Chapter 23

Lydia shook her head as she and Dorian considered everything they had read. "I never particularly liked your grandmother. I thought she was a hard, mean woman. But I never imagined she had such a painful history."

"I am very sorry for her, but I am even sorrier for my uncle, who deserved his mother's love, and his wife, who loved my Uncle Frank, and was obliged to see him so unhappy," said Dorian.

"It is sad for them, but you must be honest with yourself that their behaviour was not better than hers. Your uncle and aunt saw the pain your grandmother's cruelty caused, and instead of learning from it and doing better, they reenacted history upon you. That was wrong, Dorian. They were adults, they knew better," Lydia insisted, unwilling to extend too much forgiveness towards his aunt.

"You are not wrong, but there is no use holding a grudge about it now. That was their mistake, and I shall not repeat it. I will forgive my aunt, because it is the right thing to do," said Dorian.

Dorian and Lydia watched the next day as the gardener burned the books behind the kitchen gardens. Gone was any known evidence that proved that Frank Goulding had not been his father's son. Dorian vowed to write to his aunt soon, inviting her to return to Haye Park if she ever wished to do so.

The next weeks were spent quietly at Pemberley. Dorian wished to see the peaks, and so he and Lydia took many drives in Elizabeth's phaeton, and by June they had toured most of the area.

In early June, Lydia received a letter from someone named Theodora Patterson. According to Elizabeth, Theodora Patterson was the daughter of Sir Robert Patterson, a publishing genius who had earned a knighthood. Sir Robert had died a year ago, and Miss Patterson had been making great changes to the company, and the publishing world at large. She had even hired female journalists. Men around the country were refusing to read her papers, and yet, somehow, subscribership kept climbing rather than the opposite.

Regent Street

London

Dear Miss Bennet,

I would like to invite you to meet with me in London to discuss what could be an exciting new opportunity for us both. Please reply to inform me when would be convenient for you to meet.

Cordially,

Miss Theodora Patterson

Postscript: This is not a request for decorating advice.

Lydia did not know what to think. "Why would she ever wish to meet with me?" she asked as she took tea with Elizabeth, Darcy, and the Radcliffes in the drawing room one afternoon.

"You are widely regarded as one of the most fashionable unmarried ladies in London." Elizabeth pointed out. "Your decorating advice is highly sought after in all circles. Perhaps she wishes to interview you about decorating for one of her papers.

"I am not certain whether I am at all interested in that," replied Lydia, wrinkling her nose. "As it is, I have more ladies than I could ever manage drowning me in post, begging for my assistance when I am in town. I should not wish to be even more in demand.

"Well it would not hurt to meet with her to learn what she has in mind," Elizabeth said. "At least you know you would not be travelling all the way to London just to be asked for decorating assistance. I was actually going to be taking the train south next week. We do not wish to uproot the entire household, but Mr Montague requires my personal attendance on some business, and I have decided to accompany Diane to Kent. She is of an age to learn how to manage an estate, and I believe she should learn how to run her own before she reaches her majority."

Elizabeth sighed, "She has been exceedingly difficult this summer. She had her heart set upon being social in the neighbourhood and attending dinners, but none of us knew we would be in mourning before we made our promises. Mrs Annesley has agreed to accompany her south, and watch her like a falcon for the summer. Miss Carmichael will accompany them with Wilson and our most trusted footmen. She will not be permitted to socialise in any way, nor walk or ride out alone. She is to work with the steward and learn to help the tenants. Perhaps she will learn some maturity and responsibility while she is there on her own."

"Or she will get herself into trouble, Elizabeth," Georgiana retorted. "My brother thought he was bringing me some maturity and responsibility when he set me up in Ramsgate, but it nearly led to disaster. And Diane is a much bolder disposition than I was at her age."

"Well, I am sure we can all agree that Mrs Annesley is a great deal more trustworthy than Mrs Younge. I am sure we can trust those who have proven their loyalty to us over many years. Diane will not be entirely without family supervision. Anne has agreed to stay at Windmere for some weeks in the early summer, Sir Jasper is close by, and he will look in on Windmere regularly. Lord and Lady Matlock will visit Sir Jasper in August, then go onto Bath in September. If all goes well, Diane will accompany them when they go, and join us at Matlock in December. Hopefully Diane's disposition will have settled a bit, and become easier by then."

"If not, we shall be obliged to lock her up for the rest of her life," Georgiana grumbled.

"My father said that about me once," Lydia smiled. "I grew out of it, and Diane will too. You will all see."

Lydia took the opportunity the next day to go on an outing to the village, and take Diane with her. As they rode alone in the carriage, Lydia asked her niece if she was excited to be going into Kent.

"Not particularly, but I will go because Mama insists upon it," answered Diane grudgingly. "I would have preferred to remain at Pemberley or even Netherfield, and go out into country society like Mama promised. But Mama is so hateful that she does not wish for my company, and prefers to send me away, so I will go."

"No one hates you, and everyone wishes for your company, but we would prefer to enjoy it when you are not so self-absorbed," Lydia said.

"I am not self-absorbed! Mama is sending me away because Aunt Georgie hates me! Why should I be the one sent south! Aunt Georgie and Uncle Vivian ought to go home to their own house! Why must they stay so long and make everyone unhappy just because Aunt Georgie is sad?"

"Pemberley is your aunt's childhood home, just as it is your home, and she will always be welcome there just as you will always be welcome, even when your brother is master," chided Lydia. "Your great-grandmother has just died. Do you suppose that because your aunt grieves more heavily than the rest of us, that everyone else will discard their mourning, disrespect your grandmother, and throw the family into ignominy by disregarding the expectations of society, just because she has vacated the house?"

" You disregard the expectations of society," Diane muttered.

"I only flout the expectation that I will marry young and do nothing but have babies, the same as your mother. I may be slightly notorious, but it is in a respectable way. Might I point out that even I mourned your grandmother for three months, and she was not even my blood kin? You are not showing your character to advantage lately, dear. I understand that you have been disappointed, but you must learn to behave more respectfully and considerate towards the feelings of others, or I fear that soon, your Aunt Georgie might slap you, and you will deserve it.

"I only took you out today, and brought all of this up because you are going away without your parents for a while. I did as well at your age, though I was exposed to far more temptation than you will be, for I was in a camp full of soldiers. I only want to caution you before you go, that once you are away, you will feel compelled to prove your maturity. You may encounter a person or situation that makes you feel compelled, no, desperate, to prove your independence and maturity to everyone. I am warning you now from experience, that you are but fifteen years old, and if you give into it and satisfy that urge, it will result in disaster. You will appear more childish and ignorant of the world than you have ever been before, and even if it does not end in complete disaster, you will regret it, and be mortified by the memory for years."

Diane said nothing, only looked at her aunt contemplatively. "Do you not wish to marry?" she asked contemplatively.

"I do, and I hope that I finally will soon." Lydia answered. "But I am grateful that I did not do so before. I listened to your mother, and I thank God that she was there to advise me. If I had married at your age, I would be buried in the country with seventy-three children. The freedom I craved would quickly have become my prison. Thanks to your mother, I have had the privilege of travelling, seeing more of the world, and discovering my own skills and good qualities for myself. I have had the freedom to dance in every fashionable drawing room in London, to break hearts, and reject idiot suitors; to thumb my nose at society. I would have enjoyed none of these delights if I had never listened to your mother.

"I only wish to caution you, Diane. I know that you want to be grown up, and you feel grown up, but you are not grown up. I wish to give you a warning. At fifteen, you are beautiful, young, and sweet. You are also very naive to the ways of the world, and there are men who like that very much in a woman. Those men are not the marrying sort, and if they are, they only want you for your dowry. At fifteen, there is absolutely nothing proper that ought to recommend you to a grown man. If any gentleman pays you romantic attention at your age, then he is a bad man who wants you for the wrong reasons. I do not care how handsome, rich, or charming he is. If he is paying excessive attention to a fifteen-year-old girl, then it is not possible for him to be anything other than a very bad man! Some of these men want very young innocent girls for far more evil purposes than money. Diane, they could hurt you . Look at poor Miss Carmichael, and every time you do, remind yourself that there is no such thing as an honourable man who is interested in a very young girl."

Diane was quiet as Lydia finished, "I hope you enjoy yourself far more than you expect this summer. When you are of age, Windmere will be your estate. You will be responsible for the care of everyone there. I am sure you would like to be a good mistress. Work towards that goal this summer, then enjoy your travels with the Matlocks, and I am sure you will return as a changed girl in December, when your family's mourning will be finished. Your mama might even let you attend part of the Twelfth Night Ball if you distinguish yourself with your accomplishments and behaviour.

Lydia treated Diane to an afternoon at the modiste for a lovely new gown in lavender to wear into Kent, and a stylish cap to match. They returned to Pemberley in good cheer, and Diane was much better company when she left in the company of her mother, Lydia, and Dorian when they went south.

*****

Elizabeth left Lydia at Aunt and Uncle Gardiner's home as she continued to Kent with Diane. Dorian occupied his rooms in Piccadilly which he had still not given up, finding it convenient to have his own base in London. If Lydia wished to settle at Haye Park, perhaps they might purchase a respectable house in town after they wed. It was his understanding that most of the Bennet sisters and their husbands spent time in town nearly every year, when they were not confined.

Lydia sent a message to Miss Patterson the day after she arrived in town, informing her of her availability. The same day a message was delivered, inviting her to meet with Miss Patterson at her office in Regent Street the following afternoon. Lydia would go with only her maid, and in her own carriage.

When she arrived at Patterson Publishing, the entry was stylish and modern. Lydia adored the decor, and regretted that she had not designed it, though the style leant greatly to her imagination. She gave her name to the lady at the desk, surprised to see a female clerk greeting visitors. She did not even have time to sit in one of the incredibly plush chairs before a nervous man appeared to lead her upstairs.

When she was announced to Miss Patterson's office, the slender, silvery white-haired woman in her early fifties was behind an enormous desk, looking over an enormous sketch held by a young man who looked incredibly anxious to be there. She had a cheroot of all things in one hand, in an engraved silver holder, and smoke filled the room. She tipped her head down and looked at Lydia up and down over her very attractive spectacles, and smiled genuinely.

"The famous Miss Bennet." she beamed.

"I am not certain how famous I am, but I am happy to make your acquaintance, Miss Patterson," Lydia replied.

"Oh but you are. Usually women do not become truly au courant until they marry, and then it's all over, for you have no more freedom in anything besides the choice of your own clothes. You are the most fashionable unmarried lady in England, and have been known throughout society to be so for some years," the older woman insisted.

"Miss Patterson, why do you not tell me why I have been invited here? Your letter mentioned something about an opportunity for us both," Lydia said curiously.

"Please, I insist that you call me Theodora, may I call you Lydia? First, let me show you around, "Theodora said, as Lydia nodded her agreement to the use of her given name. "Rupert! Did you offer Miss Bennet some tea?" The young man who had shown Lydia into the room looked slightly panicked.

Lydia smiled reassuringly at him, "I am sure that tea here in Miss Patterson's office once she has shown me around would be lovely."

The young man smiled at her in relief as Theodora led her from the room. Lydia followed as Theodora moved through the building at an astonishing pace, giving her a rapid-fire history of the company her grandfather had built, and that her father had turned into a truly successful venture, earning him the recognition of the crown, and placing him at the top of the publishing industry.

The company owned fourteen newspapers, both in London and in smaller cities all over the kingdom, as well as nearly two dozen industry, trade, and educational periodicals. Up until her father's death, the company had not published any material related to fashion or other areas of interest pertinent to most ladies.

"Other than your sister, of course," Theodora laughed. "Her uncle, Lord Hexham, is one of our best customers. He must gift a subscription to her for every periodical we have for years."

"She enjoys them immensely, and they have brought much education to everyone in our household," said Lydia. "My younger cousin Margaret was quite in danger of becoming a blue stocking for some years."

"But there must be something for everyone, do you see? We must not turn our backs on what is fashionable in favour of educational interests, there are people for whom fashion is everything, and it is one of our country's most important industries!" Theodora exclaimed as they entered a room filled with presses.

Lydia never would have guessed by the stylish entrance to the building, that deep in the back would be a place like this. There were presses of all sizes, and men were running about, attempting to make everything perfect before Theodora saw it. Theodora showed her the different presses, then a room filled with artists, creating sketches and illustrations, before leading Lydia back to her office, where she lit a fresh cheroot and placed it in the silver holder as Rupert poured them tea.

*****

When the man had left them, Theodora said, "Miss Bennet, I have asked you here because there are entire areas of interest in our kingdom that are not recognised and supported as they should be. Certainly, there are fashion magazines, but they are as much gossip columns as anything. Something more serious is required, in my opinion. A real fashion magazine, devoted to fashions of all kinds, and for people of all walks of life. It is the responsibility, Miss Bennet, of the publishing industry, to support and drive the economy by advertising, and the relating of information.

"What think you, Miss Bennet, of fashion?" Theodora asked, blowing a cloud of smoke up into the air.

Lydia was thinking that she hoped this smoking for ladies would not come into fashion, for the smell was rather giving her a headache, but she said nothing about that as she sipped her tea and considered her answer.

"I believe that fashion is just as important as any other industry or area of interest, Miss Patterson. There are, of course, many kinds of fashion. Clothes, interior design, exterior design, gardening, even culinary fashions. When it comes to clothing, I believe fashion is paramount. Clothes represent an incredible part of our country's trade, providing employment for more than just the dressmakers, seamstresses, tailors, milliners, shoemakers, and haberdashers of our kingdom, many of whom are women and might not otherwise find suitable employment and the means to support themselves. The clothing trade also provides support to importers, mill workers, and even the clerks who work in my uncle's warehouses. Not only are thousands of positions provided to our country by the fashion trade, but people live in fashion. We wear it all day, every day. It is art, and the most common form of self-expression there could be."

"Yes! Miss Bennet, you understand me perfectly! They told me you were intelligent and well educated. Obviously, considering who your sister is, and your reputation in town, there was never any question that you would understand exactly how I feel," Theodora paused. "That is why I'd like you to be the editor of London's newest and most elegant fashion magazine."

"Me! I do not know the first thing about periodicals, editing, or publishing," protested Lydia, "Why would you put an untrained woman in charge of such an important and costly new venture?"

"You will learn quickly, and we will hire you a knowledgeable assistant," Theodora assured her. "I have a woman in mind. Her father owns a small paper, and she left in search of her fortune when he would not give her a column in it, and when he does accept something she writes, he credits it to a man. Sadly, he was not as enlightened as my father. He allowed her to help the editors, and I am certain she wrote many pieces, but she never received a credit. She is not at all fashionable, very middle class, and this is not the kind of position she's looking for, but you can persuade her."

" I am to persuade her?" Lydia choked out. "Why bother? Why not hire her to do the entire job, then, since she has the knowledge?"

"Because you have the talent that cannot be taught, Miss Bennet," Theodora replied. "With your fashion experience, and her knowledge of publishing, you will be quite unstoppable, I assure you. We will begin by doing what no other magazine has done! We will hire artists, writers, and other people who understand fashion, regardless of their sex. Our first issue will be in three months. Then in February, you and a team of journalists and artists will travel to Paris for a fashion show! Charles Frederick Worth, you must know who he is, is planning a live display of designs from his fashion house. He has agreed to give us exclusive access to the event, well, exclusive access for England . Obviously, there will be French papers and magazines present as well."

"Live display?" Lydia questioned curiously.

"The gowns will be modelled by live models, beautiful Parisian women trained to use posture for the best effect with the different designs," Theodora explained. "There will be no mannequins. It is meant to be a truly elegant affair, and we will have the only account of it here at home."

The woman went on and on about the magazine, "There are fashionable people all over this country, Miss Bennet, and they are from all walks of life. We will not only focus on the ton, and there will be no gossip columns in our magazine. I want to hear about what the premier ladies of the ton are wearing, Miss Bennet, but I also want to know what the middle class are wearing, and how the lower class find ways to accessorise. If there is a particularly elegant shopkeeper in Lyme, I want to tell our readers what makes her special. If there is a female letter carrier in Shropshire who is a treasure of fashionable hints for the working woman who wishes to look her best, I want to know about her. I want to know all the spinster's tips for elegant economy in their homes, Miss Bennet, and our readers want to know too."

"Live models at Charles Frederick Worth's design house," Lydia murmured. "Freddie Vaughan would sell his teeth to view such an event, he worships Mr Worth's work."

Theodora's head snapped up. "Did you say Freddie Vaughan? Do you know F. Vaughan, the fashion plate artist and dress designer, Miss Bennet?"

Suddenly, Lydia recalled that Freddie's identity was supposed to be a secret, at least in Derbyshire. "His identity is supposed to be a secret," she said sheepishly.

"F. Vaughan is a man! Well that is rather disappointing, I was hoping he would be a woman, though for as closed lipped as that Madame Clarisse has been, I had begun to wonder if he truly exists at all. Can you obtain me a meeting with Mr Vaughan, Miss Bennet?"

"I will have to ask my sister," Lydia said uncertainly. "I believe he is about seventeen or eighteen now, but he is under my sister's protection, and she promised his parents that the connection would not be made public."

"I wish to offer him a job, a good job, but Madame Clarisse insists that everything must go through her. I resisted making any agreements, fearing that whoever F. Vaughan was, that she might be taking advantage of them."

"I do not think that Clarisse would do such a thing, though that was a reasonable fear, considering what one hears about what those who are indentured must put up with," said Lydia. "Clarisse was probably more concerned with keeping Freddie's identity a secret, as she promised my sister. I will speak to Elizabeth about it. If you write a brief description of the job, I will pass it along to her."

"That is wonderful ," Theodora said, as she lit another cheroot and stubbed out the old one. "You have been here for an hour, Miss Bennet, and already you are a priceless fount of resources. I knew you would be. You have worked with great houses, hotels, and people for years. Between your resources and your sister's, you must know half the kingdom. More importantly, the fashionable half. So will you do it? Will you edit the magazine? You will follow all avenues of fashion and fashionable behaviour, and you will have complete control over the entire operation."

"I am rather uncertain." Lydia confessed. "I still do not believe I have the skills for the position, though I am incredibly flattered that you considered me. Who else were you considering, may I ask?"

"Oh! No, let's not even think of that, Miss Bennet. From the moment this idea was born, I knew you were the woman to lead the endeavour, and if you do not accept, I do not even wish to think of what other idiot I might be obliged to consider. You know fashion Miss Bennet. We can hire people for the rest, and you will learn it all as you go."

"It is very tempting," Lydia hedged. "I will not lie and say that I am not extremely interested. But there are other things I must consider, and I must ask for my sister's advice. There is also the fact that as exhilarating an adventure as this sounds, I am not certain I wish to devote my life to it. I might take it on for a few years, train some other fashionable person to take it over later. But I must confess, I have lately been considering marriage, and I am unsure how this would fit in with being a wife. My sister makes this all look easy, being an important businesswoman with a family, but I know it is not easy, even for her."

"Marriage! Oh my dear girl, you must not consider such a ghastly prospect!" Theodora shrieked. "More good women have been lost to marriage than to bloodshed, poverty, affliction, and misfortune! Do not consider it, Miss Bennet, I beg you!"

Lydia assured the older woman that the gentleman she was considering was rather enlightened, for a man, and that she was not quite yet on the cusp of an engagement. "It does not follow that even if I were to marry, that I could not do both, but I am unsure. May I visit you again at the same time next Wednesday to give you my answer?"

Theodora agreed to this, though she begged Lydia to make up her mind swiftly, for there was much work to be done. She gave Lydia all the particulars of the jobs for both Lydia and Freddie, and promised to send all the same information to Mr Montague.

"You did not tell me the name of the magazine," Lydia said pleasantly as she stood to leave.

"I have not thought of anything yet. I was hoping you might have an idea," Theodora said as she lit another cheroot and placed it in the end of the silver holder, then poured herself another cup of tea. "You are the fashionable expert."

Lydia considered for a moment. " Mode ," she said excitedly.

" Mode ! How chic! May I use that, even if you do not take the job?"

"Certainly," Lydia said pleasantly, as the young man who had shown her in arrived to show her back out. "I do look forward to seeing you again next week. Goodbye."