A/N: Elizabeth's orientation concludes
Smithers continued: "The Dowager Countess will chatter throughout the day with her friends from her youth: Beatrice, Emily, and Hanna. These were real ladies; sadly, the Dowager Countess has outlived them all. They apparently only speak of those topics favoured by young ladies everywhere: beaus and balls, but as we are only privy to her side of these conversations, we cannot be sure. You will not take part in these conversations. If you think that the Dowager Countess has addressed a remark to you, or asked you a question, other than with respect to those matters previously discussed, you can be assured that you are wrong. If you think a response is required then just murmur something noncommittal and then bring it to the attention of one of us when you can.
"You will often hear the Dowager Countess referring to John, whom, as I explained earlier, she later married, with some degree of distress. You will remember that she is mired in 1760 when it was thought that her John might die. Usually, her friends calm her down, but if you feel that she is starting to lose herself then immediately ring the bell and she will be given a sleeping draught. It is very important that she not suffer a hysterical fit.
"You will also hear the Dowager Countess referring to a Miss Blake, or Miss Blank, or Miss Bland, or Miss Blare, all one and the same person, apparently a rival of the hers, in quite abusive and unladylike terms. Ignore the same the best you can.
"You must never ask the Dowager Countess any questions, initiate any conversations, or volunteer any information about yourself. Doing so might bring her attention to the present and thus cause her to fall into a hysterical fit. Triggering such a fit is cause for immediate dismissal.
"Similarly, you must never reference any specific time of the year, be it a season, or a particular day of the week, or a month, or a holy day. The Sabbath is never celebrated nor are any holidays or birthdays observed. Time must remain vague so as not to attract excitement.
"You will refer to the Dowager Countess as Miss, or ma'am. Remember that she did not gain the title of Countess until after 1760.
"From this point forward, you will be called Carruthers by the Dowager Countess, and Miss Carruthers, by us and the staff. Do not allow anyone to address you by your real name. Report any breaches to us. There was a real Miss Carruthers, who was the Dowager Countess's companion in 1760. Unfortunately, we know nothing else about her; what her Christian name was, where she came from, or what became of her.
"While performing your duties you will wear the dresses provided for you. The dresses are based on the fashions of 1760 but have been modified somewhat to fit modern sensibilities. The Dowager Countess's family is directly descended from a Dutch gentleman, a personal retainer of William III, who was granted the barony by that king, and thus the family livery is a bright orange. The dresses provided for you are all that colour of orange. If it is any consolation, the staff here are all inured to the colour. You should be thankful you do not have to powder your hair.
"You will also wear the scent which is provided. It has a head of orange, and a heart of jasmine, on a base of vanilla. Given her weak eyesight, this scent is how the Dowager Countess identifies you.
"Outside of the hours from noon to seven your time is your own. There are art and sewing supplies in plenty if you are interested in those activities. There is a second pianoforte located in the ballroom if you wish to play. If you like to read, you have free access to any book in this library, although I think that you will find that the last book purchased was Dr. Johnson's Dictionary, when it was first published. There is a subscription in the name of Miss Carruthers at the circulating library in the village that allows you to take out two books a week. Market day is Wednesday and you can ride into the village with Mrs. Smithers if you wish to visit it. Do remember not to disclose any information to any villagers.
"The estate does not keep horses for pleasure riding. If you like to walk there are several nice walks in the park. You are not allowed to leave the park on your own. If you like to garden, arrangements can be made with the gardener. You are not to have anything to do with any tenants on the estate; those are solely the responsibility of Mr. Greives.
"We do not have any footmen on staff so there is no one to haul water to your bedroom for you to bathe. On Tuesday and Saturday nights you will be able to bathe in the laundry. There is a large tub there and plenty of hot water will be available.
"As you were previously told, your salary is £26 per annum, and it will be paid to you £1 at the end of every fortnight. If you wish, arrangements can made to pay this into a bank for you. The only deductions from your salary will be for postage paid on your behalf for letters received by you in excess of one letter per week.
"If you leave your position without giving at least a fortnight's notice in advance, or if you are discharged for cause, you will be turned out without a character to make your own way in the world.
"If you leave your position after giving at least a fortnight's notice in advance, you will be given a good character, and Mr. Greaves and his wife will transport you back to town in the estate coach.
"I am authorized to advise you, that if you should stay in your position for a full year complete, you will be paid a bonus of another £26, over and above your salary.
"Now I know I have fed you a lot of information which you may take some time to digest. Both I and Mrs. Smithers would happy to answer any questions you have now, or might have in the future. This book contains what I just told you in somewhat greater detail."
Smithers pushed a notebook across the table to Elizabeth and gave her an expectant look.
Elizabeth had questions; questions – is this what a companion does, what have I gotten myself into, can I do this – which were accumulating at such a rate so as to incite a panic. She took a deep breath and calmed herself.
The first question she asked was "Does the Dowager Countess have visitors?"
"She makes no calls, and receives no callers. She has not been introduced to any of the neighbouring families."
"What about her family?"
Smithers shook his head. "Sadly, she has no contact with her family. The current earl is apparently the image of John, his father. If the Dowager Countess sees him, she thinks her John is still alive, and when disabused of this notion she throws a fit. After her descent into madness, there was an occasion when she saw the current countess with the current earl - she thought her John was giving his favours to a rival of hers, the aforesaid Miss Blake, and she threw her greatest fit ever. We thought she would die. Needless to say, her grandchildren cannot meet with her, not when she considers herself to be a young unmarried maiden."
The three of them, Elizabeth, Smithers and Mrs. Smithers, were silent for a long moment, contemplating the lonely fate of the old, mad Dowager Countess.
Then Elizabeth said "You seem rather practiced, the printed form, the offered bonus, your presentation … I feel that you have done this many times before."
Mrs. Smithers, whom up to this point had just been nodding as her husband spoke, nodded at Elizabeth and said: "That's very perceptive of you, indeed, you are the forty-seventh Miss Carruthers in the last ten years. On average, a companion lasts for three months before the ennui drives her away. We would appreciate it if, when you feel the urge to flee, and you will at some point, you give us the two weeks notice. It will give us time to obtain a new companion and have a seamless transition. Unfortunately, the last Miss Carruthers chose to run away without any warning at all."
"And what do you do, if you are left in the lurch as it were?" asked Elizabeth.
"The vicar's wife, the third Miss Carruthers, comes and fills in." Mrs. Smithers laughed. "Somehow, during her visits to the village on market day mornings, she managed to meet the vicar, charm him and court him, and I had no idea until she gave us an invitation to her wedding, the same day she gave us her notice. Anyway, she helps us out when we are in a pinch, although she would prefer to spend time with her family."
Smithers stood and smiled at Elizabeth. "Miss Carruthers, if you would come with me, there is a screen set up in the sitting room behind which you can observe the Dowager Countess and the third Miss Carruthers."
Elizabeth followed Smithers, whom she starting to consider her gaoler, in an orange gilded gaol, out of the library.
A/N: Next time, as Elizabeth settles into her new role, we will see how some of the others are faring.