Postscript from Pemberley

by Rebecca Ann Collins

  Spring was always a busy time at Pemberley.

  It was even more so this year with the introduction of new equipment and farming practices, as well as more efficient management methods on the property. There were rumours abroad of a rural recession, and Darcy, together with his grandfather and their chief steward Mr Grantham, had been involved in planning for the new year, hoping thus to avert disaster.

  For Kathryn, too, it had been a hectic period, as she prepared to take over Jessica's work at the school. She had thought at the start it might be fun, but soon found it took up a lot of her time, as she worked assiduously to complete their plans for the New Year.

  Indeed, they had not as yet decided upon a date for their wedding.

  “I think we have had enough weddings for one season,” Darcy had quipped in answer to a question from his grandmother. “Kathryn and I are both content to be engaged for a while, while we get on with our work. We are happy as we are and look forward to making our plans over the Summer. Perhaps, we may make up our minds on a date in the Autumn.”

  Elizabeth was a little surprised at his casual attitude and said so to her daughter, but Cassy, who had already spoken of the matter with her son, had no concerns.

  “I believe, Mama, that Darcy and Kathryn are taking some time to consider their future,” and seeing the astonishment upon her mother's face, she added quickly, “I do not mean to suggest that they are uncertain of their desire to have a future together—quite the contrary, I believe they are very deeply committed to one another—but before they marry, Darcy must decide where he will finally settle. He will not admit it, but I do believe he still misses the cut and thrust of political debate and sometimes speaks as though he might wish to enter Parliament one day. But, at the same time, he knows he has a role here, with us and with Pemberley, as Papa's manager and as Anthony's guide and mentor. It is a duty he takes very seriously.”

  Elizabeth shook her head; it had never occurred to her that her grandson might have such a conflict to resolve. She had assumed, when he accepted his position as manager of Pemberley, that like her husband he had made a decision for life. She had believed then he had done with politics, and privately, Elizabeth had been relieved.

  “Do you think he is likely to leave us then?” she asked, and Cassy heard the note of concern in her voice. “Your father does depend upon him a great deal, and he is well liked by the men and the tenants. Cassy, has he spoken of this intention to you?”

  “Not in so many words,” said her daughter, “but I am aware from Lizzie and Mr Carr that he has mentioned the fact that after years of waiting for the Whigs and Reformists to win an election, he regrets missing the opportunity to contribute to the policies of the government. It is something he and Kathryn must resolve before they are married. Much will depend upon their decision.”

  Cassy knew a little more about her son's dilemma, but was unwilling at this early stage to trouble her mother with it. There was every possibility that it would all be resolved soon.

  She gently steered the conversation towards more mundane matters. One of the maids had been taken ill and had to be removed to the hospital, she explained, as she poured out more tea. Elizabeth was concerned that the children had not been exposed to any infection and needed to be reassured that it was not a contagious condition. Cassy was quick to reassure her mother. “Richard is very particular; he is sure it is not a serious infection and she will soon be well again,” she said, to Elizabeth's relief.

  Elizabeth could have wished that she would be similarly reassured about young Darcy's future plans, but as it happened, any resolution of Darcy Gardiner's future political ambitions had to wait, when a far more pressing issue intervened and immediately claimed much of his attention.

  His aunt, Emily Courtney, returning from a visit to the local church, had found her husband feeling very poorly. Doubled up in pain and unable to give any reason for it, he was so plainly distressed, she had had to call on a servant to help her carry him into an ante-room where he could rest, before sending urgently for her brother Dr Gardiner.

  Richard attended upon Reverend Courtney as soon as he could and, having examined his brother-in-law, decided that he should be removed to the hospital forthwith, where he would be kept under close observation. He suspected a heart condition, but could not be sure. He wanted a second opinion. He was unwilling also to leave him overnight at Oakleigh without any medical supervision.

  “If his condition were to worsen, the time taken to reach him might make the difference between life and death,” he explained, and Emily agreed at once that they should go.

  Fortuitously, Darcy had been visiting his parents and had accompanied his father to Oakleigh, for it was the end of the week and the workmen and labourers on the farm had to be paid that evening. Emily appealed for his help, and Darcy agreed to look after matters for her. Having shown him where the cash box and accounts were kept, Emily accompanied her husband and Dr Gardiner to the hospital.

  It transpired there was very little money in the cash box to pay the workmen and some outstanding bills. Darcy began by using some of his own money to settle those that required immediate attention. Opening the books in order to record his payments, he began to understand the seriousness of his aunt's situation and, as he went further into the accounts, became somewhat alarmed at the parlous state of her finances.

  Having made some notes, Darcy opened a drawer and was about to put away the books and lock the desk, when he noticed two letters lying open in the drawer. Since they were clearly business rather than private communications, being written on formal letterhead paper, Darcy had no reservations about glancing at them, lest they were matters that required his immediate attention.

  He could see the one on top came from the office of an attorney in Matlock, a Mr Maxworthy, whom he knew to be associated with his uncle Robert Gardiner. It contained a proposal to either buy outright or accept as security for a loan, the entire property of Oakleigh. The sum of money proposed to be lent was certainly far less than was the generally accepted value of the estate, but it was still a considerable sum. Darcy read further, moving to the window for better light.

  He was intrigued and even a little alarmed by what he saw.

  In making the proposal, Mr Maxworthy declared he was acting for Mr and Mrs Robert Gardiner, who, he claimed, “had an abiding interest in the said property, being part of Mrs Gardiner's deceased estate.”

  Darcy could not understand what had occasioned this offer, until he picked up the second piece of paper, which had lain beneath the letter. This was a copy of a letter written by his aunt Emily to her brother Robert, asking if he would be willing to assist her set up a school for girls, on the lines of one run by Mrs Charlotte Collins at Longbourn in Hertfordshire.

  She placed before him, openly and honestly, the facts pertaining to her husband's ill health and retirement, their now quite inadequate income, the meagre savings she had kept “for a rainy day,” and her own determination to do all she could to care for Reverend Courtney and ensure his return to health. The proposed school, she hoped, would be an additional source of income. It was this proposition that Robert had passed on to his attorney, who had responded with a counteroffer to either buy or accept a mortgage on the Oakleigh estate. He had pointed out that while Mrs Courtney would need the consent of two of her siblings to sell the property, a mortgage would require no such condition, and the money could be used to set up the proposed school.

  So alarmed was Darcy Gardiner at what this might imply, he made several notes of the facts and figures involved and decided to place the information before his parents as well as Mr Darcy, as soon as he could.

  He could not imagine that they would, under any circumstances, approve such a deal. Yet, clearly something had to be done to help Mrs Courtney, something that would not put the future of Oakleigh Manor in jeopardy.

  On the day following, having first ascertained that Reverend Courtney was no worse, indeed he had passed a comfortable night at
the hospital, with no further sign of a heart attack, Darcy determined to take the information first to his father, Dr Richard Gardiner. Finding him at home in his study, while his mother was out walking in the park with James and Anthony, Darcy placed all the facts before him, together with the notes he had made.

  “I thought it was essential that you and Mr Darcy should be made aware of the situation, sir,” he said quietly. “It is very much graver than I thought at first. Aunt Emily needs help and she must be extricated from this impossible situation.”

  Richard Gardiner's countenance reflected his astonishment and his sense of betrayal. Darcy could see that his father was deeply shocked and hurt by the revelation that not only was his sister Emily in financial trouble, but their younger brother Robert was scheming, unbeknownst to the rest of his family, to entice Emily into selling or mortgaging, without any hope of reclamation, the home she had inherited from their parents.

  Richard rose from his chair and walked away to the end of the room, then returning to his desk, read again the notes Darcy had placed before him.

  “Darcy, you are quite certain of this? There is no possibility that you could have been mistaken?” he asked, almost hopefully.

  “None, sir, I read both papers over carefully. I cannot begin to tell you how very shocked I was, it took a while for me to fully comprehend the matter.

  “Aunt Emily's appeal was quite straightforward; but, when I realised what was being proposed by my uncle's attorney Mr Maxworthy, I knew I had to get the information to you and Mr Darcy as soon as possible, before my aunt was persuaded to sign anything,” he said by way of explanation.

  Richard praised his son's prompt action and sound sense of rectitude. “You did absolutely right, Darcy; I am indebted to you and I know Mr Darcy will be too, when he learns of this outrageous offer.”

  Darcy did, however, remind his father of the facts. “But, sir, it must be remembered that the matter was initiated by Aunt Emily. While Mr Maxworthy may be culpable, indeed he could be accused of having attempted to take advantage of her situation, we must not forget that Aunt Emily still needs to find the money for her school,” he said and was surprised to find that his father was quite adamant on that point.

  “That is out of the question,” he said firmly.

  Darcy looked askance at his father, wondering at the speed and determination with which he had rejected the idea.

  “But, sir, she has planned…” he began, when Richard interrupted him gently. “Darcy, your aunt Emily has only the best of intentions, but it is unlikely that she could ever organise and administer a school such as exists at Longbourn under the control of Mrs Charlotte Collins and Mrs Jonathan Bingley. To begin with, Anna Bingley, who does most of the teaching at Longbourn, is an eminently qualified practitioner in both art and music; she has studied in France and Belgium. Emily will need to hire a suitable teacher. There is also not the same demand for such a school in this part of the country as there obviously is in the southern counties. The daughters of most of our tenants either look to be married to a farmer or shopkeeper, while many others seek to enter domestic service or work in the factories. Those young ladies fortunate enough to be educated in seminaries or by a private tutor, as your sisters were, would have already acquired the skills required to paint or play an instrument.”

  Darcy listened as Dr Gardiner continued, “Secondly, and this is far more important, your aunt does not know it yet, but she is going to have her hands full, caring for her husband. Reverend Courtney's condition, though grave, is not yet critical, but one false step and he would indeed be in peril. When he returns home, Emily will need all our help to care for him and ensure his recovery. She will have neither the time nor the energy left to organise and administer a school for ladies.”

  Dr Gardiner's voice was very grave, and Darcy could see his father was quite serious.

  “But what is to be done to help her?” he asked, in some desperation.

  His father's answer demonstrated the difficulty of the problem. Richard had sat down at his desk again and picked up Darcy's notes.

  “I think it is best that we take this information to Mr Darcy, forthwith. I am neither sufficiently familiar with the resources available to assist Emily, nor am I confident that my judgment will be completely unbiased. As a cautious medical practitioner, I should like to obtain a second opinion on the problem, and Mr Darcy's is the very best there is. Besides, as the brother of both Emily and Robert, I may be more prone to prejudice than someone less directly connected to them, such as Mr Darcy,” he explained.

  When his son had the temerity to suggest that the close friendship between Mr Darcy and Mr and Mrs Gardiner might constitute a similar obstacle to impartiality, Richard retorted, “Darcy, I would place my life in your grandfather's hands with complete confidence in his fairness and honour. I know no other person of whose integrity I could be so completely satisfied, and I am quite certain your aunt Emily would feel the same.”

  Not long afterwards, they left Camden House, and Richard, having taken a few minutes to acquaint his wife with the nature if not the detail of their errand, called for the curricle, and the two set off for Pemberley.

  On the way, Darcy, having been quiet for a while, asked another question that had been on his mind since the previous day.

  “If you will forgive what may be an obtuse question, sir, I have wondered why Aunt Emily has not asked William for any help. He is by all reports doing well at his chosen profession, as yet unencumbered by a wife and family; one might have expected her to turn to him rather than to Uncle Robert. I am aware that musicians are not very well remunerated, but one of his talent and reputation must have some means, and I should have thought he would wish to help his mother in any way possible.”

  Richard smiled. “That is certainly not an obtuse question, Darcy, but the answer is a rather long and complex one and will have to wait for another occasion. Suffice it to say that Emily believed she had a sacred duty to encourage and develop William's musical talent and ensured that he was never denied anything he needed, not even when her situation was quite difficult. Mr and Mrs Darcy have helped him, too, as have the Grantleys—so Emily is unlikely to trouble him for financial assistance except in the most desperate circumstances.”

  They were approaching Pemberley, and Darcy, though puzzled by this answer, decided to ask no more questions. He hoped on some other occasion to return to the subject and perhaps glean some further information about the circumstances of his cousin William Courtney.

  At Pemberley, Mr Darcy had dressed for dinner and, since they were not expecting company, had decided to indulge his passion for the arts by spending some time in the gallery, where the light at this time of year was just right to allow one to fully appreciate the group of fine Italian masterpieces that were the pride of his collection. A Canaletto, which he knew had been coveted by Prince Albert himself at the time of its purchase, was a personal favourite of his.

  The unexpected appearance of Richard and Darcy Gardiner alerted him to the possibility of something being amiss. That one or the other should arrive unannounced would not have raised a question, but that both should appear, without prior warning, especially after the sudden illness of Reverend Courtney, gave him reason to worry and he hurried forward to meet them.

  However, since they did not look as though they were bearing grievous news, he greeted them cordially and said, “Richard, Darcy, this is an unexpected pleasure! Are you here to announce another special celebration at Camden House? A wedding perhaps?” looking directly at young Darcy.

  Darcy seemed a little confused, and Richard laughed, though not very cheerfully, “No, sir, sadly we are not. I am sorry to disappoint you, but we have a somewhat unexpected problem and hope you might help us resolve it.”

  “Indeed? An unexpected problem, which calls for three heads instead of one or two? This is a question of some complexity then?”

  “It is indeed, sir,” said Richard, “and I think you will agree, when
you have heard the detail of it, that it requires careful handling.”

  Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Mr Darcy took them into his study and, sending for a footman, asked for drinks to be served to his visitors. In the interim, he went to find his wife and advise her that he may be late for dinner.

  Elizabeth was curious. “Richard and Darcy Gardiner are both here? What can possibly be the matter? Not some problem with Darcy's engagement to Miss O'Hare, I hope?”

  He was quick to reassure her. “No, my dear, it certainly did not appear to be a matter of the heart as far as I could tell. But be patient, Lizzie, and I am sure all will soon be revealed.”

  Returning to his study, Mr Darcy shut the door and poured himself a drink.

  “Well now, what is this conundrum that has you so concerned?”

  Richard had already placed the relevant notes upon the desk, and as Mr Darcy picked them up, his grandson explained how he had come by the information they contained.

  To say Mr Darcy was shocked and grieved would be a complete understatement. His brow was furrowed, his mouth tightened with anger, yet he said nothing as he read through the notes.

  Then, turning to Darcy Gardiner, he asked, “And have you any idea, Darcy, if your aunt Emily has already responded to this proposal?”

  “No, sir, I cannot be certain, but I do not believe it likely that she has had time to respond. The letter is dated just three days ago, and if it had arrived yesterday, there would have been insufficient time to respond,” he replied.

  “And was there any other indication that she may be willing to accept Maxworthy's offer?”

  “No, sir, none at all, except that it does seem as though Mrs Courtney's finances are in a parlous state, and if she has no other means, she may be tempted by it. She will need to do something to balance the books.”