“I suppose it is something I have had a difficult time getting used to.”
“May I say, Miss Bennet, that a governess must behave cautiously, for there have been far too many a naïve young lady who has gone into a household as governess and allowed herself to be disgraced due to the prodigious attentions of a master.”
“I hardly think Mr. Darcy would…”
Miss Bartley shook her head in denial. “No, I have never heard anything even remotely improper concerning the man. The Goldsmiths have been close acquaintances with him as long as I have been with them, and they always speak of him in the highest regard.”
Elizabeth remained thoughtfully silent.
“I understand you knew him before…”
Elizabeth looked up with an arched brow. A wry smile appeared. “Yes, but I fear our acquaintance was a rather contrary one. I believed him to be rather proud and unfriendly. I was not afraid to let him know how affronted I was by some of his behaviour… which, I now comprehend, was due more to reserve than pride.”
“Oh, the lessons we sometimes learn too late.”
“Far too late,” Elizabeth added softly.
The rains persisted throughout the night, occasionally interspersed with a flash of lightning and boom of distant thunder. Sleep came sparingly for Elizabeth as her turbulent thoughts vied with the fierce rain to keep her from the sleep she so desired.
She found herself wondering what took place in the drawing room that evening. What conversations took place? What did Mr. Darcy talk about… and with whom did he speak? Did he even notice her absence?
The downpour also brought to her recollections of occasions at Longbourn when the rains pelted the roof so violently that it eventually worked its way in. Mary had been the unfortunate one who needed to sleep with buckets on the floor in her room to catch the water until the roof could be repaired. Other times there had been leaks in the kitchen and sitting room. While she felt safe and secure within the walls of Pemberley, her heart still ached for Longbourn and the life she had had there.
That morning, after having slept very little, she awoke to the increasingly familiar sound of rain hitting the windows. She and Emily dressed and went downstairs. As they entered the dining room, Mr. Darcy greeted them, a raised eyebrow to Elizabeth the only indication that he may have wondered why she did not join them in the drawing room the night before.
During the meal, as everyone enjoyed the bountiful repast, there was much talk about the rains. Several commented on the growing rivulets of water they noticed cascading down the incline away from the house. Small ravines in the landscape were now pooled with water, creeks were now rivers, and the lake in front was continually increasing in length and width.
Elizabeth could see the strain of uncertainty on Miss Darcy’s face as she was again faced with another day of entertaining everyone indoors. The men, who had hoped to spend the morning fishing, agreed that conditions were just not suitable.
As they were finishing up the meal, Mr. Darcy’s steward, Mr. Barstow, came in and whispered something to him. He immediately stood up, his eyes narrowed in concern. He turned to his guests at the table, begging to be excused for a moment. He followed Mr. Barstow, walking out in haste.
Everyone turned to each other, wondering what may have occurred. Without bothering to make his own conjecture or ask to be excused, Mr. Hamilton promptly stood up and followed his cousin. Miss Darcy watched him leave and then looked back at her guests, uncertainty etched on her face. Mr. Goldsmith stood up and was also soon out of the room.
No one seemed to notice Miss Darcy’s distress save Elizabeth, who finally said to the young girl, “Miss Darcy, we will understand if you wish to join your brother.”
A small smile appeared. “Thank you, Miss Bennet. I believe I shall.” She looked to the others. “Please excuse me.”
For several minutes they could hear hushed but intense voices outside in the hall. At length, they returned.
Miss Darcy and Mr. Goldsmith took their seats while her brother and cousin remained standing. Miss Darcy looked noticeably troubled and the three men sombre. Everyone waited to hear what Mr. Darcy had to say.
“With all the rains we have had, in addition to heavier rains up north, the rivers have swollen considerably and are now overflowing their banks, threatening some of my tenants’ homes. Those who were able to leave have fled and are taking refuge with family members or at inns in neighbouring villages. Unfortunately, a few of my tenants are stranded; a bridge that crossed the river is now submerged. Several have attempted to cross it, but travel is treacherous. It is even thought that someone may have been swept away in the waters, and there are people searching for him. These families are unable to make it safely anywhere… but here.”
Elizabeth noticed several eyebrows rise at this announcement. “Hamilton, Goldsmith, and I will be setting out shortly with a few of my men to facilitate their move to Pemberley while Georgiana works with the staff to prepare for them.”
“You are to bring your tenants here?” asked Rosalyn in disbelief.
Darcy slowly turned to her, taking in a deep breath before answering. “Yes, there is no other alternative. It is only until the rains cease and the threat of flooding is over.”
“But surely there is something else that can be done,” Mrs. Willstone lamented. “These are merely common folk, are they not? Can you trust them walking these halls?” She gave a nervous laugh.
Mr. Darcy’s jaw tightened, and he spoke with more than a little agitation. “These are my tenants, Mrs. Willstone, and I cannot and will not allow them to risk their lives because I fear some menace from them. They will be in the north wing, and you will likely not even see them. There is no reason for concern.”
He reached down and picked up his cup, quickly downing its contents. “We will likely be gone for most of the day. As my sister will be otherwise occupied assisting Mrs. Reynolds and the servants in readying the wing and welcoming these guests, I invite you to spend today at your leisure. You may enjoy everything that Pemberley has to offer.”
He looked down at his sister. “You will do fine, Georgie,” he said reassuringly. “Mrs. Reynolds has done this on more than one occasion.” He turned to his friend and cousin. “Come. There is much to do before we leave.”
Everyone slowly rose from the table, and the three men briskly stepped from the room. Miss Darcy left immediately to find Mrs. Reynolds. The Willstones and Rosalyn huddled together, conversing in hushed tones about this unfortunate arrangement. Elizabeth and Miss Bartley decided that for the duration of the morning, they would allow the three girls to play together.
Once in the playroom, Emily and her friends cheerfully found all kinds of amusements with which to entertain themselves. Elizabeth inquired of Miss Bartley if she would mind keeping watch on Emily while she retrieved something from her room. Elizabeth wanted to get the book of Cowper’s poems and do some further reading. Miss Bartley told her she would gladly watch Emily as long as she needed.
When Elizabeth walked out, she heard voices coming from the entry hall. She stopped suddenly when she recognized Rosalyn’s agonized voice.
“Mr. Darcy, you said yourself that travel is treacherous. Heavens! An accident may have already befallen someone! It is far too great a risk for you to go yourself! You are Master of this place and surely have more than enough servants who ought to be the ones to take care of something like this.”
“I appreciate your concern, Miss Matthews, but it is I who must go.”