Chapter 5: Deciding
Thursday, 26 March 1812
Rosings Park
After sharing the details of her plan with Elizabeth, Anne put her spindly arm around Elizabeth's shoulders. "So you see, it will be a difficult year, but this one year will protect you and your family for the rest of your lives."
"How can you be certain my part will not be known? If it were to get out, my family would be shunned."
"Everyone who knows has a strong interest in keeping it hidden."
"Your companion? Your maid? The chambermaids? The other Rosings Park servants? The doctor? The midwife? The Collins'? Too many people would know!" she exclaimed.
Anne replied, "My maid, Peeke, is the most trustworthy servant here. I pay her well, double what she would earn anywhere else. For this next year, I will be doubling that. I have left her an additional £600 in my will in gratitude for her work this year. (1) She is to be the only servant allowed in my wing from when you move in until I die. Mrs. Jenkinson leaves Monday to care for her grandchildren. The doctor and midwife not only will be well paid but also owe their professions to my patronage. They will not betray me. Other than those three, only my family will know, all of whom have vested interests in keeping my mother at Rosings Park. And, of course, you will know. I trust your silence."
Elizabeth snorted. "It will be just you, me, and the maid? Locked in this wing for months? I will go mad."
"Peeke tells me for your first, it will be easy to hide until there are only a few months left. Those will be the coldest months of the year, time you would not spend outside. This wing is large enough for you to walk if you need. (2) There are many rooms from which you can choose for a change of scenery. We already expect you to create a library up here, selecting from the estate library before being confined."
Elizabeth eyed her skeptically.
Anne sighed. "The confinement will only be four months, I have been assured. Think of what it will mean for your family."
Once again, Elizabeth slumped and stared into the fire. Will these people never stop reminding me of my duty to my family? she thought. "What of the Collinses? How will Charlotte not know when she will see me often?"
"As I said, I will take a turn for the worse when your condition cannot be hidden. You and I will be locked away to keep infections out. Only Peeke, doctor, and midwife will be allowed after that. Even my mother will have to stay away." (3)
Elizabeth's mind spun in an endless cycle. The immorality of it, the expense this family was able to bear, and what a boon it would be for her family. Her father's injury led to recollections of his carelessness with the future. That realization led to the resignation that this was likely to be the best option for herself and her family. But the immorality!
The more she thought on it, the more she found herself embracing the ability to rule her future. She would become a rarity among English women. (4) She did not yet know the fate of her father. Would Collins support them? Would he allow them to stay? Her sisters would lose any chance for a good marriage, but for them to go into service? Mary could work for the church, but Kitty? Lydia? Who would have them? To see Jane's kind and gentle spirit crushed by the whims of an employer? Elizabeth's heart hurt for them all.
She was being given the power to change that. Besides, was not "marrying well" a similar situation yet more of a gamble? In marrying to secure their future, most women agreed to have children in return for security. It is what Charlotte had done.
Elizabeth could do this. Once complete, she would then put it behind her as a necessary evil.
"I will have to write to my parents, they must grant permission for me to stay the year."
Anne smiled and motioned across the room. "My desk."
How to begin? Who to address? Elizabeth decided to write as if she had never received the letters from Jane.
Dear Papa and Mama,
This has been a most interesting week at Hunsford. Papa, I wish you were here to laugh at it with me.
A most urgent message first: I have found the most distressing information about our friend in Hertfordshire, Mr. Wickham. The residents of Rosings Park have enlightened me as to his past. He has a long history of leaving behind a great deal of debt and ruined women. Please warn the shopkeepers in the area as well as the fathers.
Mr. Collins is all that you would expect. His sermons directly reflect the one he worships.
Mrs. Collins manages her husband well. My esteem for her has risen after seeing her methods of arranging her home. She is quite pleased with her new establishment.
At Rosings Park, the great lady has arranged an illustrious match. Her daughter will marry Mr. Darcy in three weeks. They suit one another.
Yesterday, the Collinses came back from a visit to the manse to inform me that Miss de Bourgh finds me lively and entertaining and is much overjoyed by my company. I never would have guessed.
This led to an offer from Miss de Bourgh. The companion of Anne (as she now wishes me to call her) will be leaving at Easter. Anne is in poor health and has started to decline. She asks for my company for the next year which may be the remainder of her life. She claims my lively nature brings her joy. She wishes for me to move from the parsonage to Rosings Park as soon as you give your approval.
In return for my time, Anne's solicitor will have our estate eventually pass to my ownership while Mr. Collins takes ownership of a nearby estate.
I will miss home greatly, I already do, but for the security of Mama, my sisters, and myself, I beg you to agree. It will be but one short year without me, and then forever knowing our home will always be ours. Please do not delay your response.
Yours, etc.
Once she finished, she wrote a quick note to Jane; it was similar to the letter to her parents. She told her sister she had not felt up to addressing her father's condition in the other letter but was relying on Jane to send information to her straight away. Once both notes were sealed, Elizabeth handed them to Anne who would send them by express.
Elizabeth added. "I prefer nothing be made public about the fifteen thousand pounds. It will raise questions." Anne agreed.
She picked up another sheet of paper. Elizabeth needed to follow Charlotte's sage advice to ensure that she had proof that what was promised was received. She wrote out the details of the arrangement with signature lines for Anne, Lady Catherine, Mr. Darcy, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. "I need you to sign this. I will burn it or return it to your family once I receive both the money and the estate, but I need a way to prove you promised payment in return for my…services."
Anne frowned. "You do not trust us?"
Elizabeth looked at her. "There are so many things that can happen. I need to know I am protected."
Anne's lips grew thin as she considered. Hesitantly, she agreed.
The next hour was spent writing out the details of the agreement, including protections for Elizabeth if Anne's plan did not work as expected. After it was completed, Elizabeth was relieved to finally return to the comfort of Charlotte's home.
Anne returned to the parlor, dismissing the servants when she entered the room. Her family looked at her askance.
"She has agreed."
~~~oo0oo~~~
Hunsford
When Elizabeth returned to Hunsford, there was a letter waiting from Jane. Grabbing it, she fled to her room. Still feeling raw from all that had happened the past day—Had it only been a day ago when the Colonel approached her?—She needed to brace herself to hear the worst.
Longbourn, March 25
Dearest Elizabeth,
I must first give you Papa's condition. Although he is still abed with a lump on his head, he is now conscious and aware of his surroundings. The doctor says he is so much improved that he will likely recover.
When I arrived home, Papa was sitting up and speaking sensibly. Mama said immediately after the fall, Papa spoke of things from many years earlier as if it was happening then, after which he became unconscious for a few hours. Shortly before I arrived, he started to awaken. He does not remember what happened, but he does know where he is and responds as expected. He can walk on his own again, although the doctor prescribes he stay in bed until the swelling subsides.
He asked after you but decided it would be best for you to stay. He feels the Collinses will need your help to unpack once you receive this letter. Mama's nerves still attack her, fearing he will relapse and expire at any time…
Jane filled the rest of the page with news of her sisters before signing off with assurances that Elizabeth would be best served by remaining with Charlotte in Kent as there was nothing to be done in Hertfordshire but wait.
Just wait. In her current life there was nothing more she could do than just wait. Wait to possibly meet a respectable man to marry or wait to be thrown into the hedgerows.
Her father would survive this time. Her future had always been at his whim. Once permission was received, she would be at the helm of her future. If Papa did not agree with breaking the entail to give Longbourn to Elizabeth, she would still receive a similar property as part of the settlement. She need never fear poverty again.
Lying back in her bed, Elizabeth allowed herself to cry without restraint, releasing the cacophony of emotions of the past day, vowing this would be the last time she would allow herself to be so overcome.
When finally composed, she joined Charlotte downstairs to share the news of her father. To her great dismay, Mr. Collins was in attendance. Smugly, he asked about the news carried in her letter, adding a few required consolations at the loss of her father before noting that the Bennets would now have to find other living arrangements as his olive branch had been rejected.
Elizabeth coldly informed him of the contents of the letter. "Mr. Collins. While I appreciate your sympathy, my father has recovered. He suggests you unpack."
Mr. Collins, flustered at this change in his fortune and unable to think of a reply, turned away to do just that.
Charlotte came to Elizabeth with tears in her eyes. "I had no idea he would do such a thing! I have you here as my guest, he knows how dear you are to me. I would never approve of him making you leave."
Better understanding Charlotte's position, Elizabeth responded with more compassion than she had felt before. "I accepted Anne's offer. Once I receive permission, I will move to Rosings."
Embracing her friend, Charlotte rejoiced. "I know it is the right thing." Lowering her voice, she confided, "I may need to stay with you at times. These first few months have been manageable, but he can be overwhelming. I know I will need a respite at times."
Elizabeth smiled at the idea of her friend being overwhelmed with Mr. Collins' foolishness. Charlotte asked about her visit and what happened to change her mind. Elizabeth sighed. "Charlotte, Anne showed me how ill she is."
Taken aback, Charlotte asked, "What do you mean?"
"She showed me her tumors." She shuddered. "It was awful. She is being consumed by them."
Charlotte considered. "How very odd. She must be quite enamored with you, Elizabeth. Since I moved here, I only rarely hear her speak. Now she not only speaks to you but shows you such intimate parts of her?"
"She does not think she will live beyond a year."
"After the scare with your father, I would think her promise of an estate would be more of an inducement than any sympathy for her ill health." Charlotte always was the practical one.
Elizabeth, feeling more empowered, faintly smiled. "I will become Elizabeth, Esq.," she said with a lightness she did not feel.
Charlotte grabbed Elizabeth's hands. "I will be here to support you. It rests my mind knowing you and your sisters will have a home. Maybe your mother will no longer resent me and will restore her friendship with my mother."
"They were already restoring their friendship when I left," Elizabeth laughed. "They are like two peas in a pod, no matter how many disagreements they have had over the years."
It was then that Elizabeth realized Charlotte would be her only source of information on the scandalous subject. She had agreed to 'amorous congress' with Mr. Darcy, but beyond what little she had witnessed in the barnyard or overheard when the married ladies had too much to drink, she knew very little of the subject.
Growing serious, Elizabeth tentatively asked, "How is it as Mrs. Collins?"
"It is a quiet life. I find great meaning in visiting the parishioners. Rosings' condescension and Williams' sycophancy are the most challenging, as you have already seen," she laughed. "Fortunately, Lady Catherine does not typically invite us as often as she has since you arrived."
"I see you have made a pleasant life for yourself," Elizabeth smiled, gripping her friend's hands. "You will always be welcome in my home in the future when you need relief from his assiduousness." (5)
After sharing a brief laugh, Elizabeth realized that she needed to be more forward to make use of this chance to learn about what would happen. Charlotte had always acted as a big sister, teaching her practical things her mother would not. She was certain if approached correctly, Charlotte would be a wealth of information. "Would you tell me about the other parts? I have never been likely to marry. Now there will be no need for it, so I will never know. I just wondered what something so secret to maidens is like to experience."
Charlotte, realizing what her friend was asking, thought for a few minutes. "At first it was not very pleasant and somewhat painful." She rolled her eyes at the memory, "My mother gave little useful advice for my wedding night, but my aunt—the one my mother does not admit to—sent a letter that made things much better."
"Which aunt?"
"My mother's feral youngest sister. She became the mistress of a wealthy businessman in Scarborough. Mother will not speak of her: Aunt Margaret. She is full of spirit and has never cared for the rules of propriety. As soon as she learned I was to marry, she wrote a letter to spite my mother. It gave details to help me enjoy marital relations." Charlotte giggled girlishly at the memory. "William was scandalized when he happened upon it but was quite willing to explore her suggestions. Marital relations are quite pleasing now."
Elizabeth's eyebrows raised with her smile. She whispered to Charlotte conspiratorially, "What did she write?"
"Eliza!" Charlotte scolded in mock outrage. "Where is your propriety?"
Elizabeth merely said, "I believe it has gone to live at Rosings Park." Then laughing, she continued, "I need to get my impropriety out now."
Charlotte grinned. Although scandalous to admit, she had longed to share her aunt's letter with her closest confidant. Eliza and Charlotte put their heads together, whispering and giggling about its contents. The more experienced friend shared some explicit details about the results of following her aunt's advice, having it increase the pleasure for both participants. She also enlightened Eliza about the pleasure she could give herself, either when alone or before her husband arrived. When done before her husband arrived, relations with him were more likely to go well. If she were never to marry, it could be used to replace a husband.
When they finally retired, both minds were full but on vastly different subjects.
Charlotte wondered if there were other reasons for Elizabeth being asked to stay at Rosings Park. She noticed how well Elizabeth and the Colonel got on. Maybe Miss de Bourgh was trying to encourage a relationship. Eliza would have an estate after the year finished. She would have to watch the two of them carefully. They would be a fine match.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth considered what her friend had just taught her. Although still apprehensive, she was relieved to learn what Aunt Margaret had written. She now felt she had some control and wondered if she should start practicing so she would know how to use her newfound knowledge before encountering Mr. Darcy.
As she drifted to sleep, she thought again about the benefits to her family and ignored her ruination. She justified it to herself once again, then determined she would put it behind her and never think of it again.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Rosings Park
Once Anne announced success at persuading Elizabeth, Lady Catherine cheered, "I knew you could arrange it. Saving our home. We must start right away. Send people to move her tonight…"
Anne interrupted. "We cannot do anything until her parents give permission."
Lady Catherine was incensed. "Her parents! Why would she tell her parents?"
Anne sighed. "She must have permission to become my companion. The express has been sent." Noticing Darcy's look of disgust, she turned to him. "Her father should give permission, but I do not know his condition." Anne watched as Darcy's face show a flicker of concern. "He was in a riding accident Monday and left unconscious. Her sister left London to care for him and will send more news."
Lady Catherine huffed. "There is no reason not to start right away. Of course, her father has passed, it is what happens in such cases. We must have Collins agree to the scheme today before he inherits. For her, she has no other choice. Her family has no home."
"Mother, she still has a choice and her mother may yet refuse."
Looking upon her daughter as if she were still a babe, Lady Catherine patronized, "Child, if we are to save Rosings Park we need to get started right away. Tomorrow even. The sooner she takes, the sooner she births, the sooner my home is safe."
"Her parents must give permission for her to stay," Anne said flatly.
"Her mother will not refuse," Darcy said bitterly.
Ignoring Darcy's mood, Lady Catherine took his word. "I wonder if we should not move her to that cottage on the other side of the garden. The one the tenants abandoned last month. She could have a servant."
"No mother, she must be established here. Elizabeth must be known as my dear friend to explain the gifts she receives. Besides, I wish to be a part of it. It will be my child." Anne patiently explained to her mother, "A few more days will change nothing. If we do not hear from her family by Monday, I will send a messenger rather than a letter. Though from Darcy's knowledge, I suspect we will hear back by tomorrow. Saturday will be the earliest she can move."
Lady Catherine was not happy. "I leave it to you, but if it fails it will be on your head. It's not as if the woman can refuse, they would all be left homeless."
"My way will not fail."
During the women's discussion, Richard looked at Darcy. His mask of indifference was firmly in place, but he refused to look at or speak to anyone in the room.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Richard knocked on Darcy's door and was waived in. Wordlessly they poured drinks before sitting and gazing into the fire. The Colonel snuck furtive glances at Darcy, who remained stony faced and motionless for some time, not even partaking of the drink.
When he finally spoke, Darcy asked, "How am I supposed to do this? She was supposed to refuse."
Richard had been ruminating over it all evening. "She does not have a choice now. Neither do you. Just approach it like you would any other responsibility."
Darcy looked up at him. "You jest," he said flatly. "How am I to keep from hurting Miss Bennet if we must…," he was not able to finish. "She is the most intriguing woman I know. She holds her own opinions and will defend them, but without acrimony." Looking up at Richard, he asked, "You say I should treat ruining the woman as nothing more than business."
"I do," Richard said assuredly. "I've been thinking about it. When we were her age, we both spent time with women whom we paid for our pleasure and were able to leave without feelings for them."
Darcy had hated such arrangements. Each time he ended up feeling shamed at giving in to base behavior, but would not allow Richard to know. "It is not her profession." Darcy still stared stonily into the fire.
"She will be well compensated for it, so it is similar," Richard pointed out.
"What are you saying about me? I shall be compensated as well."
Richard was taken aback. "What do you mean? We will be giving her property and money. What do you get out of this—besides being rid of Aunt Catherine? And bathing in the temple of Venus every day for the foreseeable future," he smirked. (6)
"Rosings Park," Darcy reminded him, ignoring Richard's lewd comment.
Waiving as if it were nothing, Richard reminded him, "Rosings Park is secondary to protecting Georgiana from Aunt Catherine. If you approach it as a business decision, you can come out mostly unscathed, Miss Bennet as well. An heir is a bonus, freeing you from marrying for duty. Once Georgiana marries, you will have your heir instead of being lonely."
"You are certain it is that easy?" Darcy asked skeptically.
"Why not? You have never given your emotions away before, why should you have a problem now?"
"Because she does not have a choice," Darcy spewed. "With her father's death, she has no other option. I do not want to force myself upon her."
"As Anne said, she still has options. She is choosing this as her best option and coming to you willingly. No reason for you to feel guilty." It was easier for Richard to look at the decision without emotion, he would not be the one compelled to do it.
Darcy struggled with guilt for his part in the affair. Richard the tactician was not helping. "She was not supposed to accept. Her father was supposed to bring her home, not get killed! Now she agrees to debase herself with me for the survival of her family."
"She will receive pleasure and property from it, just as you will," Richard said brightly. "Besides, all the women I've been with have certainly enjoyed the act."
"Were they maidens?"
"Nooo," Richard said slowly. "But it could not be much different than our first time. I remember being nervous and unsure, but it ended up being a most pleasurable experience. Use all the skills you've read about in those books you have hidden at the back of your bookshelf," he mocked. "She will be gratified."
"One of them says women will be injured their first time. I do not think they experience it in the way we do." Darcy frowned. "I do not want to hurt her."
"Go slow. Maybe if she's in the middle of a petit mort she will not even notice," Richard suggested hopefully.
"I cannot believe Anne and Aunt Catherine have put me in this position. Not even Hobson's choice with this!" Darcy fumed, "I have to choose between Beelzebub and Mephistopheles." (7)
Richard sympathized with Darcy, it was not a position he envied despite his jests. The only thing he could do was offer his support and try to point out the positive. Anne had chosen her target well.
"It is not that bad. She is a nice looking woman with an attractive figure and you already enjoy her company. She's entertaining, so it should not be boring."
Darcy looked at Richard in resignation, took a long drink, then stared back into the fire.
He was struggling not only with the morality of the arrangement but also his growing realization that he could not spend so much intimate time with Miss Elizabeth Bennet and remain unattached. It was not something he could discuss, so instead he asked, "Do you think she will view this as a business transaction as well?"
"I believe so. You left before Anne mentioned the contract. Miss Bennet wrote a contract we must sign for her to start."
Darcy startled. "She did?" She put it in writing? That could be dangerous.
"Yes, she requires us all to sign it so she will be protected. Miss Bennet will return it once she receives the property and the dowry."
Darcy considered Miss Bennet's position. He was offended she did not trust his family's honor but considering what they asked of her, she was wise to ask for such a document.
"Who has signed it?" Darcy asked.
"Just Anne. She was discussing it with us when you excused yourself."
"So, just business."
"Just business."
They both went back to staring at the fire.
~~~oo0oo~~~
(1) According to the website , which takes its wages from a chart produced in 1890, a lady's maid could expect to earn about £20-30/year. Chambermaids earned about £20/year.
Just because I think it's interesting and adds context to the story, if the Bennet girls went into service (in 1890 rather than 1810, but to get a general idea): a nurse made £10-15/year, a governess would make about £25/year.
(2) I recently toured the castle in Stockholm. When they showed us the hall of mirrors (modeled on Versailles) the tour guide told us one of the kings (the names start to run together after a while) would walk up and down the hall for exercise when the weather was bad and as a way to stay out of the sunlight so his skin would stay fair. That hall was only a fraction of the entire wing. That inspired the idea of walking in a wing of the house as a viable exercise for Elizabeth.
(3) Info from "Historical Hussies" blog has a good overview of Regency prenatal care. Let's just say the 2000s looks better and better every time I see historical medical practices. The "lying in" period, where the woman is confined to her bed, could be from several weeks to several months before the child was born. Once labor began, the room was heated and sealed to keep drafts out. Upper-class women were starting to use birthing cots, but birthing chairs were still used. The birth wouldn't happen in the bed because without plastic mattresses, everything would be ruined. The blog says after the death of Princess Charlotte (Prince Regent's only legitimate child) from childbirth in 1817, they reevaluated how they were treating birthing women. At that time 1 in 5 women died from childbirth, many from infection after. Jane Austin herself had 3 sisters-in-law die in childbirth.
(4) I know, some English women owned land and ran businesses at this time, but it wasn't common. Lady Jersey, legendary patroness of Almack's at this time, was the granddaughter of Robert Child, the principal shareholder of the banking firm Child & Co. Her mother was his only child and under the terms of his will, Lady Jersey was her grandfather's primary legatee (who he willed all his stuff to). It looks like she was a hands-on kind of gal, which is amusing considering how the social club she ran looked down upon her fellow tradesmen.
(5) At the time "assiduous" was a synonym for "sycophant".
(6) Temple of Venus was a slang term for vagina documented around 1800. I found interesting timeglider timelines of slang names for penis, vagina, and other sexual related terms. Some are fantastic! I'm going to start using them in my daily life. Instead of calling someone a cunt, I can call them a cogie. Although I don't think waterworks or cock alley would work so well. You can Google "Sex slang through the ages" for the article with the links. It's an amusing way to waste a few hours. A penis could be known as a knitting needle in 1607. Yikes!
(7) For those who don't already know, both Beelzebub and Mephistopheles are the devil. "Hobson's choice" means take it or leave it. It comes from a stable owner in the 1600s who gave customers the choice of taking the horse in the stall nearest the door or take nothing.
NOTE: this was written in 2016. Things have changed since then, but the story is remaining the same as many of these situations are based on true events.
In the final scene, the conversation between Darcy and Col. Fitzwilliam, is intentionally highlighting the hypocrisy in the difference of how men and women are viewed for doing the same act. Thankfully, things are getting better.