Mr Darcy turned to her. “I will leave you in Mrs Reynolds’s care. She will show you to your suite of rooms, and then give you a tour of the house — or at least the rooms that might be of interest to you at the moment.” He glanced at the footmen, who were carrying trunks into the house. One of them carried a leather carrying case and disappeared down one of the cavernous halls. “I shall see you again at supper?”
Elizabeth nodded. “Thank you,” she agreed, hating the way her voice came out as little more than a whisper. But courage could only do so much; it could not manufacture ease when she felt so much at a disadvantage.
Mrs Reynolds kept up a steady stream of useful commentary on Pemberley as she led the way, pointing out the guest bedrooms, informing Elizabeth that one suite of rooms might bear with being redone, as it had not been touched since the late Mr Darcy’s time, and remarking that they might go to the portrait hall another day, when Mrs Darcy was not so tired.
Even after all she had seen, Elizabeth’s own room made her draw in a quick, shocked breath. It was three times as large as the bedroom she had shared with Jane, and though rather old-fashioned in style, it had been meticulously kept up and cleaned until not a mote of dust could be seen.
At the sight of that room, Elizabeth felt her shoulder relax, and an involuntary smile crossed her face. Here was true respite. It was light and airy and cosy all at once. There was already a cheery fire burning in preparation for her arrival. And already her trunk had been delivered.
There was also a young woman of around Elizabeth’s own age, standing quietly and waiting to be addressed. Elizabeth looked at her curiously, for she recognised that serious, gentle face. It was the same young woman who had reproved the other servant for her impudence.
Mrs Reynolds gestured to her. “This is Grace Stephans, ma’am,” Mrs Reynolds said. “I have assigned her as your lady’s maid, but of course it will be for you to arrange the household as you please, Mrs Darcy. And perhaps you have a lady’s maid of your own coming?”
“No, Mrs Reynolds,” Elizabeth replied. “I shall be glad to have Stephans look after me.”
“Very well, ma’am,” Mrs Reynolds replied pleasantly, her face perfectly expressionless. “Will there be anything else?”
“No, I thank you, Mrs Reynolds,” Elizabeth dismissed her.
After Mrs Reynolds departed and closed the door, Elizabeth let out a breath. “Well, Stephans, it would seem they have left us to our devices. I am pleased that you will be helping me here. Indeed, I had already wished to speak to you. I should like to thank you for your help in disciplining the other maid.”
Stephans blanched. “You — you saw that, ma’am.”
“Indeed I did.”
“Please forgive her,” Stephans begged. “She means well, but she does not know how to conceal her feelings.” Her eyes grew wide. “Not that she has the right to feel anything—”
“Nonsense. Everyone has the right to feel what they will.”
“She is my younger sister, Eva. She is new to the household and has been upset by the Darcys’ recent troubles,” Stephans explained. “Eva ought not to have done anything of the kind, of course, but she has a very protective nature.”
“I see. Well, you need not worry yourself on that account. All is forgiven.” She waved down at her obviously mismatched mode of dress. She knew she was not the sort of woman that Mr Darcy’s staff would have been expecting. “I know I do not play the part of the mistress of Pemberley very well yet.”
“She should not have said a word,” Stephans rolled her eyes heavenward. “She is much too liberal with making her sentiments known. Not that she is a bad sort of girl, or hard-hearted. My Papa always used to say that she has very loud eyes. And I am afraid he was right.”
Elizabeth was charmed by the description. “That is a very interesting way of putting it. I wonder if that is why I was in trouble so often as a child?”
Stephans gave a hope-filled smile. “I hope you will excuse Eva. She will learn.”
“Of course, I will,” Elizabeth said. She sat down and pulled her slippers off her feet, giving a sigh of relief. “That is better. Now, what is it about these troubles you spoke of?” she asked.
Stephans’s cheeks grew very pink. “Oh, I did not mean anything by that, ma’am. I will go and see about your other things and return in a moment to start unpacking.” She quickly exited the room, leaving Elizabeth alone to wonder what on earth she meant by the Darcys’ troubles. It was all rather mysterious. Stephans could not mean Mr Darcy’s recent compromise and marriage. Eva could not have already beenupset by something she would not yet know about. And ‘the Darcys’? What other Darcy could the girl mean?
She sighed heavily and sank onto the settee.
Elizabeth knew she must be a disappointment to her husband. Surely he would have had his eyes set on an elegant, well-suited woman of the ton, not a country gentleman’s daughter with barely a penny to her name. Her dowry would hardly have been a temptation for a man of superior wealth, as he certainly must be to own such a large house and property, and with all the servants in his employ. She wished now that she had allowed her father to explain the settlements to her, so she might have known something about her husband.
Stephans soon returned, having regained her air of calm professionalism and propriety. She was quick and efficient in putting away Elizabeth’s things, a task that was swiftly accomplished, as there was not much to do. Her few gowns looked rather forlorn inside the enormous wardrobe. Elizabeth had exactly three pairs of slippers, each rather worn and hardly up to Pemberley’s high standard even when new. She also had a pair of sturdy boots that she had used during her long walks about the countryside back home.
Home. How she missed it already.
Stephans soon finished and offered to bring her some tea. Elizabeth thanked her and accepted gratefully. She did not think she could face going down to the drawing room for tea. Then, too, tea might not be served at all that day, given their late arrival.
Elizabeth spent the rest of the afternoon in her room, looking out the window at the grounds. Autumn was farther advanced in Derbyshire than in Hertfordshire — hardly asurprise, given how far north they had travelled. The colours of the trees were already past their peak, but their beauty was undiminished. Here, if anywhere, there was solace. Pemberley was lovely beyond all expectation, and if Elizabeth would miss the countryside walks of Hertfordshire, she would at least have a lovely replacement for them in her new home.
When the supper gong rang, Stephans was not long in appearing. “Shall I help you dress for supper, Mrs Darcy?” she asked.
Elizabeth was in no mood to suffer through another silent supper with her husband. And she was exhausted from the journey. “I think not,” she said. “Will you convey my apologies? I think an early night will help me feel better.”
