His astonishment must have shown on his face, for her expression sank before he even spoke. “Mrs Fitzwilliam, I can hardly have you polishing silver or clipping the hedges. I do not know what you are accustomed to in America, but here, you are the wife of a gentleman, and shall be accorded the dignity of such.”
“But surely, even such figures must have some occupation,” she protested. “You do not take your ease all day. Where I am from, even the wives of the wealthiest landowners must do their part.”
“You are a guest, and a lady,” he stated flatly, and in such a tone that she stiffened and offered no further argument. He wondered if she even understood what the term “lady” meant—or what it meant here.
“If you are seeking amusement, please avail yourself of the library, the music room, the grounds, or even Lambton’s shops as you choose. My staff will all attend your needs—you have but to voice them.”
The woman’s chin drew back, and there was some defiant spark in her eye, but she merely answered, “You are very kind, Mr Darcy.”
“I only do as I feel right. My cousin’s wife will not be treated as a beggar or a servant in my home.”
“And we are very grateful,” Miss Bennet put in, with a quick look to her sister. Mrs Fitzwilliam stilled, then offered a thin smile.
“Then let us speak of other matters. I have a guest arriving on the morrow—an old friend who is asking for my opinions on certain business dealings. I am happy to receive him; however, his arrival does create some… complications.”
Mrs Fitzwilliam’s interest piqued. “Such as?”
He hesitated. “I would not wish you to feel obliged to alter your daily routine for his benefit.”
She frowned. “You do not want him to know the precise nature of our connection. I am to remain your little family secret until you verify my claims.”
“You need be at no pains to entertain Mr Bingley,” he answered firmly. “And as to your claims, have I not accepted them? But you are correct in that I feel it wisest to limit introductions at this point. It is best for Richard, and best for you.”
She rolled her eyes faintly but remained silent.
“Thank you for understanding. And now, I must speak with my sister. Have you any knowledge of her whereabouts?”
At this, Mrs Fitzwilliam’s expressive features took on a conscious look. “I believe she was touring the walking paths. I saw her going in that direction a few moments ago.”
“Excellent. Then I shall see you at dinner, Mrs Fitzwilliam—Miss Bennet.”
She merely nodded in silence, her eyes tight, and her lips puckered in thought.
“Lizzy,whatareyouthinking?”
Elizabeth watched Mr Darcy walking across the manicured green scape, then out of sight behind a tree, and collected her words before answering. “Nothing, and everything, I suppose. Have you the sense that we are desperately out of our class here?”
Jane frowned. “Not especially. Why, yes, everything is different. The customs, the foods, the way they address one another—and the house is so large! But has not everyone been kind to us?”
“Kindness to fulfil an obligation is merely ‘hospitality,’ and anyone can do that who has the resources.”
“I do not think they are so vastly different from us, Lizzy. Do you? Certainly, they are very wealthy—exceedingly so—but they are just people, after all.”
“Precisely, but sometimes I feel liketheybelieve they are better than that. Why, think of what we were just talking of. Why would Mr Darcy not permit me to meet anyone else from Richard’s family? Why is he so anxious that we do not mingle with his other guests? The reason is obvious, Jane. They think of me as a stain on the family. You can be assured that only a few persons, and those only the most intimately involved, have even heard my name.”
“But can you blame Mr Darcy for that?” Jane reasoned. “Think, Lizzy, if some stranger arrived and claimed to be married to… well, to me, for example. If you had reasons to doubt and I could not be consulted, would you not do all you could to protect my reputation?”
“Protecting one person’s reputation does not mean slighting another. I would treat such a gentleman with respect while I examined his claims.”
Jane cleared her throat. “Lizzy…”
Elizabeth groaned. “Oh! I suppose you mean for me to see that Mr Darcy has done precisely that. And that, perhaps, brings me back to my point. Why the veil of silence over everything? Why can he not simplytellme, to my face, exactly what to expect and how I should act? Back at home, I would have understood why and how everything was to be done, but here, it is like we are caught in some enormous social web that I shall never comprehend. I do not dispute that Mr Darcy has shown us every consideration, and more than many would have done, but I had hoped to feel…” She broke off, puckered her brow, and then decided, “Useful. No, that is not right.Family. I wish it felt like that.”
“All families look different, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth let out a frustrated sigh. “I suppose. I feel so torn, Jane. I am worried—terrified for Richard. Mr Darcy tells us he is dreadfully concerned, and he says others are as well, but I cannot see it. What I would give to clasp his mother’s hands and have a good cry with her, as we would do with Mama.”
“That would make you feel better?”
