By Charm or by Choice

by Shana Jefferis-Zimmerman

  Elizabeth was inspired. “That is a wonderful idea! Why didn’t I think of that? You have two sisters, do you not, Thomas?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You are a very good brother then, I see. That is very gallant of you to notice such a thing and scruple such a fine idea as this.”

  Thomas blushed from his neck to his cheeks to his ears. Elizabeth had never seen him so!

  “I shall tell her so that she may consult with you and see what is to be done. There are other outdoor furnishings that may be moved to the rose garden. There are also some pieces up in the attic, I believe. They were quite in the way when we were decorating the staff’s quarters and the Lambton Parsonage. Thank you Thomas!”

  Miss Bingley was quite gratified by the suggestion and truly surprised at its source.

  “The gardener thought of this?”

  “Yes, his name is Thomas.”

  “And he brought this idea to you?”

  “Yes, Caroline.” Elizabeth laughed. “I think you will find one day that if you treat your staff well, they will reciprocate. Thomas comes from a long line of gardeners and arborists. He is an expert with gardens, orchards, and has a special talent with roses. He is not a crop farmer. He has worked at Pemberley for many years. And he can assist you in determining what furniture you would like to have moved to the rose garden and where you want everything placed. Thomas can instruct the footmen on everything. Mrs. Reynolds can help you with any other objects you would like to have included. I suggest you take a look in the attic. Although I can speak with authority that it is quite dusty up there, so wear a long apron to protect your beautiful dresses, but it is worth the trip. And this shall be your project and your design if you wish it.”

  “I do! But I would like to have it finished before you look at it, and before Mr. Darcy sees it. I would like to unveil the result to you both when you are together.”

  “That is a lovely idea!” Elizabeth cried. “It shall not be easy to resist the temptation to peek! But I promise, I will not look into the rose garden until the debut.”

  The next week saw much activity in the rose garden and in the attics of Pemberley. Elizabeth spied Caroline working on what appeared to be several drawings in the rose garden. She had never known Caroline to draw, but this was the most time they had ever spent together as it far surpassed her stays in Netherfield and she usually scheduled her visits to Barrington to coincide with Caroline’s removal to stay with the Hursts. Mrs. Reynolds who was involved as well, was soon equally excited about the changes underfoot. Although Elizabeth spent very little time in the rose garden, she had to remind herself of her promise to not look! And she solicited the same promise from Georgiana not to look before the project was completed. Thomas listened to whatever Miss Bingley asked for and made sure he or some of the other servants brought everything required. Elizabeth also overheard him advising Caroline on where the sun hit the garden in the morning as opposed to the afternoon and how that changed in spring, summer, and fall. Caroline made two trips into Lambton to look at and purchase fabrics. She made sure to mention at the linen drapers what the material was to be used for, which she thought would please the shop owner. In order to create space for the new sitting room, four rose bushes all in a row had to be removed. Caroline learned from Thomas that the rose bushes could be saved by pruning them back slightly before they were dug up, immediately wrapping the roots in wet cloths, and quickly replanting them. So they conspired together and decided that the four rose bushes should be delivered to Lambton Parsonage and immediately replanted to adorn the front of the cottage. The under-gardener sent on this task had returned saying the Atkinses were delighted with the new rose bushes and conveyed their many thanks.

  The rose garden sitting area was finished and although Elizabeth was excited to see it, Fitzwilliam was still not returned from Liverpool. His travels ultimately delayed the unveiling by only two days, but Elizabeth was impatient to see him and the rose garden.

  “Welcome home, my dear.” Elizabeth hugged Fitzwilliam quite improperly as there were no staff present to see her indiscretion. He cradled her tenderly for a long time.

  “What is wrong, Fitzwilliam?”

  He sighed. “It’s Richard. He has been promoted again, which means he can no longer sell his commission.”

  “That is unfortunate news indeed.”

  “Only in the English Army can you lose money by promotion. It was a field promotion. I read it in the papers. His commanding officer was mortally wounded. I do not know what he is going to do upon retirement.”

  “Oh, my dear, that is simply dreadful!” she cried. “I hope that Richard was not wounded.”

  “Richard was not wounded, do not worry yourself on that score.”

  “That is a relief! Perhaps we can think of a way to help him. He will undoubtedly understand the significance of this promotion. Perhaps he will be more amenable than in the past. After all, if I can take on altering Caroline, perhaps you can have an impact on Richard’s obstinacy.”

  “You appear to have survived any trials with Caroline in my absence, Elizabeth. How are you managing? Perhaps Miss Bingley is who I should be worried about!” he laughed.

  “She is beginning to open up, my dear. I have commissioned Caroline, with Thomas’ assistance, to design a sitting room in the rose garden for her particular use.”

  “In the rose garden, you mean outdoors?”

  “Yes, yes. It was Thomas’ idea. Caroline has been quite underfoot, I assume. But my dear, this is part of drawing her out, determining her true interests. So let her explore! I am most curious to see it and we have been waiting for your return! Will you not join me? She was quite insistent on debuting her design to both of us at the same time.”

  “And if you like what she has done…will it signify that you must go to London?”

  “Yes, if Caroline inspires me to do more, it will mean that the saloon will be finally receiving the updating that it needs!”

  “You know my mother would approve. She enjoyed having updates to the décor done every few years.”

  “I am quite out of my element, sir.”

  “Decorating or spending money?”

  “I believe both, my dear! But you know, I believe Caroline and I need to go to London anyway. She is never going to meet anybody eligible from town whilst staying here. I wanted to give her time though to adjust her ideas about her future before throwing her back into the marriage mart. She is agreeable to going to London. But I do not believe she is quite ready yet.”

  “She is five-and-twenty. I don’t know if she can afford any more readiness!”

  “Very funny. I still need to tell her about her dowry.”

  “Charles and Jane send their regards.”

  Elizabeth exclaimed at this.

  “I could not travel so near to Barrington and not stop. I spent one evening there. I had considerable difficulty getting past their butler! He is very loyal. I tried to reason with him and then to persuade him. I thought I might have to offer him money! I finally prevailed by telling him I knew all about the travel scheme to Italy and that Miss Bingley had been shipped off to Derbyshire so that Mrs. Bingley could have some peace during her increasing. And I knew all this because Miss Bingley was currently residing in my home. Well, the butler was mortified and immediately let me in. I sang him many praises to Charles and Jane. Jane looks very well and completely at ease. She sat with Charles and I whilst we discussed the estates because she said she missed watching us visit! She wrote you a letter whilst I was there and I brought it with me. It’s in the study.”

  “I am so happy that all is well. I wish that I could see her, but I am of use right here.”

  “Shall we go find Caroline, then?”

  Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth found Caroline and asked her to assemble anybody else who should see the unveiling. Caroline sought out Georgiana, Mrs. Annesley, Mrs. Reynolds, Thomas, and the other staff who had helped to be included. Once ready, Caroline proudly escorted t
he entire party out to the rose garden. It was most elegant and welcoming.

  The rose garden was on the side of the house and faced out onto a distant valley. The removal of the four rose bushes created an open rectangular space with a lovely view of the valley. The stone floor tiles had been reconfigured to fill in where the removed plantings had been. A settee from another part of the grounds and four chairs from the attic had been moved to the newly created space to form the conversation area for the outdoor sitting room. Pillows and cushions with a blue, yellow, and pink floral pattern adorned each piece of furniture. Four stone columns had been used with a beautiful blue fabric to create a canopy so that the seating area had partial shade. Small iron tables adorned the area, so clearly a tea service could be used! Two life-size marble statuary, one of a man and one of a woman; were strategically placed to enhance the view from the settee to the bucolic valley below. And one low level planting area with smaller, sprawling rose bushes and lavender had been added alongside the steps down onto the estate grounds and the valley below. The creation of this new planting area had liberated the stone tiles which were now configured to fill the space vacated by the four rose bushes. There were candelabra with glass funnels on either side of the settee with beeswax candles. One of the tables featured a beautiful crystal vase with a stunning arrangement of roses and lavender. A small birdbath off in the distance completed the scene.

  “Caroline, I cannot believe what you have accomplished with the staff in a week! This is utterly amazing. You truly have a talent! Both Georgiana and I can learn much from your tastes.”

  Fitzwilliam joined in with his praises as did Georgiana and the others and Caroline’s emotions were betrayed in her countenance. She looked quite relieved that her designs were found pleasing. And she gave considerable credit to Thomas’ ideas as well as finding one of the masons from the quarry on the estate to reconfigure the stone tiles.

  Elizabeth asked Caroline later that day if she could look at the drawings she had seen Caroline working on. There were three. One was a diagram showing the arrangement of the room including the furniture placement and dimensions and had been drawn to scale. The second was a picturesque drawing of the new sitting room from the perspective of the double doors which opened out into the rose garden. The third was a fully articulated and delightful rendering from the grounds showing part of the house including the double doors and the rose garden surrounding the outward facing sitting room. The drawings were quite good and also had a studied air of aesthetic effect about them. The symmetry of the sitting room design was accentuated. The detail on the stone columns was emphasized and she had successfully captured the accents on the house as well. Elizabeth was very impressed with both the trio of drawings and that Caroline had conceived her design to be picturesque when viewed from inside the house, whist occupying the sitting room, and from the grounds. She walked out onto the grounds and surveyed the rose garden and its sitting room from that vantage point.

  “Caroline, these are remarkable. You truly have some hidden talents!”

  “Thank you Elizabeth. I studied with a number of Masters both before and during my time at Gough House.”

  “Clearly, it was time well spent.”

  “I do not get on at all drawing people. I could not do what your sister Kitty does.”

  “And neither could she draw buildings or furniture, nor design such an arrangement as have you done. These are very fine, Caroline. Thank you for sharing them with me.”

  Chapter 28

  Jane and Charles Bingley were relieved at the newfound peace and quiet of their home. Other than Fitzwilliam’s unexpected arrival, they had had no visitors.

  “How are you feeling this morning, my angel?”

  “I am sleeping better, but still have some nausea. I am so thankful for what you have done to remove Caroline. The servants are more relaxed as am I!”

  “I am too, although I hate to say such a thing about my own sister. Do you really think Elizabeth can affect a change?”

  “I’ve had several letters from Lizzy since Caroline first arrived at Pemberley. It was initially quite tense. Caroline was shocked and angry of course. But my sister will not be intimidated! And Elizabeth has several things to offer Caroline that will make for a pleasant scheme. I still cannot believe she is allowing Caroline to design a sitting room in the rose garden at Pemberley! The irony of it!”

  “I wonder if she has completed the sitting room as of yet. She liked to help my mother with the decorating when she was a girl.”

  “Lizzy may actually appreciate her assistance. We never discussed fitting up the rooms at Longbourn. Mama has always been most interested in hosting dinners and parties.”

  “Fitzwilliam has been so busy of late. I was pleased that you sat with us during our conversation. I confess, I wonder at our being a little lonely with so little society to enjoy. You must tell me if the isolation weighs upon you.”

  “I feel fine as of right now. We have purchased the peace through isolation, but I feel it is a small price to pay. Thank you for being concerned for me, Charles.”

  “We spoke at length, as you heard, about his purchase of some new shearing equipment and the updates made to their shearing shed. They have taken delivery, but it has taken considerable effort to gain mastery with the new arrangement. The shearers worry they will be replaced by the improvements, but at the same time with so many men moving to the cities, it’s hard to find enough workmen to do the work without the new methods.”

  “I am glad that raising sheep is not part of what we do here at Barrington.”

  “As am I. I’ve reminded the servants that no callers will be received except the Darcys. There will be no entertaining or overnight guests from now through your confinement and until after the arrival of our little one. I gave special instructions regarding your mother and how to handle her if she were to unexpectedly arrive. She will not be admitted. We need to write a few more letters so all our acquaintance knows of our travel plans and no one thinks to call on us here. Everybody is being told they may send their correspondence here and the staff will forward our mail to the continent.”

  “I am eager to work on the nursery, Charles. You don’t mind that we will have some workmen in the house during our travel scheme?”

  “Not at all. The work needs to be done, especially in the kitchen and it makes our story even more believable that we would travel during construction. I think we can trust the workmen to keep our presence a secret.”

  “As do I. Let’s make a list of all the work that needs to be done.”

  Barrington was a lovely estate in Cheshire County with canal access to Liverpool and its ports. The house was smaller than Pemberley, but more modernly built. Charles and Jane had agreed to some updates to the kitchen as well as converting a small ante-room to a bathing chamber with water pipes, a large tub, and a flush commode on the first floor. The tradesmen had said the water would go no higher than that. Jane was eager to install new wallpapers, outfit the nursery, and replace some candelabra in the drawing-room with hanging chandeliers in the French style adorned with crystal. The wallpapers, a bassinette, and the chandeliers were ordered and workmen were hired.

  Barrington House, April 20

  My dear Lizzy,

  We so enjoyed seeing Fitzwilliam on his unexpected visit. We greatly appreciated his thoughtfulness. How are you holding up? What news of my niece? I hope little Catherine takes after you and not her great aunt! I hope that Caroline is attending to her behaviour and listening to your wise counsel. She needs a friend, though she and I have never been able to return to our former intimacy. That is wonderful news about the rose garden. You sound ready to face your saloon! I feel relaxed and well. And Charles is being so supportive. I am almost as far along as I have ever been. Say your prayers for this baby, my dear sister. Dr. Saunders was here last week with the mid-wife. They are both happy with my progress and condition. I am still to walk about every day but nothing over strenuous.

 
Lydia sent a letter last week. Charles wouldn’t even let me look at it. So I have no idea of what it contains and that is probably for the best. If Charles needs to relay information to you he will. Hearing about some of your escapades with the servants’ quarters and the new Parsonage, we have resolved to use our time in exile productively. I have several improvements being planned. You can inspect the work when you come to see the baby!

  Your devoted sister,

  Jane

  Chapter 29

  Hunsford Parsonage, April 25

  Dear Lizzy,

  Please forgive my negligence of late in writing to you. Mr. Collins’ recovery has been complete for quite some time. He is enjoying being back to work at the Church and life has settled down again. I am enjoying my retirement from nursing and resuming my more customary employments. I can’t help but thank you again for your assistance. I know I’ve mentioned it before and Mr. Collins has dictated several letters to you to convey his gratitude as well. But I truly believe you saved his life that horrific day. So thank you for your determination to do what must be done, my dear friend!

  Our relations with Lady Catherine were stilted for quite some time, as you might imagine. Mr. Collins has undertaken a new habit of visiting Lady Catherine on business of the parish only twice per week now thus no longer visiting her daily. She has continued to issue a weekly dinner invitation which we still appreciate and enjoy. And surprisingly, Miss Anne de Bourgh calls upon little Sarah and I every Monday morning, for which I am grateful! She is quite taken with Sarah and her role as godmother and I think she still harbors a hope of one day having a family of her own. Believe me; if I knew of ANY man who might possibly be considered a suitable match for her, Mr. Collins would have invited him to visit us by now at my insistence! Do you think Colonel Fitzwilliam would consider his cousin? She is a little livelier than when you first met her. I don’t think she has ever exerted herself to counteract her mother before and the bee incident seems to have perked her up!