“Not at all. It is rare to find someone with a true love of books and your reaction when I first entered was quite eloquent. This is a small reward for you travelling across the country to help us.”
“Thank you, sir,” Elizabeth said with genuine gratitude, and the gentleman inclined his head.
“Mrs. Reynolds, if you have time, would you be so kind as to join me shortly before dinner, to discuss some affairs? Miss Elizabeth will not be needed for the time being.”
“Of course, sir,” the housekeeper said, and then left the library, closely followed by Elizabeth. As soon as they closed the door, they looked at each other in mutual amazement and finally Mrs. Reynolds said, “The master seemed to approve of you. All will be well, I am sure.”
As they departed, Elizabeth was still fighting her surprise. The master was indeed just as Mrs. Reynolds described him, except he did not look at all as sweet-tempered. Quite the opposite, in fact.
His invitation to use the library was very generous though, and it proved that he was treating her with respect and consideration. She smiled as she remembered his statement about the library as a small reward and she wondered if he realised how much he was paying her for the trouble of travelling across the country.
Her puzzlement and wonder about the master troubled her a little, but she tried to put it aside and focus all her attention on her duties for the rest of the day.
***
Alone in the library, with his first drink almost finished, Darcy reflected on the young woman he had just met. From the verybeginning, he was suspicious that the daughter of a gentleman would accept such an assignment, but Mrs. Reynolds had revealed to him what she knew from Mrs. Templeton: her father had five daughters, a wife with rather improper connections, and he owned a small estate that was entailed to a distant cousin. It was easy to guess that the family were experiencing some financial struggles and he appreciated a young woman who had decided to help her family.
But he also doubted that a gentleman’s daughter—young and not accustomed to hard work—would have the knowledge, the skills and most importantly the willingness to put in the effort required to meet the challenge. But since she seemed the only proper candidate and considering her relationship with people in Lambton in whom Mrs. Reynolds fully confided, he had decided to accept her application. So he was curious to meet her in person and judge for himself.
The meeting was all he had hoped for—in a way—and rather different in another. Her reaction of pure enchantment to the library touched him precisely because of its obvious sincerity. During the last few years, Darcy had met many young ladies who claimed to have a love of books only to impress him, from his cousin Anne de Bourgh to his friend’s sister Caroline Bingley, and many others in between. This Miss Elizabeth was simply lost in admiration and he was happy to offer her the free use of the library.
During their brief conversation, another thing had impressed and troubled Darcy: a glimpse of Miss Elizabeth’s eyes that lasted only for a moment but did not go unnoticed. Whether it was a sparkle of liveliness, of brightness or of simple curiosity, he could not speculate. But he found himself thinking of it more than he wished to, more than he knew he should.
Bonus Story – Chapter 4
Time flew at Pemberley and mid-June arrived in no time. Although Doctor Linfield’s presence was required on three different occasions, Mrs. Reynolds felt better and her health was steadily improving.
In less than a fortnight, Elizabeth had become accustomed to her duties and to the staff. Her friendly nature and unassuming manners, mixed with her brightness and wit, helped her to gain people’s trust and respect, as well as their friendship. With the same quickness that she made decisions for the entire household, she did not hesitate to actually work together with the maids when needed or to help the butler—Mr. Farrell—arrange and dust the books in the library.
She began to know the servants well enough and showed interest in their personal lives—or as much as they cared to share with her. She accepted no rumours or gossip, but readily encouraged them to speak to her whenever they wished to.
A peculiar situation surrounded the two young unmarried mothers. One of them—Peggy—was two and twenty and she had a son of almost six years old. The other one—Harriet—was one and twenty and her daughter Amy had just turned five years old. Both of them had been born before the late Mr. Darcy passed away.
At first, Elizabeth believed the two children were siblings, as there was something similar in their appearance, although their mothers looked quite different. But then, she found it was a mere coincidence, as there was no other connection except friendship and their willingness to please the new and younger ‘Mrs. Reynolds’, who was so kind to them.
Kindness was one quality that everyone noticed in Elizabeth, but that did not diminish her determination and her severity when it was required. However, there were no complaints, as fairness was another universally acknowledged quality of hers.
Elizabeth’s relationship was equally friendly with the people in Lambton. Due to her cousins Henry and Leah, she became acquainted with everyone in the small village. Consequently, she found several youngsters whom she persuaded to apply for the vacant jobs at Pemberley. If the notion of being under the scrutiny of Mr. Darcy was frightening for many, being questioned and tested by Miss Elizabeth was a much more appealing option.
With Darcy, Elizabeth had very few interactions. He would meet both her and Mrs. Reynolds every other day for several minutes’ discussion, he always asked her if she needed anything, and then he would kindly dismiss them. She was never alone with him, not even briefly. He would usually have breakfast and dinner in his apartment, while Elizabeth shared all her meals with Mrs. Reynolds and the rest of the staff.
While Elizabeth was a little concerned that the master might be somehow displeased with her work, Mrs. Reynolds assured her that it was his usual way: when he found someone trustworthy for a certain engagement, he would allow that person the liberty to accomplish their duties. Furthermore, the housekeeper told her that, except for that challenging period, he had never interfered in household business, unless he was displeased with something, which had occurred only twice in the last five years.
Either from consideration or mere coincidence, Elizabeth received her payment as soon as the month ended. Mrs. Reynolds informed her that it was at the master’s instruction and while expressing her gratitude, Elizabeth blushed. Surely he was an intelligent enough man to imagine her father’s financialstruggles and he likely wished to give her the chance to send home some money as soon as possible. But, writing to her father, they decided otherwise, in order to keep the secret of her whereabouts.
Darcy’s offer of free use of the library was taken to heart and Elizabeth went there as often as she could—always careful that the master would be away. Despite her caution, he did find her there a few times. Whilst he was always amiable, asking her about her choice of books and at times even discussing them, Elizabeth always felt uncomfortable and distressed—more so than with any other man she had ever met. He did not look much at ease in her presence either, but that was understandable to her—surely he had never had a paid employee wandering around in his library.
Although the master himself only made a rare appearance, Elizabeth met and interacted every day with his trusted men, both named Peter—Wentley, his personal valet and Farrell—his butler. And several times a day she was delighted with the presence of Hunter—Mr. Darcy’s dog—a beautiful English setter.
One morning, Elizabeth was with Mrs. Reynolds in a room that was said to be the late Mr. Darcy’s favourite. She had taken on the responsibility of dusting the room herself, pleased to see and touch a glimpse of the Darcys’ past and to listen to Mrs. Reynolds, who related to her details about every object in the room.
Elizabeth’s eyes were caught by several miniatures suspended over the mantelpiece.
“I recognise the master, Miss Darcy and Lady Anne. But who are the others?” she enquired.
The housekeeper came forward and peered at them.
“Oh, this is the late master’s niece, Miss Anne de Bourgh, and these two are his nephews, Colonel Fitzwilliam and his elderbrother, the Viscount of Buxton. And this is Mr. Darcy’s best friend, Lord Crawford.”