Sharon Lathan - Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley

The library was determined to be far too dusty, only routinely cleaned once a month. Lizzy ordered it to hereafter be thoroughly scoured each week. Mrs. Smyth balked at this, declaring they did not have the manpower. This led to Lizzy's next demand: to review all the staff duties and records. If additional staff was needed, then they would be provided. Mrs. Smyth was definitely not pleased with this, nor was she pleased when Lizzy requested to see the past six months worth of household ledgers. Yet, she did not argue; displeasure was only evident in her eyes and sternly pressed lips.

As she rose to leave, Lizzy spoke, “One more point, Mrs. Smyth. When I summon you, I will expect you to respond in a timely manner and to await my permission before entering.”

To suggest that Darcy was vexed would be a monumental understatement! As Lizzy related what had transpired between she and Mrs. Smyth, Darcy's eyes darkened to blue-black, and his jaw clenched so tightly that his lips nearly disappeared. Lizzy had witnessed her husband in an extreme temper on a handful of occasions, and it was a chilling sight to behold. She honestly believed he could freeze boiling water with a glance.

He listened to her without interrupting, rising silently when she finished to pull the servant's bell. A footman responded instantly, and Darcy calmly requested the immediate presence of Mr. Travers and Mrs. Smyth. The footman bowed, but the brief flash in his eyes as he turned left no doubt that even he had sensed the repressed rage in his Master's icy voice.

“William, perhaps we should talk some more—” Lizzy began, but ceased at the sharp gesture from her spouse. Lizzy had learned that Darcy was without a doubt one of the kindest, gentlest, and most gracious and loving men on the planet. She had equally ascertained that he could be ruthless, uncompromising, dictatorial, and domineering. One was a total fool to cross the Master of Pemberley. Lizzy was not a fool. In addition, she recognized clearly and with complete trust that this was a situation he was more than capable of handling and that it was his duty to do so.

When Mr. Travers and Mrs. Smyth entered the room mere seconds later, it was obvious that the former was confused at the abrupt summons, whereas the latter was abundantly aware. Darcy was sitting behind his desk with Lizzy standing to his right.

In a deceptively mild tone, Darcy asked, “Do either of you have any doubts or reservations as to my supreme authority in this house?”

Mr. Travers was shocked. “Of course not, Mr. Darcy!”

Mrs. Smyth was pale as a ghost and trembling. “No, Mr. Darcy.”

“Very good. I shall be as intelligible and succinct as I possibly can be. Mrs. Darcy is of near equal stature and authority to me in every single aspect. Her dictates are law, to be respected and executed as you would for me. She is the Mistress of Pemberley and Darcy House, and is to be honored as this station decrees. Any deviation from this 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.

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.