Chapter 28
Word of the Bennet’s elevation had begun to spread throughout Meryton. Their father had insisted that they not go anywhere unaccompanied. He had looked particularly at Elizabeth on making this pronouncement. But they all agreed and followed his edict. So great had all the surprises been that when on the day of their departure. Three very fine hired carriages pulled up outside of Longbourn, no one was surprised.
Near every maid and footman and John coachman was to accompany the Bennet family. Cook who was of an age to be glad to be staying put, Wilard the elderly groundsman, and Mrs MacCarthy a local married lady who came during the day. Where all that was left to care for Longbourn in their absence. Lord and Lady Meryton had assured all staff that a new housekeeper would be engaged as soon as practical to do so.
And so the Bennet’s set off, their father and mother took one of the hired carriages. Which were much more comfortable than the Bennet’s old carriage. Mary given the choice, choose to travel with her parents. Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty and Lydia all decided to travel together.
The third carriage was for Mrs Featherworth and the ladies’ maids. And the remaining Bennet coach carried the footmen.
“How nicely we are crammed in!” cried Lydia, entering the carriage last. But the carriage was so spacious that they were not crammed at all.
“Oh, Mary,” said she, “I wish you had gone with us, for we had such fun! as we went along Kitty and me drew up all the blinds, and pretended there was nobody in the coach. And we were so merry all the way here, we talked and laughed so loud, that anybody might have heard us ten miles off!” Lydia informed her, when they stopped at the inn for a light repast before continuing to London.
To this, Mary very gravely replied, “Far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures. They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms forme. I should infinitely prefer a book!” Lydia looked shocked but Elizabeth caught a hint of teasing in Mary’s words. And indeed Mary chose to join her sisters in the second carriage for the rest of the trip to London.
The pulled up at a house on Grosvenor Square. The coachman climbed down and held the door for Lord and Lady Meryton. The carriage carrying the Bennet daughters’ pulled up before they had even entered the house.
The door was opened by a butler in fine livery. Who bowed and introduced himself as Matthews and went on to confirm that “Mrs Fitzherbert was awaiting Lord and Lady Meryton in the parlour.
Her father took her mother’s hand. With Matthews’ leading the way and Elizabeth and her sisters following on behind them.
Mrs Fitzherbert and Mrs Cavendish awaited inside. They all bowed and curtsied. And Mrs Fitzherbert instructed them; they had come merely to welcome them to their new London residence. And that herself and Mrs Cavendish would call on the morrow to collect the ladies. Visits to the modistes wasarranged for the morning and Matthews had the details. They were to meet at eleven o’clock. And with that she bid them adieu.
Matthews introduced the housekeeper to her new Master and Mistresses. Mrs Howard was a thin, grey-haired lady of indeterminate age. Her face was stern but held a youthfulness that belied her grey hair. Once introductions to the rest of the family were completed. She gave directions on the dressing rooms so the family could refresh themselves. She excused herself to arrange for tea to be served in the drawing room.
Elizabeth was happy to sit down and take in the room and the overall feel of the house for a little while. It still felt as if she were living in the dream. The looks on the faces of the rest of her family assured her they were feeling exactly the same. The fortunes of the family had changed dramatically. And only Mr Bennet had had time to fully absorb the details.
The family rested and finished their tea. Only then did their Mama call for Mrs Howard to perform the tour of their new London home.
The house was exceedingly grand. With a large entrance hallway, leading to a two drawing rooms. One very large, in which the family had met with Mrs Fitzherbert and had their tea. The second one a smaller and more intimate room, but still comfortably able to fit all the family. Both rooms had high ceilings, with elaborate ceiling roses, and marble fireplaces. Both rooms had sage green velvet curtains and soft rose sofas, saving the rooms from being too masculine. The following door lead to an exquisitely appointed library to high shelves reaching the ceiling. But otherwise the room was unfurnished.
“It is a great shame is it not Lizzy?” her father said. And Elizaeth had to agree. There was space and shelving for a library where one would never run out of books to read. But theshelves were nearly bare of volumes. Shaking his head he said. “Lead on Mrs Howard.”
The next room took everyone’s breath away. It was a large ballroom. Elizabeth could see it had three double doors leading to a balcony out of what looked like a good size city garden. It also had two other sets of doors, which led to two anterooms, Mrs Howard explained. One wall featured five separate fireplaces each with ornate flower designs and over each fireplace was a large baroque golden mirror. Once the family had finished admiring the ballroom. She lead the way to the dining room.
This room had a large mahogany table, which could comfortably sit twenty people. And the room itself was large enough that even more could be accommodated if one so wished. The final reception room on the main floor was a spacious and bright breakfast room. This room held a quieter elegancy, and Elizabeth could see the family being very at ease in this room. The only remaining room was the master’s study, a room fit for a man. Dark and masculine with a large mahogany desk and manly sized chair.
The tour continued to the second floor which held a comfortable parlour. Which was more of family room than the opulence featured in the reception rooms on the main floor. The Master and Mistresses rooms’ were cojoined with a private sitting room. And so too were the bedrooms assigned to both Elizabeth and Jane. On seeing the rooms suggested for them, they immediately traded. One was decorated in light pink with rose filled wallpaper. The second was a green with a light fern design which Elizabeth favoured. The bedrooms assigned to the other girls were also very fine. All the bedchambers had their own dressing rooms.
The tour completed of the first two floors. Their mother indicated that they had seen quite enough for the first day. Shedirected Mrs Howard to serve dinner at eight and released her to settle the staff from Longbourn.
