O piano na preparação de moças casamenteiras da Regência

Olá,
Sigo na perseguição da plena educação para tornar-me uma lady a preparação de moçoilas para o matrimônio, de preferência com cavalheiros de posses ou membros da nobresa.
Nesta caminhada, as amigas são de grande ajuda. Fran, fair lady Janeite, ofereceu este artigo tão bacana sobre a importância do piano na educação feminina nos tempos da Regência, época de Jane Austen. E isso abriu uma caixa de Pandora.

'a lady playing a spinet' de CVHolsoe
pic do Twitter

Me interessei na hora!

Daí, conversamos sobre, pesquisei e... 

A coisa tomou fermento!

O instrumento gera muita discussão bacana, tem muita fonte de pesquisa e tudo acho interessante. 
Então resolvi dividir em 4 posts.

Esse é o 2º que tem o artigo original

O piano na Era da Regência

com meus comentários abaixo.

O 1º foi: O piano, damas e cavalheiros

Neste, conto e mostro tipos de pianos usados na Regência e era Vitoriana e seus antepassados. 
Falo de alguns virtuosos e faço uma breve introdução ao que será discutido.

Ao final, incluo links para os dois outros

O piano e a música para Jane Austen
aqui localizo o instrumento na vida e nas obras da Diva

O piano - instrumento ideal para mulheres

Vamos ao artigo.

spirit, GRoux, 1885

Piano na Era da Regência  

original aqui

O piano 
 O piano era um símbolo proeminente de classe e prosperidade, entre outras coisas, durante os séculos 18 e 19. Símbolos como esse visto em Orgulho e Preconceito de Jane Austen são um aspecto crucial para um romance poderoso. O período de Austen era drasticamente diferente do nosso, no entanto, e isso é importante para entender como o significado de símbolos culturais mudaram ao longo do tempo. 

Reconhecer como os símbolos mudaram, 

e compreender os significados que costumavam ser associados a eles, 

é crucial para uma interpretação fidedigna do texto. 

É muito importante entender que nos séculos 18 e 19 o comportamento social do piano, como sua importância e significado no presente, diferem grandemente do seu significado simbólico anteriormente. Se forem compreendidos, uma  interpretação do texto não será precisa, e por isso é tão importante pesquisar e descobrir os simbolismos do período da autora, a Era da Regência.  

CD disponível na Amazon

Papel de gênero do piano 

 Há uma conexão significativa entre o piano e o sexo feminino. 
Os estudos de piano eram mais comuns para meninas do que meninos naquela época. Como explicado no artigo “Woman in Piano Pedagogy” (em tradução livre Mulheres na pedagogia do piano) por Debra Brubaker Burns, Anita Jackson e Connie Arrau Sturm, o piano era considerado um perfeito passatempo para uma senhora bem-criada no século 19.  
As mulheres eram encorajadas a entreter seus visitantes e familiares com suas performances, mas desencorajadas a procurar carreiras como musicistas, porque isso era considerado “uma profissão muito fatigante para mulheres” como dito pelo editor da revista inglesa de música “World” em 1939. Buscar uma carreira musical não era aprovado, mas uma quantidade crescente de mulheres começou a tocar para ganhar renda e, assim, maior independência. Entre 1852 e 1881, o número de musicistas mulheres triplicou, como explicado em “Woman in Piano Pedagogy”. 
Em O&P, Mary é frequentemente encontrada tocando piano, e ela também é muito independente, assim sua performance é possivelmente uma manifestação social de Austen falando contra os direitos limitados das mulheres. 

mp3 disponíveis na Amazon - dá para ouvir trechinhos

Como dito por Mary Burgan, tocar piano era o indicador de status social assim como um dos feitos da mulher da sociedade refinada. 

Como nós podemos ver, o papel dos pianos mudou drasticamente. Em nossos tempos modernos, o piano não tem correlação com o gênero. Meninos tocam piano, meninas tocam piano; tem o mesmo sentido de um garoto ou garota indo à faculdade. No passado, era algo que só homens faziam. No século 21, é comum para ambos os gêneros frequentar faculdade. 

Esse é outro exemplo de como os sentidos e a implementação 
de diferentes coisas na sociedade mudaram com o tempo. 

Agora o piano não tem nenhuma associação que costumava ter; é simplesmente um instrumento, assim como o violoncelo e/ou trompa. Enquanto muitas famílias de classe alta, com frequência, possuíam um grande piano e um lugar em sua larga sala de visitas, o piano era em si, algo desfrutado e praticado por todas as classes.
  

Relevância e Significado do piano na Era da Regência  

 A maior importância do piano era fazer as jovens damas mais atraentes para o casamento, enquanto simultaneamente atuar como um símbolo das posses da família. O piano se tornou um instrumento onipresente nas casas burguesas. Garotas de posses com frequência começavam a tocar piano desde cedo e continuavam a aperfeiçoar suas habilidades até se tornarem mais velhas e mais maduras. Apesar de fazer a mulher mais atrativa para o casamento ser a razão mais importante para tocar piano, havia também outras razões. O piano provia música para todos os membros da família desfrutarem.  
Mulheres eram encorajadas a tocar para convidados e eram entretenimento para os familiares, mas como dito anteriormente não significava buscar carreira profissional. Se uma mulher buscasse uma carreira profissional, isso significaria que ela estava escapando de sua respectiva esfera de existência, que era a da casa e da família.  
O piano era muito importante na Europa como um símbolo de status. Christopher Wagner explica que, “o preço [do piano] no fim do século 18 caiu, mais ainda assim, apenas família de posses, eram quem podiam pagar por eles. Um piano de cauda custava tanto que poderia equivaler um ano de ganhos de um trabalhador habilidoso. O piano era um instrumento de classe, e classe era muito importante na sociedade do século 18 e 19, e então era muito importante para famílias ricas ostentarem um piano.  

CD disponível na Amazon

Importância do piano, e outros símbolos em Orgulho e Preconceito.  
 Os símbolos no romance de Austen, tais como o 

- piano, 

- cartas, 

- salões de bailes e 

- propriedades rurais com grandes sedes

refletem as engrenagens da cultura do período. 
As cartas da época de Austen carregam um significado bem diferente dos que elas têm agora. No século 21, as cartas não são muito usadas, foram substituídas por inúmeros tipos de dispositivos eletrônicos de comunicação, como os e-mails e mensagens. Na era de Austen a carta era a única forma de comunicação à distância, além do mensageiro pessoal, é claro (o que a maioria das pessoas não tinham), e isso era uma significativa parte da vida e uma arte a ser aprendida. 
Da mesma forma que o piano que é agora mais ou menos apenas um instrumento musical, na época de Austen era um símbolo de posses, classe, habilidades, entretenimento, e credibilidade para uma mulher no departamento do casamento. 
Do mesmo jeito ser uma boa escritora de cartas refletia a sua educação, sua habilidade ao piano era muito importante. Subentendia-se que uma boa tocadora de piano vinha de família com dinheiro que podia adquirir um instrumento, arcar com o custo de aulas e ter tempo livre para estudar já que ela não precisava trabalhar, ou seja, seria um bom partido, item visado no mercado do casamento.  

O piano e Orgulho e Preconceito 

(Frases explicadas) 

Capítulo 29, Lady Catherine interroga Lizzy Bennet.

“Oh! Então, uma hora ou outra, ficaremos feliz em ouvi-la. 

Nosso instrumento é excepcional, provavelmente superior a... 

Você deveria experimentar um dia. – Suas irmãs tocam ou cantam?” 

Nem Lady Catherine nem sua filha Anne tocam piano, mas mesmo assim elas tem um instrumento de qualidade excepcional - lembre-se que isso é símbolo do riqueza e poder delas. 
Lady Catherine deve ter pianos em sua casa para simbolizar sua própria superioridade social e financeira. Mostrar sua riqueza e poder era muito importante na época, e, portanto, era necessário para ela possuir seu próprio instrumento.  

“Por que nem todas aprenderam? Vocês todas deveriam ter aprendido. 

Todas as senhoritas Webb tocam, e o pai delas não tem uma renda tão boa como o de vocês.

Você desenha? ”

É dado a Lady Catherine o status social, e com isso o direito inerente de perguntar a Elizabeth praticamente qualquer coisa que ela quiser. 
Além disso, Lady Catherine sente como se tivesse o conhecimento final em todos os assuntos, o que nem de longe é verdade. 
Lady Catherine se pergunta por que Elizabeth e suas irmãs não tiveram aulas de piano, especialmente quando famílias com até menos fortuna do que os Bennets investiram em suas filhas. Lady Catherine espera que todas as mulheres de relativa renda devam tocar piano, porque é isso é a expectativa social da época.  

CD e mp3 disponíveis na Amazon - voz e pianoforte - com amostras

Cap 31, Darcy e Lizzy trocam farpas ao piano na frente de Cel. Fitzwilliam.

“Meus dedos”, disse Elizabeth, “não se movem sobre o instrumento da maneira magistral que vejo os de outras mulheres fazerem. 

Eles não têm a mesma força ou rapidez e não produzem a mesma impressão. 

Mas sempre supus ser culpa minha - porque não me dou ao trabalho de praticar. 

Não é que eu não acredite que meus dedos tão capazes quanto de qualquer outra mulher de talento superior.”

O instrumento é um facilitador ao casamento, um canal para relacionamentos e flerte. Darcy e Elizabeth estão envolvidos em uma conversa de flerte, enquanto ela está sentada no piano. 
Até esse ponto, Darcy e Elizabeth não tinham sido muito amigáveis um com o outro, mas uma vez que estão instalados próximo ao piano, o flerte segue. Dessa forma, vemos que o piano é uma conexão entre homens e mulheres.
Ele não é mais usado dessa maneira, mas sua natureza atrativa anterior não pode ser negligenciada por que isso desempenha um importante papel no texto.

CD disponível na Amazon

Moira comenta...

Saber que o piano - pianoforte - era importantíssimo para a educação das moças nos faz ver Austen nas entrelinhas. Ela escrevia o que vivia, um espelho de sua sociedade em que projetava anseios, algo de bibliográfico, talvez projeções para o futuro e suas ideias sobre a situação feminina.
Como se sabe, Jane Austen nunca se casou, recusou propostas e até quebrou uma promessa de casamento. Se a princípio ela assinava suas obras como 'A lady' para evitar ser reconhecida com escritora por receio do que faria com sua imagem, depois passou a se resguardar de uma união que lhe traria novas responsabilidades como casa e filhos para continuar escrevendo. (alguns dizem que ela era avessa à fama, mas nem ela nem ninguém tem como saber que será um sucesso logo de cara, né? Depois de R&S e O&P ela FICOU famosa, mas mesmo antes se recusava a usar seu nome. Somente após sua morte, seu irmão favorito - o banqueiro - publicou Northanger com o nome dela.)
Mas, mesmo solteirona, Jane tocava bastante e bem. Assim que fez dinheiro com suas obras e parou de se mudar com a mãe viúva e a outra irmã solteirona, comprou um pianoforte. No final da vida, acordava cedo para tocar antes que a casa ficasse barulhenta. Logo, entendemos que era prendada, foi educada para ser uma dama completa na sociedade.

pinterest

E não é isso que ela faz com as Bennets? Lhes dava a chance de ser bem cotadas no mercado de casamento, mas cada uma decide seu caminho. As meninas más rechaçam ensinamentos, as boas aprendem conforme seu capricho dita. Pouco importa se vão conseguir bons casamentos, a despeito do desespero da mãe.
Continuando o interrogatório do cap 29, Lady Catherine pergunta...

 "Você desenha?"

"Não, não mesmo."

"O que, nenhuma das irmãs?"

"Nenhuma."

“Isso é muito estranho. Mas suponho que você não teve oportunidade. Sua mãe deveria levá-la à cidade toda primavera para o benefício dos tutores."

“Minha mãe não teria objeção, mas meu pai odeia Londres.”

"Sua preceptora deixou você?"

"Nós nunca tivemos nenhuma preceptora."

“Nenhuma preceptora! Como isso foi possível? Cinco filhas criadas em casa sem uma preceptora! Eu nunca ouvi falar de tal coisa. Sua mãe deve ter sido muito escrava da sua educação."

Elizabeth mal podia deixar de sorrir quando ela lhe assegurou que não tinha sido o caso.

“Então, quem te ensinou? Quem atendeu a você? Sem preceptora, você deve ter sido negligenciada."

“Comparado com algumas famílias, acredito que fomos; mas às que desejaram aprender, nunca faltaram os meios. Sempre fomos encorajadas a ler e tivemos todos os mestres que foram necessários. Aquelas que escolheram ficar ociosas certamente puderam."

“Sim, sem dúvida; mas isso é o que uma preceptora evita, e se eu tivesse conhecido sua mãe, eu a teria aconselhado a contratar uma. Eu sempre digo que nada deve ser conseguido na educação sem instrução constante e regular, e ninguém além de uma governanta pode dar..."

Então, quando o texto diz que Mary retratada ao piano em quase todas as suas cenas, era independente, entendi que se referia a essa passagem: independência para se dedicar ao que mais lhe agradava. Do talento da personagem se fala mal, o pai a ridiculariza no baile de Netherfield em público, as irmãs não suportam ouvi-la. 
Seria Austen nos dizendo ali que Mary era uma dama desejosa de casamento, mas mal cotada no mercado?
E quanto a Jane, a mais bela e recatada, o que se fala de seus talentos musicais? Quase nada...
Já Lizzy admite que toca mal porque não se dedica. Seria essa descrição da personagem tradução para isso?

Trocando em miúdos:

boa pianista > moça apta a bom casamento

Termino com Emma 
Capítulo 10, um comprido bate-papo com Harriet

"Eu me pergunto, senhorita Woodhouse (Emma), se você não deveria ser casada ou se casar! Tão encantadora como você é!”

Emma riu e respondeu: “Meu charme, Harriet, não é suficiente para me induzir a casar; preciso encontrar outras pessoas encantadoras - pelo menos uma pessoa. E não só apenas, não vou me casar no momento, mas tenho muito pouca intenção de casar.”

“Ah! mas não posso acreditar."

“Preciso reconhecer alguém muito superior a qualquer um que já tenha visto para ser tentada; o Sr. Elton, você sabe, (recordando-se) está fora de questão: e eu não desejo encontrar tal pessoa. Eu preferiria não ser tentada. Eu não posso realmente mudar para melhor. Se me casar, devo esperar que me arrependa."

"Minha nossa! - é tão estranho ouvir uma mulher falar assim!"

“Não tenho nenhum dos habituais incentivos das mulheres para se casarem. Se eu me apaixonasse, de fato seria uma coisa diferente! Mas nunca me apaixonei; não é meu caminho nem minha natureza; e eu acho que nunca vou. E, sem amor, tenho certeza de que deveria ser uma tola para mudar uma situação como a minha. Fortuna eu não quero; emprego eu não quero; conseqüência eu não quero: eu acredito que poucas mulheres casadas tem tanto poder na casa do marido como tenho de Hartfield; e nunca, nunca poderia esperar ser tão amada e importante; então sempre primeiro e sempre certo nos olhos de qualquer homem, como eu estou no meu pai. ”

"Então, para ser uma solteirona afinal, como a srta. Bates!

“Essa é uma imagem tão formidável quanto você poderia me apresentar, Harriet; e se eu pensasse que eu deveria ser como a srta. Bates! Tão boba - tão satisfeita - tão sorridente - tão prosaica - tão indistinguível e desatenciosa - e tão apta a contar tudo quanto se relaciona a todos a meu respeito, eu me casaria amanhã. Mas entre nós, estou convencida de que nunca pode haver qualquer semelhança, a não ser quando se é solteira."

“Mas ainda assim, você será uma solteirona! E isso é tão terrível!"

"Não importa, Harriet, não serei uma pobre solteirona; e é só a pobreza que torna o celibato desprezível para público generoso! Uma mulher solteira, com uma renda muito estreita, deve ser uma solteirona ridícula e desagradável! (...) uma renda muito estreita tem uma tendência a contrair a mente e azedar o temperamento. (...)”

Nessa obra, Jane Austen usa o pianoforte como pista de grande segredo se desenrolando nos bastidores que passa desapercebido para quem ignora o valor e o simbolismo do instrumento nesta época. 

É um tipo de coisa que a autora não precisa explicar, 

pois para ela é valor intrínseco.

Se Emma não quer casar e Jane Fairfax é sobrinha de solteirona sem fortuna que precisa casar para se manter, é natural que a melhor pianista seja... Jane!
Veja:
Capítulo 8, na casa dos Cole, a Sra. Cole comenta

Sempre me magoou muito que Jane Fairfax, 

que toca tão deliciosamente, não tivesse um instrumento.

Capítulo 9,

A outra circunstância de arrependimento (de Emma em ter ido à casa dos Cole na noite anterior) também se relacionava com Jane Fairfax; e lá ela não tinha dúvidas. Ela sincera e inequivocamente lamentava a inferioridade de seu próprio tocar e cantar. Ela ficou muito entristecida pela ociosidade de sua infância - e sentou-se e praticou vigorosamente uma hora e meia.

Ela foi então interrompida pela chegada de Harriet; e se o elogio de Harriet pudesse satisfazê-la, ela poderia ter sido consolada.

“Oh! se eu pudesse tocar tão bem quanto você e a senhorita Fairfax!

“Não nos classifique juntas, Harriet. Meu talento não é maior que o dela, como uma lâmpada para o sol. ”

“Oh! querida, das duas, eu acho que você toca o melhor. Eu acho que você toca tão bem quanto ela. Tenho certeza de que preferia ouvir você. Todos ontem à noite comentaram o quão bem você tocou."

Amigas são para essas coisas, né, Harriet!... Se Emma toca melhor, como pode tocar tão bem quanto? Huh?

E perceba, Emma se arrepende de sua ociosidade em sua própria educação como as Bennets de O&P. Lizzy - que desdenha de  propostas de casamento - fala que poderia ensaiar mais. 

No próximo artigo vamos mergulhar no magnífico Broadwood de Emma, Anne Elliot presa ao piano em Persuasão e a educação das moças de Mansfield Park.

piano practice, 1924, GG Kilburne

Tradução e generosa parceria de Fran, da excelente página Adaptações de Jane Austen. 
Tradução das obras de Jane Austen são minhas, livres.

Living a dream

This week I was invited to a delightful lovely event: Live in 1799 for a few days. Oh, how nice this might be... I can imagine how that must be like... all in costume playing the part. *sigh*

It's the pink lovely book in the middle. The grin is mine! ;)

'Lizzard' has dreamed about his in '45 days in Europe with Mr. Darcy', here's how it was:

"He opened a heavy door and her senses were awash immediately. Faint lighting, smell of candles and live music, all aside from their clasped hands. From the other side, the door could not be noticed and Lizzy thought about how an old palace worked in its daily routine. She had seen it on TV but this was the real thing.

‘We usually watch these parties from that balcony.’ He said pointing the turned off flashlight. ‘There is a small bridge that if we stay really close to the side we can see the ballroom without being seen. Shall we?’

It was amazing to see normal people playing dress up. They were so happy dancing quadrilles, the musicians completely attired, the ladies had fans and some men even had wigs! Lizzy was as happy as a child in Disneyland for the first time.

Darcy stood behind her to prevent Lizzy from stepping into view and unable to resist, hugged her waist to whisper in her ear several interesting things: the man hidden behind a curtain typing on his phone; the lady taking big gulps of punch; the guy trying to look into a lady’s cleavage. She giggled and leaned back into his chest to ask a question or make a comment, delighting both of them with the proximity.

‘This must be great, don’t you think?’ Lizzy asked him. ‘To go back in time… Have you ever done that?’

Darcy scrunched up his nose. ‘Once. And I hated it.’

‘Oh, come on…’ Lizzy whined.

‘Those breaches… I could never wear those near you, for instance.’ He said before he remembered they were not as intimate in person as they were in his head. Something had to be done, and fast. ‘Come, I will take you as close as I can.’ He said ungluing their bodies.

Darcy pulled her by the hand into doors and parlors, down another dark steep set of stairs and they arrived in a den illuminated only by the light coming from outside the windows. She couldn’t see much but could smell candles burning close by.

‘Trust me?’ He asked."

instagram.      follow me @moirabianchiauthor

The 'Georgian house party' will take place in November, there are dinners and day events, even a Gothic night! Oh, how much I'd love to be there... Brazil has never been so far down south...

Ok, it's Georgian, not Regency. Right, I get that. 

Winter, in period clothes for a Brazilian- cruel. I get that too. 

Convincing hubs to gavotte around in breaches: impossible. But a girl can dream, right?

And... there will be a Regency house party too! 

In August!

That's summer!

At Kent Church! *faint*

Oh. My. God.

Why, oh why, real is not closer to pounds??? $$$ 

I know, everything is six times more expensive for us. Darn!

I know exactly what you're thinking: Austenland. Yeah!... Not that I'd like to find a Mr. Noble (ha!) or anything but I can only imagine how amazing it must be to talk to people who do this, how interesting, how fun, how many plots could come out of this!...

I'm so sad here...

If you're closer, go! If you do, send me pics! And snapchats! And everything else! 

Meanwhile, I write...

Trying my hand in Regency. It has had good reviews...

See ya.

*sad Moira says bye*

Regency love story - part 6

hello,
My lovely Darcy friends invited me to join a flash project for Holidays inspired short stories and '45 days in Europe with Mr. Darcy' has got a follow up!

Yeah, those lovely Darcy and Lizzy are stuck in South Africa very close to Christmas, it's all love and bickering in Portuguese only - so far. I'll post more about the project of this pocket book once it moves along.

Anyway, here, if Elizabeth can't find her way out of an impossible situation, help may reach her...

Love in acts

1^st act

LOVE HURTS

angst, rated M, short, sequel to P&P
previously

PART 6-

‘Oh, my goodness, finally you’ve come!’ Georgiana ran with opened arms to hug her brother and sister, already in quiet sobs. ‘They won’t let me see him; they keep me with the children. I’m too old for the nursery; I understand what’s going on.’

‘Calm down, Gigi.’

‘Oh Fitzwilliam! How could this have happened?’

‘All will be well, Gigi.’

‘Oh Lizzy, are you ill?’ The tall girl’s eyes lost focus with the sad tears. ‘Don’t fall ill too, I beg you!’ She wrapped her arms about Elizabeth muffling the protests.

‘She’s not sick, Gigi. Let her breath, though.’ He tapped his sister’s shoulder with care while holding his wife by her too thin waist. ‘Where is uncle Matlock?’

‘With Richard. They won’t let me in, or the cousins. Only the men and aunt can come in.’

‘We’ll go there directly.’ He announced for the butler who handed their outer garments to a footman and maid, nodded and pointed the way Darcy knew too well, the big old house was familiar to him almost as much as Pemberley. He kept his wife’s hand tucked firmly in the crook of his to give him strength, dreading what he would find.

Once upstairs, the butler knocked on Colonel Fitzwilliam’s door; the nurse opened and on seeing the crowd, took a step back to let Darcy in but shook her head and raised a palm to Elizabeth.

‘Cousin?’ She yelled rising on her toes and craning her neck reaching almost Georgiana’s eyes, in the hopes of seeing anything over the nurse’s shoulder.

‘I’m here!’ Richard answered.

She held the door with her shoulder as the nurse made to close it. ‘Cousin, how are you?’

‘Alive!’

‘Planning to keep that way? Don’t lie.’

‘Yes, Lizzy!’

‘You have always been precise in promise-keeping, can’t change now!’

He chuckled, she heard other tense chuckles and the door opened almost unbalancing her to let lady Matlock get out.

‘My dear Lizzy!’ She hugged Elizabeth’s shoulder. ‘We had to wait almost a week for you to arrive so we could have such needed respite.’

‘He sounds well. Is he?’ She asked worriedly, Georgiana looked expectantly from one adored sister to an adored aunt.

‘As much as possible.’

‘Can’t I see him?’

Lady Matlock looked from her nephew’s wife to her niece. ‘Better not yet.’

Georgiana whimpered. ‘He’s disfigured.’

‘No, my dear.’ She patted Georgiana’s hand. ‘He only needs time and our prayers.’ Lady Matlock sighed. ‘Let us move to my parlor, we can have tea.’ She eyed the butler and he nodded. ‘Send for my daughters as well.’

‘Oh my, this is the most beautiful bonnet of the season, cousin!’ Lady Brakenbury, or simply cousin Margaret, gushed.

Georgiana lowered her cup. ‘The redingote is absolutely divine.’

‘And the tippet, the muff…’ Lady Dorset, in her mama’s parlor simply Claire, touched her cheeks to the thick welcoming fur. ‘Oh, cousin, we will have to be careful not to be seen together because I am surely placing an order for these!’

‘I haven’t seen any of these last time I was in London.’ Margaret hit her hands inside the watermelon sized brownish muff. ‘Tell me where you found these, Lizzy.’

‘It was Fitzwilliam…’ Elizabeth apologized to lady Matlock. ‘I still think it fickle to worry about fashion when facing such a worry, but he sent for the shops. Yesterday I had my parlor in London full when I finished breakfast.’

‘Maybe he merely wanted a distraction.’ Lady Matlock smiled kindly.

‘And instead of fencing at the club, he chose pleasing his wife…’ Claire sniggered.

Elizabeth blushed and shared a conspiratorial glance with Claire. Surprisingly, it was not only Colonel Fitzwilliam who was extremely pleasant company; his three siblings were also very agreeable. Maybe their congeniality surprised Elizabeth so much because she expected variations of Lady Catherine. ‘I wasn’t even sure the modiste would finish the adjustments on the redingote in time.’

‘You are so thin, that’s why the window piece fitted you.’ Claire bit her lip. ‘A husband making an effort to please his too thin wife… I wonder why?’

‘Why?’ Georgiana was instantly worried. ‘He said she was not sick.’

‘She will be in a few weeks…’ Margaret lowered her head to look at Elizabeth through her lashes.

‘Months, sister!’

‘Girls!...’ Lady Matlock admonished her laughing daughters trying hard to contain her own mirth.

‘Why, sister? Will you be ill?’ Georgiana’s large eyes widened.

‘Not ill, Gigi.’ Margaret leaned forward in her seat. ‘But she’ll be in pain.’

‘Oh, dear Lord, that pain. I swore I wouldn’t do it anymore and two years later, bam! Now I’m done. Two boys are enough: he has his heirs already.’ Elizabeth, Margaret and Lady Matlock chuckled. ‘It is. It’s very hard to find wet nannies for more than one babe, you two will see. You laugh, sister, because you only have one.’

‘Dear Lord!’ Georgiana’s cup rattled. ‘You’re with child!’

‘No, no Gigi. I’m not.’ Elizabeth squeezed the girls’ hand.

‘You’re not?’

‘No.’ She sighed and shook her head looking down.

The sisters looked at each other, then at their mother who shook her head discretely but they laughed loud anyway. ‘She’ll be soon!’ They said together as much as they did when little girls and it was impossible to keep a straight face with married ladies of the Court behaving like children.

‘With all these presents...’ Claire winked at Elizabeth.

‘Soon, very soon, Gigi.’ Margaret nodded sighing to calm her laughter.

Elizabeth still looked down, her cheeks so deeply flushed she felt even a little lightheaded.

‘Girls.’ Lady Matlock said. ‘Take Gigi to-’

‘Not to play for the babes!’ Georgiana raised her voice.

‘For a stroll.’ Lady Matlock leaned forward and tapped the girl’s hand. ‘If your sister can be as generous as I know she is, you three can take her muff and tippet for company. I know I’d love to.’

Elizabeth forced a smile. ‘Please, they hate to spend one second not being gushed upon!’

Once the merry trio had left, Lady Matlock patted the seat beside her. ‘Come here, my dear.’ She observed her nephew’s wife figure and she seemed to have lost more weight than her splendid dress gave way. ‘You seem sad.’

‘We’re very worried about cousin’s health, aunt.’

‘All of us are in dire straits; I waited anxiously for Fitzwilliam to improve Richard’s spirits with his company, they had always been very close since babes.’

‘Fitzwilliam was beyond himself when he received the news. We were in Scotland, if he’d been closer, he would have arrived sooner.’

‘Scotland! I say!’ Elizabeth looked at her hands on her lap. ‘What on Earth were you two doing in Scotland? A honeymoon?’ Still Elizabeth kept silent. ‘My dear, calm your heart.’ Lady Matlock took both Elizabeth’s hands in hers. ‘You’ll soon be with child, you two are just starting and at first, it takes patient to… adjust to the bedroom visits.’

Elizabeth’s sigh faltered. ‘It’s not that, aunt Daphne.’

Lady Matlock chuckled. ‘I see… A love match is so very different from a regular marriage.’ She smiled sideways. ‘We have no reason to believe Fitzwilliam have trouble siring-’ She stopped hearing a discreet sob. ‘What is that?’ Elizabeth stood to fetch a handkerchief from her reticule forgotten on the couch she had sat with Georgiana. ‘You may talk to me, Lizzy. I know your mama is far away; my sister is no longer with us and frankly, if she were, she wouldn’t be of much help anyway.’ Lady Matlock muttered. ‘She and her sister were made from the same clay.’

Elizabeth shared a chuckle with the lady who graciously waited until she gathered her courage. ‘I shall not breed a Darcy heir, my lady.’ She turned to the window and the older woman waited. ‘And Fitzwilliam does not have trouble siring. I have proof.’ She stopped to hold in her tears. ‘He had.’ She sobbed. ‘He-’

‘Had a mistress.’ Lady Matlock said calmly. Elizabeth nodded still looking away. ‘Maybe more than one?’

She turned sharply. ‘You knew?’

‘Of course not, good Lord!’ Lady Matlock scoffed. ‘A lady is not interested or moved by this.’

‘I’m surely not a lady, if that is what you’re saying.’ Elizabeth sat heavily on a small chair. ‘I could never be considered for cousin Edward. Oh, what am I saying? I apologize, I’m devastated.’

‘Why?’

‘Why?’ Elizabeth’s eyes widened, tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘My husband had- paid-’

‘Hired mistresses.’ Lady Matlock calmly sipped her tea. ‘Hired women are less worrisome than paramours. Paramours from the Ton are the worst.’ She clicked her tongue. ‘They tend to think they have the same rights as the legitimate wife, want to attend the same events as we do in the season.’ Her eyes flashed with an irritation Elizabeth hadn’t seen before. ‘You said Fitzwilliam had?’ Elizabeth nodded dazzled. ‘In the past?’ She nodded again. ‘Before your wedding?’

‘He said as much.’

‘Then, it’s settled.’

Elizabeth shook her head slowly.

‘You think I’m cynic, probably? Don’t bother to answer.’ Lady Matlock sipped her tea again and carefully rested it on the side table as if choosing what to say. ‘When Catherine stormed into this house telling us Fitzwilliam insisted to marry an unknown girl without connections whose father’s estate was entailed to her parson, I decided instantly to like you.’ The corner of her mouth raised slightly. ‘But of course, she is right, it was unwise of Fitzwilliam.’ Elizabeth sat up straighter. ‘A lady of the Ton would never shed a tear for that, neither loose her health for a male indiscretion, much less demanded a Scotland honeymoon!’

‘I didn’t demand.’ Elizabeth sniffed. ‘He went after me because he wanted to.’

Lady Matlock gasped. ‘After you?’

‘He refuses to let me go.’ Elizabeth’s shoulders shook. ‘I asked for an annulment. He denied it and went after me.’

‘Annulment! Good Gracious, indeed it was impossible for my son Edward to have chosen you! I’d never permit the future Earl of Matlock tie himself to such a headstrong silly girl!’ Lady Matlock rose angrily. ‘I hate when Catherine is right!’ She stomped very unladylike. ‘You, girl, have no right to give that old crow any reason!’ She pointed at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth’s tears stopped with her amusement.

‘How did you find out?’

Elizabeth blinked.

‘About the mistresses, girl!’

‘He told me.’

Lady Matlock was more appalled with each sentence the sickly thinning silly Elizabeth uttered. ‘How? Why?’

Using few words and being very economic with details, Elizabeth told her about her aunt’s letter, her need for space after the visits and the Gardiners’ help.

‘Dear Lord! I shall send a letter to your aunt immediately; she has to know the damage she created!’ Lady Matlock walked briskly to Elizabeth and held her chin up. ‘You march down my house right now and tell my nephew you were temporarily out of your mind. Go! The boy admitted to you, by his own accord, by gad!’ She let go of Elizabeth’s thin face and put her hands on her hips. ‘That’s why I have no patience for love matches.’

She walked to the door, locked it, opened a side cabinet using a key fetched from a long necklace and took a crystal jug filled with a yellowish cream and two tumblers. She filled both and gave one for Elizabeth. ‘Drink.’ She ordered. ‘All of it at once.’ And she tipped hers tossing her head back, winced and nodded when Elizabeth put it to her lips. But as she simply sipped, the lady pushed it with the tip of her finger until Elizabeth drained it. ‘Good. Another?’

Elizabeth coughed. ‘What is that?’

‘Limoncello .’ Lady Matlock said filling again the tumblers. ‘My maid is Italian. I like it better than brandy. Drink again.’

‘Thank you but I’m not used-’

‘Drink, I say.’ She gave Elizabeth a stern look. ‘With me, go.’

She stored the used glasses in the cabinet and closed it. ‘I’ll have Paola give a bottle to your maid. Tonight, you drink twice as much – four tumblers – to give you courage. Then you put on a very revealing dress and give orders to your maid to tell Fitzwilliam’s valet to tell him to come to you.’ She pointed the key at Elizabeth. ‘You behave and please him and very ardently you convince him it was all silliness of a newlywed.’

‘I wish I could!’ Elizabeth hiccupped. ‘Pardon.’ She poised three fingers to her lips, lady Matlock shook her head. ‘But as much as I enjoy our marital bed, I keep seeing him naked with other-’

‘Stop. Drink five tumblers tonight. You won’t see anything.’ She stashed the key back in her cleavage. ‘You know what would happen if you make Catherine proud, silly girl? I’ll tell you: if Fitzwilliam gave you the annulment, you would be disgraced and he would not only hire other women but would also marry another! You think you imagine him with other women, be sure you will see him with other women, siring babes with another wife.’ Elizabeth gulped, the liqueur rose back to her throat but she swallowed. ‘Ah! Now you are seeing reason… go to your maid. Wash up. Reappear lovely and making us laugh as you always do. Go!’

Wings – Matlock Hall

‘Here, take this. Milady didn’t say how big, and this is as much I can spare without fore notice.’ Paola extended a small embroidered crystal carafe to Ashton. ‘If she thought it necessary to share her secret, I bet she’ll drain her own bottle in no time.’

‘Weren’t you Italian?’

‘Weren’t you French?’

Ashton giggled. ‘I was trained by a diable Parisienne.

‘Ah, the queen of everything proper and fashionable…’

‘And of hosting titled gentlemen late at night.’

They both laughed and Paola held Ashton by the arm guiding her inside the housekeeper’s den. ‘Lady Matlock’s daughters’ maids are busybodies…’ She pressed her eyes looking around them. ‘They are together often, like to gossip too, be careful.’

‘You’ve been with Lady Matlock for long?’

Paola nodded. ‘Five years or so. Since milady sent her old maid away because the chit passed information to his Lordship’s mistress’ maid.’

Ashton gasped, Paola nodded pressing her lips. ‘Mrs. Darcy has not had a fit of purges in weeks. I fear this much booze will send her back to the pit.’

‘You think this is a lot?’ Paola snorted. ‘You have no idea how much Lady Matlock has every week! I have to cook at a trusted tenant’s house so no one knows about it.’

‘Poor Mrs. Darcy… She can hardly rest from annoyances too. Her family, the Bennetts, are a good cause for brandy. I know so; I worked there for her just before the wedding.’ Ashton trembled in disgust. ‘At least they were not aware of our adventure alone in Scotland…’ She babbled and realizing the faux pas, changed subjects. ‘I hope Limoncello helps her, poor thing, I hope she can make good use of this, then.’ She finished pressing her lips and raising her brows.  ‘Is this like brandy?’

‘Sweeter, lighter, ladylike. My grandmamma used to make it for Christmas and I offered it as a gift to her ladyship. She was very sad because of her husband’s indiscretion and I wanted to keep my job.’ Paola shrugged. ‘I remember my grandmamma saying in Italy, when unsatisfied with her husband, a woman would drink Limoncello and go to bed summoning Cupid to soothe her body and mind.’

‘Did it help?’

‘Want to try tonight? I have a small dose for myself.’ They both grinned. ‘My, my… Mr. Darcy is so handsome… I never thought he would be unsatisfying… I know Colonel is not…’ Paola blinked coquettishly.

Ashton gasped. ‘I’d say, with a house full of valets why would a maid give the sons a chance to have fun?’

‘Full of valets?’ Paola shook her head and searched the housekeeper’s den for a towel to wrap the Limoncello bottle. ‘You may enjoy this house full as it is now, because as soon as they decide Richard-’ She bit her lip. ‘Colonel Fitzwilliam will live; his sisters and brother will leave and take their help with them. I say, only Lord’s Dorset’s valet seems to be proper. The others are only good for a tumble.

‘Mr. Darcy’s too.’ Ashton twisted her nose.

‘Well…’

‘Well…’

‘Will he live?’

‘Richard?’ Paola asked and Ashton nodded holding the wrapped carafe as an infant.

‘I believe so. His legs are in pitiable state and may need to be cut off.’ Ashton winced, Paola nodded sadly. ‘But he’ll still be a fully functional man, rich, handsome to a point, second son of a good family.’ She shrugged. ‘If your lady’s purging return with the creamy, let me know and I’ll give you the lighter version. Lady Daphne prefers the creamy because the smell is softer.’ Paola arranged the carafe in Ashton’s hands to hide it better. ‘If lady Daphne says your lady can use the Limoncello’s help, believe her. She is wise.’

---

‘Cousin, will I have the pleasure of breaking bread with the Darcys tonight?’ Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled seeing Darcy all dressed up for dinner entering his room and checking for any company they may have.

‘No, cousin. My lady is still forbidden to enter your room.’

Colonel Fitzwilliam groaned from his bed. ‘Every lady is forbidden, not even Claire and Margaret-’ He grinned. ‘Aside from that nurse but then again, what’s ladylike there?’

Darcy chuckled. ‘Be good, cousin.’

‘Oh, I know this look. What is it? Gossip? Are you sneaking me out for a night ride?’

‘I wish, but with this leg, I wouldn’t dare.’ Darcy still searched the room. ‘Anyone in your chambers?’

‘No. My valet is of no much use anyway, I’m locked here until my leg can grow meat back.’ He shared the same boyish smile. ‘Lock the door anyway; the nurse uses my dressing chamber.’

‘Here, hold this.’ Darcy gave the Colonel Fitzwilliam a small crystal bottle with a small tumbler before walking to lock the said door. ‘Your mama gave my wife this carafe and I might say it is made in heaven!’ He chuckled. ‘Aunt Daphne apparently gave Lizzy order to drink after she retired, but when I entered her chambers to escort her to dinner she was looking so handsome I kissed her and she hiccupped!’ Both men chuckled. ‘And the kiss… lemon. Taste it!’

Colonel Fitzwilliam opened the cork, sniffed, raised his eyebrows and filled a tumbler. ‘Mama has many secrets, doesn’t she?’ He drained it and passed to Darcy.

‘Limoncello, Lizzy said.’ Darcy drank half a tumbler. ‘Have another, I’d better put it back before her maid finds out I took it. And if your nurse shows up, don’t blow in her face!’

After a guffaw, Colonel Fitzwilliam wiggled his brows. ‘It’s quite good… Lighter than brandy… The ladies like it, you say?’

‘My lady loved it.’ Darcy smiled charmingly. ‘Her maid may have not since she had twice the work tonight.’

‘Ah, newlyweds!...’

Darcy’s face hardened and he walked to the window. ‘Your Illness is God sent, cousin.’

‘By all means, cousin! If it’s of your liking, I can drop dead as well.’

Darcy smiled at the window pane looking at his cousin propped upon several pillows reflected on the glass. ‘My wife left me two months ago.’ Colonel Fitzwilliam shook his head frowning. ‘The women I hired, it made her insane.’ Darcy turned. ‘Insane with jealousy!’

While Colonel Fitzwilliam drained almost half the liqueur carafe, Darcy told him the despair that took him over, the annulment request, Scotland and how Colonel’s illness brought Elizabeth to his side again.

‘You should name your heir after me! No! After Napoleon!’ Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. ‘Napoleon Darcy. I’ll be his tutor, handsomely paid of course.’

‘Of course!’ Darcy shook his cousin’s hand. ‘I wanted to confide in you when I arrived, but you had a full house.’

‘My brothers usually keep me company. But I suspect they were very relieved to see you arrive; now they can ride very far away from my rotting leg.’

‘Did you consider amputation?’

Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded. ‘At the battle field but the surgeons gave me a chance to come home.’ Noise outside the window made Darcy turn. ‘I’ll probably use a can from now on, and trousers. No more breeches. Aunt Catherine will never invite me to Rosings again.’ He faked dismay. ‘Isn’t that sweet?’

‘It won’t stop her to come see you anyway.’ Both men winced. ‘Hurry, give me the carafe. I have to store it and go to my wife before aunt Catherine pounces on her.’

Being denied access to her nephew’s sick bed made Lady Catherine de Bourgh greatly displeased and so she proceeded to make her other nephews just as upset. The former Matlock girls heard icy observations about their ability to sire and raise heirs, Elizabeth for the absence of heirs, Georgiana for having any opinion on married ladies having heirs. The Matlock heir heard about the next heir his wife – left at her parents’ - was about to deliver and how he must provide for his future. The Matlock girls’ husbands and their papa-in-law – all titled men - escaped to a corner leaving Darcy to lend an ear to what-only-God-knew Lady Catherine complained or gave orders about.

Darcy occasionally shared glances with Elizabeth but she looked away before the slow blink. Yes, she loved him ardently and needed him to reassure her but it still felt… foreign. Something he was not entitled to give her.

‘You see Anne, poor thing?’ Lady Matlock asked arriving close to Elizabeth, her tea cup close to her lips.

‘She does look better than last time I saw her…’ Elizabeth said under her breath. ‘She’s almost giving out her secret.’

‘You know she’s not half as sick as her mama believes?’

‘Oh, yes! I saw her playing with the parsonage children once!...’ Elizabeth hid her grin behind her cup.

‘She is quite sassy, isn’t she?’ Lady Matlock asked in a sneer and Elizabeth giggled nodding. ‘Imagine that sassiness in your husband’s bed.’ Elizabeth turned sharply to Lady Matlock splashing tea over her sauce and gasping. ‘When he ‘lets you go’, Catherine will pounce, he will be heartbroken and unable to fight as he did once to marry you. She’ll gloat about having reason; you were unfit for him after all… He’ll have Anne as second wife as not many proper ladies will have a man with an annulment in his past.’ Lady Matlock gloated herself on Elizabeth’s wide eyes turning from Anne to her husband listening stoically to Lady Catherine fill his ears. ‘Catherine will then insist on heirs, Anne will undoubtedly be able to sire one, two, three…’

‘That’s enough, my lady.’

‘I love when I can help young people see reason…’ Lady Matlock sighed. ‘Did your maid give you the Limoncello?’

‘Yes. I already used it.’

‘Really?’ She raised her eyebrows surprised, her lips curling at the corners.

Still shaking with despair, Elizabeth nodded. ‘Fitzwilliam also enjoyed the…’

‘Tartness?’ She asked and Elizabeth nodded. ‘Good. Let Paola know if you need more, my dear.’ She smiled and caressed Elizabeth’s chin before walking away. Charmingly, she crossed the room disguising the conceited smile on her lips. ‘Catherine, Maurice wants to explain to you in details how he managed to bring our son back in the middle of war.’ Lady Matlock sighed exaggeratedly. ‘What an ordeal!’

‘Indeed, that boy was always wild. I advised you repeatedly how to tame him but you never listened-’

‘Go, dear. Talk to him so he can explain everything.’

Darcy sighed deeply. ‘Aunt Daphne, that was a dirty move, uncle Maurice probably didn’t deserve.’ He said quietly. ‘But I thank you, my lady.’ Gallantly he took her hand to place a kiss.

‘I accept your gratitude, boy, but this is not enough.’ Lady Matlock hooked her hand on the crook of his arm and gently urged him towards the other side of the library where the Matlocks served tea after dinner when the house was full of guests. ‘You know that exuberant muff your wife wore today?’ He nodded frowning. ‘Can it be made in white?’

‘I believe so. Or else there was a polar bear cub in her sitting room yesterday.’

‘Oh!’ Her hand shot to her bosom. ‘Was it that big?’

He nodded curiously. ‘Almost as big as my wife, she could pull it by a leash; fortunately she chose the castor one.’ He used a funny intonation for the color name. ‘Why?’

‘And a matching tippet?’ He shrugged. ‘Send for it, my boy. First thing tomorrow.’

‘For you, aunt? Of course, but why? Will you shield me and my wife from aunt Catherine forever?’

She smiled devilishly. ‘See your wife looking at Anne?’

Darcy tilted his head to the side and frowned deeper. Although surrounded by smiling Claire and Margaret, Elizabeth looked haunted; her fine eyes intent on Anne wanly sipping her tea.

‘Poor thing, what may be going through her head, I wonder…’ He looked sharply at his aunt and she nodded still smiling. ‘I could wager my new muff and tippet she is picturing you brokenhearted after the stupid annulment-’ He straightened up surprised his aunt knew about it. ‘Being forced to marry Anne out of duty. How your new mama would demand heirs and well, you can calculate the rest, you know your Lizzy.’ Darcy grinned and leaned down to kiss his aunt but she raised a hand to stop him. ‘Discretion, boy. You had the ability to find the most headstrong girl in all England, now you have to learn how to deal with her. Soothe and control her, identify what has importance for her. Your money obviously doesn’t or else she would be gushing about that marvelous muff.’ He nodded, he had already arrived to that conclusion. ‘She loves you completely; enough to overcome her hurt pride.’

‘Jealousy.’ He said smiling big.

‘Wipe that smile off your face. Play the part. Let her come to you.’ She commanded and he nodded. ‘And keep my Limoncello secret!’

---

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update: 

a revised & extended version of this story will be available on Kindle Unlimited from Jan 25th, 17.