Chapter 24

Lydia was filled with exhilaration as she rode in her carriage back to her aunt's house in Grosvenor's Square. She was not surprised to find Dorian waiting in her aunt's drawing room. Even her uncle was present.

"I took the afternoon to spend at home, Lydia, so excited was I to hear your news," Uncle Gardiner said. "Do not keep us in suspense!"

Lydia related everything that had taken place at the meeting, and her aunt and uncle were exceedingly excited about her news. "Will you take it?" her aunt asked.

"I am not sure," Lydia said. "I have many considerations to contemplate, and I must seek Elizabeth's advice."

"Well it was certainly an honour even to have been asked," said Uncle Gardiner. "I am very proud of you, Lydia. You are certainly a credit to our family, and to your sister. Elizabeth has always said you would mature into an impressive woman and so you have."

"I know I am certainly very proud. I cannot wait to inform all of my friends," added Aunt Madeleine.

"I am thinking of taking the train to Kent tomorrow to speak with Elizabeth," Lydia remarked. "She did not intend to come to London until next week, once Diane is settled at Windmere, but I would like her counsel as soon as may be."

"That is understandable, and a good idea, bearing in mind all the considerations involved," her uncle observed, looking over the sheet of paper filled with information regarding the position that Lydia had brought home. "These are excellent terms, but they could be a little better, and Elizabeth will ensure that Montague negotiates quite a bit more in your favour. You should receive a percentage, in addition to this very generous salary. It is your expertise and reputation that will drive the magazine to success. At least five percent, I should think."

Lydia then proceeded to tell her uncle about the offer for Freddie, and he responded, "It is not quite seven years since Freddie accepted his apprenticeship, but I think he should not ignore such an opportunity. This is why your sister sent him to me. That he might have a chance for something better. I do not believe anyone thought he might find an opportunity such as this one. I for one will be glad to see him move onto something so splendid."

"I am sure my sister will agree," said Lydia, who then looked to Dorian, who said quietly, "Would you like to take a walk in the park, Miss Bennet?"

"Thank you, I would," said Lydia, who had been hoping he would ask. "Let me ring for Jemima and John."

Later, when they reached the park, Dorian looked to Lydia and said, "Will you accept it?"

Lydia smiled and said, "Honestly, I cannot believe I am saying this, but I would like to know what you think."

"I can tell that you want it."

Lydia looked down. "I do," she admitted. "But I also want what we have been moving towards. I never knew how much I wanted it before I met you that day in Cheapside. I am not certain I wish to sacrifice this for a job, but nor do I wish to miss such a marvellous opportunity."

"Who says you can only have one or the other?" Dorian asked.

"Is it not true?" Lydia said. "How would I be a proper mother if I were always in London; how could I be a good wife if I were to take on such a demanding obligation?"

"Your sister does it," he pointed out.

"My sister delegates most of her tasks to Mr Montague, Banks, Wilson, or even to my uncle, when necessary." Lydia said. "And even she struggles with her work and family responsibilities often, though she never admits it." She was quiet as they walked for a moment. "Would you not expect your wife to devote her time to Haye Park?

"Lydia, I have not even committed to living there yet, I have been waiting to make that decision until I know what you wish. I do not care if I live in Hertfordshire or Derbyshire. I had thought that if our friendship met its natural conclusion, that you might wish to live in Derbyshire or London. I would have to wait a number of years for my investments to catch up with my recent expenditures before purchasing an estate in the north, or a grand house in town, but I remain open-minded.

"We spoke of this once before, but we have not opened the subject again since. I am still willing to consider fitting myself into your life. I have not had much of my own before now. I have spent my adulthood on board a ship, I have few ties to anything on land. I may have the estate in Hertfordshire, but I have nothing to hold me to it. The only family I have is Ella, and her family in Kent. You have a full life, and a large family that I like very much. I would be happy to live near them, or anywhere else you wish."

Lydia said nothing, only tucked her hand into his arm as they continued to walk. "I must speak to my sister. I need her counsel. This is too large of an undertaking to commit myself to it without understanding everything it will demand of me. It would not be right or fair to accept, and then abandon the position later because it does not suit me. If I did accept, it would be with the understanding that I must be committed for some years, or the magazine would suffer. I would not wish for that upon my conscience."

"Would you like me to accompany you into Kent?" he asked. "I am long overdue to pay a visit to Ella and her family. I understand that Maiden Oaks is less than an hour from your sister's estate. I believe I have a new cousin to admire. Ella is excessively pleased with her new son, and I have been asked to stand as godfather."

"That would be very agreeable," Lydia smiled. This was the very first time since their walk in the park in Cheapside that they had openly discussed the possibility of marriage again. Lydia knew that Dorian was waiting for her to indicate to him that she was ready for him to propose. She was surprised he had not done so immediately after she had just made her admission that she wanted a future with him. She was glad he still waited. It had been many years since Lydia Bennet was fifteen, and she had no desire for an exciting whirlwind courtship. She wished to marry her very best friend, and her time spent with Dorian over the last several months was making her feel very secure in her belief that they were right for one another.

They returned to the house, and he left her to return to Piccadilly and make his preparations to travel. He prepared an express for the Pembrokes, and left it with the Gardiner's servant, to be sent to the post office immediately with an express to Elizabeth.

It was not long after dawn the following morning, when Lydia boarded the train to Kent, accompanied by Dorian, Jemima, and her footman, John. She and Dorian read to one another during the journey, and within a few hours, were on the pavement in front of the train station in Kent. Lydia spotted Wilson, who was chatting amicably with the groom sent from Maiden Oaks to fetch Dorian. The two promised to see one another in a few days, unless Elizabeth and Ella had already conspired to get the households together. Lydia agreed Dorian was long overdue to spend some time visiting Ella's family, and assured him that though she would return to London in less than a week, that she would not take it amiss if he remained in Kent for a fortnight or longer.

*****

Later that day, she sat in her sister's drawing room while Elizabeth looked over the offer. She stirred her tea as Elizabeth picked up a pencil and made several notes at the bottom of the page, with improved terms for Lydia's compensation and privileges.

"Lizzy, this is an enormous decision. I have greatly enjoyed these years being unmarried, being able to travel and explore my interests, while still taking a great deal of enjoyment from the ballrooms and society. That being said, while I know I should not like to give up all of my liberties to be tied to a traditional married life, I do still believe that I would like to be married. I have watched you enjoy the best of both endeavours all this time, but I have also seen that it is not always easy for you.

"You are proud, and determined that no one should know how difficult it is for you to have both, but I see it. Would you confide all your struggles to me? How being a businesswoman affects your ability to be a wife, mother, and mistress to your tenants, and how you manage to overcome those struggles? If I am to accept Miss Patterson and Dorian, I need to know exactly how difficult it will be. I cannot make a start, only to disappoint everyone by deciding later that it is too hard, or that it is not what I want."

"What has Sir Dorian said?" Elizabeth asked.

"He says there is no reason I cannot have both," said Lydia. "Dorian has not had much of a shore life since he joined the navy. He was estranged from his family for years, and now he has none but Ella and Mr Pembroke. He is not particular where he settles, and has even indicated that if I wished to settle in the north, that he would be willing to lease Haye Park and buy an estate in Derbyshire later when he can afford it. He has spent nearly twenty-one-thousand pounds on Haye Park since inheriting. Fifteen on that vile man, and then there was the terrible winter, and helping the tenants, improving the estate, adding land to it, and modernising the house and dower house. He will wait some years for some investments to mature before buying another property, he says."

"There will also be your dowry," Elizabeth pointed out.

"I am sure he must know I will have one, but I have not spoken of it," Lydia admitted.

"That is only proper," Elizabeth agreed. She then proceeded to relate to her sister all of the difficulties she experienced while confined, or while nursing and working. She confessed how difficult the two years Kitty was missing had been, and her frequent guilt and worry over the intervening years that someone, whether it was her tenants, her children, or her husband was suffering undeserved neglect due to her activities. She explained how the expectations of society affected her friendships with those of the nobility and those of trade, but then also related the sense of accomplishment and pride she felt at knowing that she had helped her family so much, and had the ability to contribute so much to the prosperity and security of her estates, heirs, and dependents.

"If you have a husband who is as wonderfully open-minded and supportive as Will, then you cannot help but succeed," encouraged Elizabeth. "But Sir Dorian must also search his heart, and his desires and hopes for the future carefully. It is not easy for many men to accept our level of independence in a wife."

"He says that he has long suspected that I will not wish to stop gallivanting about the country, and enjoying all the activities that I am often involved in. He told me yesterday that he has queried Will on his opinion of your arrangement several times, and that Will has given him what he considered sound advice.

"I must say, that does sound hopeful," said Elizabeth, "How long do you think you will consider the matter?"

"I am to meet with her next week on Wednesday," answered Lydia. "I think I should make my decision some days before then, so that we might send our list of improved terms ahead of me, that she might be prepared to negotiate if necessary when we meet. I wonder if you should come with me."

"You certainly do not need me to come with you, you are more than capable, all you lack is confidence," Elizabeth replied with a smile. "You lacked confidence when you left to save the hotel, and look how well that turned out."

"I hope you are right," Lydia laughed nervously.

"I am always right. Mr Montague will accompany you. Just allow him to handle all of the negotiations, and the terms will be very much in your favour," answered Elizabeth teasingly as she rose from her chair. "I must go find Diane; we are to visit the stillroom with Mrs George this afternoon. Do not forget, we are invited to dine at Maiden Oaks tomorrow, and the Wimpoles on Monday. Tuesday the Pembrokes and their guest will dine here."

The following evening at dinner, Lydia asked Dorian to visit her the next day for a drive or a walk, so that they could discuss all of the things she had spoken of with Elizabeth. Lydia wanted Dorian to know all of it. She was sure Elizabeth rarely admitted her struggles to Darcy, she just managed them quietly on her own, but Lydia wished for Dorian to know all before either of them committed themselves in either direction.

*****

Dorian was looking forward to settling down into a life where he could concentrate on the studies that had always interested him. He could see himself settling into life in London for some years very easily. He would have all of the museums, educational societies, and tutors the great metropolis had to offer at his fingertips without having to pay tutors extra to come to Hertfordshire or the north. He would study and experience the culture of the city and the arts, while Lydia could devote herself to her interests and career. In the evenings, they would attend society events, much like any society couple, though Lydia would often be attending events specifically for the magazine. That her position would require some travel each year, he did not object to.

When some years had passed, he felt that the two could discuss later whether Lydia wished to continue her work indefinitely, and then make the decision together whether they would eventually retire to Haye Park or an estate in Derbyshire. Haye Park could be kept open for them, and perhaps they might visit the country for a few months each summer, or when the rest of the family was visiting Meryton. Lydia did think that she might eventually wish to retire to an estate in Derbyshire, and Pemberley was where she had always felt most at peace.

Lydia's response to the offer was sent by express to Montague, along with Elizabeth's demands for better terms. He would draft a proposal for the specified terms and forward it to Miss Patterson no later than Monday, along with notification that he would accompany Lydia to the appointment, and asking her to make time to meet with Freddie Vaughan on Wednesday as well. Elizabeth was elated that Freddie should have an opportunity to draw and create art for the magazine, and would even have the opportunity to create and advertise more of his own designs. Elizabeth had demanded better terms and opportunities for Freddie as well, because she did not wish for him to become trapped in a small room at Patterson Publishing for the rest of his life, creating fashions and art for peanuts while having very little opportunity for advancement.

The Wimpoles, understanding that Elizabeth and Diane were in half mourning, held a very small and intimate dinner just for them, and did not expect Elizabeth to reciprocate during her short visit. Elizabeth was very happy indeed to see her friend Mrs Wimpole, whose husband had been a business partner of Elizabeth's for many years. There had been fewer opportunities to enjoy one another's company since the Wimpoles had purchased Rosings Park four years ago, and the Fitzwilliams relocated north.

They enjoyed dining with the Pembrokes, both at Maiden Oaks and at Windmere before they left Kent. Otherwise, Lydia saw little of Dorian compared to their usual daily calls and outings, but she had no objection. Ella was obviously overjoyed to have him spend time with her family, and Dorian was turning Ella's daughters into sailors out on their pond. He took them out in the rowboat daily, and was teaching the girls to swim.

There was a letter waiting for Lydia in London on Wednesday, informing her that Miss Patterson had capitulated to all of their demands with no disagreement, and therefore Mr Montague would only be present for a few moments of her meeting, so that contracts could be signed. Lydia would receive an enormous salary, as well as seven percent of the magazine's profits. Elizabeth prepared her for the fact that within a year, Lydia was going to be incredibly wealthy, and predicted that in less than five years, Lydia would be among the richest ladies in the kingdom, as households in every corner of the kingdom and from all stations would wish for a subscription.

It had also been negotiated that Freddie Vaughan would not only serve as an artist and designer to the magazine, but would also spend a portion of his time serving as a deputy assistant to Lydia, learning at her side, and improving his opportunities for advancement in fashion or publishing.

*****

Miss Patterson had also managed to convince the lady who would be Lydia's assistant to accept the job. Miss Cora Morgan was thirty, and the least fashionable person Lydia had ever seen in her life, and she had grown up with Mary before Elizabeth made her over. Lydia had seen cart drivers with more embellishment in their attire. It was obvious that Miss Morgan intentionally dressed herself unattractively. Lydia had met such women among her blue stocking friends in her educational societies, but none quite so severe as this. The woman was openly disdainful of Lydia, and made it clear that she considered herself the brains of their operation. Lydia girded her loins for the inevitable clash that was obviously coming.

The team got to work immediately. They began in a small set of rooms at Patterson Publishing, though Theodora insisted that by the time they published their first volume in September, she would have them moved into their own building. There was one nearby that was brand new, and Theodora had just purchased it from the architect that had designed it. Lydia arranged to have her office and the reception area decorated by the same woman who had consulted on the one at Patterson Publishing, and directed one of her new journalists to write an editorial about the woman's work. The reception area at Patterson Publishing had given her inspiration, and she would have loved to have explored her ideas, but she had too much else to do to prepare the first few volumes of the magazine.

As soon as Theodora posted an article in several of her newspapers regarding the launch of the new publication, and Lydia's appointment as editor, letters, art, clothes, hats, shoes, undergarments, and accessories began pouring in from all over England and even Paris, from tradesmen and women, and designers who wished to have their work in the magazine. Artists were hard at work drawing illustrations, and journalists were writing articles about interesting designers and fashionable people of all ranks. Requests began piling up for subscriptions, secretaries and clerks were hired to manage all of the work, and Lydia spent her days buried alive in fashionable garments, selecting what would be featured, what would never be featured and must be discarded or returned, and what would remain in storage until it could be used at a later opportunity. Their space became quickly overfilled with these items, and a warehouse was purchased nearby to collect it all.

Lydia soon learned the reason why Theodora's employees ran about in fear so much, and it was because men and women alike saw her sex and underestimated her, and so she had to be incredibly stern, giving orders and making everyone about her jump out of their skin at any moment, in spite of her quiet, elegant voice, so that they worked extra hard to have everything as it should be. Theodora Patterson may not raise her voice, but neither did you wish her attention upon you if she was displeased. Lydia was at an even greater disadvantage due to her much younger age. None of the men or ladies they hired took her seriously, and all worked at a snail's pace, basically thumbing their noses at her until she fired several people on the spot, and began speaking in a very sharp manner, though she hated doing it. Elizabeth managed her staff quite differently, but this was a completely different situation, and the people who worked for her were not the servants in her sister's house. Thankfully, everyone was desperate to work at Mode , and so once the first few people were sacrificed, they all began behaving much better.

That is, everyone except Miss Morgan. Miss Morgan was the one person Lydia would not fire out of hand, because she needed the woman's experience to run the magazine. The fact remained however, that Miss Morgan hated her job, hated Lydia, hated fashion, and she refused to teach Lydia anything. All of the work she did, she did it quietly, and refused to educate Lydia or Freddie about the industry. She treated them as if they were only there to select clothes, and were too stupid for anything else.

Lydia was ready to fire the woman anyway, and Freddie had begged her to do so for weeks, when one day, she was obligated to conduct a particularly difficult conversation with Miss Morgan, who had purposely completed a task by herself that she had specifically been told to wait for, so that Lydia and Freddie could learn. Freddie, who had been waiting two weeks for this lesson, angrily collected his papers, slammed the door to her office, and returned to the art department.

"Well he obviously hates me. As if I care what such a person thinks, when I have important work to attend to," sniffed Miss Morgan, as she pulled a ledger from a shelf behind her desk and proceeded to make notes in it.

"I am certain he does hate you, and you deserve it," pointed out Lydia.

"I am sure I do not know what you mean," said Miss Morgan as she pushed her hideous spectacles up her nose.

"I mean that Freddie is the third son of a tenant farmer from Derbyshire, who would have been lucky to become a footman or even a groom in my sister's house, but he has spent the last years working at two simultaneous apprenticeships at once, learning textiles and importing from my uncle, as well as design, sewing, and dressmaking from Madame Clarisse. This is in addition to creating his own line of fashion plates, earning funds to help his family, and prepare for his future. He has spent his whole life dreaming of working at a place like this. A place you think you are too good for."

Miss Morgan sniffed and turned away, rummaging in her desk for something while Lydia leaned over her desk and said, "Do you think you are better than a dressmaker, Miss Morgan?"

"Of course not! Dressmakers are hardworking women who must earn a living!" Miss Morgan exclaimed.

"What about milliners? Seamstresses? People who work in mills making lace? Are you better than them?" Lydia persisted.

"There is no degradation in honest work," Miss Morgan huffed.

"And this is not honest work?" asked Lydia incredulously.

"This place is a den of iniquity! Creating fairy tales in the minds of the populace, encouraging them to value frivolous fripperies and spend money on things they do not need !" shouted Miss Morgan, having had enough of Lydia's needling.

"Miss Morgan, you seem to me to be a woman who values the advancement of women, or you would not be seeking a career in journalism. Do you not realise how important fashion is to married and single women all over the kingdom? Not all women have the means or the education to go out into the world and make something of themselves. The vast majority of women are pushed into marriage and then have no liberty for self-expression. The only way that married women may distinguish themselves is by the rank of the husband they catch, and later, the fashionability of their attire, and the decor of their homes. Debutantes rely upon fashion to help them catch a husband, which is the only way they can survive. Without those women, the entire clothing trade would collapse. Dressmakers, milliners, haberdashers, and shoemakers would go out of business, and close their shops if everyone only purchased the most simple and unembellished of garments. Even importers of fabric and owners of mills would suffer. Have you no regard for any portion of the fashion industry, or is everyone you know an idiot because we do not all wear brown?"

"It is true that most women do not have the means or education to go out and distinguish themselves. But some people have the means to go out uneducated, and distinguish themselves unfairly and at the expense of others," Miss Morgan replied coolly. "You were only offered this position because you are pretty, you can afford expensive clothes, and your sister is important."

Lydia drew back as if slapped. Then she narrowed her eyes, " Allora perché sei qui ?" she asked in Italian. Then continued, " Non puoi parlare italiano ?" when Miss Morgan looked at her with a blank expression.

" Also warum bist du hier ?" she tried in German.

" Cur ergo hic es ?" then in Latin.

Seeing Miss Morgan's confusion, she tried French, " Alors pourquoi es-tu là ?"

"Stop that gibberish!" Miss Morgan shrieked.

"Someone is apparently not a polyglot. In which direction does your education lie, Miss Morgan? Do you have an opinion on the Norfolk Four Course Agricultural Method? No? What about the use of steam engines in farming and harvesting? Do you have any impressions of the current economic state of Ireland since the famine has ended? What about the new bill in Parliament? The Income Tax Act?"

When Miss Morgan continued to look at her as if she were mad, Lydia finally said, "I fear I am unequal to working with someone so poorly educated, Miss Morgan. Especially for a journalist . How do you account for such ignorance?"

"I am perfectly well educated, and not at all ignorant!" said Miss Morgan in outrage, "How dare you-"

"Suggest that someone with different interests and who is educated in subjects that I do not know is stupid, just because they are different from me?" Lydia drove home her point. "Allow me to rephrase my question in English, Miss Morgan, since you are so woefully uneducated. Why are you here? If everything this magazine stands for is so abhorrent to you? Why not take up dressmaking, which is, as you say, honest work?"

"Because I do not know how to sew!" burst out Miss Morgan, near tears at Lydia's onslaught of mortifications.

"Then you had either learn about fashion, Miss Morgan, and learn to love it, or learn to sew, for if you cannot become a far better teacher for your skills, and embrace the mission of Mode , then I will fire you, and demand that Miss Patterson send over an experienced editor's assistant to teach me everything I must know. I am certain that anyone can do a better job at getting along with one's peers than you have done," Lydia said coldly as she turned to leave Miss Morgan's office.

"Oh, and one more thing," she said, as she turned back in the doorway. "I ensured that Theodora gave you an incredibly generous clothing budget, almost equal to what I spend each year upon my wardrobe, which shall be renewed each year. Use it, and use it well, please. It is a privilege to work at Mode, Miss Morgan, and you had better start dressing like it. For one thing, you will constantly be with me everywhere I go. I will not be seen in public as the editor of a fashion magazine with someone so ill attired always in my company. You may also take and keep any of the clothes or accessories here once the artists and designers have finished with them. You should be able to acquire some incredibly attractive and expensive clothes in this manner. You do not need to fashion your attire after myself. You may select any style you like as your own, as long as you choose one , and as long as it is not this ." She wrinkled her nose and gestured to Miss Morgan's gown with distaste.

"I do not know how!" Miss Morgan burst out. When Lydia turned to her with a brow raised. "My mother died when I was a child. I grew up in my father's domain, I did not even have a governess!"

"And you cannot find anyone here to help you?" Lydia asked, disbelievingly. "Ask Freddie for help. You could not do better. Oh, and you ought to apologise, and show him how to manage those accounts," she added as she left the woman with her mouth hanging.

The following day, when Miss Morgan entered Lydia's office with a stack of new fashion periodicals and the newest fashion plates off of all of London's most important presses, she might not have been nearly as colourful as Lydia, but she looked very well indeed, and Lydia told her so. As more weeks passed, Miss Morgan began looking far more chic and sophisticated, and acting less haughty and rude.