Elizabeth Bennet in Disguise

by Lilian Swift

  “She is a very sweet girl,” the housekeeper informed her as they left the servants’ quarters and entered the main part of the house. “Her brother, Mr. Darcy, is away at present, but her companion Mrs. Annesley keeps her company. Miss Darcy told me you looked after a family of four sisters.”

  “Yes,” Lizzy replied, relaxing at the news that Darcy was not in residence.

  “I hope you do not find it dull here.” Mrs. Reynolds smiled, as if Pemberley were the most delightful place to work and could not possibly be monotonous in any way.

  Lizzy realized that now was her chance to start making enquiries about Sally, Hill’s missing niece.

  “Are a lot of staff employed here?” she asked as they entered a grand hall.

  “An awful lot.” Mrs. Reynolds chuckled. “We do not have a large turnover either, because Mr. Darcy is a good master.”

  “So the servants are happy here?”

  “Most definitely,” Mrs. Reynolds assured her.

  The housekeeper’s answers seemed to be on par with what Hill had told her, that Sally had not been unhappy working in this grand house.

  Lizzy looked around the room they had entered. Everything was most elegant. Landscapes dotted the pastel green walls, while a magnificent Aubusson carpet graced the floor. Sofas and armchairs in the latest fashion invited one to sit awhile.

  “This is Miss Darcy’s sitting room,” Mrs. Reynolds told her. “She chose the furniture herself – and the décor.”

  “It is most appealing,” Lizzy said truthfully. The room held an air of peace and quiet that tempted her to relax on the cream and green striped sofa.

  But she was not a guest here. She was a servant and she must remember that.

  “Stay here and I will alert Miss Darcy,” the housekeeper told her.

  Lizzy nodded, watching Mrs. Reynolds depart in a bustle of black.

  She’d done it! Well, not quite, for she still had to meet Miss Darcy, but so far she had escaped detection. The next part of her plan involved questioning the servants as to what they knew about Sally’s disappearance. And to do that, she needed to gain their confidence. She doubted any of the servants would talk openly to a stranger who had just joined them.

  There was also the companion, Mrs. Annesley. She would have to try to initiate a conversation with that lady and bring up the subject of Sally, observing her reaction. Lizzy also needed to discover if they had held Sally’s position for her, or if they had already hired someone else.

  “Miss Brown!” A young girl hurried toward her.

  Lizzy started, lost in her thoughts of how to introduce the topic of Sally to Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Annesley.

  “Miss Darcy.” Lizzy curtsied. The girl in front of her was tall and fair – and young. She knew from Darcy’s letter that his sister was sixteen. But she looked most elegant in a pale pink gown that enhanced her creamy complexion and fair hair.

  “I’m so glad you have arrived.” Miss Darcy smiled at her. “You must sit and tell me all about your journey. Mrs. Reynolds, could we have some tea, please? And something for Miss Brown to eat.”

  “Right away, Miss Darcy.” Mrs. Reynolds smiled at both of them and left the room.

  “You are very kind,” Lizzy said, realizing with a start that her throat felt quite dry.

  “After our tea I shall show you your room, and mine. My companion, Mrs. Annesley, will join us then.”

  “Have you been without a lady’s maid for long, Miss Darcy?” Lizzy asked.

  “Oh, weeks and weeks.” Miss Darcy smiled at her, as if it had not been much of an inconvenience. “Emily – Miss Hayes – married and left the district. I was happy for her, but sad that she left. I was starting to wonder if anyone wanted to work here, and then I received your letter. Tell me, how did you hear that I needed a new maid?”

  “Oh, a friend told me,” Lizzy said hastily. “She is in service as well.”

  “And a Miss Elizabeth Bennet gave you a reference,” Miss Darcy continued.

  “Yes.” Lizzy gulped, hoping her new employer wouldn’t notice.

  “My brother mentioned a Miss Bennet in Hertfordshire,” Miss Darcy mused. “Is it the same lady, do you think?”

  Lizzy froze. “I believe so,” she admitted.

  “What a coincidence!” Miss Darcy smiled and looked pleased.

  Lizzy’s heart sank. So Mr. Darcy had mentioned her to his sister. But surely Miss Darcy would not be able to detect that Elizabeth Bennet and Harriet Brown were one and the same?

  “I showed your letter to Mrs. Annesley and Mrs. Reynolds and they both said, “Hire her at once.” Miss Darcy giggled. “I should love to hear about the four sisters you attended.”

  “They could be a little mischievous at times,” Lizzy replied, thinking of Lydia. She wondered if Mr. Darcy had also mentioned to his sister that Elizabeth Bennet had four siblings – if he had, then would Miss Darcy wonder why Harriet Brown had stated that she’d waited on four sisters – not five? Lizzy had not thought of that discrepancy until now. She held her breath, but her employer did not seem to notice anything amiss with her reference.

  “I’m sure you have plenty of interesting stories,” Miss Darcy said eagerly.

  “Tea, Miss Darcy.” Mrs. Reynolds entered the room with the tea tray.

  “Oh, you have brought some of Cook’s delicious pound cake. Do try a piece, Miss Brown,” Miss Darcy urged Lizzy.

  The golden yellow cake with dark flecks of caraway seeds tempted Lizzy enormously. She realized it had been a few hours since she had last eaten, and smiled at Miss Darcy as she took a small slice.

  “Thank you, milady.” She’d just remembered that as a lady’s maid, she should call her employer milady, and not Miss Darcy.

  “Oh, please do not be so formal,” Miss Darcy replied with a laugh. “I am certain we will get along quite well. I am supposed to call you Brown, but that does not seem very agreeable to me.”

  “What did you call your former lady’s maid?” Lizzy asked after swallowing her first mouthful of delicious cake.

  “I called her Emily after a while,” Miss Darcy replied. “And she called me Miss Georgiana, which I think is far friendlier, don’t you think?”

  Lizzy noticed Mrs. Reynolds was still in the room, furrowing her brow at her mistress.

  “Oh, Mrs. Reynolds, I can feel you frowning from over there,” Miss Darcy told the housekeeper.

  “Yes, I am, Miss Darcy,” Mrs. Reynolds said. “I do not know that your brother would approve.”

  “Well, he is not here, is he?” Now it was Miss Darcy’s turn to frown. “He has not been here much lately,” she informed Lizzy. “And I confess I miss him.”

  “Maybe he will make a surprise visit,” Mrs. Reynolds suggested.

  “Oh, I do hope so.” Miss Darcy’s face lit up at the thought.

  Oh no!

  Careful to school her expression, Lizzy took a delicate nibble of cake.

  “I am sure you will like my brother, Miss Brown,” Miss Darcy told her as she sipped at her cup of tea. “He is most handsome – all the ladies around here tell me so – and he is most kind to me.”

  “That – that is good to hear,” Lizzy said, picking up her own cup so she could occupy her hands. She just hoped Miss Darcy would not notice her fingers trembling against the fine bone china handle of the cup.

  “Miss Brown will be busy attending you, Miss Darcy, and will have no time for anything else,” Mrs. Reynolds said repressively.

  “Oh, indeed,” Lizzy murmured. She hoped Mr. Darcy’s return happened after she departed for Longbourn, having satisfactorily solved the mystery of Sally’s disappearance from the household.

  “I have decided I shall call you Miss Brown,” Miss Darcy told Lizzy with a smile. “And then later on, if you are amenable, may I call you Harriet?”

  “Of course, milady,” Lizzy replied, glad that Darcy’s sister seemed to be the total opposite to him! So far she had been nothing but pleasant and charming.

  “And you may
call me Miss Darcy,” Darcy’s sister continued. “And then, after a while, Miss Georgiana, if you find that agreeable.”

  “You are very kind,” Lizzy told her new employer.

  “We shall be spending a lot of time together. I do think it’s important that we get on, don’t you?” Her tone was earnest.

  “Yes, of course,” Lizzy replied with a smile.

  “Good.” Miss Darcy nodded as if the matter were settled. “Once we have finished our tea, I will show you to your room, and then introduce you to Mrs. Annesley.”

  Lizzy also nodded, aware that the housekeeper did not seem so pleased with Miss Darcy’s scheme. However, Mrs. Reynolds kept her further opinions to herself, and after enquiring if they needed any more tea or cake, left the room.

  “I must show you around the estate,” Miss Darcy told her as they started walking up the stairs, Lizzy careful to stay behind her mistress. “I am sure you will love it, and you are welcome to explore during your time off.”

  “Thank you, mil – Miss Darcy,” Lizzy replied.

  “I enjoy long walks, actually,” Miss Darcy confided in her. “But poor Mrs. Annesley – she has bad knees, I’m afraid – walking for pleasure is not a pleasure to her.”

  “I enjoy being outdoors, too,” Lizzy replied, realizing with a start that Miss Darcy sounded lonely.

  “Then perhaps we can take our exercise together at times.” Miss Darcy sounded delighted at the thought.

  “I would like that, Miss Darcy,” Lizzy replied sincerely.

  “Did the four sisters you looked after enjoy being outdoors?” Miss Darcy asked as they reached the top of the grand staircase. Closed wooden doors graced the hallway.

  “Some of them did,” Lizzy replied, thinking of Lydia and Kitty wanting to walk to Meryton whenever they knew the redcoats would be there. “Two of them often walked to town to see their friends.” She supposed Denny was a friend – she knew he was a great favorite of Lydia’s.

  “I wish I had a sister.” Miss Darcy sighed. “Perhaps next time my brother visits the Bingleys he will allow me to accompany him.”

  “I do not see why he would not,” Lizzy replied.

  “He said I must finish my schooling. Mrs. Annesley is currently tutoring me as well as being my companion.” Miss Darcy pouted. Her expression looked charming.

  “Ah.”

  “Did your sisters go to school?”

  “Yes, they did. However, the youngest sister is now fifteen and has finished her education,” Lizzy replied, thinking of Lydia.

  “Oh, how lucky they are.” Miss Darcy sounded wistful. “I do not know how many more French verbs I can conjugate without being bored to death, even though I enjoy Mrs. Annesley’s company.”

  “I know a little French. Perhaps we could talk in French sometimes.”

  “I should like that.” Miss Darcy smiled. “I just know I’ve made the right decision by hiring you.”

  Lizzy returned the smile, although she felt guilty at deceiving the friendly girl. She just hoped that once she discovered Sally’s whereabouts, Miss Darcy could forgive her deception.

  “This is your bedroom.” Miss Darcy opened a door and urged Lizzy inside.

  The bedroom was neat and clean, boasting a double bed, rose colored carpet, a mahogany dressing table, and a matching wardrobe.

  “It is lovely,” Lizzy said sincerely. She had not expected anything so fine.

  “I do so want you to be comfortable here,” Miss Darcy told her. She walked over to the window. “You have a good view of the garden. Come and look.”

  Lizzy did so, her gaze landing on the neatly manicured lawn and topiary garden.

  “A most delightful outlook,” she told Miss Darcy.

  “I will give you plenty of time to unpack later,” Miss Darcy told her. “But I am sure Mrs. Annesley would like to meet you, and I must show you my room.”

  “Of course,” Lizzy replied, following her employer down the hall.

  “Mrs. Annesley!” Miss Darcy called out.

  “Hello.” A plump, middle-aged woman with a warm smile emerged from a room. “I was just reading Self-Control by Mary Brunton. You must be Miss Brown.”

  “How do you do,” Lizzy replied, curtseying.

  “I’m sure we shall all get along famously.” Mrs. Annesley smiled. “Have you shown her your room, Georgiana?”

  “I was just about to,” Miss Darcy told her companion.

  She walked a little way down the hall, talking over her shoulder to Lizzy. “That is Mrs. Annesley’s sitting room. Her bedroom is next door. And here is my room.” She opened the door.

  Elegant furnishings met Lizzy’s gaze. The room sported tasteful décor of pink and cream. Everything looked expensive but well cared for.

  “It is beautiful,” Lizzy murmured, a pang of envy in her heart – just for a moment. If only her bedroom at Longbourn was so fine! But then her envy left her as quickly as it had arrived. For all her riches, Miss Darcy was lonely, with an absentee brother, and only a middle-aged companion for company.

  Miss Darcy sat at the dressing table and gazed at her reflection in the mirror.

  “Did your sisters have long hair? Did you help them try out new hairstyles?”

  “Sometimes,” Lizzy replied. “And of course I helped them with their hair when they went to the local ball.”

  “Oh! I wish there were more balls in our district,” Miss Darcy said. “When I make my come out, I shall ask my brother to take me to London. And I shall dance!” Her face fell. “If I have any partners.”

  “Why should you not?” Mrs. Annesley asked. “You are a handsome young girl from a good family.”

  “Indeed, yes.” Lizzy nodded in agreement. “Why would a gentleman not ask you to dance?”

  Miss Darcy blushed with pleasure. “When Fitzwilliam comes home, we must ask him when I shall make my debut.”

  “An excellent notion, my dear.” Mrs. Annesley nodded in approval.

  “Miss Brown.” Miss Darcy held out a silver-backed hairbrush. “Could you brush my hair, please? I have been longing to try different hair styles, but since Emily left ...”

  “Of course.” Lizzy took the brush.

  “You are not too tired from your journey?” Miss Darcy asked conscientiously.

  “No, Miss Darcy.” Lizzy shook her head. She was used to being active and usually walked a few miles every morning before breakfast. Although the two-day journey had been a trifle fatiguing, now that she was here – at Pemberley – she felt reinvigorated and ready to start investigating Sally’s disappearance. If she could offer friendship to Miss Darcy as well, why, that would be even better.

  Lizzy brushed Miss Darcy’s hair in long, soothing strokes, the way she brushed Jane’s and occasionally her younger sisters.

  “Would you like a low chignon?” she asked Miss Darcy, expertly twisting the hair into a low bun and securing it with a pin. “What about if I do a narrow plait on each side?” Lizzy did so, smiling as Miss Darcy looked delighted at the attention.

  “Oh, that does look nice, does it not, Mrs. Annesley?” Miss Darcy said to her companion once Lizzy was finished. She tilted her head from side to side as she looked at her reflection.

  “Indeed it does,” Mrs. Annesley replied. “Very good work, Miss Brown.”

  “Thank you,” Lizzy replied, pleased to have received that lady’s approval.

  “I shall keep it like this for the rest of the day,” Miss Darcy said, admiring her reflection once more.

  “I am glad you are happy with it,” Lizzy replied.

  “Miss Brown, you must go and unpack now and have a little rest,” Miss Darcy said. “Then I shall show you the rest of the estate – if you will not be too tired?” She looked at Lizzy anxiously.

  “I should love to see it, Miss Darcy,” she assured the other girl.

  “Wonderful.” Miss Darcy beamed.

  Lizzy curtsied and left her employer and Mrs. Annesley, glad to have a little time to herself. Now she could think about ho
w to approach Mrs. Annesley, and Miss Darcy too, about Sally’s disappearance. But first, she would unpack as Miss Darcy had suggested.

  After Lizzy put away her clothes, she looked at the bed. The rose-colored bedspread beckoned to her. Perhaps a little rest would be in order. It had been a tiring journey getting here.

  She lay down on the bed, the mattress comfortable. She would just close her eyes for a minute ...

  CHAPTER 5

  “Miss Brown.” A knock on the door. “Miss Brown.”

  Lizzy blinked, opening her eyes. Who was Miss Brown?

  Suddenly her scheme rushed into her mind. She was Miss Brown.

  “Coming!” she called, scrambling off the bed. How long had she slept?

  Lizzy opened the door, pinning a smile to her face. She had to remember that she was now a servant and at the beck and call of her employer, no matter how delightful Miss Darcy appeared to be.

  “Oh, Miss Brown.” Miss Darcy looked a little discomfited. “I did not mean to disturb you. But it is four o’clock, and if we wish to explore the gardens, we must go now before it gets dark.”

  “Of course, Miss Darcy,” Lizzy replied, patting her hair. Did she look a fright? “I must apologize for falling asleep. I did not mean to.”

  “No, it is my fault.” Miss Darcy looked guilty. “You must be tired from your journey.”

  “I should love to go for a walk with you,” Lizzy said. It was the truth. She donned her old spencer and accompanied her employer down the grand staircase and through the front door.

  “I am sure you will like it here,” Miss Darcy told her. “Emily liked it here very much – but she married a farmer and now lives in a nice little farmhouse – it is very neat – and looks after her own chickens while her husband tends to the farm.”

  “That sounds very satisfactory,” Lizzy replied, glad for her predecessor.

  “I visited her after she married,” Miss Darcy said. “And took a basket of Cook’s best delicacies to wish her happy.”

  “That was most thoughtful of you,” Lizzy replied, knowing there were some ladies who would not even think of such a thing.

  “And now I am waiting for my brother to return home.” Miss Darcy gave a little laugh, but to Lizzy, it sounded forlorn.