Chapter 3
June 1795
The Bennets and Phillipses arrived at the Big Bull Inn in Lambton on the second day of June. They had all of the rooms in the inn reserved for their stay of four days as they would depart for Holder Heights on Saturday morning coming.
The family was in wonder of the splendours which nature showed off in the area as they had a good view of some of the peaks from Lambton. On Wednesday morning, Bennet asked the landlord what they could see nearby, and he was told that the estate of Pemberley, one of the largest in Derbyshire, was nearby. As far as the landlord knew, the family was away from home and the house was open to visitors.
The Phillipses chose to spend the morning with Gardiner and his betrothed at the parsonage that morning, as they did not have children to entertain. Kitty and Lydia were left at the inn with nurse and Miss Jones while the largest travelling coach containing five Bennets started the five-mile journey to the estate.
The gates were open, and the gatehouse keeper doffed his cap to them without stopping them. Bennet surmised the man was intimidated by the two huge footmen on the back of the coach. For added security, Bennet had hired a extra footmen/guards, led by the two with them this day, former sergeants Biggs and Johns.
The Bennets travelled through not a few miles of thick forest on either side of the gravel drive. As the forest receded some, the drive turned to the left and there was an incline. At the crest Bennet struck the roof and the family exited the coach to wonder at the sight before them.
Below them was a valley with the Derwent River meandering through and what seemed like a man dug channel that diverted some of the water to a lake in front of the largest house either Bennet parent had ever beheld. The house built on the rising ground on the opposite side of the valley and glowed with a golden hue in the early morning sunshine.
Up the side of the hill they could see over the roof of what seemed to be an enormous five-story structure and the forest behind it. In front were formal gardens, but it was easy to see they were not overly manicured. In the centre of the gardens was a large rose garden laid out around a gazebo.
There was a large expanse of grass which led to the lake and then the forest was allowed free reign with no attempts to tame it. "Never have I seen a place for which nature did more and where the awkward tastes of man have not been employed to counteract it," Fanny marvelled. She was after all a gardening enthusiast.
"Why would anyone need such a huge home?" Elizabeth asked innocently.
"Princess, it is not the size that makes it a home but the people who live in it. I will wager the housekeeper will tell us that the structure was erected some generations ago. Do not forget, to some both the houses at Longbourn and Netherfield Park would look palatial; it is just a question of perspective," Fanny explained.
They were met at the door by a kindly looking lady wearing a housekeeper's chatelain who introduced herself as Mrs. Reynolds. As the master and mistress were away from the house, she conducted the tour. All three Bennet girls, including Mary who was just three, marvelled at the grand pianoforte in the music room. It was a Broadwood grand.
"The young misses seem enamoured with the music room, do they play?" Mrs. Reynolds asked thinking to indulge the young girls who she did not believe would have more than rudimentary skills.
"Mary has just started to learn," Mrs. Bennet stated pointing to her youngest present, "but both Jane and Lizzy have been working with a master for some time now."
"Would one of the young misses like to indulge us with a tune?" Mrs. Reynolds asked thinking at best they would be able to play scales.
"May I really play?" Elizabeth asked gleefully. "I have not been able to do so since we left home." Based on the petite, but strikingly beautiful girl's size. Mrs. Reynolds guessed she was three, mayhap four.
"Go ahead Miss," Mrs. Reynolds indulged the child who looked at her mother and only climbed up on the stool once she received a nod from that lady.
Fitzwilliam Darcy, only Darcy child and the heir to Pemberley who was eleven, and his cousin Richard, second son of the Earl and Countess of Matlock, thirteen were exiting their chambers when they heard the sounds of what sounded like an expertly played Hayden sonata ringing through the halls of Pemberley.
"Wills, I thought Aunt Anne and Uncle Robert were visiting Snowhaven," Richard stated.
"That is what I was told Rich, come let us go greet my parents, hopefully the riffraff visiting my home have left already," young Master Darcy sneered.
"Wills, how have you become such a snob?" Richard asked and shook his head.
When the two entered the music room, rather than Mr. Robert and Lady Anne Darcy, they saw an unknown couple watching a little girl playing at a level many adults had not reached and Mrs. Reynolds looking on open mouthed.
"Who gave you permission to touch my mother's instrument," young Darcy demanded. The playing stopped in an instant and the frightened girl began to cry. "I will recommend to my parents that they not allow such lowborn people as you into our house anymore."
Richard Fitzwilliam tried to silence his cousin. He did not miss that the clothing the visitors were wearing was as good as anything they and their families wore and neither did he miss the thundercloud that passed over the man's countenance.
"Are you insensible boy?" Bennet thundered as he hugged his frightened daughter to his side. Fitzwilliam Darcy shrank back in fear. Never had anyone except on occasion his father taken him to task in such a way before. "Do you not see your housekeeper standing right there," Bennet pointed at a quaking Mrs. Reynolds. "Did you think us some paupers who entered your house uninvited and sat down to use the instrument without permission?"
"I…er…um…" young Darcy stammered realising he may have erred.
"Master William," Mrs. Reynold regained her composure, "it is I who gave the young miss permission to play." She turned to the Bennets not missing the anger still written on the parents faces as they hugged their daughters to them. "You daughter's playing is what I would expect from one three or four times her age. I apologise for the misunderstanding. Master William thought you were here uninvited." Mrs. Reynolds tried to defend the young master.
"Unless the boy has no eyes in his head, he saw you when he entered the room and decided he needed to assert his authority in a vulgar and unacceptable way. The master of this estate is Mr. Robert Darcy, is he not?" Bennet asked.
"Yes sir," Richard responded. "My Uncle Robert Darcy is master here.
"In a few days I will be visiting my good friend Lord Paul Carrington; I believe he knows Mr. Darcy well. He will hear all and I will request he pass it on to this whelp's father," Bennet pointed an accusing finger at the Darcy son, "so he may hear what sort of gentleman he is raising." With that, the Bennet parents shepherded their daughters out to the waiting carriage.
"Wills, I have warned you to control your superior urges,. Do you have any idea what your father will do when he hears of your behaviour today?" Richard asked.
A dejected and deflated young William nodded his head as he hung it in shame. Why had he yelled at a little girl and one who could play as she could. He saw their clothing for the first time and started to realise how big an error her had made. Richard and William walked to the main doors in time to see a large coach, comparable to the best his parents owned, pulled by six matched horses with the biggest footmen either boy had seen on the back bench, pull away.
"Wills are not your parents to visit Holder Heights along with mine next week?" Richard asked. William nodded. "It seems the gentleman may be able to convey his message directly to your father. Are you not friendly with Jamie?" Jamie was the Holder heir who was twelve.
"Yes, what of it?" William asked dejectedly.
"Think man! You will have to get yourself invited to join your parents. No matter what happens you need to apologise to those people," Richard stated emphatically. "What has got into you to make you such an insufferable snob lately?"
"Has not Aunt Catherine lectured you about maintaining the distinctions of rank? I thought I was behaving as I should, Father has always told me to uphold the Darcy name and to be proud of it," William tried to justify his attitude.
"Aunt Cat! Have you not noticed no one in the family pays her heed? Do not tell me you also believe her codswallop about your being betrothed to Anne. You need to talk to your parents William. I suggest you tell them what happened today when they return home this evening before they hear about it from anyone else. It may save you part of a much-deserved thrashing," Richard told his younger cousin who was hanging his head.
"Have I really become an insufferable snob Rich?" William asked. His cousin nodded vigorously.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"Lizzy my Princess, you know you did naught wrong do you not? You had permission to play, and may I say you played beautifully today," Fanny soothed her still upset daughter.
"But why did that awful boy shout at me?" Elizabeth asked as her tears flowed again.
"Yes, who was he to yell at my little sister?" Jane demanded. Jane portrayed a picture of serenity until you hurt one she loved, then she could be most fierce in her protection of a loved one.
"He made an assumption and did not stop to verify the facts before he acted," Fanny explained. "Now do you girls understand why your father and I tell you never to make assumptions? As Lizzy was hurt today, it can hurt people if we assume our opinions are facts and act on them."
"You had permission from both the housekeeper and Mama to play, so you did naught wrong my girl," Bennet assured his second daughter. "Come let us forget the unpleasantness and after a rest we will join the Lamberts at the parsonage and meet your soon-to-be aunt.
The prospect of the visit succeeded in diverting both girls' attention. Two hours later, the Bennets made their way to the parsonage across the green in the centre of the town and past an enormous chestnut tree in the middle of the green.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Robert and Lady Anne Darcy arrived home from Snowhaven, they did not miss the troubled look on Mrs. Reynolds face or the agitation in their son. Their nephew was the only one who looked like his normal affable self. The parents went to the master suite to change and then summoned the three to the master's study.
"What is it? What has happened?" Robert Darcy asked as he sat on a sofa in the study with his beloved wife next to him.
"There were visitors today sir," Mrs. Reynolds started.
"Not an uncommon occurrence for people to come view the house Reynolds," Lady Anne stated questioningly.
"It was what looked to me sir and madame, a very well to do family, parents and three delightful daughters." The Darcy parents did not miss how their son blanched as the housekeeper said the last. "On the tour, as is normal, we stopped in the music room. I saw the two oldest girls, who I now know are seven and five, looking longingly at your pianoforte my Lady. I thought to indulge them and half-jokingly asked if one of them would like to play a tune, not thinking they were able."
"Richard and I left our chambers and we heard playing, it was a Hayden sonata Mother. We thought it was you playing," William related.
"Wait! A seven-year-old girl was playing a Hayden piece and made you think it was me playing?" asked the astounded Lady Anne.
"It was the girl of five years Mistress," Mrs. Reynold corrected, and she played from memory." Lady Anne was gobsmacked; a musical prodigy had been in her home and she had missed it.
"William, tell us what you did!" Mr. Darcy demanded getting a sinking feeling that the arrogance he had noted in his son had been exercised. He had meant to talk to his son about it; now it seemed imperative.
William Darcy hung his head and related his actions and the reaction of the little girl and the girl's father fully with no prevarication. "Oh William how could you?" Lady Anne asked sadly.
"Did you say they will be at Holder Heights next week William?" Robert Darcy asked. William nodded. "After you have accepted the punishment I intent to mete out to you, you will accompany us and make a full and sincere apology. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir," William returned his head down.
"William, I love you as much as any mother could love her son, but how on earth is it that you have become to act like my sister Catherine? How could you show such disrespect and disdain for visitors to our home? You called them riffraff? William, we taught you better," Lady Anne stated sadly.
Richard shot his cousin an 'I told you so' look. "Richard you could not restrain your younger cousin before he placed his hessian in his mouth so effectively?" Robert Darcy asked.
"Unfortunately not Uncle Robert. William went off half-cocked before Mrs. Reynolds or I could utter a word. The gentleman took him to task effectively. Other than you, I have never seen William so afraid of anyone before. I was worried the man would strike William, but he restrained himself and settled for a tongue lashing instead," Richard replied.
"Good! It was no less than you deserved William. I will not whip you, but you will learn humility. You will join young George Wickham mucking out the stalls in the stable each day until I tell you differently," Mr. Darcy stated decisively.
George Wickham was the son of the honourable and loyal steward of the estate. Mr. Darcy had been amenable to stand as the young man's godfather until some vicious behaviour was reported to him by various servants. The boy was a year younger than the heir to Pemberley but had been acting as it he was in fact the heir.
He had been barred from the manor house and his father had understood the master's reasoning for withdrawing all support for his son. Unfortunately young George had learnt bad behaviour from his late mother who was a spendthrift, gambler, and had been unfaithful to her husband on many occasions. Lucas Wickham discovered the latter after her death, thus calling into question George's parentage.
Regardless of his suspicions, the steward would not treat George any differently, but he agreed that unless the boy was corrected at the age of ten, he would surely follow his mother's ruinous course.
Unfortunately, George Wickham was determined he would make his fortune without working for it, as he had believed what his mother had told him about it being his due. He hated the degradation of working in the stables, but knew he needed to bide his time. He was sure he would be able to charm Mr. Darcy in becoming his godfather again and bestowing largess on him.
"I will do as you have instructed Father. I am sorry I brought dishonour to the Darcy name today," William replied contritely.
"William, the stablemaster will be your boss and you will follow his instructions to the letter. Do not let me hear of any arrogance directed to any of the grooms, stable hands, or any other. It is time for you to learn some humility my son," Robert Darcy told his son.
After the boys and the housekeeper were dismissed, Lady Anne turned to her husband. "We need to formalise a document that refutes my sister's nonsense about a betrothal between William and Anne. Also, as much as it pains me to say this about my sister, we need to severely limit contact between her and our son and any future children we may be blessed with." Lady Anne wistfully rubbed her belly. She suspected she was with child again but with so many failures between William's birth and the present, she would not say anything to her husband until she felt the quickening—if it got that far this time.
"You have the right of it Anne my darling wife and I could not agree with you more. Ever since Lewis drowned fishing, she had become unbearable. We will keep our distance. I will not miss her pontificating on subjects of which she has no knowledge. I intend to suggest to Reggie he exercise his prerogative as Anne's guardian, as I do not believe Catherine will put anyone's interests ahead of her selfish and avaricious ones," Robert Darcy agreed.
"William you got off lightly, I was convinced your father would whip you," Richard stated as he mock wiped sweat of his brow.
"Lightly!" William shouted in a high pitch his voice changed to when he was upset. "I have to work as a common servant, I am to be…"
"Shut up William! Have you learnt nothing from your folly today?" Richard asked as he shook his head in wonder as his cousin seemed to miss the point of his upcoming lessons. "You can be such an arrogant arse at times. You need to make a decision. Will you follow the insensible ravings of Aunt Cat or your parents?"
"But Aunt Catherine was so adamant she was right," William stated, even though he was not as sure of himself as he was before.
"So according to you, he who makes the most noise is right? Do you not know empty barrels make the most noise? And here I thought you intelligent Wills," Richard responded.
His younger cousin felt the gut punch as he started to question his own beliefs for the first time. As he examined his memories, he realised that the rest of the family tolerated his Aunt Catherine, but no one paid her pronouncements any heed, except for himself.
"It could be that I was mistaken in my beliefs," William owned sheepishly.
"Could be?" Richard challenged with raised eyebrows.
"Was mistaken, alright Rich? I see now I was wrongheaded. I need to accept my punishment graciously, do I not?" William realised.
"Finally some words of sense out of your mouth today may be hope for you yet." Richard slapped his cousin on the back and changed the subject to one they both loved—horses.