady Catherine can afford, so she will enjoy it while she can but not hanker after it later, I think." Elizabeth was sympathetic.

"I am certain of it, Charlotte," she said, "Your girls are a credit to you. I cannot believe any one of them can be misled into foolishness by lavish displays of wealth, however enticing they might seem." Charlotte turned to her friend and smiled.

"No indeed. Eliza, you know my circumstances better than anyone. When I tell you that I have turned down a generous offer from her Ladyship because I thought it was not appropriate for me to accept a paid position in her household, you will understand that I have not forsaken my principles for money and circumstance." Elizabeth was surprised, and this increased to amazement when Charlotte revealed that Lady Catherine had offered her a position as her paid companion on an income that would supplement her annuity, while in addition, a cottage would be provided for her and her daughters on the estate. "It was a kind and generous offer, but I knew I could not accept. I was embarrassed to refuse; there was no other course open to me," she said, smiling apologetically, "I said I felt I had to be close to my father, whose health is poor, at least until my elder brother Frank returns from India. Her Ladyship was not happy. She has asked me to reconsider, and I feared I had annoyed her, but then she invited my Cathy to spend Christmas at Rosings. I believe the Fitzwilliams are expected, too. I had no desire to vex her Ladyship; I agreed at once."