P&P Missing Scenes – Taking Tea with Mrs. Darcy by Maria Grace

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 The honeymoon comes to a close and the real work of being Mrs. Darcy begins.



Elizabeth checked her hair in the looking glass and straightened her dress for the third time. There was no reason for such anxiety, none at all. It was not as if she were going to be presented at court.

In many ways, though, that would be far less demanding. At court, she would only have to make her curtsey and remember all the steps and lines for her performance and nothing more. But here…

She smoothed the hairs on the back of her neck.

Darcy assured her she had nothing to fear from Mrs. Reynolds. Little did he understand the complex and dynamic relationship between the mistress of the house and her housekeeper. No doubt Mrs. Reynolds was well aware that she had not been raised to manage an estate the size of Pemberley. Mama had taught her well, but Longbourn was naught to the vast manor and thriving village that now looked to her to oversee, provide, nurture and educate…

How could she ever undertake such a task? Why did Darcy ever think her up to the challenge? He believed in her, insisted she was capable of anything she set her mind to, a little like Papa. But perhaps, this once, his confidence was misplaced.

The clock chimed. Like it or not, it was time. Mrs. Reynolds would be waiting in her office, and she was nothing if not punctual.

Elizabeth wove her way to the back of the house. At least she had learned enough of the house’s layout not to require directions to move from one room to another. The accomplishment felt far more impressive than it actually was. After all, even the lowest scullery maid managed the same task with little effort. What a grand achievement with which to begin her career as Mrs. Darcy.

The housekeeper’s office, tucked at the back of the house near the kitchen, looked like Mrs. Reynolds herself, tiny, tidy and treasured. Along one wall, shelves held stacks of neatly folded linens, on another, rows and rows of sparkling china and crystal. A perfectly clean window held sharp winter breezes at bay while a small fire warmed the room to cheeriness. A little plate of Elizabeth’s favorite biscuits invited her to the table where Mrs. Reynolds presided. Several sheets of paper lay spread on the desk before her. She squinted through her spectacles and hummed a little tune under her breath as she checked items off a list.

 “Mrs. Darcy.” Mrs. Reynolds looked up from the table piled high with journals and ledgers. She rose and curtsied.

“Good morning, Mrs. Reynolds.” Her voice sounded far more confident than she felt, but that probably was not a difficult thing at the moment.

Mama had always said the better part of confidence was in one’s voice. If one sounded confident, they were half way to being believed competent. That might work for most people, but somehow it did not seem that Mrs. Reynolds would be so easily persuaded.

Elizabeth sat at the table, across from Mrs. Reynolds. A cool sunbeam shone over her shoulder and on to the intimidating pile of paper. “Where do you recommend we begin this morning?”

“Where do you prefer?” She opened several books and laid them out along the table, tapping each one in turn. “Menus are needed for the coming weeks. Laundry is planned for next week—you might wish to review our ways to ensure they meet your satisfaction. Perhaps you would care to go over the newly revised inventory of the larder. We have meats just out of the smoke house and hams curing. The maids are getting ready to change out the curtains for the winter. Would you care to inspect their efforts?”

Gracious heavens! So many books and lists.

Elizabeth rubbed her temples. “I have no idea where to begin.”

Mrs. Reynolds pressed her lips and nodded. “It is a lot to manage, is it not? The late Mrs. Darcy found it quite daunting, especially during the visiting months when company would fill the house. Oh, she loved the house parties, but between you and me, Missus, the work would overwhelm her sometimes.”

“Indeed?”

“Absolutely. I kept a ready supply of willow bark for her headaches and mint for her digestion. She found her brother, now Earl Matlock and sister, Lady Catherine, particularly – challenging guests.”

“Mr. Darcy has never mentioned it.”

“His late mother never showed a sign of distress to her family or her company. She faced the trials with every imaginable grace, but make no mistake, it weren’t easy for her.”

 “Oh.” It was not the most original of responses, to be sure.  But when one received intelligence that changed everything they believed about the world, more creative replies were out of the question. “Many have gone out of their way to tell me of what an excellent mistress she was.”

“You never saw a more attentive mistress than Mrs. Darcy. She was well loved, indeed. Except by those who tried to take advantage of her. They found her rather disagreeable, I would think. She did not suffer such things lightly. I don’t expect you would either.” She cocked her head and lifted an eyebrow.

Elizabeth chuckled. “I suppose you are right.”

“Pemberley has run for a long time now without the hand of a mistress. The estate, she needs one. I done the best I could, but it ain’t the same.”

“No one criticizes your service, at least not to me.”

“Of course not, I would box their ears if I heard of it!” Mrs. Reynolds threw her head back and laughed.

How delightful that the servants here could laugh. A house needed laughter to truly be a home.

“Still, it is good for a mistress to preside here again. The master, he knows the land and the tenants, but the house—that has always been a mystery to him.”

“I fear it may be a bit of a mystery to me as well.” Elizabeth shrugged.

Mama would scold her for revealing so much uncertainty to her staff, even though she regularly confided in Hill.  But then, Mama had Hill’s respect. Would she ever have Mrs. Reynolds’?

“A clever girl like you will have it figured out in no time at all. I have no doubts.” She caught Elizabeth’s gaze, though it was entirely improper for her to be so bold.

The dear woman believed every word she said.

“I appreciate your confidence.”

“I know the master well enough. He could not tolerate a stupid woman. Only a very clever one would make him as happy as he is now. You have nothing to worry about, Mrs. Darcy. It will come to you. All you need is a little time.”

Elizabeth swallowed hard. The approval of a servant, even an old trusted one like Mrs. Reynolds should not be so meaningful. But it was.

“I have just the place to start to.” Mrs. Reynolds ambled around the desk to a plain cabinet under the window. “Here it is!” She returned with a worn, red journal and handed it to Elizabeth.

She opened the cover and was greeted by elegant, flourished handwriting. “Whose?”

“I think she would want you to have it. It is the late Mrs. Darcy’s common place book.”

Elizabeth stroked the fine lettering. Darcy’s mother had written this. She flipped through the pages. Receipts, garden plans, directions for her favorite washballs… “Oh!”

Mrs. Reynolds leaned over her shoulder. “Mrs. Darcy made lovely sketches, did she not? We have quite a number of them framed in the house. I will point them out to you when you wish. That one,” she tapped the page, “that is the master when he was just five years old. Such a serious little boy he was, but so kind hearted even then. See here, she says it herself.”

Such a boy! Fitzwilliam is the dearest of souls. He picked flowers for me this morning. I did not have the heart to tell him he pillaged my kitchen garden. Cook will be happy to know that she will have far fewer courgettes to deal with this year. She considers them a most disagreeable vegetable.

Elizabeth giggled. A young Darcy’s earnest eyes peered out from the page at her. He had not changed very much.

“It is good to hear you laugh, Missus.” Mrs. Reynolds smiled a maternal smile. “Take that, and get acquainted with Pemberley through her eyes. Tomorrow is soon enough for the menus.”

“Thank you, I will.” Elizabeth gathered the book and pressed it to her chest.

How many times had she wished she could have gotten to know Darcy’s mother, and through her, know him just a little better. Perhaps now she could.

“I will be in my dressing room.”

“Shall I send a tea tray up for you and Mrs. Darcy?” She glanced at the book in Elizabeth’s arms.

“That would be lovely…and perhaps send this plate of biscuits as well?” Elizabeth picked up a biscuit and nibbled it.

“Those were her favorite as well. I will see to it.” Mrs. Reynolds trundled out, probably to get water heating for tea.

Elizabeth made her way back to her dressing room. How pleasant it would be to spend the rest of the morning taking tea with Mrs. Darcy. Perhaps with the guidance of Pemberley’s former mistress, she would be able do the role justice after all.

 

23 comments

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    • Carol hoyt on May 7, 2015 at 12:20 am
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    Lovely.

    Maria grace, you always deliver such heartfelt prose.
    This is a fitting story just before Mother’s Day .

    Not only does she have Darcy to support her with this new life style, she has 2 wise women , mrs Reynolds and her late mother law.
    Definitely one of my favorites !

    1. Thank you Carol. I really pondered over what this scene needed. The idea about Mrs. Darcy’s commonplace book hit me while I was out running on afternoon and it just felt right.

    • Barb Thompson on May 7, 2015 at 1:10 am
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    You express those feelings so well. My husband’s father died when Dale was only 10, so I never met him. But, I could see from all the stories I heard of him that he was very similar to his son. And, I saw a lot of myself in Dale’s mother. So, I understand those feelings of wanting to know the deceased parent. How lucky for Elizabeth that you have created a common place book for Mrs. Darcy that she can read over tea. Lovely chapter! Thank you!

    1. Thanks, Barb. That was exactly the feeling that I wanted to create here. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

    • Deborah on May 7, 2015 at 5:41 am
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    How absolutely sweet. The insecurities Elizabeth feels (only an intelligent person would feel insecure) and the confidence Mrs. Reynolds has for her. How well she reads Elizabeth and knows her already. The perfect beginning to her role as Mrs. Darcy, getting to know her husband and the estate through the former Mrs. Darcy’s eyes and, more importantly, getting to know her husband’s mother. Great chapter to read over coffee this morning.

    1. Thanks, Deborah! I’m so glad it struck the right notes for you!

    • Mari on May 7, 2015 at 6:46 am
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    I really enjoyed a look at Elizabeth where she isn’t quite as sure of herself, and the interraction with Mrs. Reynolds was just delightful. What a valuable ally to have: one who will ease her into her responsibilities, and who will be guide and mentor. I think whenever we read about the Bennet girls and their marriages, we think only of the romances and happy endings, and forget that the real story was just beginning. It would have been a huge adjustment going from a smaller, less prosperous estate, to a large one that could have been the size of a small town, not to mention the houses in town. Imagine having to direct two households and two sets of servants. Mrs. Reynolds would have been invaluable to a nervous young bride, and with these two characters, there would have been mutual respect, and shared laughter. What a fascinating look at the life of Pemberley. Those grand ladies did not have the leisure time that we think they did!

    1. You’re so right, Mari. As I’ve researched the role of an estate’s mistress, writers have likened managing a home like Pemberley to being the CEO of a small company. There was a tremendous amount of work that went into it, even with servants to assist. In smaller houses, like Longbourn, wives and daughters worked along side the servants because there was so much work to be done. Their husbands did the same outside. Only the very wealthiest were privileged enough to live the kind of life of ease and luxury we associate with estate owners.

      While women were not formally educated the way men were, mothers did train their daughters in running a household. For someone like Elizabeth, moving into a place as large and complex as Pemberley would have been very daunting indeed, no matter how well Mrs. Bennet trained her.

      Thanks, Mari!

    • Hollis on May 7, 2015 at 10:20 am
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    How absolutely precious. We just put a book into the library on the role of the mistress in the American South. The view is much the same as that of Mrs. Darcy – jewels, dresses and a handsome husband all to hand. But the southern mistress + Elizabeth work as hard supervising the household and keeping everything up to date without the modern conveniences that we have. I had a great-aunt we visited in the 60s, she had just a cold-water tap in the house, a propane gas stove and a fireplace to heat her house and an outhouse. She always told us to be sure and close the door, as the cows would eat the toilet paper!

    1. LOL! I never thought about cows and toilet paper! I’ll have to remember that!

      Thanks, Hollis! I think it is easy to forget just how much work it is to keep a house running with you factor out modern conveniences like washing machines, irons, vacuums, dishwashers and refrigerators. With all of those I feel like I can barely keep up as it is. Without them, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t’ manage.

    • rae on May 7, 2015 at 10:51 am
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    Oh, that was wonderful!!!!! Thank you!

    1. Thank you Rae!

    • Julie on May 7, 2015 at 11:54 am
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    I love this! One of my favorite scenes from Rebecca is when the second Mrs. de Winter comes across the first’s day book and sees just how beautifully all was managed by her predecessor, and therefore, just how inadequate she really is. I always wondered at her husband letting her think that all the time, but without that conceit, of course, there is no book.

    How much nicer to find Elizabeth being able to use Mrs. Darcy’s commonplace book as a map to guide her on her way to becoming mistress of Pemberley! Well done!

    1. Rebecca is one of my favorite non-Austen books. But there are times I just want to shake those characters.

      Thanks, Julie!

  1. This was a delightful vignette–I absolutely adored seeing Mrs. Reynolds and Elizabeth start building their relationship.

    And that commonplace book! I teach online classes to homeschoolers through Brave Writer, and we ask students to keep commonplace books. I’ve kept one for years (now in my second volume), but mine is focused on quotations and Scripture verses; I never would have thought to put gardening lore and recipes in it, too. And I can’t sketch worth beans.

    How I would love to join Elizabeth and “have tea with Mrs. Darcy” this gray morning…. 🙂

    Thank you for writing this lovely piece–it’s delightful in every way!

    Warmly,
    Susanne, sipping tea as she reads and writes this…. 😀

    1. Thank you, Susanne. I love that you keep a commonplace book too!

  2. What a lovely thought – that Elizabeth might get to know Darcy’s mother through a journal left behind! And Mrs. Reynolds is just the way I pictured her. Nice segment!

    1. Thank you Shannon!

    • Sheila L. M. on May 7, 2015 at 2:58 pm
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    What a lovely piece for Mother’s Day. I had never heard of a commonplace book. Sounds very much like a journal to me but I don’t usually think of sketches in journals…but then I don’t draw or sketch. I do keep recipes but in a box for such.

    I have l always esteemed Mrs. Reynolds. She seems to be a sort of substitute mother in that Darcy lost his so young. And she is wise in her words and advice.

    Thank you.

    1. A commonplace book was similar to a journal, but usually had a theme, or was a collection of things someone wanted to remember. Accomplished young ladies were usually taught to draw, so it felt natural that sketches might find their way into this one.

      Thanks, Sheila!

    • Lynn Constas on May 8, 2015 at 9:50 am
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    Maria, this piece is simply superb! Your work often reaches my heart, and it certainly did this time as well. What a lovely vision of Elizabeth & Lady Anne ‘commiserating’ together. Simply lovely. Many thanks.

    1. Thank you, Lynn. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

    • TLeighF on May 8, 2015 at 12:41 pm
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    What a treasure for Elizabeth to have! It would be a fun story just to focus on the two Mrs Darcys and shift back and forth between the two showing us what life was like when Darcy was a boy and life now with Lizzy and how the two mistresses handle situations.

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