This time it was his turn to look confused and embarrassed that she had remembered. It was clearly unexpected and he took a moment to frame an answer. "I have to confess that I have not had occasion to sing of late, Mrs Harrison, and unlike the skill involved in playing an instrument, which may be regained by practice, it is unlikely that the voice can be similarly restored if left unused for many years," he replied, rather self-consciously.
Catherine looked very censorious.
"For shame, Mr Burnett, that is a poor excuse. I am quite certain that a good singing voice can and will, with some practice, be restored. When you are next here, Lilian could play for you. Mr Adams has a very pleasing tenor voice and sings in the church choir; perhaps you and he might attempt a duet. Will you at least try?"
He was genuinely disconcerted, not ever having anticipated that the tables would be turned on him. Unable to refuse, he agreed to try when he returned from London and was immediately rewarded with some encouragement. "Excellent; I shall ask Lilian to learn some of the songs you used to favour and we shall see how well you do. I have no doubt you will do very well," she said, and seeing his rather crestfallen demeanour, she regretted her initial reproving manner and smiled warmly, which appeared to have an immediate effect upon his spirits.
The evening had passed so pleasantly that when it was time to go, both gentlemen seemed reluctant to leave such congenial company. Likewise, the ladies, who for the first time in many months had been able to enjoy an evening of good food and interesting conversation.
Neither Catherine nor her daughter had ever before entertained two gentlemen without either Dr Harrison or another male family member in the party. Each had been privately concerned that awkwardness or plain ineptitude would spoil the occasion.
But no such thing had eventuated.
As Messrs Adams and Burnett took their leave, they thanked Mrs Harrison for inviting them, and John Adams especially expressed his particular appreciation.
"It has been a very great pleasure, ma'am," he said, and though he was addressing her mother, it was upon Lilian's lovely face that his eyes were fixed, leaving Catherine in no doubt that the time was fast approaching when she would have to speak seriously to her daughter about Mr Adams.
She may even have to speak to Mr Adams himself, she thought, feeling somewhat daunted at the prospect.
But for tonight, she decided, it was sufficient that the evening had been a most satisfactory one. In truth, thinking over the past six months, which had been more than usually melancholy, she could not recall a happier occasion.
Chapter Five
Mrs Darcy was visiting her cousin Emily Courtney at Oakleigh.
Mr Darcy had promised Emily he would advise her on some of the work that was being done on the manor and had come over with his steward to take a look. While they were out inspecting the work, Elizabeth and Emily took tea together in the parlour.
"I understand Rebecca is back from Kent; has she brought you word of Catherine?" asked Elizabeth. "Cassy met her in the village a few days ago and said she looked well, if a little anxious."
Emily laughed. "Anxious is certainly right," she said. "Lizzie, I do not understand why Becky allows herself to be so distracted by matters over which she cannot possibly have any influence. I have advised her that it is of no use to worry endlessly about the way other people lead their lives, even if they are your nearest and dearest."
Elizabeth was curious, but careful about asking too many questions.
"You are quite right, Emily," she said and asked casually, "I suppose she worries about Catherine's future, now she is widowed and with Lilian to support? But in truth, she need not at all. Mr Darcy tells me that the generous endowment left to Mrs Harrison by Lady Catherine, as well as her portion of Dr Harrison's annuity, should see Catherine quite comfortably settled. Rebecca need have no fears for her on that score."
Emily waited until Elizabeth had finished speaking.
"Lizzie, it is not Catherine's future that exercises Becky's mind; she is far more concerned about Lilian's prospects."
"Lilian? Why, she is only seventeen and I am informed as sensible as she is pretty. What can there possibly be about Lilian to cause Rebecca any concern?" she asked and it was clear to Emily that her cousin Lizzie knew nothing of the matter of Mr John Adams.
Reluctant to gossip, yet keen to obtain the advice of her cousin, whom she both trusted and admired, Emily showed Elizabeth some of Rebecca's recent letters, in which she had voiced her disquiet about Lilian and Mr Adams. Furthermore, upon her return to Derbyshire, Rebecca Tate had gone directly to see her friend, Emily Courtney, and much of her visit had been taken up with a recital of her observations and reservations about her goddaughter and Mr Adams, as well as what Rebecca assumed was Mrs Harrison's unwillingness to take an active interest in her daughter's affairs.
Becky had been both puzzled and somewhat censorious on that score.
These matters Emily related to Elizabeth, making every effort not to exaggerate Rebecca's fears, but hoping that Elizabeth would help her provide her friend with some reasonable information that may allay her concerns.
"I cannot believe, Lizzie, that Catherine would neglect to advise her daughter, if there were reason to do so; she is both a loving and conscientious mother. I feel Becky is being unduly anxious. Do you not agree?"
Elizabeth did agree, but could not hide her confusion as to why Rebecca Tate should harbour such fears.
"I think, Emily, that it is far more likely that Rebecca has misconstrued Catherine's attitude—for she is by nature a remarkably serene and imperturbable woman, who will not, unlike her sister, permit a situation or person to cause her to panic. Cathy is very like her mother, Charlotte; unless she judges that there is something quite seriously wrong with Lilian's friendship with Mr Adams, she is unlikely to interfere. I do not think for one moment that one could ever suggest that Catherine would be derelict in her duty as a mother."
Emily shook her head, still bewildered, "I do hope you are right, Lizzie. Becky seems to fear that Catherine has made no enquiries about the gentleman's family or background. She claims they know little or nothing about him or his family."
Elizabeth laughed, "Is that all? If it is, it should not be difficult to remedy. It was Jonathan Bingley who appointed Mr Adams to his position as curator of the Rosings estate; I shall write to him forthwith and discover how much he knows about young John Adams, and you will be able to set Rebecca's mind at rest. It is not possible that Jonathan would have recommended him to the Rosings Trust unless he had very good references."
The entrance of Mr Darcy and Emily's wish to get a fresh pot of tea interrupted their conversation, and there was no other opportunity to return to it before it was time for the Darcys to leave.
***
Back at Pemberley, Elizabeth could not help turning it all over in her mind. She remembered well enough Rebecca Tate's distraught state when her own daughter Josie had been deceived and cruelly used by a man whose smooth charm had hidden a multitude of misdeeds. Indeed, his iniquity had destroyed not just Josie, but had very nearly ruined the life of her husband, Julian Darcy. It was not a matter his mother was likely to forget.
Elizabeth, having watched the disintegration of Julian and Josie's unhappy marriage and all of the subsequent sorrow their families had endured, was not therefore entirely unsympathetic to Rebecca's concerns and decided she would make a serious effort to ascertain the facts about Mr John Adams. Deciding not to trouble her husband about it just yet, she wrote that night to their nephew Jonathan Bingley, confident that he would be able to give her the information necessary to set all their minds at rest.
The occasion of the birthday of one of the Bingleys' children afforded her the opportunity she needed.
She wrote,
My dear Jonathan,
and following the customary greetings and enquiries about the health of all the members of the families at Netherfield and Longbourn, continued thus:
We have recently been hearing a great deal, mainly from Mrs Tate, about the
work being done at Rosings by the new curator, Mr John Adams. It would
appear he is a very gifted and pleasing young man and has been paying quite
a lot of attention to Rebecca's young niece, Lilian Harrison.
Now, while I do not wish to jump to any conclusions, in view of the fact
that Lilian and her mother no longer have the benefit of Dr Harrison's counsel
and support, I wondered if you would help us with some information about
Mr Adams.
I have no doubt, and Mr Darcy assures me of this, that he came to you
highly recommended for his work, but what more do we know of him? Who
exactly are his family? Where is his home? I ask, Jonathan dear, not in order
to interfere or make trouble for Mr Adams, but rather to reassure ourselves
and particularly Lilian's mother Catherine, if need be, that there is no cause
for concern in his friendship with her daughter. Your assistance in this delicate
matter would be greatly appreciated.
Jonathan Bingley's response reached Elizabeth some ten days later. He apologised for the delay in writing, blaming it upon business and his desire to obtain as complete an answer as possible to her query about John Adams.
He had searched through his papers, he said, to discover if he held any personal information about the gentleman concerned, but had found none. He wrote:
Mr Adams, in his letter to me applying for the position of curator at Rosings,
made no mention of his family, except to say they had lived in Europe
for several years, during which time he studied art. He was also briefly at
Cambridge but did not complete his studies there, owing to the death of his
father.
His previous employer, Sir ___, spoke very highly of young Adams in
relation to both work and character, but again there was no reference to any
other members of his family.
Dearest Aunt Lizzie, it does seem as though that is all the information I
am able to provide at the moment. However, if you wish me to continue my
enquiries, I shall do so discreetly and keep you informed of my success.
I might mention, for what it is worth, that since his appointment to
Rosings there has never been a single complaint, nor even the slightest aspersion
cast upon him. He appears to perform his often difficult duties well and conduct
himself in an exemplary fashion.
Elizabeth was greatly relieved, though not entirely satisfied with her nephew's response.
She sent a further short note to Jonathan Bingley, thanking him for his efforts on her behalf, and suggesting that he make some enquiries in confidence about the sojourn of the Adams family in Europe.
I have no desire at all to be prying into his life, but it would be good to know who
his parents were exactly and why they were living in Europe. Was his father a
diplomat, perhaps? Some definite information would be invaluable.
No more was heard on the subject for some weeks, and with the onset of a busy Summer at Pemberley, Elizabeth almost forgot about Mr John Adams and Lilian.
***
As the Summer wore on, it had become clear to Mrs Harrison that Mr Adams was paying a very great deal of attention to her daughter.
He called at the house two or three times a week, often on some pretext or other, but occasionally without any reason at all, except to drink lemonade and walk with Lilian in the garden. Sometimes, when Lilian went for a ramble in the woods or down to the village, she would meet him there and he would accompany her home.
So frequent had these visits become and so much did the couple have to say to one another that Catherine began to wonder whether it was time to ask Lilian if Mr Adams and she had reached some understanding. It was a question that was beginning to tease her mind day and night.
Then one afternoon, returning from the village, she found them sitting in the parlour, inexplicably indoors on a perfect Summer's afternoon; it was most unusual.
Mr Adams, who rose as Catherine entered the room, looked rather dejected, while Lilian clearly had tears in her eyes—of that her mother had no doubt.
Having greeted her with much less than his usual cheerful manner, Mr Adams proceeded to inform her, in an apologetic tone, that this very evening he was to leave Rosings and travel to London and thence to Paris, to be at the bedside of his mother, who was gravely ill.
"To Paris?" Catherine said, uncomprehending. "Your mother lives in France?" to which he said, "Indeed, Mrs Harrison, my mother has lived in France for most of her life. She has, unfortunately, been unwell recently and since the death of my father, I am her only male relative and must attend her at once. I received yesterday an urgent message by electric telegraph from my younger sister, who begs me to come directly, else I may not see my dear mother alive again," he explained as Lilian stood by, clearly distressed. "I have already spoken with Mr Burnett and sent a message by telegraph to Mr Jonathan Bingley explaining my circumstances. Mr Burnett and Mr Benson have very kindly agreed to make good my work whilst I am away and will assist you and Miss Lilian in any way possible. I came over particularly to reassure you and Miss Lilian on that point and to say my good-byes."