The Pemberley Chronicles (32 page)

"Was Cathy happy to stay?" asked Elizabeth.
"Yes, she is very grown up for her age and enjoys using the music room and library where she is permitted to read and practice the piano. Lady Catherine is quite partial to her and has always taken an interest in her."
Elizabeth realised what a struggle it must have been for Charlotte to turn down Lady Catherine's offer, lucrative and tempting as it must have been. Tea was served, and they were joined by Darcy and Mrs Gardiner, who greeted Charlotte with affection and kindness. Charlotte, having thanked them and passed on Lady Catherine's compliments to her nephew, sat down to talk of her plans for the future. She was frank and honest, as well as practical in her outlook, as she had always been even in the days when she, together with Elizabeth and Jane, had been growing up in Meryton. Charlotte spoke quietly of her plans. There were not many alternatives available to her and her young family. She could go to her father at Lucas Lodge, but it would be only a temporary arrangement. Her brother, Frank, was returning from India in the Spring, and he was engaged to be married. There could be no question of her staying on afterwards. "There will be no room for two women at Lucas Lodge," she said, firmly if a little sadly.
Elizabeth felt for her. Lucas Lodge had been her home for almost thirty years; soon she would be a stranger there. But Charlotte was as ever practical and wanted advice about investing her husband's savings for the benefit of her two younger daughters. For herself, she could live thriftily on her annuity, but she wanted to do something with her life. She was forty-three and in excellent health. She could not be idle, she said. "I would like to start a little school," she said brightly, "for young ladies, who would like to learn how to acquire some basic social graces, who need guidance in etiquette, manners, decorum, that sort of thing." Elizabeth, who had not imagined such a possibility for Charlotte, was at a loss for a reply, but Mrs Gardiner spoke up with alacrity.
"I think it is an excellent idea, Mrs Collins. Unfortunately, young women today receive very little guidance on these matters, unless they have good governesses or friends in the right social circles. Many families with sufficient means have no one they can trust to tutor their daughters. Your little school, if I am right in thinking you mean to provide a live-in place rather like Mrs Barton's establishment at Oxford, would serve a very useful purpose."
"Do you think there would be many such families in Meryton, Aunt?" asked Elizabeth.
"Not in Meryton, no, but in Derby or even in Kympton, I am sure there would be many middle class families from the surrounding areas who would welcome it. Your connections with Rosings, and indeed with Pemberley, would be considered a great advantage, Mrs Collins," she said, and Charlotte was pleased to have her plan taken seriously. Darcy, impressed by Charlotte's determination and Mrs Gardiner's encouraging remarks, suggested that they might meet with Mr Gardiner the following day to discuss it further.
"Mr Gardiner is, without doubt, the best businessman I know; I am confident he will give you excellent advice, Mrs Collins. I would recommend that you consult him before you make any decisions." Mrs Gardiner invited them to join her family at dinner on the following day, when Charlotte could consult her husband. Mr Gardiner was almost as enthusiastic as his wife, with a little added caution on the question of investment and leases. He agreed that there certainly were several hundred families in the neighbouring districts all over the Midlands, recently rich, merchant and professional families, who wanted desperately to secure an entre into society for their children, if not for themselves.
"Their rough diamonds could do with some polishing," he said, "so they could move more easily in society. Your little establishment, Mrs Collins, and others like it, could help them gain a degree of acceptance."
"Do you believe people would pay to have their daughters schooled in social arts and graces?" Charlotte asked, with some trepidation.
"My dear Mrs Collins, people will pay for anything if they are convinced they are getting value for their money. It will be your task to convince them, and I'm sure you will," he replied, with his usual air of amiable confidence.
Elizabeth and Darcy exchanged glances, and Elizabeth saw, in her husband's expression, the reason why the two men had become such firm friends. Her uncle's total openness and honesty, together with his complete lack of pomposity or self-importance, had attracted Darcy's attention right at the start of their acquaintance many years ago, and ever since, the relationship between them had grown stronger. Darcy retained enormous respect and affection for both Mr and Mrs Gardiner, and on this occasion, it was easy to see why.
The concern and interest they showed in Charlotte's plans for her future and that of her daughters were matched only by the generosity with which they gave of their time to assist and advise her. Charlotte herself was delighted, requesting assistance with finding a suitable property to lease in Kympton or across the county border in Nottinghamshire. Mr Gardiner, a modern, practical man, was full of admiration for the courage and determination of Mrs Collins and said he would be delighted to assist, in any way. Charlotte was grateful indeed and thanked all of them for their help and advice, especially Mr Darcy and the Gardiners. Without their help, she knew she could not have achieved much at all.
When she left a week later to join her father for Christmas, she left Rebecca behind at Pemberley. She was the same age as Cassandra and a little younger than Emily. The three of them had struck up a friendship that over the years would become as close as their mothers.
Watching the carriage drive away with her mother and Amelia-Jane inside, Rebecca remarked in a self-consciously grown up voice, "Amelia-Jane still needs looking after. I think Mama knows I am grown up enough to be on my own." Elizabeth smiled and put her arms around her.
"Of course she does, but Becky, you know you are not on your own; we are all here for you," but she knew in her heart exactly what the child had meant. Acutely aware of the position in which they were all placed since their father's death, the two older girls had understood that they had to play their part. Their mother's example had set a high standard, and it was clear that Rebecca was determined to live up to it.

J

Richard Gardiner arrived home in time for Christmas. With him was his friend, Paul Antoine, a young man with exemplary manners and a gentle European charm, not often seen in Derbyshire. The Gardiners, who had met many emigre families in London, during and after the war years, welcomed him and lost no time introducing him to their family and friends.

While everyone was making a huge fuss of Richard, now a fully qualified and accredited physician, the ladies young and old were more intrigued by his friend. He was good-looking, though he had none of the rugged handsomeness of Richard. His fine-featured face was sensitive, and his expressive eyes and dark hair were quite distinctive. His voice and manners were pleasing without appearing to be artificial or contrived, and when he joined a group, at dinner or cards, his conversation was so natural that no one was ill at ease in his company. By the time Monsieur Antoine had met most of the Gardiners' circle of friends, it was universally agreed that he was one of the most agreeable young men they had met in many a year. Part of his charm stemmed from his apparent ignorance of the reasons for his own popularity. Never being boastful or demanding attention, he seemed always to be most appreciative of any recognition.

Emily Gardiner, to whom it fell, whenever her brother was busy, to entertain Paul Antoine and accompany him to social occasions, found him very easy to converse with and had no difficulty finding interesting things to do and places to visit with him. His natural interest and her own obliging nature combined to make for a very easy association. When she brought him over to Pemberley, where he was shown over the house and its grounds, he was completely captivated and pleaded to be allowed to return and see more of the library, which was of course, Emily's favourite part of the estate.

Since James Courtney, the theology student, had returned to Oxford for the vacation, Emily obtained permission for Paul Antoine to spend some time there, for which privilege he was very grateful indeed. For Emily, this was a special pleasure, since her love of the library and art collection at Pemberley increased each time she visited there. When Monsieur Antoine proved to be a keen art lover, with a talent for sketching, Emily was delighted and promised that in the Spring she would show him the best views on the Pemberley Estate, so he could sketch to his heart's content.

J

At Christmas, when the families gathered at Pemberley, Jane, who was always sensitive to romance in the air, remarked that Monsieur Antoine, whose looks and manners she deemed to be impeccable, and Miss Emily Gardiner had spent almost all evening together; they had certainly danced more frequently than any other couple.

Warning her sister against jumping to conclusions, Elizabeth agreed that they had and indeed they did dance very well together. European dances like the waltz had long since invaded English ball rooms, but, while they were popular in London, it was different in the country. Richard, having spent two years in Paris, was quite an accomplished dancer while amazingly, Paul Antoine seemed less confident and needed persuasion to take the floor. When he did, however, there was no doubting his ability, so light was he on his feet, so easy to follow that every young lady wished he would ask her next. Alas, he insisted on being an exemplary guest, dancing with Elizabeth, Mrs Gardiner, Caroline, and Emily, before he approached any one else.

By the end of the evening, Jane was excited at the prospect of a real romance developing, but Elizabeth was unsure. She had also been observing the pair and Emily, while she was obviously enjoying herself, appeared not to be at all conscious of anything more extraordinary than a very pleasant friendship. Elizabeth said as much to her sister, "I cannot work it out yet, Jane. Either Emily is being very cautious, or she isn't interested in him, as a romantic prospect," she said, puzzled. Jane smiled, "I cannot believe it to be the latter, Lizzie. He is such an appealing young man. As for being cautious, if she isn't careful, she may find she is in danger of breaking his heart. Honestly, Lizzie, the young man looks deeply in love with her, already."

Emily Gardiner did not know quite how to describe her feelings about Monsieur Antoine. It was the very first time that she had taken an interest in any of her brothers' friends, though she had met many of them throughout their schooldays. Paul Antoine was different in many ways. He was French, or at least half French, which meant he had a tradition of natural courtliness in his approach to all women, young and old. She had noted with approval the unaffected pleasure he seemed to take in conversing with her mother or her cousins when he was seated next to one of them at dinner. Even when there were several younger women in the party, he showed no particular preference for them.

Emily had noticed that he often returned to her side on these occasions and would fall quite naturally into step with her when they were out walking but put that down to the easy friendship that had grown between them rather than any partiality on his part. When he complimented her on her mastery of a particularly difficult piece of music, which he had begged her to play for him on a visit to the music room at Pemberley, she was pleased but convinced herself that similar praise from any one would have been as welcome.

She did not deny that he possessed qualities which she admired. For the first time, she had felt herself able to talk to a man who regarded her as a companion, not just a partner for dancing or a game of cards or a presentable woman to escort to the theatre. He appeared genuinely interested in her opinions on various matters and had several of his own, which he shared with her in exactly the same way that he discussed them with her brother or her father.

It was, for Emily, who had been accustomed to the segregation of women in much of social intercourse, a delightfully new experience, and she was enjoying it. She was also totally unaware that their friendship had been the subject of speculation for several weeks, among their mutual friends and her family. Had she guessed it, it is likely she would have been very surprised, for in her own mind, there was no more than the genuine enjoyment of a novel friendship, such as she had never before found with any of the young men of her acquaintance.

C
HAPTER
S
EVENTEEN

To make the nations free

T

HE TUMULT OF FIFTEEN
months of political agitation brought a wave of social upheaval that washed over England and flowed into the lives of many of her people. Following an historic election, which gave the

Whigs an unassailable majority in the Commons, Lord Grey was as good as his word, pushing through his Reform Bill in the teeth of entrenched opposition from the Lords. They delayed its passage, conniving with each other and occasionally, even with the King's men, to the point where they almost destroyed the elected government.