Pride Prejudice and Prodigy

Cottagers

Chapter 2 ~ Cottagers

Julia and Elizabeth shared a sharpness of mind and an independence of thought that made their frequent conversations mutually delightful. Not many weeks after her arrival at Longbourn, Julia informed Elizabeth that she expected soon to be removed from Longbourn to a small cottage her mother had found not far from Meryton. “I shall be very sad to leave you all – yourself and Jane most especially. I have always wondered how it might be to have a sister; and my short stay amongst you convinces me that I should have liked it very much.

“My dear mama is anxious to be settled in her own place, where she may live the independent life to which she is accustomed; albeit in a far smaller way. She is fully aware of how steep a descent in the world it must represent. My mother is a highly intelligent woman, with an extensive knowledge and wisdom of the world. She has the warmest, most engaging disposition, which I am afraid, has perhaps, of late, been hidden beneath her immediate cares and concerns.”

“It must be quite terrible for a lady at her time of life, accustomed as she is to all the privileges and comforts of rank, to suddenly arrive in such circumstances.”

“Indeed it is,” said Julia with a sigh. “Yet I have not the slightest doubt that she shall endure these hardships with dignity and complaisance. She has a great joie de vivre which cannot long be suppressed, and a deep interest in people and the life around her, even if it is less exalted than that with which she is familiar. Her main source of unhappiness and concern is not for herself, but for my brother, James, and myself.”

“Yes, of course, that is understandable. But for your brother, it is perhaps not so serious. A well-educated young man of talent, as you describe him, has many possibilities of making his way in the world; but for a young woman, the loss of fortune must materially damage her prospects in life.”

“Yes, indeed it must,” reflected Julia, sadly.

There was something in her voice and manner, which led Elizabeth to enquire gently, “Perhaps it has done so already, dear Julia?”

“Unhappily, it has,” replied Julia, sighing sadly, as she withdrew into a long silence. Despite her curiosity, Elizabeth was too considerate of her friend to talk further on the matter; but to her surprise, Julia continued speaking on the subject. “I was very much in love – as for the gentleman, I cannot say, but he certainly claimed it. Please do not ask me to reveal his identity; I cannot, for we were never formally engaged.” A wistful expression played upon her face as she said, “We would have been married by this time, had it not been for his aunt – then much of our present hardships would have been avoided.”

“His aunt did not approve the match?” asked Elizabeth.

“She had hopes of her nephew making a better match.”

“He must be from a very exalted family if his aunt found anything wanting in your people.”

“My family were in no way an obstacle. He was a younger son, you see, without money, and so obliged to seek a woman of some fortune for a wife.”

“But surely Lord Darlington was prepared to settle a generous sum on you?”

“Yes, a very generous sum indeed; and one which was more than sufficient for my suitor – but alas, not his aunt. She threatened him with all manner of consequences if he went against her. He is kind-hearted and considerate, and possessed of a patient disposition. He hoped in time to persuade his aunt to bless our union, but all the while she was engaged in scheming to find a richer prize. What is most strange is that she is exceedingly wealthy herself – his choice of wife was immaterial to her own circumstances. I think it was chiefly a matter of family honour and pride with her; it was almost as if she considered that her nephew's worth, and thus her own as a near relation, was measured by the size of the purse his bride should bring.”

“How absurd!” exclaimed Elizabeth, shaking her head.

“In the end, my father agreed to meet her demands – unreasonable though they were; he was the kindest of men. But very soon afterwards, and before the arrangements had been finalised, came his most unexpected death.”

“And Edwin, no doubt, refused to honour his father's promise.”

“Yes, he immediately wrote to the aunt, stating that if her nephew were to marry me, it would be without a single penny from him. I had hoped there might be provision in my father's will of a sufficient fortune to satisfy the aunt – and there would have been – but you know the whole of the dreadful business of the wills. My suitor, who is almost entirely dependent upon the aunt, had no choice, but to most reluctantly withdraw his addresses. I feel so sad for him.”

“And I for you,” said Elizabeth, tenderly. “You must be heartbroken.”

“I am, of course, very sad, but coming as it has at a time of such tragedy and upheaval: my beloved father's death, followed by the dreadful deeds of my brother, Edwin, and all the consequent hardships, especially for my dear mother, there has been little occasion for me to think about myself, and consider what might have been.”

Julia, seeing the look of sadness on her friend's face, continued. “Please do not make yourself unhappy on my account, dear Elizabeth. Perhaps I would not have been as happy as I imagined I might – how can one know how married life will suit one? And now it seems that I shall never know what it is to be a wife.”

“That is nonsense, Julia. How can you speak so? You may no longer be possessed of a fortune, but you are an exceedingly handsome young woman – and enormously accomplished. Both your mother and your natural father are descended from the most elevated and respected of families – your marriage prospects may now be limited to men of good fortune – as those of myself and my sisters have always been – but they are surely excellent, none-the-less.”

“I sometimes used to think that it might be preferable to have no fortune. One hears so often of young men professing love to naïve young ladies, when really what they seek is their money. At least I shall now be spared that particular fate.”

“Do you believe it to have been the case with your erstwhile suitor?” asked Elizabeth.

“Well, I imagine that as a younger son, money must always be a consideration, but I do not believe it was his principal inducement. This is also my mother's opinion, and she is far wiser in the ways of the world than I. No, it was his aunt who insisted that a large fortune be brought into the marriage by the bride, not he. I cannot believe him to be a fortune hunter.”

“Well, I shall never have to worry about fortune hunters,” said Elizabeth, smiling wryly. “Nor Jane, nor any of my sisters; yet I can assure you that our dear mama cherishes great hopes of marrying us all advantageously; and she is, if I may say, most knowledgeable in such matters – so you must not despair of your chances, dear Julia, I refuse to allow it.”

***

Elizabeth was eager to visit Julia and her mother at the earliest occasion after their departure to the cottage, but Jane suggested they wait a little before paying their first visit. “We must give them time to complete setting up their cottage and making it as comfortable as possible. I imagine they might find some discomfiture at being visited in so humble a situation; perhaps we should allow time for them to become more accustomed to their new life.”

“My dear Jane, you are thoughtfulness and consideration itself, and doubtless, quite correct,” replied Elizabeth. “In my eagerness to see how they were settled and to be again in their delightful company, I quite overlooked their feelings in the matter.”

But Elizabeth's plans of visiting the cottage were soon forestalled by the arrival of their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner for Christmas, and all the festivities and excitement of the season – and perhaps, just a little, by the frequent and charming company and attentions of George Wickham, which Elizabeth continued to enjoy, notwithstanding her Aunt Gardiner's caution regarding that gentleman, and his regrettable lack of fortune – a circumstance that Elizabeth could not contemplate without thinking of the villain, Mr Darcy, who was wholly to blame for Mr Wickham's sad misfortunes.

By the time her aunt and uncle had departed Longbourn, taking her sister Jane with them to London, Lady Darlington and Julia had been removed to their cottage several weeks already, and Elizabeth was impatient to see them. It was but a three mile walk from Longbourn, and the ground was lightly covered with snow on the cold winter's morning when Elizabeth set out to visit her friends.

Her first impression, on seeing the cottage, was to wonder how it could be spacious enough to afford comfort for two ladies. She had been prepared for something modest, but not something quite so small and insignificant – although there was a quaint charm to it, and she imagined that in the spring, when the garden was full with flowers, and the wisteria in bloom, it would look a pretty picture.

A young maidservant, whom Elizabeth later discovered to be the sole servant, showed her into the kitchen. Lady Darlington lowered her book, and rose from her chair beside the fire to receive Elizabeth graciously. Her dignified manner seemed utterly incongruous in that plain little cottage kitchen.

“Welcome to my kitchen, breakfast-parlour, dining-parlour, drawing-room, and sitting-room,” she said with a smile. “At least it is warm,” she added lightly, drawing a chair from the table towards the fire for her guest. “You must be freezing, my dear Elizabeth, after so long a walk on a frosty morning such as this. Pray seat yourself, and make yourself warm by the fire. May I offer you tea?”

Lady Darlington sensed Elizabeth's discomfort and embarrassment in witnessing her living in such lowly circumstances. Having served the tea and resumed her own seat, she attempted to put her guest at her ease. “I am very well, as you can see, and I find myself quite reconciled to my new circumstances, which are not without their compensations. It is most pleasant to be unencumbered and free from the responsibilities attendant upon the mistress of a large establishment, as I have been all my adult life. I no longer need to spend half the morning at my writing desk; or be bothered with the sending out and replying to invitations – why you are my very first visitor, dear Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth tried to smile, but she could not immediately feel easy at witnessing this fine lady fallen so low, and endeavoured to turn the conversation by enquiring at the whereabouts of her friend, Julia, whom she had expected to find sitting with her mother.

“Did she not write to you of her plans?” asked Lady Darlington with surprise.

“No,” replied Elizabeth. “What plans?”

Lady Darlington sighed, as she reached out and took Elizabeth's hand. “I imagine she wished to hide it from you as long as possible, for she knew that you would be most unhappy when you learned of it.”

“Learned what?” asked Elizabeth, becoming uneasy.

“Julia has gone to London, to search for employment.”

“Employment? But, how shocking!”

“I did not wish her to go, but… well… as you are well aware, we have almost nothing. The little I realised from the few pieces of jewellery I was able to retain is insufficient to keep us all for very long. Julia is determined to support herself, and to help me in what little way she is able.”

“How appalling… a young lady such as Julia, the daughter of a Lord and Lady, seeking employment! What will she do? What occupation can she find, other than as a governess? What a shocking degradation that will be!”

Lady Darlington shook her head sadly and sighed. “Julia hopes to find a position a little more elevated than that of governess. She is, as you know, a most accomplished musician, both on the pianoforte, and with the violin. She is also highly trained and gifted in song. I believe there will be any number of good families who will be happy to have her tutor their daughters in music.”

Oh yes, and to boast to all their acquaintance that they employ the daughter of Lord and Lady Darlington as a music tutor, thought Elizabeth, imagining how her friend would be eagerly sought by those recently elevated by new money, though she refrained from voicing such disagreeable ideas.

“But your ladyship, is there no alternative? Julia can be in no doubt as to the consequences of such a step. It will very soon be known to all the world; and her marriage prospects will be blighted forever!”

Lady Darlington lowered her head sadly, but remained silent. Elizabeth felt ashamed at not keeping her counsel, and turned the conversation in a different direction. “What of your son, James? Why is he not endeavouring to support you and his sister? For a gentleman there are occupations which not only might provide a good income, but to which no shame would be attached.”

Lady Darlington sighed and shook her head. “It is not quite that straightforward, my dear. You do not know James. He tried very hard to dissuade Julia from her intended course. Indeed, he offered to go as a music tutor or an art master himself, but Julia would not have it.”

“But why need he go as a tutor or a master? That would be equally demeaning for a gentleman as it would for a lady.”

“I suppose you are thinking of a profession such as the church; or an officer in the militia or the navy; or perhaps a career at the law?”

“Yes, exactly,” replied Elizabeth. “These are all respectable professions suitable for a gentleman without fortune.”

“But not my son,” answered Lady Darlington, smiling fondly. “In any case, all of these professions require either a lengthy period of preparation or a substantial sum of money – or both.”

Elizabeth was finding the subject of how the Darlingtons were to live, increasingly distressing and embarrassing; and she very soon afterwards took her leave. In the afternoon, she wrote to her sister, Jane, telling her of the unhappy circumstances surrounding their friend Julia.

Jane's reply was all concern and thoughtfulness. She, herself, had heard nothing from Julia, and had received neither card, nor letter, nor visit – although Julia well knew that Jane was in London, staying with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Jane was inclined to believe that Julia wished to avoid contact with her former friends, whom she must now feel she could no longer meet as equals. She wrote: The circumstances in which Julia finds herself domiciled are probably such that she would be acutely embarrassed to receive a visit from me, and she will therefore feel herself unable to wait upon me in Gracechurch Street. Not for the first time in her life, Elizabeth found herself questioning the rigid forms that governed society – and found them wanting; and more than that, unjust. Respectability seemed to come down to money, she reflected unhappily. Just a few months ago, Julia was the daughter of a wealthy lord, and far more elevated in society than herself. But because of the actions of a cruel and dishonest brother, she now found herself impoverished, and having to earn her bread like some common person. Elizabeth had not the least intention of cutting her friend, and despite Jane's opinion that they should leave it to Julia to take the initiative in making contact, she wrote to her at the London address her mother had provided.

At length Julia replied; and although she attempted to make light of her situation, and put a cheerful glow on her new life in London, Elizabeth was not persuaded. It was many weeks before she felt herself equal to another visit to Lady Darlington. Elizabeth was so distressed at the Darlingtons' situation, that she felt quite unequal to bringing any cheer by a visit. Were it not for the frequent visits of George Wickham, and that gentleman's charming attentions, February would have been a very dreary month indeed.