Chapter 22 ~ Everything Changes
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (James 2:5-9, ESV)
Understanding, as he now did, the way information spread in Meryton Mr. Wickham explained his changed circumstances by saying that he was being entrusted with the care of Mr. Darcy's estate. He would enjoy the privileges of ownership along with it's responsibilities. Mr. Darcy would pursue other interests and when he was ready to resume his role The Wickhams would receive a sum of thirty thousand pounds. This astounded the neighbourhood and the new whispers were that Elizabeth had broken his heart and that he was so in love with her that he would see her marry her true love and still be mistress of Pemberley. It was an absurdly romantic story but Mary King cried herself to sleep pitying poor Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth had been preparing herself for a very different sort of change in her style of living and now so very suddenly it was to change in another direction entirely she was feeling a little dizzy. They were now to marry in a joint ceremony with Jane and Bingley. Fretting about how to acquire lace enough to make the dress purchased for Elizabeth to wear as a bridesmaid suit a bride, her mother only added to the confusion. Her soon to be husband would talk of their new plans and none of it seemed possible. A home in London, his Aunt to join them and wardrobes to be purchased for them all. A traveling coach would be ordered and servants interviewed for some reason many of them would likely need to be replaced. How she was to manage such a task she could not fathom. These busy and anxious musings floated about her without ever really being understood during the week before her wedding.
She smiled at the altar with her dearest sister on one side and her beloved George on the other and said all the words that good Mr. Brown asked her to repeat. She signed her name in a book, was taken back to her home where she was congratulated and embraced and at last she was packed away in a carriage again where she fell asleep almost as soon as the wheels began to turn. Her husband stood beside her all the while saying little and when at last they were alone he rested her tired head on his shoulder and allowed her to sleep.
In London Colonel Fitzwilliam had watched his uncle's valet gleefully pack Fitzwilliam Darcy's wardrobe and personal effects. Believing him to be trustworthy the Colonel took on the task of interviewing the staff and asked Davis if any among the staff would be loyal to Darcy. Two foolish young maids and a disreputable groom were speedily replaced. The staff were informed that they were to have a new master and after their astonished whispers ceased they gave Darcy House an extra polish and eagerly awaited the arrival of the good clergyman and his bride.
Lining the steps just at the dinner hour with a fine meal waiting to be served the new master and mistress quite as nervous as their staff presented an air of confidence as they were introduced before being rushed away to change for dinner. They submitted to all the ministrations of the valet and acting ladies maid who dressed and them as well as they could with their unfashionable wardrobes. In separate rooms the well intentioned servants expelled a united sigh of disappointment and released their employers to sit formally at table and consume very little of a very fine dinner. Chef was dejected, he had failed to impress them and wondered if he could redeem himself with his pastry in the morning.
That evening began with agitated pacing on the groom's part while the bride sifted through her still unsettled mind for something to talk of and after five agonizing minutes of silence they spoke over one another.
He said, "How was – "
And she, "When does – "
They both laughed and he seated himself beside her.
"Please, what did you wish to say?"
"Oh anything at all I think I simply could not bear the quiet any longer."
"Well, you had settled on something. It was a question I think."
"Yes, I was asking when we would see your aunt. Is she to live with us or is it only a visit?"
"A visit for now. You must decide if you want her to stay longer and she may not like Derbyshire winters."
"When do we travel to Pemberley?"
"I thought a month would do. Davis is not at all pleased with such a dull fellow to dress. I must choose better clothes. Bingley gave me some names of tailors and bootmakers. He also sent the names of the modistes and milliners who send him his sisters bills."
"Yes and Agnes fretted over my small selection of gowns, but darling – "
The endearment caugh them both by surprise and they blushed until George, smiling a tad smugly for a curate, though it was perfectly suitable for a gentleman of property, encouraged,
"Yes, my love?"
Amused, she shook her head. "I wanted to ask if we ought to spend so much as this is all temporary."
Now he hated to discuss such dry topics on the evening of their wedding and really had he been at all used to the role of lord and master he would not have allowed formality to rule them but authority sat uncomfortably on his brow like a small child wearing his father's hat. Thus he dared not make any changes to established routines. Making the best he could of the situation he sat back on the setee and drew his wife to his side and as he toyed with her fingers one by one he told her the shocking truth.
"So at any moment we may be kicked out again!" And for the first time in her life she thought she sounded like her mother.
"Yes, my dear, but I will be able to assign myself to one of the livings in the Darcy's gift, as soon as it is available and we will have the additional income from thirty thousand pounds and anything we have saved from the profits made on their property. We will be well set up. However, I think it will take him some time to acquire the funds."
"Have you forgotten Miss Bingley's dowery?"
"I have not. He is not used to sacrifice or hard work, they will struggle not to live as they believe themselves entitled to, I am confident we are not likely to be displaced for many years yet and if we are then I will be pleased that he rose to the challenge."
"You are a very good man."
When she looked up at him then with love in her eyes he forgot about decorum for a time and caused the servants to pretend they were not at all embarrassed when tea was delivered. The footman whose face was the same hue as the berries he brought in with the cakes braved a question.
"Will you be wanting supper, sir?"
As comprehension suddenly dawned that he was after all the master here he looked at his wife with a sly smile, she answered that look with a raised brow, and turning again to the footman he adopted a serious mien to give his answer,
"No, I thank you, we will not require anything more this evening."
They each took a berry, drank half a cup of tea and disappeared upstairs.
Chef Josef sighed again to see his lovely cakes return untouched. He consoled himself by consuming one enjoying its delicate sweetness before taking himself off to bed.
With so many changes to accustom themselves to the young couple did not spend their first few weeks in untroubled bliss. Unromantic and unsympathetic Colonel Fitzwilliam made many arrangements to see them well prepared before they travelled north. Pleased to see his cousin humbled at last, he was nevertheless concerned that the Wickham's would be snubbed by society. To avoid such a catastrophe some measures must be taken – beginning with the tailor and to that purpose he took George away with him only two days after his wedding. Mrs. Wickham, was not forgotten; she was escorted by his mother the countess to her favourite drapers, where she selected fabrics for a sizable wardrobe. Fabric samples for redecorating the mistresses suite were also collected at Lady Matlocks insistence.
"The very first rule, my dear, in being accepted anywhere is to behave as if you already belong."
Bonnets, kid gloves, and silk stockings were ordered in astounding quantities at the milliners. Boots, slippers, and charming Moorish mules were ordered from the cobbler. Elizabeth was grateful to learn that the countess had no intention of introducing her in society for now.
"You must both have time to accustom yourselves to your new position. I cannot understand why your husband insisted on allowing my disgrace of a nephew to have a chance to purchase it all back, and for so small a sum, but Richard is correct there is little chance that he can earn even seven thousand pounds more. He and his wife will spend more than they ever acquire"
"Do you not wish for his success?"
"I am grateful that his shameful deeds can be openly reproached. I did not like smiling on him while I suspected him of despicable behaviour or pretending not to hear the whispers. I am very grateful that you will bring honour back to the noble trees that have shaded Pemberley for centuries. Had he known of it, poor Darcy would have been ashamed to call that villain his son."
"What of the family legacy, are you not troubled a little-"
"As to that – I shan't speak of it. My son had such praise for your husband's nobility of spirit. The Darcy estate will now be in better hands. Think no more of it."
Aunt Susan joined them at the beginning of the second week and it was her turn to be poked, prodded, and pinned. Once the work was begun to have themselves properly attired for their new situation in life they spent much of their time learning more about the house and the staff and each other. Not only Aunt Susan and Elizabeth but Elizabeth and her husband had much to discover as they to adjusted themselves to each other's habits. They sometimes visited the Gardiners but socialised with no one else. Well, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Douglass called a time or two and once remained for tea.
Those two gentlemen had schemed to solve the problem of the dishonourable business Mr. Darcy had established. The money from the sale of the house and it's furnishings was divided among the girls. The few who wished a new life would be assisted in finding passage to one of Britain's colonies. Eight of the girls wished to remain in England and would be apprenticed to milliner's shops. Another two had children and were given a sum that could provide a modest income in the country. Those who wished to remain in their current occupation were given no further assistance. They discussed this business with Wickham and finding him perfectly satisfied with providing funds for the purpose, Colonel Fitzwilliam undertook to see it all settled.
In the third week they enjoyed London as tourists and were terribly unsophisticated in their enjoyment of its wonders. Colonel Fitzwilliam was required at the theaters to assure the proprietors that Mr. and Mrs. Wickham now had possession of the Darcy's box. Their appearance at the opera and Drury Lane caused many whispers. They did indeed look well but the talk mostly involved the disgrace of Mr. Darcy. The positions of lady's maid and steward each required several interviews but the positions were filled by the end of that week in time for their journey north.
They traveled as far as Netherfield on Friday of the fourth week. There was a new curate now living with Mr. and Mrs. Brown. He was not a particularly handsome fellow but he was a pleasant and friendly young man. Somehow he got it into his head that Miss Mary Bennet was entirely too serious and he made it a part of his regular duties, along with visiting the poor and consoling the sick to irritate her as much as possible. The officers were still keeping Kitty and Lydia occupied but the scandal so recently avoided made Mr. Bennet a much more watchful guardian. Jane was blissfully happy and confided to her sister that they had word of Caroline Darcy requesting an invitation to honeymoon at Netherfield while some nonsense with Pemberley was cleared up. Her request was very politely declined. Otherwise very little had changed for all their old friends and although it had only been a month the lives of Mr. and Mrs. George Wickham had been so transformed that it seemed unnatural.
The chef was not left to worry long over his position for he discovered that the master and mistress' appetites did indeed improve over the month they remained in town. He was further encouraged when he learned that he was expected to travel with the valet and the newly hired, properly trained lady's maid, to Pemberley. Agnes had been assigned to Aunt Susan when she arrived and would also travel with them.
Immediately following Sunday services the Wickham's chef slipped into Longbourn's kitchen to converse with Mrs. Fielding to inquire about the favourite dishes of his new mistress. Confident that he could make a plain dish as well as anyone and satisfied that his apricot pudding could rival any in the country he returned whistling to Netherfied.
On Monday the procession of carriages – one only for luggage – began the northward journey in earnest.