Chapter 10

Eventually the trip to Pemberley was made for the harvest. Colonel Brandon volunteered to stay in London for the duration in order to pursue any likely leads as quickly as possible. Darcy and Mr Ferrars had promised to be of assistance to his steward if help was required with Delaford's harvest. Elizabeth for once had little to do. Mrs Hayes had the household well in hand, and Darcy encouraged Elizabeth to leave it at that for now, and finally get a rest rather than attempt to resume too many of her duties. She visited the tenants, and spent time in her stables, which were thriving in spite of her neglect. Many foals had been born, and training had begun on the older colts. There had been a number of applications from noblemen and men of importance who wished to buy horses from her. She corresponded with several who sounded likely, and sent a groom who understood her standards to tour the stables of the applicants before she made the decision to sell any of her mounts.

The Merriweather sisters had been hard at work on her quilts, and had sent enough to gift each servant and tenant box of Netherfield a quilt for their bed at Christmas. Elizabeth had placed another large order of quilts for Windmere and the servants at Pemberley House and Darcy House in London. Mrs Pottinger had related to Elizabeth that the extra work had allowed the ladies to put something by for emergencies and the like, and that their comfort of living had been much improved. Not only that, but they had been able to hire two girls to help them with the housework and the quilting, helping them and their mother who was a widow with many children who lived in the village.

Elizabeth had arranged the previous year with Mr Ripley, the steward at Pemberley, that enough firewood and coal for the winter would be delivered to the sisters each year, and that a manservant from Pemberley looked in once a week to ensure they needed no help in the way of masculine assistance around their house. This year, Elizabeth requested that Mr Ripley do so with the widow in the village as well, and that she be added to those to whom a basket was delivered from Pemberley each month.

Elizabeth had no excuse not to socialise in Derbyshire. Her work was minimal at this time, having left much in Montague's hands for the duration of their trip north, and the same went for the search for Kitty. As time passed, tips and leads were coming fewer and farther between, and they had begun to run out of places to look. But while Elizabeth was at Pemberley, she had little to do, and so for once, Elizabeth finally rested. She accepted calls from the ladies nearby, spent time with Granny Rose, whom they had all missed, hosted The Ferrars and Dashwoods for dinner, nursed her babes, and she planned a modest harvest festival for the tenants. Apart from that, Elizabeth did little but ride her horses, and sleep. She was exhausted. Exhausted from nursing, exhausted from working, searching, worrying. Exhausted from too many late nights and early mornings.

*****

During one of her visits to the tenants, Elizabeth was enjoying tea with Mrs Vaughan when her eleven-year-old son Freddie came into the kitchen with a sheet of paper and said, "Mama, might I give my drawing to Lady Darcy?"

"Now Freddie, you know what your Pa said! Enough with this nonsense and be away with you! It's indecent, it is!" answered Mrs Vaughan quickly, seeming embarrassed.

"Now I simply must know what the drawing is," interrupted Elizabeth curiously. "I shall lose sleep wondering about it otherwise. Surely, Mrs Vaughan, there is nothing your fine boy could draw that might upset me so. May I see it?"

"It's just a bit of nonsense, it is, your ladyship," the boy's mother said nervously. "The boy took an eye to the lovely colour of your gown the last time you was here, and he drew a picture of another gown he had an idea about. His father is in a right state about it. He'll be in a right state all over again, when he knows Freddie has disobeyed him."

Elizabeth took the drawing kindly, and was impressed by what she saw. It was a picture of herself, in black and white, as she presumed the boy would have no way to colour in his drawings with watercolours and pastels. In it she was wearing an everyday afternoon dress, appropriate for visiting or even acceptable for an afternoon being seen shopping in London. But the style of the gown, the cut and fall of the cloth were something completely new, and, she had to admit to herself, quite attractive. "Did you see a gown like this on another lady, Freddie? It is quite an attractive garment."

"No, your ladyship. It was when you came last time in your pretty blue gown that I thought of something like this. I do not have the colours to finish it, but I imagined it a lovely light green, ma'am. I thought it might look very nice on you ma'am, and I just had to draw it and show it to you," the boy answered as his mother's cheeks flamed in embarrassment at her son's untraditional exchange with the mistress of the estate.

Elizabeth contemplated for a moment what she might say to the boy. "Well, Freddie, I must encourage you to heed and honour your parents whenever possible, but I have enjoyed seeing this very much. Do you have any others?" Elizabeth chatted with Mrs Vaughan and did her best to put the mother at ease while Freddie left the room and returned with two more drawings of Elizabeth, both in stunningly creative and attractive gowns, and two each of his mother, and his older and younger sisters, each in far simpler gowns, more in line with the family's standing, but in an obviously fashionable and sophisticated cut. The dresses and trimmings were very pretty, and Elizabeth complimented Freddie on his talent and imagination.

"Well, me mum and me sisters Ester and Nellie are the prettiest ladies in Derbyshire, besides yourself that is, ma'am. I wish I could make ‘em all a dress, the prettiest dresses you ever saw, but I do not know how or how to afford the fabric, your ladyship. But I can draw ‘em something real nice and they can imagine ‘emselves in it," Freddie confided to Elizabeth.

"Oooh Freddie, Pa is going to thrash you silly when he finds out you disobeyed him!" cried fifteen-year-old Ester who had just entered the house. "You won't be able to sit for a week, you won't!"

"I hope Mr Vaughan will not find that necessary when Mrs Vaughan tells him how delighted I am with the drawings and that I hope dear young Freddie will not be punished. Freddie, may I borrow these? Including the ones of your mother and sisters? I realise that they must be treasured keepsakes for your mother and sisters, but I promise you will get them back."

"You may keep ‘em, your ladyship," answered Freddie eagerly. "I drew many of those." Elizabeth took her leave of the family and Mrs Vaughan assured her that Mr Vaughan would be angry with Freddie, but that she could fend off any thrashings.

The very next afternoon, however, Elizabeth received a summons to Darcy's study, where he was waiting with Mr and Mrs Vaughan. "My darling, I have just been speaking to Mr and Mrs Vaughan and I thought perhaps you could ease any concerns Mr Vaughan has about the drawings you lately accepted from his son Freddie."

"Begging your pardon, your ladyship, but I wanted to take the drawings back if I may," began Mr Vaughan. "The last thing I need is the story making its way about the county, that my boy is… Well, that he's drawing pictures of dresses. We have the family name to consider."

"Unfortunately, I cannot return the drawings to you, Mr Vaughan, because I no longer have them. I sent them to my modiste in London by express this morning." When the gentleman began to look panicked, Elizabeth spoke again. "My London modiste is a designer of the highest calibre, producing gowns of elegance and importance to be worn only to the most sought-after events in London. It is only I and a select few of my family for whom she will make entire wardrobes, because I am the one who put her into business.

"Although she does not have the time or ability to cater to ladies for everyday wear, she believes in well made, fashionable garments for ladies of all stations, from daily wear to evening attire. To this end, she had me put her into contact with a publisher last year, who produces her designs of everyday wear for ladies of all stations into fashion plates that have become wildly popular with all ranks of society and have garnered her quite a bit of wealth. Mr and Mrs Vaughan, the few drawings that I have seen of your son's talent are remarkable. I have sent the ones he made of me to her in the hopes that she can create the gowns he imagined, as I thought it would be a treat for him to see me wearing them, and I sent the ones he drew of your wife and daughters, to learn if she is interested in publishing them as part of her collection. If she does, there may be some money for Freddie."

"But a boy, your ladyship! Our family will be a laughingstock!" exclaimed Mr Vaughan. "It is all well and good for there to be a bit of money for Freddie, but what about the family's reputation?"

"Your reputation will be perfectly safe," Elizabeth assured them. "Freddie's identity will be protected, of course. If Madame Clarisse publishes the drawings, then they will be credited as Madame Clarisse's Collection, featuring F. Vaughan. No one in the world would expect F. Vaughan to be an eleven-year-old son of a tenant farmer from Derbyshire, even if someone from the village gets hold of one, as long as Freddie and your family are discreet. And if she asks for more, it could be a very good way for Freddie to earn something, help his family, and set aside something for his own future. You have three sons, and Freddie is your youngest boy. Your farm cannot provide for all of them and their families when you pass on. Some of them must make their own way, and it will be to all of their best interests if they may pursue trades that they are passionate about."

"But is it not it unseemly, Lady Darcy? Shouldn't we be concerned he might develop unnatural urges if he were to do something like this? We thought he would go into service," said Mrs Vaughan in a near whisper.

"Mrs Vaughan, I can assure you that if Freddie were to have the urges you describe, that it would not matter what activities or trades you might forbid him from. He is going to be who he is no matter what he draws or does not draw; whether he designs clothes or works in the stables. But to put your mind at ease, may I ask, have you heard of Charles Frederick Worth?" When the couple shook their heads, Elizabeth continued. "The man was born in Lincolnshire, and has opened a design house in Paris. English ladies travel to the continent to purchase his designs. Imagine that! An Englishman, a world-famous designer, so famous that ladies travel from all over Europe to visit his design house, House of Worth [?] .

"To my knowledge, Mr Worth is happily married, and has two sons. I hope that answers your questions about whether your son can follow his interests, and still be a respectable Englishman in the eyes of society. I spoke to the school master on my way home yesterday, and he says that Freddie is intelligent, can read and write, and has a firm grasp of mathematics. He is obviously an intelligent boy. It would be a shame to force him into service if he has an aptitude for something better. There are going to be fewer opportunities in service as he gets older. With so many new industries taking hold in England just now, the boy ought to learn a proper trade and skill."

Mr Vaughan fidgeted nervously. "I will take your word, Lady Darcy, that you will protect Freddie's identity in the village. I will not force him into service against your advice, if anything comes of this. Everyone on the estate says you are very wise, and that you are an intelligent businesswoman, and that your advice is always good. It must be, or the master would never have married you otherwise. But what must he do next?"

"Not very much, until we hear from my modiste, although I would like to send you home with some colouring pastels," replied Elizabeth easily, glad that Mr Vaughan had not been difficult to convince. "I visited Lady Georgiana's art room yesterday, and she donated a set of pastels she doesn't enjoy working with as well as some supplies for water colouring and drawing materials. I was planning to bring them and visit you again very soon. You should allow him to colour in the existing drawings he has, and draw new ones as much as he likes for now. Perhaps my modiste will wish to make him an offer, and so he should have something else ready to send. I shall also send a quantity of paper. Perhaps we might find him an apprenticeship in textiles in a year or two. Perhaps he will lose interest in drawing and begin to admire horses, or blacksmithing, or candle making. He is still a young boy. Do not worry too much about his future yet."

The Vaughans agreed to wait and see what would happen. They told Freddie nothing other than to colour in some of his other drawings, and to draw as many new ones as he liked. His parents also passed on Georgiana's warning to him that he ought to practise with the pastels and watercolours, before attempting to use them on any drawings he prized. Elizabeth was planning a special surprise for Freddie and his family. In addition to stopping at the schoolhouse the day before, she had also stopped at the cottage of Mrs Fletcher, an older widow who was talented with a needle, and supplemented her income assisting the estate wives with their dresses.

Most farm wives could make their own everyday garments, but not every family could afford finer Sunday wear from the dressmaker or tailor in Lambton. Mrs Fletcher and several housewives on Pemberley's estate had arrangements that suited everyone. She was often paid in eggs, chickens, vegetables, or honey, but she had attired enough of the tenants and their wives to be well looked after by her neighbours. Elizabeth informed Mrs Fletcher that she was attempting a surprise for Mrs Vaughan and her daughters and wondered if Mrs Fletcher could provide the Vaughan ladies' measurements. Elizabeth paid her handsomely for the information, and then to soothe the woman's ruffled feathers over not being selected for the job, Elizabeth asked her to make new Sunday attire for all of the men in the Vaughan family, in just slightly better quality than they might normally afford, and then send it up to the manor. Elizabeth had then included the Vaughan ladies' measurements with the drawings, and sent them to Madame Clarisse first thing in the morning.

*****

Lydia had been kind enough to exercise Artemis often in London, claiming it gave her the opportunity to improve her seat and riding skills. Elizabeth rode as often as she could, but she found herself distracted by a missive on the hall table as often as she actually made it out and onto her horse. She felt guilty, because Artemis needed exercise. While in Derbyshire, Elizabeth strove to wake early each day, when her nighttime activities with Will did not make it impossible, and to ride the estate extensively, still followed by Miss Carmichael and a groom. Sometimes Will was able to join her, but more often he was obliged to see to the harvest. Otherwise, when Elizabeth was not riding or taking calls from the ladies of the neighbourhood, she was often sleeping, for she was still melancholy about Kitty's situation.

At first Will and also Charlotte and Granny Rose thought she might be with child again, but Elizabeth assured them this was not the case. She was, simply put. So, so, tired. She slept for hours in the middle of the day sometimes, and Will was astounded at how much his wife had been carrying, and the toll it had taken upon her. Elizabeth had begun slowly weaning the twins, and it would be a few more months before they were completely weaned, but she felt that she would have more energy when the nursing was done. The twins were healthy, and adored by their parents, and all at Pemberley. Richard was much like his father, stoic and observant. Anne was much more vocal about her preferences, making her demands known and charming the servants and all about her with her winning smile and bright new tooth. Both had the shape of their mother's eyes, and the piercing blue of their father's along with a mop of thick, dark curls. When she was resting, Elizabeth kept them with her in the afternoons, while her mornings were often spent with Diane and Beau.

Mr Mason had quizzed Diane's knowledge when they had arrived. He assured Elizabeth that Lydia and Georgiana were doing a marvellous job with the lesson plans he sent for the girl, and that her education was surprisingly advanced for a girl child, and one so young at that. Darcy had begun riding lessons on her new pony, who had been named Her Royal Highness, Princess Buttercup.

A trunk arrived three weeks after her express to Madame Clarisse. Elizabeth had no idea how she had done it so quickly, but all of the gowns were finished. The lovely light green one and the two others Freddie had drawn for her, and two extremely pretty frocks each for his mother and his two sisters, as well as proofs for fashion plates for the new styles. Elizabeth sent a note to Mrs Fletcher inquiring about the attire for the men, and the footman returned with the packages in hand, stating that the widow had just completed the last set of clothes. Elizabeth sent another note asking Mr and Mrs Vaughan and Freddie to be available for a visit the following afternoon. Elizabeth, in her new green gown, climbed into her buggy, with the trunk tied to the back, and with Darcy and Wilson escorting her on horseback, travelled to the Vaughans' tenant cottage.

The Vaughans' two elder sons were working the farm when they arrived, but Freddie Vaughan capered about and clapped his hands with glee when Darcy handed Elizabeth down in her stylish new green dress. As Darcy and Wilson took the trunk down from the carriage, Elizabeth followed the family into the house. Freddie's sisters were inside. "Now, Freddie. Seeing myself in the wonderful gown you designed was a surprise for you, but I also have a surprise for the rest of your family. Freddie told me that he believes his mother and sisters to be the prettiest ladies in the county–" at which point Freddie quite improperly interrupted to say, "ceptin' you, Lady Darcy!" –which drew a smile from the mistress who continued, "and he would make them the loveliest dresses if only he knew how, but he did not, nor could he afford the fabric. But in gratitude for the lovely designs you created for me, Freddie, I have had the dresses for your mother and sisters made up as well."

A noise such as had never been heard in the cottage went up as the Vaughan females opened the trunk and exclaimed over the lovely gowns. Eight-year-old Nellie was quite overcome by the ruffles on her new pink frock and threw her arms about her brother, sobbing. "But Lady Darcy, however did you get our measurements?" asked Mrs Vaughan, smiling beautifully as her two daughters ran up the stairs to try them on.

"I had to bribe Mrs Fletcher for them, and getting them from her without telling her why was difficult, let me tell you." Smiled Elizabeth back. She then handed over four packages wrapped in brown paper, "Now three such well-dressed ladies cannot be escorted to church by just anyone tomorrow, so these garments for the gentlemen were made by Mrs Fletcher, as a way of soothing her feathers over not being commissioned for the dresses."

"Mrs Darcy, we cannot accept such a gift," objected Mr Fletcher.

"It is not a gift from me. It is a gift from dear Freddie. The ladies' dresses were a gift from me to Freddie in thanks for designing my three favourite new gowns. He may give them to his mother and sisters as he pleases. The gentlemen's garments were paid for from the money Freddie earned from Madame Clarisse, for I knew he would not wish to forget any of his family."

"He's been paid money?" exclaimed his mother in surprise as Elizabeth laid the funds on the table. "But there is nearly two pounds here!"

"That is nearly half of what Freddie earned from his drawings," she explained, showing them some fashion plates. "Madame Clarisse has published them as part of her fashion plate collection. If they sell very well, he will earn a little more from them later. I must say that Madame Clarisse had not before made fashion plates for children. She asks that Freddie send as many as he can, and she has sent a trunk full of fashion plates for him to peruse for inspiration. I have placed half of what he earned into an account for Freddie, and will continue to do so with half of what he earns in the future. That will give him something to start a business or begin a career when he is ready. The rest is for your family to use now. Freddie, please put together all of the drawings that you have that you deem good enough to send, and I will arrange for Wilson here to take them into London on his next journey. He will be coming to collect whatever you have to send, and bringing you your payments when Madame Clarisse sends them. You can rely upon his discretion. I trust Mr Wilson with my business affairs."

"Mr Vaughan, look at this fashion plate! How sophisticated! The Madame Clarisse Everyday Lady Collection, featuring the designs of F. Vaughan! How well that looks!" Mrs Vaughan crowed, unable to help herself in her delight.

"It'll look even better locked away in a drawer somewhere that your gossipy friends won't see fashion plates by F. Vaughan all about the house, Wife! Go put the things away somewhere!" Mr Vaughan chuckled as his wife scooped up the papers in her arms and rushed up the stairs after her daughters. "I thank you, Lord and Lady Darcy. To be honest, I did not know what to do about the boy and his strange interests. Frightened me, it did. Glad I am to have such advice as yours. The older boys will be right grateful for the new clothes, ma'am. Twas time we all had summat new made up. The boy was right. My Peg and the girls deserved something new and fine. We had summat put by for new clothes, but now we can go into the village and have good boots made for the family. Perhaps even some dancing slippers for Peg and Ester, for when we go to the assembly. Does me good to see ‘em so happy, and puts my mind at rest that you've taken an interest in Freddie, and will help to see his ideas land him in the right place. Cannot thank you enough, sir, ma'am." The Darcys said their goodbyes and promised to see the family the following day at church.

See them the next day at church they did, and Freddie stood much taller than usual next to his father, and when he escorted his younger sister Nellie out of the church, taking her arm as she picked her way home, taking care not to soil the precious new dress with the ruffles she prized. Later in the week a locked box of more than twenty-five drawings was delivered at the back door to Wilson. Elizabeth looked through them, and thought that Freddie Vaughan had a very good chance indeed at having quite a few of them published. She wrote a note to Madame Clarisse to make up two more of the gowns for her.

*****

Eventually the visit to Pemberley came to an end. Elizabeth and Darcy had argued bitterly about it, but to London they returned. Darcy wished to stay in Derbyshire for the holidays, but Elizabeth insisted that had not been their agreement, he had promised it was only for the harvest. She insisted that it was unfair to agree to a visit of a certain length, and then try to change it once they had arrived. Elizabeth had rested as much as she could, attended her duties at Pemberley with Charlotte's and Granny's help, and had even planned a modest harvest festival. She had made an effort, for him and for Pemberley, but she had reached her limit for now. Now she wished to return to town to continue the search for Kitty.

When Will argued with her, she burst into tears, and declared that she was sure Kitty would dearly love to spend the holidays at Pemberley as well, and it was a shame no one could find her to make it possible, and that Elizabeth would not give up on her! She pointed out that if it had been Georgiana who had disappeared, that she doubted Darcy would be so sanguine about returning to everyday life. She had then stormed out of the room and Darcy's valet, Mr Watson, had discreetly informed Darcy the next morning that his wife was proceeding with the arrangements to return to London as planned.

Darcy had to acknowledge that Elizabeth was correct. If Georgiana had disappeared, there would be no Christmas, there would be no travel or socialising, or harvest festivals. Nothing would interest him until he found her. Elizabeth had been remarkably considerate, considering the circumstances. It had been a year, but he knew it was too soon to expect Elizabeth to give up. He apologised tenderly to his wife, and resigned himself to returning to town with her.

Their return south followed its usual pattern. They spent some time at Netherfield, and then returned to London. They stayed slightly longer at Netherfield than their usual visit at this time of year, because they had promised to return to Windmere with the Fitzwilliams for Christmas once the ladies had ordered their wardrobes. The twins' first birthday was celebrated in London, and Elizabeth had a lovely luncheon for all of their family. With the trouble with Kitty, Elizabeth had fallen sadly out of communication with her aunts, uncles and cousins, and it was pleasant to spend the day with her relations and Will's. The twins were the centre of the occasion as they ought to be, and their family rejoiced in having something happy to celebrate.

Maria and Georgiana got on very well, and Charlotte's younger sister was invited to go with the family to visit Windmere for the festive season. Mary had done a lovely job decorating the house for Christmastide, and Mrs Bennet was immensely pleased to see them all and hear their news. Elizabeth had taken a mountain of work and investigative material with her to Windmere, and did her best to behave cheerfully during the festivities. Mrs Bennet, elated at the presence of the twins and the children, was much gayer than the year before. Lydia was still a quiet shadow of her former self, and devoted her time to keeping the children amused and happy. She spent much time in the corner of Elizabeth's study, quietly reading or studying French, Italian, history, or books on fashion and home decorating while Elizabeth worked on her business and the investigation for Kitty.