Chapter 3

Elizabeth hosted a dinner at Netherfield when they passed through Meryton, where they learned that Maria would not accompany the other young ladies to London this year. Her mother, Lady Lucas, had decided that if Maria was to marry as a result of Elizabeth's connections, she would have done so by now, and encouraged Maria to accept an invitation to a season in Bath from a young lady she had befriended in London the previous season.

Elizabeth happily congratulated the young lady for the opportunity to make new connections and meet new people, and wished her all the delights of her season in Bath. Assuring Maria, who was nervous that Elizabeth might take offence at her mother and sister's disagreement, that she would certainly be welcome to visit the Darcys again another time, Elizabeth also sent letters of introduction to numerous friends and connections in Bath, ensuring that Maria and her hosts, who were estimable members of the gentry but did not often venture there, would receive invitations to all the right entertainments and circles.

When they arrived in London, Lydia visited Lady Paxton as promised, and helped the young lady in question and her mother select patterns, papers, rugs and fabrics to create a delightful bedchamber for a young girl emerging from the schoolroom. She enjoyed the activity immensely, and had already promised two other friends that she would similarly assist them.

One afternoon while she was digging through stacks of fabrics in her uncle's warehouse with Elizabeth, she heard her uncle's voice approaching, "As I said, Ramsey, it is an interest of hers, but I do not know that she will be interested in your idea, or that her sister will allow it, but we shall ask. Ah Lizzy, there you are. My nieces, Lady Darcy and Miss Bennet, may I introduce Mr Evelyn Ramsey."

"Good afternoon, Mr Ramsey," Elizabeth greeted politely. "It is a perfect afternoon to shop for fabrics, is it not?"

Mr Ramsey, an exceedingly tall man with short, neatly trimmed hair in the palest blonde Lydia had ever seen on a grown man, with the clearest blue eyes she had ever seen, was most becomingly if not unfashionably tanned, and had perfect white teeth. Lydia blinked as he bowed to her, stunned by his Apollo-like beauty. "It is, indeed, Lady Darcy, Miss Bennet. Please excuse my request to be made acquainted with you."

As Elizabeth inclined her head, her uncle explained that Mr Ramsey was an architect who was engaged to build an impressive mansion at the edge of Mayfair for an American who would be arriving from that country in seven or eight months to take possession of it. The man was unmarried, and had no plans to become married, and requested that the house be decorated and furnished fashionably before his arrival, as he was a businessman who had no time for such things. He wanted all the conveniences of a modern home, plumbing, gas lighting, and a lift; and he wanted it all ready when he arrived. Mr Ramsey was searching for a gentlewoman of impeccable taste to assist in decorating the house.

"I was unsure if you would approve, Lizzy. You might not like it sounding as if Lydia has taken employment," Uncle Gardiner explained his hesitation.

Elizabeth raised her brows. "I am Lydia's sister, not her keeper, and I am the last person who has any business advising her not to enter trade." Uncle Gardiner chuckled as Elizabeth continued, "I would need to investigate Mr Ramsey and anyone else Lydia might be working with, for her safety and reputation, and she must be well chaperoned, but that aside, it is for Lydia to determine how she spends her time."

Everyone looked at Lydia expectantly as Mr Ramsey said, "Mr Stevens forwarded instructions, colour preferences, and descriptions of the few pieces he is bringing with him if you are interested in looking it all over."

"I would be interested," answered Lydia carefully. "If you would send what you have to Pemberley House, I will look it over, and pending my sister's advice, I will send you my answer."

Mr Ramsay agreed to this proposal, and the gentlemen took their leave while the ladies continued their quest for fabrics. Later in the carriage, Elizabeth asked if Lydia was sure she had time for such a project. "After all, you have promised Lady Amelia Everton and Miss Letitia March that you would advise on their projects as well. And the season will be quite brutal this year.

"There has always been a reason for us not to participate fully since I married. First, I was a new bride, Georgie was ill, then I was recently recovered from the birth of the twins, and Kitty was missing. Everyone understood. This season, I must pull out all the stops so that at some point I might withdraw to Pemberley, and breed, and raise my family for some years. Pemberley House shall entertain quite constantly this season, certainly more than ever before. You will be exceedingly exhausted," Elizabeth warned. Lydia promised to consider the matter carefully.

*****

Lydia looked over the project, instructions, notes, and considerably lavish budget with interest, and made notes for days. Elizabeth investigated everyone involved in the project thoroughly. Once Elizabeth agreed that the project seemed safe enough, Lydia sent a message to Mr Ramsey that she would be available from the first of April to begin visiting the house and directing the work, meanwhile, when away from London, she would be making colour and fabric selections, and visiting estate sales to find pieces for the place.

Mr Ramsey replied that the timing was perfect, April was when the house was expected to be ready for such work. Then Lydia wrote to Lady Amelia and Miss March that if they wished for her assistance, they must make time to select their fabrics and colours before she left London at the end of November. Then she took a brief tour of the unfinished house with Sarah as a chaperone to have a picture in her mind of the space. She spent every last moment in town raiding her uncle's warehouses, and that of his competitors, for fabrics, papers, rugs, vases, mirrors, tapestries, and treasures to be put into storage for her return.

When the family returned to Derbyshire, Lydia mostly returned to her usual activities; riding, walking, studying, translating German and Latin, enjoying poetry and novels, educating her niece, and practising her embroidery diligently. She had mastered the French and Italian languages since she had begun to reside with her sister. She still enjoyed teaching Diane, and now Richard and Anne, who were three years of age, and were learning about the world around them at an astounding pace.

Like Diane, the twins were learning Italian and English as they learned to speak, and in a few years, Elizabeth hoped they might begin French early as Diane had done, if they displayed an aptitude for it. Diane, age ten, was verbally fluent in Italian and French and was now learning to read and translate those languages while she learned to speak German from her mother. Young William Collins, nearly age five, also benefited from the educational atmosphere of the house. The young boy displayed no aptitude for languages yet, but had learned to read early, and was educated according to his age and disposition by Mr Mason, who anticipated the boy being very well prepared for school when the time arrived for him to go.

With Elizabeth's approval, Lydia made several small journeys around Derbyshire and nearby counties to estate sales, and purchased a great deal of furniture, linens, china patterns, crystal, silver, and art. Mr Stevens had given an incredible budget for the decorating of his new house, which was fortunate, because it was incredibly expensive to open a large new home without having inherited any furniture, art, or housewares.

Lydia, with the assistance of Mr Mason and her mother, by post, learned about the important art pieces the man was bringing from America, and with the help of Uncle Gardiner, Elizabeth, and Darcy, had found other important pieces that flattered or fit well with the man's taste. All of the items were carefully labelled with the room they were intended to grace, and transported to London, where they were stored in one of Uncle's warehouses. Lydia had managed to match the man's taste well without having to order a great deal of brand-new furniture, but she would still visit Chippendale's upon her arrival in London to order the last of what was needed.

Before travelling to London in April, in early March, the entire family from Pemberley, Delaford, Rosings and Tatton Hall descended upon Shannon View. Kitty and Brandon generously opened their home to the entire clan as they awaited a most special event. After two weeks of waiting, Elizabeth had the distinct pleasure of sending her Aunt Madeleine the following express:

Shannon View

Sanditon

Dear Aunt Madeleine,

She's done it! She's finally done it! My dearest stepmama, Mrs Fanny Bertelli, at the advanced age of forty-eight, has presented her husband with a son. Master Antony Michael Bertelli was born last night, a strong and hearty boy, whose father says has the lungs of a great singer.

Mama came through the birth far easier than we all feared. All of us girls and Aunt Phillips too were here, so afraid were we that something unfortunate might happen, and we would not be here with her. In the end, she had no trouble at all, and Sister Augustine said that if all births were so easy, that even the gentlemen would do it.

We have all agreed we might need to have our festive seasons at our own homes this year. It seems that with the exception of Lydia of course, all the Bennet daughters are expecting children before the end of this year. We shall all be brought to our beds before October ends, but none of us will be ready to travel come Christmastide. Perhaps you might come to Pemberley? Or perchance you might prefer to travel to Sanditon and meet your long overdue nephew. Do tell me when you decide. Give my love to my cousins and my uncle. We leave for London next week, and look forward to seeing you again.

I remain, as always,

Your Lizzy

*****

Margaret was the young lady of the season at Pemberley House. All the other ladies had already been presented at court, and were acquainted with society. A coming out ball was planned at Pemberley as well as nighttime entertainments every night, and musicales and garden parties at least thrice a week. There would be another enormous ball at the end of the season as well. Elizabeth, Georgiana, Margaret, and Charlotte spent half their weeks buried in Elizabeth's household journals, planning.

The ten thousand Elizabeth had invested for Margaret's dowry had matured handsomely, now having reached twenty-three thousand. The Leedses had written after their marriage saying that they would settle ten thousand as well, but the family made a point not to mention it, because not only was it uncertain due to Marianne's impulsiveness and Leeds's unreliability, but also because the family preferred to trade on the connection as little as possible.

Shortly after arriving in London, Elizabeth and Darcy met with the jewel scout, who had just returned from the visit Darcy had funded. Darcy had begun to worry the man and his security had absconded after so many months, but rather they had returned with an absolute king's ransom in jewels and pearls, having again been to both Africa and India again. Darcy actually met with the man twice, unbeknownst to Elizabeth. Before she viewed the gems, Will had selected an enormous number of very large emeralds which were to be made up as an impressive parure and tiara, with diamonds as well.

Elizabeth had also a pearl choker and earbobs strung up quickly to gift to Margaret at her debut. She also ordered several important pieces of pearl jewellery for herself, as well as a diamond tiara for the Pemberley collection, and a very fine brooch for Her Majesty. The jeweller promised Will that the emerald parure and tiara would be ready before the great ball at Pemberley House at the season's end, and the rest of the gems were polished and prepared to add to the Darcy collection. Sets of different gems were set by at the request of Colonels Fitzwilliam and Brandon as well as Bingley, who would all use them to make gifts for their wives for Christmastide. Truly, the Darcys needed no more jewels. However, the jewel scout showed no sign of wishing to retire, and rather than risk his own now generous fortune on more expeditions, he was very happy to allow Darcy to take the financial risk to pay for the ventures.

Every time he was sent out hunting jewels, an investment that cost less than three thousand pounds, he came back with tens of thousands of pounds in rare stones and pearls. So, the man was sent on another voyage, and if Darcy had his way, by the time they finished adding to it, one day the Darcy collection of jewels would be among the most expensive and extensive collections in the kingdom. It would be many generations indeed before any Darcy had to go out and purchase precious stones to make gifts for their wives.

Margaret was very popular in London. It was impossible to hide that she was the sister of a duchess. However, the worst of the fortune and connection hunters were avoided when it was made common knowledge that the duke had not been nearly as generous with his sister's dowry as many men might be in his position, combined with the fact that the duke was never in England, and therefore not much of a connection to be had. There were still more than enough fortune hunters, but not nearly as many.

Mrs Dashwood had stated that she did not wish to require Margaret to wait until her majority to marry, and so it did not take her long at all to be courted. Elizabeth was in favour of Margaret enjoying more society and education, but like so many young ladies do, Margaret had changed as she matured, and set aside many of her old interests such as cartography, and became more interested in gentlemen, housekeeping, and marriage. So it was that, in early May, Margaret had accepted a courtship from a four and twenty year old first son of a baron, who was using his time until his father went to his reward by taking over the running of the family's estate, Staten Court in Buxton, of about four thousand a year.

Once the proposal was made, the couple stated their wish to marry from Pemberley in mid-July. The groom had few relations besides his parents and siblings, and Margaret wished the wedding to be in Derbyshire near her family. The groom's mother, who was thrilled to be connected in any way to the Darcys was thrilled. The gentleman and his family made the journey with Margaret to meet Margaret's family, and make the preparations for her wedding to the Honourable Mr Vernon Russell. Elinor and Edward stayed at Pemberley during this time, to act as hosts to the Russells until the Darcy party returned home. The couple would later travel to Shannon View for their wedding trip as a gift from the Brandons, before returning to Mr Russell's family estate in late September, and taking up residence in the dower house at Staten Court, giving Sir and Lady Russell time and space to finish bringing up Vernon's seventeen and sixteen-year-old sisters and his twelve-year-old brother.

*****

Lydia spent nearly all her free time during the season at Stevens House, directing the work on the mouldings, paintwork, wallpapers, and carpets. She missed more events than Elizabeth cared for, but she was happy, and once she could be busy moving vases and furniture about the house, she enjoyed herself even more. Lady Amelia and Miss March's projects had been long completed, and Lydia was becoming well known in the ton for her excellent decorating advice. Mr Ramsey was always present about the house, directing this work or that, measuring things and muttering to himself, making notes on blueprints, and looking distracted, but Lydia paid him little attention. Most of the major construction not related to the finishing work had moved behind the house to the stables and carriage house, so Lydia had the freedom and relative quiet to concentrate on her vision for the house without too many workers underfoot.

When the family had arrived in London, Lydia had been surprised to find that Miss Carmichael would be her chaperone on all visits to Stevens House. It was not technically Miss Carmichael's job to chaperone the young ladies individually, but Elizabeth insisted on a proper chaperone and protector with an architect and so many men about the house.

By night, Lydia was the belle of the ball. She and Georgiana were the last remaining unmarried sisters of Lord and Lady Darcy, society knew their dowries would be enormous, and that Elizabeth and Darcy would allow their dowries to be released this season if the girls made matches. Every gentleman was hard on their heels hoping to sweep them off their feet, and the avarice displayed among the men who pursued her made Lydia quite ill. Very few men even attempted to hide it.

Georgiana had reached her majority in April, and so would Lydia in early June. Georgiana, who was the granddaughter of an earl, received the greater share of attention, but Lydia did not suffer for followers. Georgiana went out for drives, rides, walks in the park, and the like daily with her friends and admirers, but she had also chastised several gentlemen quite severely for their assumption that just because she had reached her majority, she must suddenly be desperate to be married. Lydia saved society for the night, encouraged very few daytime callers, and reserved most of her days for Stevens House.

*****

By a curious coincidence, Charlotte somehow managed to take on a ward. The child was distantly related to the Bennets. Her mother and aunts had been gently raised, and were Mr Bennet's second cousins on his mother's side. They were significantly younger than he and Aunt Josephine, but Mr Bennet's mother and the Ward sister's mother had been close, despite the difference in their ages. The eldest sister had married a baron, the second a vicar, and the youngest had run away with a very unsuitable naval lieutenant. Elizabeth had seen none of them in an intimate setting since her very early youth, before their marriages, though she was in a roundabout way acquainted with the two eldest through friends in town.

One evening at a ball at Lady Emerson's home, Elizabeth and Darcy passed a line of matrons sitting against the wall, when she heard her name called. "Yoohoo, Lady Darcy! Just the one, sister, mark my words, Lady Darcy has the answer to our predicament. I heard from Mrs Dashwood that our cousin Lady Darcy has taken in a frightful number of cousins! Lady Darcy, it is true that you have taken in a great number of impoverished cousins, have you not?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and drew a fortifying breath as she and her husband turned back toward the speaker. "I beg your pardon, Mrs Norris, I do not understand your meaning. I have indeed had a number of cousins reside in my home for familial companionship and protection while mourning a father or husband, but I have no impoverished relatives that I am aware of."

Mrs Norris, the sister of a well-respected baron's wife, and the wife of a parson, pursed her lips and replied, "We had heard from Mrs Fanny Dashwood that your Dashwood cousins were reduced to living at Pemberley due to Mr Dashwood's father having left them penniless."

" Reduced to living at Pemberley ?" Elizabeth laughed at the thought. Only Fanny Dashwood would even think of being resentful enough to call living at Pemberley reduced . "I cannot imagine why Mrs Dashwood would publicly disgrace herself by admitting that her sisters and stepmother-in-law had nowhere to live, when they ought to have been welcome with their half brother in their family home, but I assure you, Mrs Norris, my home is my family's home, and I will suffer none of my relations to be impoverished nor destitute."

"I do admire Mrs Dashwood, although perhaps you are right that to admit her relations' poverty was not well done by her," said Mrs Norris's sister, Lady Bertram. Lady Bertram was a languid woman who was rarely seen in London, although Darcy spoke with her husband often on parliamentary issues in town. He disliked the man – and many like him who had obtained wealth from plantations in Jamaica – intensely, on a personal level, but luckily, was not required to socialise with him often. It seemed Sir Thomas had coaxed Lady Bertram to town with her sister for company for a spell; he and Darcy nodded to one another politely. "But perhaps my sister is correct. Perhaps you could advise us on a family matter of our own."

Charlotte approached the group and joined them quietly as Elizabeth indicated for Lady Bertram to continue "My youngest sister, your father's second cousin, Mrs Price, married quite down I am afraid, and now has far too many children who seem to be falling into ill health. We have discussed bringing the eldest of the girls to live with us to ease her burden, but we cannot agree amongst ourselves, how to maintain the distinction of rank between herself and our own daughters. They are only children after all, they cannot be expected to observe the proprieties themselves. We simply must decide how it is to be done. How have you managed such distinctions, Lady Darcy? How have you kept your cousins in their place? What is your advice?"

"My sister and brother think that I ought to have her at the parsonage because I have no children, but Mr Norris is not well, and how am I to manage a child when I am caring for him?" asked Mrs Norris. "The only way it could be done would be to use the girl as a maid, or else I could never afford her. And she would have to sleep in the kitchen. I cannot give up my guest rooms, what would we do if a friend came to visit? Place them in a room next to an impoverished relation? No, I say the best way forward will be to bring her to Mansfield Park, and give her the room next to the governess and the school room. Not in the nursery with the other girls, but a more refined situation than the servant's quarters, or even her parent's lodgings, I would warrant. The perfect situation to bring the child up properly, but not too high above her station."

Elizabeth could only gape at the woman's astonishing ignorance and glanced at Charlotte, who appeared to be steaming from her ears. "I do not know what Eliza would advise, but if I were to be asked, I would suggest leaving your niece where she is, rather than subject her to a life where she is constantly reminded that everyone about her is superior to her. I am sure the girl would rather stay with her mother than suffer such an unhappy childhood."

Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram gasped at the venom in Charlotte's tone, and Mrs Norris spoke up again, "And who are you, madam, to have an opinion? And to refer to Lady Darcy in such an informal manner indeed?"

Elizabeth smiled, "Sir Thomas, Lady Bertram, Mrs Norris, may I introduce my dearest cousin, Mrs Charlotte Collins?" Lady Bertram and her sister gasped again as they realised this handsome woman in the fine gown that was obviously created by Madame Clarisse, was one of what they might consider to be Elizabeth's impoverished cousins , but who clearly was not very impoverished at all. "Sir Thomas, Lady Bertram, I can only agree with my cousin. To place a child in such an intolerable situation would be the cruellest treatment imaginable. If you cannot find it in your heart to take the girl in, raise her as your own, and treat her the same as your own children, you would do better to leave her where she is. And if I can offer one more piece of advice? It is the height of dishonour to possess impoverished relations if you have the means to help them better their situation. I myself find it beneath my dignity to allow any relation of mine to live in anything less than genteel comfort."

The Darcys and Charlotte swept away, leaving the Bertrams shocked to have been spoken to thus, but really, Elizabeth asked Darcy and Charlotte, what else could they possibly expect after such a speech?