The Women of Pemberley

by Rebecca Ann Collins

  She noticed that neither of them seemed to feel the need to move quickly away from each other as she entered. Rose simply returned to her seat on the sofa while Robert went back to standing in front of the fire.

  Emily poured out the tea, observing the couple with a degree of indulgent fondness. It was clear to her that, while Rose was probably not ready to reveal the depth of her own feelings, she was unlikely to resent a confession of love from her suitor.

  The warmth with which she had greeted him lingered in their conversation, and when she heard he was taking the evening coach to Liverpool, Rose was very solicitous indeed, asking how many hours the journey would take and were the roads safe after dark?

  Robert tried to allay her concerns, pointing out that there was very little to worry about, since the coachmen were experienced drivers and had few accidents, but Rose recalled a very nasty one on the Matlock road some years ago.

  Emily remembered it too, but for different reasons. She recalled especially the efforts of her brother, Richard, and his friend, Paul Antoine, which had saved the lives of many people.

  Rose seemed anxious, and Robert promised that he would write as soon as he reached Liverpool.

  “I could send an express,” he said a little tentatively and was rewarded with a delighted smile.

  “Would you? I am sure we would be happy to know that your journey had been safely accomplished. Do you not think so, Mrs Courtney?”

  Emily agreed, but she was vastly amused by the fuss, remembering how Paul and Richard had travelled regularly to Birmingham. Robert was only going to Liverpool, yet she felt sympathy for the anxious Rose. She, too, had once suffered a great loss.

  Strangely, she thought, there seemed never any need to worry about her present husband, James. He seemed self-contained, almost protected.

  Dragging herself back to her guests, who had finished their tea, Emily found them discussing a song Rose had sung recently, which Robert claimed was the prettiest he had heard in many years. She was promising to give him the words, while he was hoping to hear her sing it again, soon.

  Looking at his watch, Robert said he really must leave and Rose, who had wanted to talk about the Sunday school, stayed behind.

  Later, after they had both left, Emily returned to her letter:

  Dearest Emma, she wrote:

  Your letter was most welcome.

  You have no need to covet the skills of Miss Brontë at all—your letters express your feelings with such warmth and sincerity that I am scarcely able to read them without shedding a tear.

  Now, I have so many little pieces of news for you that I do not quite know where to begin.

  After several pieces of domestic and local information, and the happy news that young William’s performance at the Pemberley Music festival had attracted a very appreciative comment in the Matlock Review, Emily proceeded to give her cousin an account of the developments in the life of her brother, Robert:

  Dear Emma, it is understandable that, in the midst of a somewhat tumultuous period last year, we did not get the opportunity to speak of my brother Robert’s decision not to return to the colonies but to take up an appointment in Liverpool with the same commercial firm.

  Well, it may be just as well that we did not, for as it happens, the circumstances have so altered that it is likely that Robert may not be remaining long in their employ.

  Now, I know you will want to know exactly what I mean and how and why the changes have come about. Unfortunately, my dear cousin, I am unable to satisfy your curiosity until at least next week. The information has been placed in my hands in confidence and, until I have permission to divulge it, my lips are sealed.

  This is not to say that we may not speculate, dear Emma, and I will give you a hint or two and then let your imagination roam at will.

  Consider that Robert, who has never been seriously in love, appears to have been deeply smitten.

  Consider that the young lady in question is from an excellent family and lives in Derbyshire, no more than an hour’s journey from Oakleigh.

  Consider also that if it were to come to anything, Robert will probably resign from his present position and become a partner in Papa’s business.

  I do not know if I have given you enough clues to help you solve our little mystery, but I am sure it will keep you busy speculating, when you can spare some time from your devoted husband and beautiful daughters.

  When I am able, which I hope will be soon, I shall write you all the answers.

  For myself, I intend to spend a few days next week helping to settle some of the children of the Irish immigrant families in our school at Kympton. The poor little things have no proper English and find it difficult to get on at school. They are usually teased and bullied because they are so poor and ill educated. They are frequently neglected but only because their parents needs must work to keep body and soul together.

  Caroline and Colonel Fitzwilliam are also helping by providing a barn on their property to accommodate donations of food, clothing, and furniture, which are to be distributed to the Irish families.

  Unfortunately, there is a certain amount of resentment against these unhappy people, among those of our own poor and unemployed folk, who feel some envy and fear that, like the Flemish weavers in the past, these Irish peasants may take their jobs or their land from them. It seems so unfair that the poor souls who have nothing, not even their country any more, are resented and reviled because we choose to help them.

  Papa remembers a similar sentiment in London when the survivors of the French Revolution were escaping the Terror and arriving penniless in Britain. While many generous people helped them, mainly because they were members of the aristocracy, there were apparently several voices raised against them being given refuge in England.

  Fortunately for them, the King himself supported their cause and praised those who gave the French émigrés protection. The poor Irish have no such highly placed advocates and, being poor and unprotected, seem to suffer an unconscionable level of harassment and abuse.

  Dear Emma, I fear there is little evidence of the meek being permitted to inherit even a small portion of the earth!

  James has spoken of it in his Sunday sermons, and all of us try to spread the word, but there are those who do not wish to hear. There have been rumblings in the villages and a few incidents. We can only pray that they will not prevail over the basic decency and Christian charity of ordinary English people.

  You must come with me when you are next here and visit some of the families. They work so hard and are mostly good citizens; I cannot believe they would be resented.

  Do give my love to James and the girls. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Meanwhile, I know you will write when you can.

  Your loving cousin,

  Emily.

  The following day, Emily was as good as her word, going with her maid and her niece, Isabella, to the little village on the edge of the moorland where a few Irish immigrant families had settled.

  In cottages that had been tumbledown shacks on abandoned land they had made their homes, working hard to scrape a living from the poor soil. Most of the men had gone to Birmingham to look for work in the mills.

  The women stayed to work the land, scouring the moors for food and firewood and minding the children, who’d had no schooling since their families had fled the famine in Ireland. Because of their inability to read and write English, they were treated with contempt and even suspicion. Their spirits crushed, their bodies weakened by malnutrition, their communities decimated by social dislocation and disease, they were an uninspiring lot.

  Yet Emily was determined to do whatever she could to change their circumstances and touch the conscience of the people among whom they had settled. To this end she worked tirelessly, collecting donations of food and clothing, while taking every opportunity to press for local government to assist
them. Unfortunately, the resentful atmosphere generated by the anti-Irish element in rural areas was proving very difficult to overcome. Emily could not believe that ordinary English people, who had themselves known hardship, could be so hard-hearted.

  ***

  Meanwhile, at Pemberley on a fine Spring afternoon, Darcy and Elizabeth, who were sitting on the west lawn after tea, had unexpected visitors—James and Rosamund Fitzwilliam arrived unheralded, though they were certainly not unwelcome.

  After the usual greetings, they went indoors, where a fire had been lit in the sitting room. James and Darcy were cousins, but the families were not intimate in the way they were with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Caroline.

  Having accepted some refreshment and waited for the maid and the footman to depart, they proceeded to reveal the reason for their visit. Their concern was for Rose, who had apparently begun to take an interest in Mr Robert Gardiner, whom she had met recently at the Bingleys’.

  “We invited him to dine with us, and later he joined us on an excursion to Dove Dale, where we spent the afternoon together. Since then, Rose has hardly stopped speaking of him,” said Rosamund.

  Elizabeth and Darcy were not entirely surprised, but they wondered what the Fitzwilliams thought they could do about it.

  James, who was not very articulate at the best of times, let his wife explain.

  “We know very little of Mr Gardiner,” Rosamund admitted, “and knowing the intimate relationship that exists between your family and the Gardiners, we thought you might advise us.”

  While Rosamund was reluctant to ask very personal questions, James who was very protective of his daughter, was more direct. He left no doubt as to the reason for their visit: he wanted to quiz Darcy about Robert.

  Mr Darcy, whose loyalty to the Gardiners was absolute, made his position quite clear, explaining that Robert came from a family with an exemplary record in personal integrity and public service.

  Placing his own business partnership with Mr Gardiner and the marriage of their daughter Cassandra with Robert’s brother Richard at the very centre of his case, Darcy spoke very highly of the Gardiners.

  Elizabeth, whose love of her husband was inextricably bound up with his warm regard for her favourite aunt and uncle, was proud to hear him speak of them in such terms.

  Left in no doubt of Darcy’s opinion, James Fitzwilliam hastened to assure them that he had no personal objection to Robert Gardiner. “Indeed,” he said, “I have found him to be a pleasant and gentlemanly fellow, but, you will surely agree, Darcy, that that is not the same thing as saying that I would be happy to see him wed my daughter.”

  Darcy agreed that it certainly was not the same, but reminded his cousin that the person whose wishes were most important was surely Rose herself.

  “Should Robert propose to Rose, has she indicated to either of you that she will accept such a proposal?” Elizabeth asked.

  Rosamund denied that there had been any such indication, but James was far more assertive. “It is Rose that I am thinking of,” he said stoutly. “You will recall how badly hurt she was when John Greaves died; we had great fears for her then. Now, I have no more important purpose in life than ensuring her happiness,” he declared.

  Darcy rose and went to the fireplace, over which a portrait of Cassandra and her sons had pride of place, and said quietly, “If that is what you want for Rose, I would advise you to let her tell you why she prefers Robert, if she does. I have no doubt they are both mature and sensible enough to have only the best possible reasons for making such a decision.

  “Rose is twenty-seven; Cassandra was not yet twenty when she declared that she loved Richard Gardiner and could not live without him! It was necessary then to ensure that both of them were certain of their feelings and were not simply carried away by emotion; for my part, I found it was best to talk to them. They were, of course, absolutely certain, as one is in youth, and as you can see, they are as happily married as anyone could wish to be.”

  Rosamund said they had indeed been fortunate because Richard Gardiner was well known and esteemed throughout the county.

  Darcy nodded and went on, “Well, I have known the Gardiners for almost as long as I have known Lizzie, and there is no family of my acquaintance I would place above them. Mr and Mrs Gardiner are well respected, and their children have been raised in an exemplary manner. James, you could have applied to your brother and I am confident that he would have supported me,” he said, as Elizabeth listened, scarcely believing her ears, so passionate was Darcy in the commendation he bestowed upon the Gardiners.

  James Fitzwilliam was apologetic. “Darcy, I did not intend to reflect upon any member of the Gardiner family,” he said. “I did have some concerns about the fact that Robert Gardiner had been away in the eastern colonies for a very long time. One does hear strange stories about those places.”

  Elizabeth, unable to contain herself any longer, intervened. “Perhaps I might be able to set your heart at rest on that score. My cousin Robert obtained the position with Mathesons—a leading commercial firm—through Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had also worked for them when he was overseas.

  “Robert was not getting very far with his study of the law, and his father felt a stint overseas would do him good. As you can see, he was right; Robert did well at Mathesons and when he returned to England, they offered him his present position in Liverpool. My aunt, Mrs Gardiner, is delighted to have him home, but even she admits that Robert is a far more confident and capable young man for his experience in the colonies.”

  Darcy sensed, from the rising inflection of her voice, that Lizzie’s feelings had been hurt by what she had deemed to be a slight upon her cousin and his family. He decided to speak out on a subject that he was sure would interest his cousin James.

  “Robert has certainly acquired sufficient skill and commercial experience to become a partner in his father’s business,” he said. “Mr Gardiner has spoken to me of his intention to offer him a partnership, and as partners in the business, Bingley, Fitzwilliam, and I have agreed. It will mean, of course, that Robert will relinquish his position with Mathesons and take over some of his father’s responsibilities in the Company.”

  It was easy to see that both Fitzwilliams were impressed. Husband and wife looked at one another and though they smiled, they were plainly embarrassed.

  Rosamund spoke quietly. “Mr Darcy, I should be most unhappy if I thought that you had misunderstood our intentions regarding Robert Gardiner. We have no wish to slight the Gardiners or suggest that Robert is in some way unsuitable. That was the very reason why we did not go to Colonel Fitzwilliam—we did not wish to embarrass Caroline by our enquiries about her brother.

  “We came to you because we knew of your long and intimate association with the Gardiners and because we were certain that you would speak plainly with us, which is exactly what you have done today, and we thank you for it. I shall certainly take your advice and speak with Rose, so we may discover exactly how she feels.”

  Both Elizabeth and Darcy smiled and agreed that Rose would be the best person to tell her parents how matters lay between herself and Robert.

  As they rose to leave, Darcy grasped his cousin’s hand and said, “There is no substitute for trust, James. Rose must feel she can trust her parents to accept the man she has chosen—if that is what she has done—and likewise, Robert will want to know that you trust him with your daughter. We have been fortunate indeed, for there is no one above Richard to whom we would have entrusted Cassandra. We can only wish you the same good fortune.”

  Elizabeth felt sure that if there was one thing the Fitzwilliams would be absolutely certain of, it was Darcy’s high regard for the entire Gardiner family.

  That night, as they prepared for bed, Elizabeth asked her husband why he had spoken out so strongly in support of Robert. Darcy seemed surprised at her question, “Because I believed it was necessary, Li
zzie; and furthermore, everything I said is true. I believe that Robert is now a mature young man, with a much greater grasp on reality than he had ten years ago. He is a perfectly eligible suitor for Rose, if she will have him.”

  “And you did not deem it necessary to mention the reason for his sojourn in Ceylon?” she asked.

  “No,” he replied, “because, viewed from where we stand today, Robert’s lapse, which was no more than an error of judgement, seems quite insignificant. I could see no reason at all to burden James and Rosamund with the details. It was all so long ago, had no lasting impact on anyone we know, and has certainly not diminished Robert in any way at all. Should he choose to tell Rose, that will be a matter between them.”

  Elizabeth asked in what Darcy recognised as a characteristic teasing tone, “If it had been Robert who was courting Cassy, how would you have responded?”

  He smiled as he realised she was not really testing him, simply playing a game with him. “That, dearest Lizzie, is an unfair question; but, since you have asked it, I shall answer you honestly. Had Cassy chosen Robert above Richard, I confess I would have been disappointed, but only because Richard is my personal favourite. There is no other young man for whom I have greater respect, no one for whom I have more affection than Richard—except our son. So, as you can see, taking only my preference into account, I would have had some regrets. However, if Cassy had loved him and accepted him, I could not have refused her my blessing.”

  Elizabeth put her arms around him and hugged him to her.

  His unyielding goodness had been his greatest strength, the source of her lasting comfort and delight. With Darcy she might disagree, she might even, occasionally, dispute; but never had she been disappointed in him.

  ***

  Some weeks later, Robert returned from Liverpool and went directly to see Emily at Kympton Rectory. She was alone and very happy to see him, though she was surprised to hear that he had not, as yet, been home.