Chapter 22

The Drawing Room

Rosings

The sun poured enthusiastically into the drawing room at Rosings, reflecting off the furniture and providing light for ladies and gentlemen standing and sitting in clusters throughout the chamber. Elizabeth was impressed by the changes in the room since she had last been to Rosings; the hideous scarlet carpet had been pulled up, to be replaced by a few elegant rugs, and much of the overstuffed furniture had been removed. It was possible to move around with ease now, whereas before one had been required to weave about various chairs and sofas and end tables to walk from one end of the room to the other.

She was not as impressed with the Fitzwilliams' guests, but then this breakfast party was not meant so much to be enjoyable as to introduce the Gardiners and their two older children to the local families.

Lord Metcalf, some fifty years of age, with a lined forehead and a scowl, said, "I understand the new Lord Chartham spent most of his life in India? It is unlikely he will be capable of administering a vast estate. I fear Rockhill will not thrive in the next years."

Elizabeth opened her mouth to respond only to hold her silence when Mr. Darcy said, "On the contrary, sir, I am confident Lord Chartham will do very well. He is an intelligent young man, as is his stepfather. I have been staying at Rockhill for more than a week, and I am most impressed with the young Earl's diligence."

"What of this stepfather of his?" Sir Thomas Hewitt demanded. "A man of trade, I believe?"

"Yes, Mr. Gardiner, who is my uncle, is indeed a tradesman," Elizabeth said clearly and a trifle defiantly. She admired and loved her Gardiner relations and would not stand by and allow them to being degraded. The two men exchanged knowing glances, but before Elizabeth or Darcy could say anything else, the door opened. All turned and watched the butler step in and announce to the assembled guests, "Lord Chartham, Lady Rebekah Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner."

Darcy hurried over to the newcomers and made the appropriate introductions to the Fitzwilliams, whereupon Anne curtsied and said warmly, "Welcome to Rosings! I am Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and this is my husband, Mr. Fitzwilliam. Thank you for coming today."

"It was our honor and pleasure," Philip managed with a very creditable bow in return.

"You have a lovely estate, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam," Sophia said genially, and Rebekah hummed in agreement.

"Thank you," Anne returned cheerfully. She was pleased with the appearance of the new Lord Chartham and his relations. They were all dressed in subdued colors, no doubt due to the recent death of the previous Lord Chartham, and they were not putting on airs to be either interesting or arrogant.

"Please, let me introduce you to our other guests," she continued, turning to regard the others with a bright smile. "You know Mr. Darcy and his party well, of course, since they are currently staying at Rockhill. May I please introduce you to Lord and Lady Metcalf, Sir Thomas Hewitt, Mr., Mrs., and Misses Smayle, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins."

There were various bows and curtsies, and the gentlemen in the room advanced upon the family, obviously curious. The ladies stayed back, waiting to see what their attitude toward the newcomers should be.

"I hope that your journey from Rockhill was a pleasant one," Darcy said, determined to make it obvious that he was on the best of terms with the Earl and his family. "I fear that the road which leads to Rosings needs some attention."

"It was a most enjoyable trip," Aaron Gardiner assured him. "We relished the opportunity to observe more of the countryside between here and Rockhill. It seems the land is slightly hillier in this region of Kent?"

"That is true," Richard Fitzwilliam said, "though Darcy's estate boasts genuine mountains and valleys."

"It does," Darcy agreed. "Indeed, there are fields where we need the strongest draft horses to till the slopes..."

Anne, confident that her husband and Darcy would keep Lord Chartham and his father well entertained, smiled at Rebekah and Mrs. Gardiner and said, "I understand that you enjoy sketching and painting, Lady Rebekah. The Misses Smayle are well known in the area for their accomplishments in that area..."

She guided Rebekah and Mrs. Gardiner over to the Smayles and addressed the twin daughters, who were seventeen years old. The young ladies, one a redhead, one brunette, were not yet out in society and regarded Lady Rebekah and her mother nervously. Anne expected a stilted conversation, but she reckoned without the Mrs. Gardiner's ease of manners. Within a few minutes, the twins were chattering away cheerfully with Mrs. Gardiner and Lady Rebekah about sketching, and painting screens, and by the time the servants entered with trays of food and drink, the company was moderately convivial.

Elizabeth hovered on the edges of the group of gentlemen until she was certain all was well. She then walked over to the Collinses, who were cheerfully conversing with Jane and Bingley. Well, Charlotte was cheerful; Mr. Collins looked anxious and indeed distraught, which was no surprise. Elizabeth knew how much the parson venerated Lady Catherine, and the sudden shift in leadership at Rosings was difficult for a man who looked at the world through a narrow lens.

"Lizzy, my dear," Jane said brightly, "Charlotte was telling us that Mr. Collins intends to grow mangelwurzels in his garden this year. Am I correct that Mr. Darcy spoke favorably of planting both mangelwurzels and carrots in Kent?"

"Indeed he did," Elizabeth said, heroically dredging up her memories of the conversation in question. "I believe he also thought that parsnips would grow well too, Mr. Collins."

The rector brightened noticeably at these words and puffed up his chest. "I had considered parsnips, Cousin! How wonderful that Mr. Darcy…"

Mr. Collins's voice faded away as Elizabeth stared into the parson's plain face. Mr. Collins was, as Elizabeth knew from her short stay at the parsonage, extremely proud of his garden; more than that, he actually enjoyed toiling in the dirt, which was admirable. It occurred to Elizabeth, with some chagrin, that in some ways Mr. Collins might prove a better master of Longbourn than her own father, who hid in his bookroom and paid no attention to such considerations as drainage and manure and Tullian drills.

As for Charlotte Collins, who was sensible, frugal, and organized – well, she would be a far better mistress of Longbourn than Mrs. Bennet, who was idle and vain, who spent too much on clothing and lavish meals.

Longbourn might well be in better hands when Mr. Bennet passed on, which was a most peculiar thought. Elizabeth had always thought the entail a tragedy; indeed, it was a tragedy, because Jane would have done well if she had inherited, but Elizabeth had not often contemplated how much better Longbourn would be under the guidance of a truly excellent master.

A man like Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, who not only administered his own estate with diligence, but also was assisting the Fitzwilliams with Rosings, and her Gardiner relations with Rockhill…

"Miss Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth jerked in surprise and her eyes cleared to observe Mr. Darcy himself, standing in front of her, a look of concern on his face.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, scanning her countenance with care.

She shook her head and looked around, relieved to observe that everyone else was talking and eating happily and that no one, not even Jane, had observed her strange lapse into silence. No one but the master of Pemberley.

"I am entirely well, thank you," Elizabeth said quickly. "I fear I was woolgathering. I apologize profoundly. "

"Not at all," her companion replied, and there was no mistaking the admiration and affection in those dark eyes. "Would you permit me to make up a plate of food for you?"

She felt her eyes widen at these words, and a strange warmth filled her chest and spread through her limbs. "Thank you, Mr. Darcy. That would be delightful."