“Are you comparing me to a housekeeper in my nephew’s affections?”
“No, not at all.” Elizabeth sincerely doubted that Lady Catherine would ever have allowed Darcy to keep an injured kitten in her sitting room. “But the fact remains that both of you have peopled his life since he was a child. He trusted you both, and you both schemed to destroy his happiness. He is not made of stone, madam. You cannot use him ill and expect that it will not distress him.”
“You have a nerve, preaching to me about using people ill. You who stole my daughter’s husband.”
The chances of preserving Lady Catherine as even a passing acquaintance, let alone an ally, felt to be vanishing into the farthest distance. Elizabeth took a deep breath. “There is no point revisiting that matter. Your ladyship wished that your nephew would marry your daughter, but he chose otherwise. It is done. Darcy and I are married. Therefore, let us be frank. There is nothing to be achieved by your coming here other than to decide whether or not you will condone his choice. That is the only power you have remaining. And if your decision is to cut ties with him, then youwillbe no better in his estimation than the housekeeper who also abandoned him, and it will be for no reason but to satisfy your own pride.”
“It will be becauseyoumade it impossible for me to do otherwise!”
“We must both hope, then, that your observations do not bring you to any such conclusion.”
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief when the door opened, and Mrs Lovell arrived. Matthis entered behind her with a tray of refreshments, which he laid out on the table and, at Elizabeth’s signal, departed.
“You wished to see me, Mrs Darcy?” Mrs Lovell said, glancing anxiously at Lady Catherine.
“I did.” Elizabeth deliberately began preparing the tea to avoid having to meet her ladyship’s eye as she spoke. “Lady Catherine, might I introduce you to Mrs Lovell, whom you recently helped bring to work for us from Chisholm Park.”
She was obliged to look up eventually, for no answer was forthcoming. Her ladyship was glaring at her sullenly, her expression a poor imitation of Darcy’s far more skilful contempt, and Elizabeth was in no way intimidated. “Since you have expressed such a keen interest in observing the running of the house, I thought perhaps you might like to stay while I conduct my business with her?” It was a risk, but Elizabeth calculated that, if Lady Catherine were determined to find a reason to despise her, it would be better to get it done and send her on her way than have her loitering about the house making Darcy miserable while she made up her mind.
Her ladyship grudgingly conceded, and even seemed to approve of Mrs Lovell at first, for the housekeeper gave a good account of herself. Elizabeth did not take this as any sort of victory, for it was unlikely anyone would object to the servant they themselves had contrived to install. She was more hopeful of success when Mrs Lovell was able to give favourable answers to her initial enquiries. Yes, the distribution of Pemberley’s latest charitable donations had been made and gratefully received. Yes, the other senior servants had accepted the proposed alteration to the household expenses. After that, her luck ran out.
“Tell me, Mrs Lovell,” Lady Catherine said. “What was it that caused the furore I overheard in the orangery when I arrived earlier? Something to do with flowers, I understand.”
Mrs Lovell glanced uneasily at Elizabeth.
“Do not look to your mistress for assistance. It was she who invited me to join this meeting. Answer my question.”
Elizabeth indicated with a nod that Mrs Lovell should do as her ladyship asked, though she was unreasonably gratified when the housekeeper addressed the explanation to her instead of Lady Catherine.
“Martha instructed one of the younger maids to gather some fresh flowers to be arranged in preparation for your return, Mrs Darcy. The instructions were not clear enough, I fear, for Sarah apparently cut the flowers herself rather than ask one of the gardeners to do it. Mr Howes was unhappy that some of his plants had been damaged.”
“Oh dear, that is unfortunate,” Elizabeth replied. “I assume you have dealt with the matter?”
“I have, ma’am. It will not happen again.”
Lady Catherine made a little noise in her throat that might have been a laugh or a bark of triumph. “Are there any other problems brewing amongst your ranks, Mrs Lovell?”
“No, ma’am.”
Elizabeth thought it pitiable that her ladyship should look so disappointed to hear it. She poured a solitary cup of tea, not caring that it was likely not steeped properly, pushed it across the table towards Lady Catherine, and stood up.
“The work on the east wing is regrettably disruptive. I shall have a room made up for you as far from the noise as possible.”
“I can tolerate noise perfectly well. You will not scare me away by that method.”
“I did not think for a moment that I would. But there is no profit in allowing you to be deprived of sleep, for it would only put you in a worse humour than you already are. Pray remain here and enjoy your tea while the room is readied. Mrs Lovell, the Mahogany Bedroom, I think.” With a gesture for the housekeeper to follow, Elizabeth left the saloon and her husband’s vexatious aunt behind.
Outside the room, she stopped walking and turned to face Mrs Lovell. “I apologise. That was…unpleasant. Now tell me, was Mr Howesverycross?”
“Livid, I am afraid.”
“Oh Lord. I shall ask Mr Darcy to speak to him.”
“There is something else,” Mrs Lovell said. “It seems William told Edna that you did not enjoy dinner on your first night here, and Edna has been taunting Chef with the information.”
“Has she now? She is sailing perilously close to the wind, is she not? Thank you for telling me. Pray tell Monsieur Dubois to pay her no mind.”
“You must not concern yourself on that score, Mrs Darcy. I am fast learning that Chef is an inveterate gossip. Edna’s petty tittle-tattle will not trouble him.”
