Elizabeth thought for a moment. “Perhaps you might inform me of Mr Darcy’s preferences?”
Mrs Reynolds smiled more broadly then, pulling a piece of paper from the bottom of the stack. “I drew up an example of the meals he enjoys. Perhaps we can start with this for the coming week, and we can make any adjustments to include meals you enjoy?”
“Yes, that sounds delightful, although I am not a gourmand. Indeed, I have always liked a plain dish better than a ragout, for our cook at Longbourn, excellent woman though she is, cannot compare to the chef here. With my own tastes so unformed, I should like to defer to Mr Darcy’s wishes as much as possible.” Mrs Reynolds beamed at her and replaced the paper in the packet.
Elizabeth smiled privately to herself. Mrs Reynolds, stern though she had seemed at first, was in fact easy to win over. One simply respected her obvious expertise and deferred to her master, and the impression was complete. Mrs Reynolds was obviously deeply devoted to Mr Darcy. That was a hopeful thought, for there could hardly be a greater compliment than praise from an intelligent servant, and one with so much opportunity of judging his character.
“I must confess, Mrs Darcy, I am glad to hear you speak so,” Mrs Reynolds said then. “I was afraid that you would want to change everything about Pemberley. When Mr Darcy’s grandmother first came into the house, she began redecorating almost as soon as she stepped foot over the threshold.”
“You were here when his grandmother was alive?” she asked. Elizabeth would have judged Mrs Reynolds’s age at several decades too scant to make such a thing possible.
Her next words explained the confusion. “No, but my mother often told me stories about the great old lady when I was a girl.”
“She was a braver woman than I,” Elizabeth remarked laughingly. “Pemberley is so lovely, I should feel rather daunted to make any changes at all. Particularly so soon.”
“To my mind, you have the right of it, ma’am. Of course, it was her right to make any changes she chose, as it would be yours, Mrs Darcy, if you wished! However, it did cause quite a bit of consternation with the servants and with the dowager at the time. I think it very unwise for a young bride to jump headfirst into making changes to her new home without having first spent a period of time getting to know the house. That way, she at least has an appreciation for how the home was before she entered it.”
“I agree,” Elizabeth told her warmly. It was easy to feel optimistic, for the meeting had been all that she could have wished. Reynolds, initially so reserved and correct, had gradually warmed into a woman no less competent, but delightfully warm. Far from disdaining her new mistress as a mushroom and an interloper, she seemed ready and even eager to be won over.
“Well, I will deliver these menus to the kitchen. The chefs will be pleased that they need not learn a whole set of new recipes. At least, not just yet, of course. Please let me know if you would like to introduce anything new in the coming weeks, and I will be sure to provide the cook with whatever is needed.” Mrs Reynolds started gathering the papers and prepared to stand.
Before she could excuse herself, Elizabeth stopped her. “Mrs Reynolds. There is one more thing I would like to ask you.”
Mrs Reynolds settled back on the settee and set the papers aside, giving Elizabeth her full attention. “Of course, Mrs Darcy.”
Elizabeth took a steadying breath before she plunged ahead. “I was in the library with Mr Darcy today and, well, I found a book that was signed to him from Georgiana Darcy. He did not wish to discuss it at the time, but I believe I must know. Who is Georgiana Darcy?”
The housekeeper’s face fell. “Ah, Miss Georgiana,” she said sadly. “Mrs Wickham, I should say now. It was only a matter of time before you heard of her.”
“She is Mr Darcy’s sister? Am I right in assuming she is younger than he?”
“Indeed, you are,” Mrs Reynolds replied. “I am hesitant to relay the story to you, Mrs Darcy. However, it is important for you to know, I suppose, as you are the lady of this house now.”
“Perhaps you might order some tea for us,” Elizabeth suggested. “There is very little that cannot be fixed by a good cup of tea.”
Reynolds obliged, obviously grateful for the short reprieve before tea arrived. Elizabeth could sense that the subject would be a difficult one for her to discuss. Family breaks were never easy to navigate, not only for the people who suffered them directly, but also for the people closest to them. It was not difficult to see that Reynolds and most of the staff were deeply devoted to Mr Darcy and his family.
“I only wish a good cup of tea would fix this, but I am afraid it will take much more time and forgiveness. Mrs Darcy, I hope I am not speaking out of turn, but I believe you are correct. Youshouldknow about Mr Darcy’s sister. Perhaps you can even help somehow, although I do not see how.” Any hint of a smile had vanished from Mrs Reynold’s gentle face as she prepared to plunge into the story. Elizabeth held her breath, waiting for something that must be dreadful.
Mrs Reynolds steeled herself and went on. “Miss Georgiana was the sweetest young lady. She played the pianoforte like an angel and sang all day long. Eight years ago, the late master passed away, and ever since, Mr Darcy was not just a brother to her, but the nearest thing to a father as well. How proud he was of dear Miss Georgiana!”
Mrs Reynolds hesitated as the tea tray was brought in, and she poured them each a cup of tea. She took a moment to collect her thoughts, staring into the steam rising from her cup. “There was a gentleman who was connected with the family before the late Mr Darcy passed away. Mr Wickham was the son of his late steward, and had been treated as one of the family for many years. He had promised him a very generous living. However, upon his death, he made it very clear to your Mr Darcy that he would not take orders.”
Elizabeth swallowed when Mrs Reynolds called him “her Mr Darcy.” She was unsure if their relationship would ever reach the point of feeling as if they belonged to each other. As it stood, she would be content, if not happy, if they could come to a reasonable understanding and friendship with one another. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she gestured to Mrs Reynolds to go on.
“This gentleman — though he does not deserve the title, mind you — went away, claiming that he meant to study the law. Perhaps Mr Darcy believed him, but I tell you, ma’am, that I never did.”
“Indeed,” Elizabeth replied faintly. “And then?”
“It was last summer. Miss Georgiana was in Ramsgate with her companion, in a house Mr Darcy rented for them. Miss Georgiana said she wanted to be by the sea. Well! I thought she ought not to be so far from family, but of course it was not my place to object. And all seemed well enough, until Mr Darcy got a letter from Scotland. It was from Mr Wickham. He had taken Miss Georgiana there and married her, and her only sixteen.”
“My heavens,” Elizabeth breathed.
Mrs Reynolds shook her head sadly. “Yes, ma’am. And it was no grand romance. He wanted her dowry, Mrs Darcy — a dowry of thirty thousand pounds.”
“So much?” Elizabeth exclaimed with astonishment.
“Yes, Mrs Darcy. That was what he wanted, and poor Miss Georgiana was too innocent to see it. Though Mr Darcy gave him a monthly allowance instead, as no settlements had been made, and I am glad he did. Oh, the poor, dear girl! Even yet, I cannot believe she is now his wife.”
