reality, even in the minutest degree, will be grounds for instantaneous dismissal. Is any of this ambiguous?”
His penetrating and fierce gaze bore into Mrs. Smyth throughout the entire speech. Mr. Travers may be ignorant of the specific instigation of his Master's statement, but he was no idiot. That Mrs. Smyth had in some manner foolishly acted on or vocalized her disdain for Mr. Darcy's choice of wife was obvious. Mr. Travers did not concur with the housekeeper's opinion and had grown weary of cautioning her. He hesitated nary a second, loudly and precisely confirming his comprehension and loyalty. Mrs. Smyth readily agreed as well, voice tremulous.
“I shall leave it to each of you to inform the members of your staff as to what has been proclaimed here. Mr. Travers, you may be excused.” He bowed and departed. Darcy rose to his feet, eyes never faltering. “Mrs. Smyth, there are two reasons you are not at this second packing your belongings and exiting this house. One is your years of faithful and competent service to Darcy House, of which I am thankful. However, this reason would hold little weight in light of today's events if Mrs. Darcy had not already granted you mercy. She has deemed to bestow her clemency, and I will bow to this. Be warned, this mercy will be withdrawn at the merest hint of you disobeying my orders. Is this understood?”
The relationship between Lizzy and Mrs. Smyth would never be a friendly one, and the housekeeper offered her challenges. There were moments when Lizzy did wonder if it would be easier to fire the woman and start anew, but in the end, she did manage the household excellently, and as the Darcys would not be dwelling in the city often, it was best to maintain the status quo.
Generally speaking, Lizzy needed to make few adjustments to the management of Darcy House. The ledgers were in perfect order and the staff assignments were adequate. An additional gardener was hired to assist the two who managed the grounds. Lizzy spoke at length with them, as there were a number of areas she wanted altered. Specifically, she completely redesigned the private garden and patio located next to the Master's chambers to include a gurgling fountain, potted and hanging flowers, a vine of wisteria along the right edge for further privacy, and extensive trimming of the large elm tree that blocked their view of the nighttime sky. The old brick wall was removed and replaced with one of cobbled river stones to match the patio and a wrought iron gate placed to access the meandering gravel pathways beyond.
Lizzy interviewed each lead staff member. She encouraged open communication, and before her first sojourn would end, each one of them accepted the honesty of her offer, and learned when she was approached with requests, most of which were granted. Mrs. Smyth frowned upon what she deemed a usurping of her power, but Lizzy ignored her. Minor budget issues were addressed. Darcy had tended to allow Mrs. Smyth to spend as she saw fit, generously allotting monies without asking too many questions. This was not a result of mismanagement or laziness on his part, but as the overall budget for Darcy House was substantially less than Pemberley, he simply did not consider it worth worrying about. Lizzy was frugal by nature and due to her upbringing, instinctively noticed dozens of tiny ways that funds could be redistributed. The end product was a savings to the estate while simultaneously leading to a smoother household execution. Even Mrs. Smyth grudgingly admitted the fact. Darcy was further amazed, and his already exalted esteem for his wife grew.
Helen, to Lizzy's dismay, was unrepentant. It seemed that a brother died in the recently triumphant difficulties with France. As sad as this fact was, it certainly was not Marguerite's fault. France may be the country of her birth, but she had lived the past twenty years in England, longer than Helen, in truth, as she was a mere seventeen! In this matter, she appealed to her husband.
“She cannot stay with an attitude such as this,” Darcy declared calmly. “I will not allow Marguerite to be treated thus, and one maid is much the same as any other. I will take care of it.”
Lizzy squirmed in her seat, finally standing to pace before his desk. “William, I…” She sighed, wringing her hands nervously while he frowned. “I should deal with this myself. Mistress of Pemberley and all that.” She waved her hand airily with a tiny giggle.
Darcy smiled, rising to halt her pacing with gentle hands on her shoulders. “Elizabeth, you do not have to handle this sort of problem. Trust me, I have let many employees go over the years. I am quite good at it, in fact.” He laughed and kissed her forehead.
Lizzy shook her head with a soft chuckle. “Somehow I doubt that, love. You bluster and pretend, but facing a seventeen year old girl and telling her she is out of a job will not be easy for you.” She tiptoed to kiss his cheek and then moved a pace away before continuing. “That is not the point. Household staff is under my jurisdiction and since this directly concerns my personal maid, I need to cope with it. Just teach me how such a matter is properly dealt with, advise me, and I will manage it.”
“Very well, Mistress Darcy.” He took her hand and pulled her next to him on the sofa. “I will gladly share my brutal techniques, but first let me tell you once again how marvelous you are and how proud you make me.” He nuzzled into her neck, Lizzy giggling anew at the ticklish bites.
“This is a brutal technique, Mr. Darcy? I certainly hope not a typical tactic utilized by you when firing maids.” Darcy merely laughed, tickling further and saving the Masterly counsel for a later hour.
Lizzy attended to the matter with fortitude and dignity. Only later did she break down with trembles, comforted by her husband who was immeasurably swollen with pride. It was another step taken by the new Mrs. Darcy into the greater world of estate administration.
Chapter Ten
Darcy, regally dressed in head-to-toe black except for a pristine white shirt and cravat, stood before the empty fireplace in the parlor with an expansive grin on his face. His sister, with assistance from Kitty, was relating an adventure with the ducks that live on the little pond in Hyde Park. He had never noted it in the past, but his shy baby sister apparently had developed a flair for the dramatic as well. He rather doubted chasing ducks could be as riveting as she was presenting it, but between her and Kitty's gales of laughter and charade-like pantomiming, he was tremendously amused and Richard was actually wiping tears from his eyes. Of course, Richard was easily entertained.
The girls delighted them with their silly exploits while they awaited the appearance of Mary and Elizabeth. Tonight was the opera, and proper preparation was of the utmost importance. The men understood this, and as Marguerite had happily volunteered to style the hair of all four women, well, it could take some time. Georgiana, in a new gown for the occasion and hair pinned elaborately with a diamond clip, was beautiful. With a pang to his heart, Darcy recognized the woman lurking under the girlish exterior of his beloved sister.
Miss Kitty was equally as lovely. Lizzy had purchased several new gowns for both her sisters from her pin money, a fact which had irritated Darcy because he would have willingly and happily provided for them, but Lizzy insisted. They actually had a minor argument over her choice, but she would not budge.
“William, I did not marry you to furnish necessities for my family,” she had declared firmly.
“I understand this, Elizabeth. However, when I married you, I voluntarily accepted your family as my own, as did you with Georgiana and the rest.”
“Accepted, yes, but not charged to support. You allot me far more money than I can possibly spend on myself, so I desire to do this for my sisters. It is not your place.”
“Not my place! This offends me, Elizabeth. They are my sisters now, and therefore, it is my place.”
“Technicalities, Mr. Darcy. Are you next going to offer financial support to my father? Buy his wardrobe? Furthermore, imagine the Pandora's box you would be opening if my mother found out you were lavishing the girls, and lavish you would, William. Suddenly the ‘needs’ would escalate and Pemberley would be bankrupt in a month!”
Darcy certainly could not argue regarding her mother and was aghast at the very idea of insulting his proud, distinguished father-in-law. Nonetheless, he felt slighted somehow and it irritated him. “I will not deny a couple of your points, my dear; however, I still maintain a dress or two is hardly beyond my responsibility.”
“Consider it this way, beloved. You are supporting them by guesting them in your house…”
“Our house,” he interrupted with a glare.
“Our house,” she resumed with a smile, “and the money to purchase clothing and trinkets for them is coming from your coffers, simply via me. So, everyone is happy!”
He hated it when she utilized perfect logic! It continued to annoy him in a vague way he could not quite
