An added bonus was the Gardiners lived less than a mile away by carriage in Portman Square. Uncle Edward, Aunt Maddie and their children were dearly loved by all, and during the week the Gardiners had been at Longbourn friendships that had been based on business with the Darcys and the Fitzwilliams had deepened to become familial relationships.
Lizzy was equally envious and pleased that Aunt Maddie had seen Pemberley on a number of occasions as she had grown up in Lambton, which was less than five miles from the grand estate.
To Bennet’s great relief, summer was not the best time to be in Town if one wanted society. Most of theTonhad vacated London for their country estates with the onset of the summer heat, so there would be little or no social pressure. With wedding planning in full swing, everyone who had been at Longbourn looked forward to the change of scenery and a break from the drama they had been forced to face of late.
The Bennet coaches bringing the family, their valets and personal maids, and the attendant outriders were followed by the wagon bringing the bulk of the trunks, all pulled to a halt in front of Bennet House.
The arrival was keenly observed by residents of the square who were still in Town, and information would soon reach far that the rumours of the Bennet’s wealth had not been overstated but was quite probably understated.
The housekeeper and the butler were waiting for them at the front entrance to the house and the rest of the servants already employed were lined up neatly in the entrance hall. Mr. Thatcher eagerly watched for his master’s reaction to the shiny brass name plate that proclaimed this asBennet Housewhich was mounted on the iron entrance gate.
Fanny instructed the senior staff to dismiss the lined-up servants, saying she would meet with everyone once the family had moved into their rooms and changed to get rid of the dust from the road.
She was impressed so many had been employed already and would decide which of the accompanying servants from Longbourn would be released to return home after she met with the housekeeper to discuss the needs of the house.
The Bennets were amused to see the Darcys exiting their conveyance across the square at Darcy house, and the same effort repeated at Matlock house but a few doors down. No one had exaggerated when they had said all three townhouses were close, and by agreement made before leaving Longbourn, the three families would meet at Darcy House for dinner that night.
Fanny Bennet was very happy as she quickly surveyed Bennet House and the quality of the staff that had been thus far employed. After she met with the housekeeper and butler, she was able to send most of the extra servants back to Longbourn.
The cook they had brought with them from home, was treated like she was as precious as any gemstone and asked to provide her list of immediate needs while the London cook had not been employed as that was one of the key positions that the housekeeper, O’Grady, would not fill without input from the mistress.
Lucy, Longbourn’s cook, fully intended to make sure that whoever was brought in, that he or she would know all the likes and dislikes of her full Bennet, Darcy, Fitzwilliam, Gardiner and now de Bourgh family. Whoever Mrs. Bennet employed would need mettle, and she knew that was one of the qualities the mistress had loved about her. It was a good thing that Lucy would help the mistress make her decision.
The townhouse consisted of seven floors. On the first floor, the ground level, there were two studies, one for the master and one for the mistress, a library, a ball room, the large and small dining rooms, a music room, three parlours, and two large drawing rooms.
The kitchen with the housekeeper’s office and work areas were at the rear of the house on a lower level, and there was access from the kitchen to a cellar with a cold room, pantry, wine cellar and storage.
The marble staircase in the entrance hall led up to the second floor which held the family suites. Fanny assigned rooms to all of her offspring and Tom and James were happy to have a suite with a shared sitting room between their individual bedchambers.
The master suite was a much larger version of what the twins had. Each side of the suites had a bed chamber, a dressing room and a room to bathe in. Jane and Lizzy shared a suite similar to the twins, and Mary and Kitty had another they shared. That left two more suites and four single bedchambers unoccupied, and there was a family sitting room on the family floor for meetings and shared time.
The third, fourth, and fifth floors had twelve guest chambers each, some grander than others, but all more than adequate for the needs of any who they might allow to stay. Six of the twelve were two room suites for couples, and six were single chambers with a small but comfortable sitting room on each guest floor.
The sixth floor had a nursery, school rooms and rooms for nursemaids, as well as six nicely appointed chambers for companions and a small sitting room.
The seventh floor was where the abundant servant chambers were. The main staircase did not reach the final floor but there were two sets of stairs for servants that did, one to the female side and one for the males. Above the top floor was a large attic space for storage.
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The family all changed from their travelling attire and when Fanny was done, she and her Thomas descended the stairs to meet with the newly employed servants while their children enjoyed their new rooms and made them their own, exactly as their parents hoped that they would.
The servants were impressed that the master and mistress did not just have their names stated with the expectation of being known and dismiss them; they greeted each one upon an introduction, taking care to use the servant’s Christian name as they were introduced and said a few words to each, thanking them for being there and accepting the post.
Besides being paid more than most other servants in similar positions for the townhouses across London, the servants were most impressed that the master and mistress, and what they had seen of the family so far, treated them with respect and as human beings, unlike most in theTon.
It was these seemingly little things that built a deep loyalty. Those that were now employed knew they were privileged to work in this house and for this family. As a collective they decided their best efforts would be their expectation of one another to help the family be a cut above in all ways, as they were being treated far better than what they too had expected. Word would soon spread that like Darcy or Matlock Houses; Bennet House was a preferred and coveted place to work.
Once introductions were complete, the Bennet siblings joined their parents and Mrs O’Grady conducted a full tour of the house for the family. Bennet still could not believe what a good deal he had received due to the urgent nature of the sale.
Thomas Bennet resigned himself to the fact that after resisting for many years, they were now full-fledged members of theTonwith expectations that went with the status. No matter how much time had passed, he was always amazed anew at the changes of fortune his family had gone through.
At five in the evening, the Bennets accepted their outerwear from Thatcher and made the short walk across Grosvenor Square to Darcy House. Even though it was less than fifty paces, they were under the watchful eye of two of the intimidating footmen.
The Bennets were pleased to see the Fitzwilliams walking up to join them, and as if on cue the Gardiners’ carriage arrived at the same time. Darcy stepped forward to claim his Lizzy’s arm with a smile which displayed a hint of his dimples.
“Welcome to Darcy House.” They knew Darcy had meant the greeting for all, but he was lost in the depths of his fiancée’s fine eyes, just as he always was in her company.
The large group filed into the house, walking around Lizzy and William who were caught up in the moment not moving. That was until the Earl’s loud “Ahem!” snapped the couple out of their trance.
