A/N: Alright, chapter update! A long one, finally!

Okay, I know I said Darcy would make his move in chapter...12 I think? But due to editing, it has been pushed back to chapter 15? I think...Sorry, but it will be good, I promise.

Read and review, thanks!

Chapter 7

The next day the sky was overcast, threatening rain. Elizabeth awoke to the sound of branches banging on the outside of her window, and suffered a moments worth of confusion before remembering the events of the day before. The air inside her room was crisp and looking towards the hearth she could see the fire had died almost completely. She pulled on the cord near her bed and waited for Jenny to knock.

"Come," Elizabeth called.

The door opened and Jenny, who looked to be no more than fifteen years old, entered, bobbed, then stood there mutely.

"Jenny, is it?" Elizabeth asked kindly.

"Yes'm," the girl replied.

"Please, Jenny, could you stoke the fire and lay on a log or two, then return with warm water?"

"Yes'm." Jenny bobbed again, brought the fire back to life, then hurriedly left.

Elizabeth gave a great sigh and while she waited, wondered what the day would bring. They would probably be confined to the house, whether it rained or not. It was terribly windy and the sky moody. Jenny returned with the pitcher of warm water and a fresh towel draped over her arm. She put them both down on the wash stand, collected the soiled towels, then asked if Elizabeth would be needing anything else.

"What time does Mr. Collins usually rise?" She asked as she got out of bed.

"Master Collins rises 'round nine o'clock, usually, Mum. He is awake now and in his study."

"Has he broken his fast?"

"Not as yet, cook is finishing it up now."

"Thank you, that will be all."

Jenny left and half way to the door, turned, bobbed twice for good measure, then left her Mistress. Elizabeth laughed. She would wager Jenny hadn't been in service very long and had very little training. She wondered if Mrs. Shaw had hired her or if Mr. Collins had. As she readied herself for the day she made a mental note of all the things she would have to do as the new Mistress of the Huntsford Rectory. First she would be given the tour by Mr. Collins, then she would have to speak to Mrs. Shaw and the rest of the household about their duties. The first mystery she was determined to solve was why the frugal use of candles? Could it be due to budget cuts? Or was Mr. Collins used to being by himself and in need of only on or two candles?

Elizabeth left the room, dressed and hungry. She had hardly eaten a thing the day before and her body was letting her know in no uncertain terms that she would need to eat directly. She made her way down the stairs and stopped at the bottom. She heard commotion coming from the room she remembered being the dining room. Sure enough, when she entered she saw Jenny placing plates of eggs, ham, toast and jellies on the table, along with a pot of coffee.

"Could you please inform Mr. Collins that breakfast is served?" She asked of Jenny, who nodded, bobbed, then left.

Elizabeth waited by the table for her husband. Soon enough Mr. Collins came into the room looking quite refreshed himself. He complimented Elizabeth on her looks, asked if she had a restful sleep, then bade her sit.

"I am afraid I shall need time adjusting to having a wife," Mr. Collins said as he served himself. "I usually awake early and read from scriptures or prepare my sermon. Lady Catherine has often said that the mind is at it's most sharp after waking."

The day continued on in this same strand. When Collins showed her the house he often compared a particular room to one at Rosings, or stated that such and such improvement was directed by Lady Catherine herself. She was beginning to feel she hadn't merely married Mr. Collins, but Lady Catherine as well. It did not bode well to have two women directing this marriage, and she was determined to rectify this as soon as possible.

The house was neatly situated, though smaller than Longbourn. The rooms were of a good size, and there was a large room in the garret for a nursery and two smaller rooms for a governess or maid, one of which was occupied by Jenny. The furnishings were in good condition, the window treatments looked new and when she inspected them Collins said they had been newly made when he first took possession, almost a year ago, and the fabric was picked out by Lady Catherine. Altogether Elizabeth was very pleased with her new home.

After the tour Mr. Collins asked if there was anything in particular she wised to see or do. She mentioned she wished to speak with the housekeeper. Mr. Collins called for the woman, and left them in the small drawing room towards the back of the house.

Mrs. Shaw was an older woman, perhaps the same age as Mrs. Bennet, though her hair was thoroughly gray and her faced lined with age. She was a tall woman and broad in the shoulders. When she had been called into the drawing room she stood before Elizabeth, her head held high, almost as if looking down her nose at her new mistress, her hands clasped firmly before her.

Elizabeth had very few examples on how the lady of the house was to speak and interact with a Housekeeper. The familiarity with which Mrs. Bennet had towards Hill had proven long ago to be the exception to the rule. Where Mrs. Bennet would call upon Hill in her shrill voice, Mrs. Long, or Mrs. Lucas would always pull a nearby bell-pull, or ask a passing servant to bring the Housekeeper to them when they wished to speak with her. And those venerable ladies always spoke calmly, but in a tone that demanded respect, and the housekeepers in turn obeyed their mistress with a level of obsequiousness demanded by their status. Elizabeth could tell right away that a year being the housekeeper of the parsonage with no mistress to reign her in had caused Mrs. Shaw to obtain some rather bad habits, which Elizabeth would seek to rectify at once.

"How long have you been in service?" She asked.

Mrs. Shaw stood taller, if indeed she could, seeming to bristle at the question. "I have been in service since I was twelve years old," was all she would allow.

"I see," Elizabeth pursed her lips, "and how many years would that be?"

"Nigh on 40 years, mum."

"And how long have you served as Housekeeper in general and to the parsonage in particular?"

"I became housekeeper to Mr. Waltman fifteen years ago, served five with him, eight with Mr. Marks, then came here to the Parsonage, serving the late Parson, then Master Collins when he came a year ago."

"Do you train the maids?"

"Aye, that I do, when they be fresh."

"And is Jenny...fresh?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.

"Yes, Jenny is the daughter of my niece and came to work here when Master Collins arrived."

"Well," now she was coming down to business, "Jenny seems to be lax in her duties. When I awoke this morning my fire had nearly gone out. I cannot vouch for the fire in my husband's room, but I suspect it was the same. Can you explain this?"

Mrs. Shaw fidgeted slightly, "Master Collins never expressed a desire for his fire to be re-stoked before rising."

"Be that as it may, from here on out I expect both our fires to be burning cheerily before either of us awakes on cold mornings. I also noticed some dust on the furniture as I took my tour of the house. I shall also like to look at the housekeeping books."

Mrs. Shaw startled at this, but quickly regained her composure. "Yes mum," she said, "will there be anything else?"

Elizabeth thought a moment, "No, you may bring the books up to my room, where I will spend the rest of the morning."

Before Mrs. Shaw could say another word Elizabeth headed up the stairs and to her room, feeling her heart flutter within her chest. To have spoken with such authority to a woman more than twice her age! She dearly hoped she had not overstepped her bounds. She was determined to be a good Mistress to those her served her, but she would not be robbed blind in the process. She had a feeling Mrs. Shaw was pocketing a few farthings on the side and hoped to deal with the transgression forthwith.

Nearly fifteen minutes elapsed before there was a knock at the door and Mrs. Shaw entered with a large, thin volume in hand. She gave it to Elizabeth, then waited to be excused.

"I shall need you here if I have any questions," Elizabeth said, indicating she should sit on the chair opposite her.

Elizabeth placed the book on the table and opened it. She learned her figuring from her Father, who was proud of the fact his daughter could add up large columns of numbers in her head without batting an eye. Mrs. Bennet wasn't overly proud of this talent, but realized even a lady needed to keep track of the expenses of her house. It was with this knowledge that she perused the book. The first page was dated nearly a year ago, most likely when her husband first took possession of the house. Throughout the book each page was dated, and the columns represented household expenses; servant wages, food, cloth, etc...and the money budgeted for such expenses. There were some discrepancies, but nothing overly huge, and could have been the result of bad arithmetic. However, when she came to the candles the number purchased seemed odd for a house this size. Elizabeth would have thought twice as much should have been used.

"Thank you," Elizabeth handed the volume over after a half hours worth of looking through it. There could be no doubt Mrs. Shaw wasn't exact in her record keeping, but no one would benefit from her bringing it up now. She would keep an eye on Shaw, and if there was any discrepancies from here on out, it would lead to her being sacked. "I should like to go over the books with you once or twice a month, perhaps at the beginning and middle of each month?"

"Yes mum," Mrs. Shaw gave her an arch look.

"By the by, when do you take your day off?"

"All servants get half day every Sunday, but I get the last Saturday a month off, and sometimes, when Master Collins is away, I take Jenny with me to visit her Mum."

Elizabeth felt an ache for her own Mother, "Let us continue this tradition. Every third month you shall take Jenny with you on your day off, and if we ever get a second maid, it can be every other month."

Mrs. Shaw's eyes widened, a look of astonishment covering her features, "Would Master Collins be right with that?"

"I shall speak with him about it later," Elizabeth cast her eyes out the windows and noticed the clouds had grown darker, and the wind more threatening. "It has been a long morning, why don't you let cook know we are ready to eat."

"Yes, mum, in the dining room?"

"Yes, I shall inform Mr. Collins myself."

Elizabeth felt very happy with how she had settled her first conflict with a servant. As she went down the stairs to Collins' study she thought about needing to speak with the cook and the stable master after luncheon.