Lydia’s arrival set off a bit of a storm. The housekeeper, Mrs. Hodges, was furious that a replacement for the departed Jenna had been hired without her knowledge or consent. The fact that Lydia had never before been in service and had no references added greatly to her ire. “I shall not take the blame if we are all murdered in our sleep!” she told the butler, Mr. Durston.
Mr. Durston sympathised with Mrs. Hodges, saying that he should have a thing or two to say to his lordship had a footman been hired without his approval. “A very bad precedent, I should say,” he rumbled. “Very, very bad.”
It did not help that Lydia’s clothing, manners and accent set her apart from the other servants. Mrs. Hodges snubbed Lydia whenever possible, saying that the girl needed to be taken down a peg or two, and the sooner the better. Lydia, frightened and disoriented, soon learnt that if she kept her head down and her mouth shut, the abuse lessened. She was given a uniform to wear, and she kept her own clothing in the satchel, tucked safely under her bed.
There was a good deal of speculation on the part of the other servants as to Lydia’s origins and what might have led her to be found weeping on one of London’s busiest streets. Lydia refused to answer questions and the conjectures faded soon enough, though the two footmen, Alfred and Jack, eyed her speculativelywhenever their paths happened to cross. Lydia ignored them both.
Lydia was, in turn, ignored by her superiors, including Letty, who was Miss Alice’s lady’s maid; Nancy, who was Miss Emily’s lady’s maid; and Beatrice, who was Lady Greenfield’s lady’s maid. Letty, Nancy and Beatrice spoke to Lydia only when ordering her to do something in their mistress’ bedrooms.
Lydia had been hired on as an upstairs maid, which had earned her the undying enmity of Doris, a ‘tweeny’ who had hoped for this promotion after Jenna’s departure. Lydia shared a room on the third floor with Edith, the other upstairs maid.
It was Edith who quickly realised that her new roommate had never so much as swept a floor, let alone dusted furniture or emptied a bedpan. “And here was me hoping for some real help, having done my work and Jenna’s as well for the past two weeks!” she scolded Lydia. “I would tell Lady Greenfield that you know nothing whatever, but that would mean me likely having to share a room with Doris.”
Apparently having to share a room with Doris was a terrible fate; rather than run that risk, Edith patiently – and sometimes not so very patiently – taught Lydia her duties. Lydia found the work both exhausting and endless, but that did not keep her from thinking again, and again, how she had ended up as a servant, and what she might have done differently.
Perhaps she should have asked Lord Greenfield to take her to Gracechurch Street; he was a kind man, and he would have taken her there at once. The Gardiners would have taken her home to Longbourn! Yes, she would have faced a good deal of punishment from Papa, but upon reflection, she realised that Mama would have made everything right! And would that nothave been better than cleaning furniture, making beds, and – heavens – emptying bedpans?
What if she asked now to be taken to Gracechurch Street? Surely Lord Greenfield would take her there. Or, since she would be owed some wages at the next quarter day, surely she could hire a hackney, could she not? Her wages had been set at eight pounds per annum, but midsummer had just past, so she would not receive any funds until Michaelmas. She could, she thought, hold out until then.
But the difficulty in this plan was this: where, exactly, were the Gardiners? She had a recollection of Gracechurch Street being quite long. She did not think she would recognise the house, as they looked very much alike from the front, and she could hardly knock on every single door, looking for her relatives!
It could have been a good deal worse, of course. What if Miss Alice had not seen her and been moved to take pity on her? Lydia was well aware that she might not have survived the night, let alone with her virtue intact!
But, she understood, her virtue wasnotintact. She was, in fact, soiled goods. She was the sort of woman that the other ladies whispered about.
And now, just now, she thought – good Lord, what if she was carrying a child? She stopped scrubbing for a moment, blood draining from her face, until Edith snapped at her to get back to work.
Chapter Fourteen
When Mr. Bingley returned to Netherfield, Caroline was waiting for him in the entryway. “Well?” she demanded at once.
“Wellwhat, Caroline?” Mr. Bingley was in no humour to talk with his younger sister just now.
“Did she accept?”
Mr. Bingley sighed. “Mrs. Bennet passed away quite recently, and the family is now in mourning. But Mr. Bennet agreed that I may visit Miss Bennet three times a week.”
“In mourning? Then Jane Bennet cannot marry you for at least six months!” Caroline’s tone was triumphant.
Mr. Bingley surveyed her with considerable distaste. “Only you, Caroline, would find the death of Mrs. Bennet a cause for rejoicing.”
“I am no hypocrite,” Caroline tossed over her shoulder as she left the room.
Mr. Bingley climbed the stairs to his room, thinking about Darcy in London, chasing after that silly child, Miss Lydia. Oh, but Darcy did not know that Mrs. Bennet was dead! Mr. Bingley turned about and all but ran back downstairs to send a message to Darcy House.
Darcy,
You will be surprised to learn that Mrs. Bennet passed from this life while we were at Pemberley. The family is indeep mourning, of course. I do not know if this alters your plans to remain in London, but you are always welcome here at Netherfield.
Bingley
***
Mr. Darcy was shocked speechless by the message he received from Mr. Bingley. Miss Elizabeth’s mother dead? Two dreadful tragedies for the Bennets, one on top of the other! Miss Elizabeth must be utterly distraught. He wanted to go to her immediately, to assure her of his undying love and beg her – on bended knee – to accept him.
But a cooler head soon prevailed. While he did not much care what became of Miss Lydia, the fact remained that doubtless everyone in Meryton was aware that she had eloped. Until the chit was found and married off to someone, the Bennet family was ruined. Did Bingley understand this? He had to word his letter carefully, lest Miss Bingley happen to see it. He did not doubt that she did her best to read her brother’s mail.
Bingley,
