“Only that it wasn’t an accident.”
Mrs. Reynolds looked away. Her shoulders slumped, and her fidgeting fingers sank deeply into the soft padding on the chair. She respected Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth realised, but shelovedGeorgiana. Combing her fingers through her damp curls, Lizzie fell silent and waited for the other woman to recover.
Mrs. Reynolds said softly, “Tell me about my master, Mrs. Darcy, and I shall tell you about Miss Darcy.”
Elizabeth pillowed her head wearily against her hand and spoke formally: “Mrs. Reynolds, I hold you in high regard. I shall not barter secrets from you under such duress. Tell me about Miss Darcy when you are ready. I will willingly tell you what happened yesterday.”
Mrs. Reynolds gave her the pleased, approving look which Elizabeth had learned to cherish. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Elizabeth smiled, took a deep breath, and started. She stared into the fire while she spoke. The heat it spilled onto on her face did much to steady her nerves, since she could not feel the burning blush that her story raised.
She told Mrs. Reynolds the start, and how she had broken the decanter. That would have been enough, but Lizzie pushed forwards and told hereverything.
“I ought not to have goaded him, I know. I only made things worse.” she finished. To her surprise, Darcy’s most loyal servant shook her head.
“No, my dear. I think you were quite right. You made him feel foolish! That man can ignore most insults with the indifference of a statue, but he cannot bear to be thought a fool. Especially by one he respects as much as you, ma’am.”
“I don’t see how can respect me anymore, Mrs. Reynolds. I behaved terribly.Shamefully.” Lizzie laughed humourlessly, “I suppose I must have finally convinced him that I am no angel, at least.”
Mrs. Reynolds looked away, blushing. The high colour made her look youthful despite her greying hair. “Madam, did you know that the title ‘Mrs.’ is used as an honorific for housekeepers? It is only right that you know that I have never been married. I am, however, fully aware of what transpires between a man or a woman - or even several women, if the gossips from other households are to be believed.”
“Several?” Elizabeth exclaimed. The concept of such an arrangement was far beyond her. “How?”
The other lady shrugged, smiling crookedly. “Since your husband is unlikely to make such a request of you, ma’am, it is probably best that I do not answer that question. I shall not muddy the water. My point is that, although I am rather too aware of thelogisticsof congress, I have no experience of it myself.”
“Then you and I are opposites.” Lizzie sighed, “Mama told me no logistics at all. I daresay she intended to, but she was furious with me by the time I was engaged. She barely spoke to me at all until the eve of my wedding, and only then to say that I did not deserve to enjoy it.”
“I cannot comment on your mother’s character, madam, but I fear she did you a disservice. You should have known what to expect.”
“I admit that it was rather… surprising.” Lizzie blushed, “But it was not unpleasant.”
“I am glad that your mother’s wishes came to nothing.” Mrs. Reynolds teased, enjoying making her mistress go even pinker. Now even her ears were blushing.
The next few words Elizabeth said were not embarrassed, however, but grave: “I fear that it was unpleasant forhim.He left before I awoke and has avoided me all day.”
Mrs. Reynolds leaned forward and caught Elizabeth’s hand. “You must remember that Mr. Darcy was drunk. No doubt he is as hungover as you and will be mourning the loss of his sobriety.”
“I only wish I knew for sure.” Elizabeth looked down at their joined hands for a moment, then freed hers to wipe away an errant tear, “He apologised afterwards. He looked so unhappy, Mrs. Reynolds. I don’tunderstand.”
“Mrs. Darcy, it is highly unusual for a man to resent the act. If you are so worried, then you must ask your husband outright.”
“Ask him? Aboutthis?”Elizabeth looked scandalised, and her blush spread all the way down her neck.
Mrs. Reynolds hid a smile, but it was laced with pity. Sometimes she forgot how very young her mistress was. Mrs. Darcy gave off an air of such composure that she might have been much older than her twenty-one years. Now, however, she looked like a naive adolescent.
“No harm has been done, dear.” Mrs. Reynolds squeezed her hand and then helped her stand up. “Now, let me look after you.”
With the remarkable speed she had for such tasks, the servant managed to find a nightgown and shake it out. She cleared her throat pointedly beside the bed until Elizabeth climbed between the sheets. Dazed, she let Mrs. Reynolds pull the nightgown over her head like a child.
“This is really not necessary…”
“Hush, girl. Er… ma’am. You must sleep. You look quite exhausted. When you wake up, all of this will feel much easier.”
Elizabeth nodded, but standing up had given her a surge of energy. As she cuddled down into her enticing pillow she looked questioningly at the housekeeper.
“What of Georgiana? Is she well?”
“The doctor will be here tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I am caring for Miss Darcy myself, and I shall return to her now.” Mrs. Reynolds hesitated, then reached up to kiss Elizabeth’s forehead. “Rest now, my dear. All will be well, you’ll see.”
