“You will be able to taste them yourself,” Miss Darcy answered. “There is a separate table at the head of the room where we will dine with the teachers and headmistress.”
Elizabeth responded, “Though Jane and I have been involved in the sewing for years, we have never attended the celebration. You must be used to witnessing it all, for you have been attending since you were young, have you not?”
Miss Darcy paled again and looked down at her lap. “This will only be my third year.”
Just then, several maids entered the room with a tea cart and a rolling table covered with finger sandwiches.
“I do not know about you ladies,” Lady Adelaide said, “but I am growing a bit fatigued, and could do with a short respite.” She rose and collected the finished handkerchiefs from everyone, taking them to a larger table upon which were piles of clothing for the children.
Jane began a conversation about painting with Miss Darcy, whose countenance brightened with the change of subject.
Elizabeth stood and crossed the room to join Lady Adelaide. “I am sorry if I upset Miss Darcy with our conversation. It was not my intention.”
Lady Adelaide smiled warmly. “Of course not, my dear. There was no way for you to know it would be a sensitive subject.” She took a deep breath, then began again. “You see, my dear friend, Georgiana and Fitzwilliam’s mother, never regained her health after Georgiana was born. For as long as I knew Lady Anne—which was since we were quite young—her health had never been strong.” She raised her eyebrows. “Though I must say Anne’s spirit was robust enough to get her through many illnesses, by means of her determination alone.” She smiled, wistfully. “I must admit, at times, your sister’s quiet grace and innate goodness reminds me of her…”
The countess looked up at the wall, but Elizabeth guessed she was seeing something quite different than the painting of a landscape before her.
A sudden thought occurred to Elizabeth: Was it the similarity between Jane’s and Lady Anne Darcy’s behaviour that attracted Mr. Darcy?
Her heart fell in response.
Remembering herself, Lady Adelaide continued, “I took over Anne’s position in the preparation for the Saint Nicholas Day celebration that year since her doctor recommended an extended laying-in before Georgiana arrived. However, Anne was used to being occupied. She became restless and insisted upon doing some of the needlework for the orphans’ gifts whilst she remained in bed. I would visit in her bedchamber and consult with her about my plans for Saint Nicholas Day, as well. Her mind longed to be active and useful, even if her body was required to remain sedentary.
“Unfortunately, my dearest friend only grew weaker during her confinement. It was on Christmas Eve, only four months after Georgiana was born, that she passed away.” Lady Adelaide closed her eyes, bowed her head, and paused for a long moment.
Blinking away tears, she raised her chin. “After her death, George Darcy—previously an amiable gentleman, a loving husband, and a doting father—became a bitter and disagreeable man literally overnight. Unfortunately, that was the person Georgiana came to know as her father. He insisted his wife’s involvement with the orphanage had weakened her, and it was the true cause of her death. Though I must say, for my brother-in-law, the mourning period never really ended, when the usual year was finished for his children, George forbade Fitzwilliam from becoming involved with the orphanage again.
“Decorating Pemberley and the London townhouse for Christmas had been a passion of Anne’s, and it would have been an agreeable reminder of their mother for her children to do the same every year, but other than attending church, my brother-in-law prohibited any celebration of Christmas. He also put an end to the tradition that they return to Pemberley for the holidays, as they always had in the past. Instead, the family remained in London, and George secluded himself in Anne’s chambers for days. There were no treats or gifts for the children, and no gatherings with other family were permitted.”
The countess shook her head and sighed whilst she straightened the piles of clothing unnecessarily. “In remembrance of my beloved sister-in-law and dearest friend, I accepted the reins for the orphanage’s fundraising. Fitzwilliam honoured his mother’s memory and did decorate for Christmas, but only in Georgiana’s private chambers, where his father never entered.” She smiled. “Meanwhile, all throughout school, my nephew saved up a portion of his monthly pocket-money and donated it secretly to the orphanage, through me. The only time my nephew has ever acted against his father’s wishes was regarding this issue, because he knew very well his mother would have wanted him to do so. Perhaps it was wrong, but my husband and I encouraged him. Even his grandfather did, when he was alive, for he always believed the orphanage was a worthy cause.” She straightened her shoulders. “And though my husband and I continue to host the fundraising balls since my brother-in-law died—which also occurred on Christmas Eve, coincidentally—I am only acting as the face of the planning—for my nephew does not want to receive any credit for it. But in truth, the orphans’ well-being has become his project, and he is as enthusiastic about it as was his mother.”
Over the past few days, Elizabeth had learned so much about Mr. Darcy, but to discover he was the principal, yet confidential, benefactor of the orphanage was astonishing. And so personal.
The countess finally met Elizabeth’s gaze. There was a strange twinkle in her eye. “Of course, I plan to continue to be involved with the orphanage, but I am hoping once Fitzwilliam marries, his wife will take over my position. The effort really should be headed up by Mrs. Darcy.”
Lady Adelaide looked at her with such expectation in her eyes.
Not knowing how else to respond to such a statement, Elizabeth only nodded.
Elizabeth’s stomach growled. Her face heated with a blush.
“Well,” Lady Adelaide smiled. “Perhaps it is time we join the others for our repast.”
Elizabeth followed her across the room to the seats they had occupied earlier. As they partook in their tea, she remained quiet, contemplating all the countess had revealed to her.
During a lull in conversation, Lady Adelaide gestured to the pile of unfinished handkerchiefs. “I believe we can finish these by the end of the day. Tomorrow morning, Mrs. Annesley, Georgiana’s companion, is scheduled to return from visiting her relations. She will help us in the next phase of our preparations. As soon as we finish bundling the gifts, we will assemble the decorations. Does that sound reasonable?”
Everyone agreed.
A few minutes later, they resumed their work, and conversation quieted. Elizabeth’s mind wandered again to all Lady Adelaide had divulged. What could she have been about in revealing so much information to her?
Had she sensed Mr. Darcy was interested in Jane, and that Elizabeth had reservations about the match? If they did marry, did the countess assume Elizabeth could convince Jane to take over her role in the orphanage fundraisers? But Jane was as enthusiastic about their work here as was Elizabeth, so why would Lady Adelaide suspect Jane would require persuasion?
Their tête-à-tête had been very strange, indeed.
Chapter 9
~The next day – Darcy House
Darcy paced his study, the same chamber in which he had spent most of the previous afternoon and part of the evening with his attorney.