Page 42 of Till Death Us Do Part
Not seeing just how angry she was, or more likely not caring, he said, “You may redecorate your chambers, so long as the changes are reasonable.”
“And who is to be the arbiter of reasonableness?”
“Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper, has overseen the house for many years. She knows what bounds decorations are to be kept in.”
In a menacingly silent whisper, she said, “You may as well finish. What other conditions are to be laid on me during this Purgatory?”
She noticed they had been talking longer than she thought, as they were just entering Hatfield, and she presumed, going to the inn she had previously visited.
“You may walk or ride anywhere you like as long as you are accompanied, but do not use the carriage more than twice a week. You are to venture no farther than Lambton or Kympton. You may do whatever you ordinarily do. You may read anything in the library except the black shelves on the north wall.”
“Pray, what is on the north wall that I am supposed to be protected from?”
He had no idea how close he was to losing an eyeball. “They are the most valuable tomes, extremely old and collected over many generations. They require special handling.”
Elizabeth felt like she was entering some circle of Hell. “What more? I am certain you are leaving something out?”
“The running of the household is up to the butler and housekeeper. If you wish any changes in its management, you may discuss it and make suggestions, but they will have the final decisions. Both have known me since I was four years old, and they know how to keep things the Darcy way. I have no idea what kind of training or education you have, so we will discuss any other changes, or necessary improvements to your education, when I return.”
He did not mention that his observations of her mother were not likely to ensure confidence in her abilities but saying it was unnecessary as the implication was not the least bit subtle.
“Are you quite finished,” she snapped with barely restrained fury?
Thinking he may as well get it all out on the table, Darcy said, “You may buy clothing, jewellery, and the like as you see fit, or you may hire masters to improve your accomplishments. You have your pin money to take care of both. I also expect you to pay any postage from your pin money, so you may wish to consider how much correspondence to engage in.”
By that point, Elizabeth was digging her fingernails into the palms of her hands, and she noticed that, as expected, they were starting to shake.
Hating to sound greedy, but at least wanting to know what was expected, she said, “All right, that seems fair. How hard could it be? Pray tell, how much is this store of pin money?”
Without batting an eye, Darcy said, “forty pounds.”
Finding that unhelpful, Elizabeth asked, “forty pounds… per?”
“Per annum.”
At that point, Elizabeth thought it might be time to just give up. “Am I expected to look like Mrs Darcy or Miss Bennet, onthat. You realise that is ten pounds less than my current pin money, and my father buys my clothes.”
“That was correct yesterday. Today, I provide your pin money, and you buy your own clothes. As to looking like Mrs Darcy, I am not overly concerned. The way you dress now is adequate for this interim period.”
“I see. Did you pattern that amount after what your sister spends?”
Darcy at least looked abashed at that, but did not answer, so Elizabeth answered for him.
“I see. I suspect hers ismuchmore, even though she is not even out, but let me be clear on one thing. Forty pounds is perfectly enough for me, so long as I do not have to pay for my own food. I am not like your other female friends and feel no need to impress with my clothing, nor does my natural taste run to the vulgar or expensive.With that amount, I will look no more nor less elegant than I did as the daughter of an insignificant country squire.Iwill not be unhappy with that situation, but is thatreallythe image you wish to project for the mighty Darcy family?”
“Until I return, I doubt you will be seen by enough people to matter. When I return, I will work out how things are to be arranged. At that time, I will decide how you are to comport yourself, and I will decide how to introduce you to society with the least damage.”
Elizabeth seethed but tried to keep a lid on her temper.
“All right! We shall play it your way, but you should quit pretending that you care about the Darcy’s reputation. Sending a new wife to Pemberley, without her husband, and without even a wedding night will send a message nobody can mistake. You know perfectly well your servants will spread that fact and all the supposition that naturally goes with it around like wildfire. You may as well hang a sign on my neck reading, ‘unwanted wife.’”
Growing angrier and angrier, he snapped, “You should have thought about that before you compromised me!”
Elizabeth, whose patience was stretched to the limit shouted loud enough to most certainly be heard by the coachman and footmen.
“Compromised you? COMPROMISED you?”
Just barely getting her fury under control, she seethed menacingly.
