Page 55 of Resilience

“All? You are going to sack all of your servants? Have you thought this through, Kitty?” Mr Bennet laid down his fork and stared at his daughter.

“When there are fewer servants, the ones who are left will not be pleased to be taking on more labour than they had before,” Kitty said. “There is no purpose in keeping unhappy maids. They will go to better employment, at houses who can afford them. We are arranging to hire fewer maids and footmen from the families living on the estate. There will be more work for everyone, including me, for a few years. We do not need five maids, at least not just now. Lizzy and I can make our own beds, and once there are no other visitors, housekeeping ought to be manageable with only two maids. Women will come from the farms twice a week for the laundering and be glad of the work. Lizzy and I can help one another with our hair and clothes, and Mrs Hawes is also competent in the duties of a ladies maid if Lizzy visits Mary or goes travelling with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. And though James will stay as first footman, we will only hire one more man from the farms for now. James can train him while we are in mourning, and there is no reason why we should not get on perfectly with two maids and two footmen for some time, perhaps a few years, until the estate’s income has recovered. If I wish to host a dinner for our neighbours, we can always hire more help from the farms for a night or two.”

“That all sounds very well-planned.” Mr Walters complimented Kitty and Denny.

“I must give you credit where it is due, Kitty. You listened to your Mama, and proved that a sensible husband is the finest substitute for a practical education.” Mr Bennet was obviously not inclined to be charitable to his daughter, nor praise her resourcefulness as he ought. “You are a living advertisement for the benefits of matrimony. It has taught you what no governess has ever managed.”

“Except that I never had a governess, nor was I ever offered any sort of teacher who might compel me to learn,” Kitty had listened to enough from Mr Bennet. “A child cannot learn from a governess who was never hired, never even advertised for.”

“Elizabeth learned without a governess,” Mr Bennet pointed out.

“Some of us learn on our own because we must,” Elizabeth ground through her teeth. “But self-instruction cannot be what is best for every child.”

Mr Walters gazed at first Elizabeth, then Kitty with compassion and understanding. “Indeed, some children might discipline themselves very well, but I would not consider abandoning the rest to their own devices. A parent has an obligation.”

“Do you have many children?” Mr Bennet asked sarcastically.

“Good heavens, no! An eternal bachelor, that is me,” Mr Walters laughed. “My godson here is the closest I have to family. A physician must devote his life to his patients, and a family would be quite neglected, so I never had one. But I do hope that I would have been a diligent father, if I had ever taken up that task.”

“I hope you have five daughters in your next life.” Mr Bennet nodded to the man. “You cannot do a worse job than I have done.”

“The two daughters of yours that I have met are utterly delightful,” Mr Walters was obviously determined to take up the mantle of defending the Bennet daughters. “If I had five girls half so lovely, I should consider myself blessed.”

“That is because you have not met our Lydia. Though I am surprised, for Kitty usually behaves just like her. How is Lydia, Kitty? Is she dancing holes in the assembly room floors in Newcastle?” Mr Bennet drawled.

Kitty, finally unable to reply without showing herself to be petulant and immature, stood and excused herself. “Excuse me, I must see Mrs Hawes about dinner.”

Laughter rumbled in Mr Bennet’s chest as his fourth daughter fled the room in mortification. “And I thought Mrs Philpot was managing the menus admirably on her own.”

“I am glad I do not have five daughters,” Mr Walters tutted, unconcerned about Mr Bennet’s sensibilities. “I should hate to see one descend to falsehoods at her own table in order to escape my conversation.”

He stood and left, though in less of a huff than Kitty.

Matthew stared at Mr Bennet intently for a long moment. “I must leave you, Mr Bennet. My father’s solicitor arrives in an hour to read the will. The household shall be quite busy today, but a delivery arrived early this morning to the back door from Mr Darcy. Some volumes he thought might interest you, I understand. And of course you have my invitation to enjoy the library here to your content. My father was not a scholar such as you and Darcy, but I am certain our stacks can provide something of interest. I have instructed Mrs Hawes to send for the gamekeepers to accompany you and provide all that you require if you wish to shoot or fish. I hope you enjoy your visit to Hawthorne Vale.”

Matthew stood and stalked out of the breakfast room. Elizabeth stared at her father in disbelief of his rude behaviour, and–rather than occupy the table alone with him–wordlessly stood and followed the others.

Later that day, Mr Bennet sent a note to Pemberley, and on Tuesday, availed himself of an invitation to view the library there that Mr Darcy had extended before he realised the damage Bennet had done to his daughters, but never expected the gentleman to take him up on. For Elizabeth’s sake, Darcy received him cordially, and tolerated his very long visit with infinite patience. He even loaned the gentleman some more books, with the offer that he could return them by messenger to Darcy House in London, where Darcy would collect them later. If the man thought he did not have to stay in order to read the volumes, he might return south and leave his daughters in peace. Darcy had met Elizabeth for their walk early that morning, and she told him everything about the dinner on Saturday night and her anxiety for poor Kitty and Matthew.

“I cannot help but fear that he will take you away when he leaves,” Darcy confessed.

“He cannot compel me. As you know, I passed my majority a few days after the wedding,” Elizabeth reassured him.

“Sometimes even women over their majority are compelled to do things they would rather not by the men in their family, and society overlooks it.” Darcy was troubled.

“I know that you are right, but did you not tell me that you are a magistrate here in Derbyshire?” Elizabeth asked as they walked through a lane that separated two fields. “And you must have some influence with other magistrates close by. You could do something if it was reported to you. Besides, Matthew would never allow my father to take me against my will, and my father would never trouble himself enough to force the matter, he will only be unpleasant until he gives up and decides to go away. You credit my father with an enthusiasm for exertion that he has never possessed.”

“I hope that you are right.” Darcy assisted her over a stile. “If it were not for Mrs Bingley, I would suggest that you visit Mrs Collins for a few days until your father leaves.”

“I owe Mary a visit, but I would not leave Kitty on her own with our father. His unkind words have made her doubt herself her entire life, and I will not have her lose courage in his presence because I was not here to support her. Papa will return to Longbourn soon enough.”

She turned and teased him lightly. “And if he does drag me away against my will, I shall leave a trail of breadcrumbs that you may follow at your leisure. How romantic.”

“You are remarkably unconcerned about your fate,” he teased in return.

“I am more interested in my future than you know,” Elizabeth said boldly. If the reticent man would ride out at dawn to court her, she must at least give him some encouragement. “In fact, I find that I far prefer the consideration when you are part of it.”

He stopped walking as if he had struck a brick wall and looked down at her with an astounded expression. She was not surprised. She had practically invited the man to propose to her. She took a deep breath and went on.