Page 40 of Resilience

“Half of the tenant farmers do not trust us enough to stay on, let alone send their sons and daughters to work for us.” Kitty was despondent.

“Your husband is using all of his abilities of persuasion to convince the tenants that, although it may take time for him to sort out all of the estate’s problems, things will begin to improve as he takes over completely as master,” Elizabeth reassured Kitty. “Once he has convinced them, they will see your offers of employment as a sign of goodwill. The tenants have not received the proper employment opportunities from the estate in the past, but they might find it worth their time to stay if they see that you are trying to change what is broken. Tenancies are not always easy to find. In the meantime, you must be more firm with the staff you have.”

“I cannot bear to be cruel.” Kitty shuddered. “I spent enough time with Lydia and her awful ways. I have been so relieved since she left for Newcastle. We were never properly suited to each other’s company, but we were the youngest, and she was the playmate that I had. And I cannot deny that since we have escaped from whatever has gone wrong with Jane, that I never wish to hear an unkind word again. Not even one that sounds falsely concerned.”

“There is no need to be cruel, only firm and unyielding,” Elizabeth advised. “Kindness without limits teaches others that you are easy to ignore.”

“I might as well begin afresh now.” Kitty rose from the settee the two sisters had used during their talk, and rang the bell. When the footman answered, she asked him to send in Mrs Chalton and to ask her to bring the ledgers that Kitty had been asking to see for days. The housekeeper appeared empty handed.

“Mrs Denny, I thought that I informed you that with the master ill, it is a very bad time to go over the ledgers, it is hard enough looking after an invalid-”

“Mrs Chalton, you have mistaken my youth for weakness, and my kindness and civility for permission to ignore my orders.” Elizabeth had never heard Kitty speak with such resolve, but she was impressed by the seriousness of her tone, which had finally caught the housekeeper’s attention. “You will bring me the ledgers. And you will explain the moment you have returned with them why the butcher is still unpaid.”

Mrs Chalton gave a grudging curtsey and left them. Half an hour later, Kitty rang the bell again and inquired why Mrs Chalton had not returned.

“Why, she fell ill, Mrs Denny,” the footman reported. “Just after she left you, she collapsed in the kitchen from anxiety. I’m told she has a powerful megrim. Not very surprising if you consider all she must now put up with.”

“Indeed?” Kitty replied, appearing as if she would soon start steaming from her ears. “You may leave us, James, I believe the silver is in need of polishing.”

“The silver was just done last week,” James objected.

“All of it, I think. I am certain that the entire collection could use a proper polishing, and since I have only just arrived, an inventory of all of our pieces would be so useful.” Kitty glared at him, daring him to object. “I expect the job to be complete and to have the list in my hand by tomorrow at breakfast.”

James left, looking green around the gills.

“I noticed when Matthew gave us a tour that Hawthorne Vale’s collection of silver is extensive indeed. A truly surprising amount considering the income of the estate.” Elizabeth covered her mouth in an effort not to laugh. “Kitty, two footmen could not polish and list it all by morning.”

“James will keep that in mind when he considers voicing his thoughts on what Mrs Chalton must put up with again. And a list will be useful. There is so much silver because Matthew’s grandmother brought an enormous quantity as part of her dowry, but we will never need so much. The collection is apparently quite well known in the county, and I may encourage Matthew to sell some. Even if we sold half, we will still have far too much.” Kitty stood and put out her arm to Elizabeth. “Now come with me, and we will go into the housekeeper’s office and find the ledgers ourselves. Will you help me with them?”

Chapter Eighteen

Wednesday 1 April 1812

“Miss Poole and Mrs Forest, ma’am.” Mary’s first callers were announced to her parlour.

“My, you do have the parlor done up quite cheerfully, I recall that it was quite dark in here when Mrs Lyndhurst was mistress.” Miss Poole looked about the room greedily, as if for tidbits of information to carry to others in the village.

“But recall that Mr and Mrs Lyndhurst left nearly two years ago, and it was many years before that since the parsonage was done up for a new bride,” Mrs Forest reminded her friend. “Oh, it is a happy day to see a young couple back in the parsonage, Mrs Collins, and God willing, soon a lovely young family.”

“Thank you,” Mary blushed. “Allow me to introduce my guest. Miss Poole, and Mrs Forest, may I present my sister, Miss Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.”

“A sister! How many are you?” Miss Poole asked with keen interest.

Mary and Elizabeth eyed one another in amusement as Miss Poole skillfully extracted their entire background, how Mary and Mr Collins met, and why, precisely, Elizabeth’s stay would be so short.

After twenty-five minutes of interrogation, Miss Poole and Mrs Forest rose as the Misses Jenks were announced. It was quite obvious to Elizabeth as she was introduced that the elder Miss Jenks was the harbinger of propriety that Mary had been warned of. Elizabeth was certain that no one, no matter how stern, could disapprove of Mary, and smiled at her sister to calm her nerves.

“How was your call with Miss Poole and Mrs Forest?” Miss Matilda asked. “They are dear friends. We have known them all of our lives.”

“Miss Poole reminds me a great deal of my aunt, Mrs Phillips of Meryton. I am certain that she will be a balm and a comfort when I am missing my home,” Mary answered tactfully.

Elizabeth watched as Miss Jenks took stock of Mary’s acceptability.

“Do you read, Mrs Collins?” the elder lady asked.

“I read a great deal before my marriage. I am certain that I will resume my interests when I have become accustomed to my new duties. Perhaps in the evening after dinner, when we have no guests, Mr Collins and I might read to one another,” Mary answered thoughtfully. “I read far too much Fordyce as a young lady when I was still exploring morality and propriety. Now I prefer the works of Dr Johnson, though lately I also enjoy Thomas Sherlock and Cowper.”

Miss Jenks nodded in obvious approval and turned her attention to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, I understand that your other sister has married the Denny boy. How did he turn out? He has spent little time in Derbyshire since he began school. His mother was a dear woman. Always so active in her parish and society.”