“I do not,” she replied, not taking her eyes off her mother-in-law. “I find them…far too cold.”
Silence greeted this pronouncement.
Then Lady Anne rose. “I believe I shall retire now.”
The other occupants of the room rose politely to their feet as she left the room.
Sitting back down, Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “Cold?”
“Extremely.”
He would not laugh at his mother, but his lips twitched suspiciously. Not wanting to speak further on the subject of the diamonds, he said, “Perhaps Mrs. Annesley would care to participate in a game of First Line?”
Elizabeth explained the game, which was simple enough, and she led off. “Mrs. Stanhope, a well-bred woman, accomplished in that branch of knowledge which is called the art of rising in the world, had, with but a small fortune, contrived to live in the highest company.”
After a minute’s silence, Mrs. Annesley ventured, “Belinda, is it not?”
“Well done, Mrs. Annesley. It is now your turn to stump us.”
Mrs. Annesley thought for a minute, and then said, “Midnight, and yet no eye Through all the Imperial City clos’d in sleep!”
Her fellow participants all looked at one another and then shook their heads.
“No?” Mrs. Annesley asked. “Perhaps if I provide the next line.Behold her streets a-blaze, With light that seems to kindle the red sky, Her myriads swarming through the crowded ways!”
Greeted only with puzzled looks, she smiled and said, “The Curse of Kehama!”
“Oh! Oh!” Elizabeth said, both delighted and impressed. “I have not yet had the opportunity to procure that work; do you have it?”
“No, my previous employers purchased it for their daughters a year ago.”
Mr. Darcy resolved to buy a copy for his wife immediately.
Chapter Forty-Six
Mrs. Reynolds, I play to distribute the midsummer wage packets on Wednesday,” Elizabeth said.
The housekeeper looked surprised, saying, “Lady Anne has not done so for some years now.”
“I understand, but I believe that to be not only my right, but my obligation.”
“You need not, Mrs. Darcy; I know you have much to do around the house and the estate.”
“But I wish to do so, and I believe the staff will appreciate that Ichooseto do so.”
Recognising the now-familiar stubborn tilt of Mrs. Darcy’s head, Mrs. Reynolds acquiesced with no further objection. “Mr. Darcy generally gives me an envelope of money, and I divide it up into the various envelopes, one for each servant. The staff line up outside my office door, a dozen or so at a time, and they file in, one by one.”
“If you would prepare the envelopes, I would be grateful; I will come to your office and we will distribute the envelopes together. Does that suit?’
“It does, of course.”
***
The first servant to enter Mrs. Reynolds’ office was Mrs. Thurston; her eyes widened upon seeing Elizabeth. “Mrs. Darcy!” she exclaimed.
“Good morning, Mrs. Thurston,” Elizabeth replied, taking the envelope with the Cook’s name written in Mrs. Reynolds’ perfect hand and proffering it. “We are grateful to you for the delicious meals the family enjoys every day.”
The woman curtsied hastily as she took the envelope from Elizabeth’s hand. “I see those blueberry tarts are still a favorite with the Master.”
