Back in 2017, when I wrote Pride and Prejudice and a Shakespearean Scholar, an idea occurred to me, but I kept pushing it to the side, thinking I could not manage it. You see, in P&P&SS, Mr. Bennet is a scholar on Shakespeare and means to refute claims that Frances Bacon wrote Shakespeare’s play. Do you recall this scene:

“I would be perfectly content to remain at Netherfield. You do not need to alter your plans simply because I have appeared upon your doorstep,” Darcy assured his friend. “I do not expect you to cry off at such short notice nor should you inconvenience Mr. Bennet’s cook by adding another to her preparations.”

“Nonsense,” Bingley declared good-naturedly. “If worse comes to worse, we will split the portions between us. You know I could never abandon you to a house with which you are unfamiliar. The library here is sadly lacking. Moreover, Mr. Bennet of Longbourn is Mr. Thomas Bennet.”

“Thomas Bennet?” Darcy asked. “The Thomas Bennet? The man who is both a Shakespeare and a Bacon expert and who means to refute claims Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets? The one our professors at Cambridge so often quoted?”

“The very man,” Bingley said with a wide smile. “Bacon made this part of Hertfordshire his home, thus Mr. Bennet’s interest in the man. Bennet and a group of scholars have been trying to refute Wilmot’s research claiming Bacon is the true author of Shakespeare’s plays.”

Anyway, in Pride and Prejudice and a Shakespearean Scholar, Darcy, Mr. Bennet, and Elizabeth visit Old Gorhambury House. The remains of the house are situated just outside St Albans in Hertfordshire. It was once an immense mansion constructed in 1563-8 by the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Sir Nicholas Bacon. A prolific builder, Sir Nicholas spent many years expanding and adapting the residence. In the tale, Elizabeth rattles off some impressive observations about the structure of the house and the newer Gorhambury House, built in the late 1700s. Now there is the rub! What if instead of Shakespeare, Mr. Bennet had taught her something of architecture? Do you see where this story is heading?

One of the more famous houses in “Pride and Prejudice” fame is Kedleston Hall, a neo-classical house in Kedleston, Derbyshire. The current house was commissioned by Nathaniel Curzon and designed by Robert Adam (whose name you will hear mentioned often in the novel). If you have seen the 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice, Kedleston Hall serves as Pemberley in the film. Wikipedia’s article on the house provides a nice description of the interior, as well as the garden and grounds.

Book Blurb:

“You do not know your place!” Elizabeth Bennet had heard those words time and time again from every man she encountered, with the exception of her father. Mr. Thomas Bennet had encouraged her unusual education, especially her love of architecture.

Fitzwilliam Darcy finally could name the day his beloved Pemberley would know its renewal. For five years, he had denied himself the pleasures afforded the landed gentry in order to view Pemberley House rebuilt after a questionable fire had left it in ashes. He would now choose a wife as the next mistress of Pemberley and raise a family.

When Darcy hires Elizabeth’s relation as his architect, they are thrown together in unexpected ways. He requires a proper Georgian manor to win the hand of an equally proper wife, but Elizabeth is determined only the house she has designed will do. The house of her heart for the man of her heart, even though she will never spend a day within.

Excerpt:

“Fitzwilliam!” Georgiana called from the open door, and Darcy forced the memory of his dream to the recesses of his mind. “You were not gone so long,” his sister announced as he approached. “Hopefully, you knew success.” She slid her hand about his arm.

 “I made definite progress, which I will gladly share with you and the others,” he told her as he escorted her towards his aunt’s favorite sitting room. “I am hoping you and Fitzwilliam will join me at Pemberley on Monday to take the acquaintance of the architect I have employed.” 

“Employed an architect?” the colonel asked as he stepped into the foyer to extend his hand to Darcy. “Did you travel to Nottingham or Birmingham?”

“Neither,” Darcy confided. “Let us go inside, and I will share it all.” 

The colonel presented Darcy an elegant bow. “As you say, Cousin. Georgiana and I are all ears.” 

Once they three were settled and refreshments delivered, Darcy began his tale of encountering Charles Bingley, the man’s wife, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. The colonel interrupted, as was his habit, to relate a few of his own stories for Georgiana’s amusement about how naïve Bingley had been at university.

Georgiana was laughing so hard during the colonel’s retelling, Darcy simply sat back into the chair and enjoyed the sound of his sister’s happiness. He had made the correct decision to send her to live with the Matlocks, though his Aunt Catherine had volunteered to take Georgiana in, his sister had always been a bit frightened of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He made a mental notation to warn Lady Matlock not to mention the possibility of his taking a wife. Otherwise, Lady Catherine would again be purporting a match between him and his cousin Anne. 

“And so, you delivered Mr. Bingley’s family to safety?” his sister questioned. 

“Yes, to Sheffield,” he assured, “where, ironically, I encountered Albert Sheffield and his new wife Hannah,” Darcy confirmed. “Sheffield assisted me in ordering new clothes. I have asked him to return as my valet once Pemberley is restored and have promised to discover a position for Mrs. Sheffield in the household also.” 

“In the new Mrs. Darcy’s employ?” Georgiana asked. 

Darcy’s first thought was of Miss Elizabeth. When he had taken Mrs. Sheffield’s acquaintance, he had considered how easily it would be for Hannah Sheffield and Miss Elizabeth to become friends. “Such would be the most practical solution,” Darcy said evenly, attempting not to relay how his mind had again returned to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, “but, more likely, whomever I choose to extend my hand will already have a lady’s maid to attend her.”

“Such may be determined once other issues are addressed,” the colonel responded. “By the way, her ladyship has accepted an invitation to a house party in your name and ours three weeks removed. She says such will signal to others you are in the market for a wife.” 

Darcy frowned. “I had not thought to begin such negotiations until I knew the fate of Pemberley House. I certainly cannot bring a wife to my ancestral home in its present condition, and Mr. Ericks and I have yet to agree on a set of plans. Once we do, it could be anywhere from three to six months before Pemberley is again livable enough for a woman of society.” 

“So long?” Georgiana asked. “I know the repairs are likely to be extensive; yet, I had hoped you would soon be relieved of such depressing conditions. I often feel quite guilty enjoying the fare of Lady Matlock’s table when I know there is not a proper kitchen at Pemberley. You must eat whatever one of the cottagers supplies you.” 

“It is not so ill,” he told her, although often he did without, for the lack of even a bit of taste in the food. “And, soon I will know something of the time it will take to make Pemberley livable for a family. The architect is to come to Pemberley on Monday to view the conditions of the house and to determine if any of it can be saved. He will also examine the location, create a list of required materials and determine how many storeys would be safe. I have told him I would prefer three storeys as we have had previously, but doing so might complicate the plans if I choose to add water closets and different lighting, especially as such options will be the way of the future. Chimneys and fireplaces for each room will be expensive, if necessary.

“We also spoke of two wings in the beginning around the central corps de logis for entertaining and so forth,” Darcy explained.  

The colonel nodded his approval. “It sounds as if you and this architect have had several serious conversations. What did you say his name might be? Erickson, was it?”

“Ericks,” Darcy confided. “Jacob Ericks. Ironically, he is brother to Samuel Ericks, the man who is the new rector in Lambton. Remember, the father was a surgeon when we were young.” 

“The one who died in the flood?” the colonel asked. 

“Yes, Samuel Ericks is the one who held the curacy at Kympton before the vicarage opened in Bakewell.” Darcy said as he eyed his sister, hoping his comment would not remind her of George Wickham and their father’s death. Georgiana had been hard-pressed to speak of the events of that evening to anyone, even him. At one time, she had trusted Mr. Wickham, perhaps thought herself in love with him, or so Darcy had suspected, but the death of George Darcy and Wickham being the last man to see him alive had soured Georgiana on the man. He continued, “I had hoped you two could travel to Pemberley on Monday and take Mr. Jacob Ericks’s acquaintance,” he said to the colonel and Georgiana. “Your mind, Colonel, for logistical matters would be of great service to me. Would greystone or some other Derbyshire stone be more practical? Those types of decisions.”

“I am often called upon in my service to England to fit a square peg into an oddly-shaped hole, so to speak. One can imagine how often that square peg is shaped into a round one,” the colonel observed. 

“Exactly,” Darcy confirmed. “A different perspective.” 

“And what of me?” Georgiana asked. 

Darcy sucked in a quick breath so as not to relay his earlier musings on the lady. “Traveling with Mr. Jacob Ericks on Monday will be the man’s family. They hope to join their brother Samuel at the rectory for a short visit after Jacob completes all his measurements.” 

“That is wonderful for them,” Georgiana said. “Yet, do you expect me also to visit the vicarage?”

Darcy knew he was making more of this situation than he should, but he did not wish to provide his family false hopes. “I have not explained all which occurred as well as I should have done. When I transported Mr. Bingley’s family to Sheffield, I delivered Bingley’s wife and Mrs. Bingley’s sister to Mr. Ericks’s house. The ladies’ maternal uncle is married to the Ericks brothers’ sister. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner reside in London. Mr. Gardiner owns Mayo’s Imports and Exports.” 

“One of the largest such businesses in London,” the colonel observed. “Her ladyship has dealt with Mr. Gardiner often in that capacity. Several rooms at our London home were exclusively furnished by the gentleman. My mother swears by his taste in custom-made furniture. I believe there are several pieces at Darcy House purchased from Mayo’s.” 

Darcy was a bit surprised to learn his own parents had presented Mr. Gardiner their patronage. “I was not aware of all you have shared, Cousin.” He paused briefly before saying, “The Bingleys traveled on to the northern shires. Miss Elizabeth Bennet remained with Mr. and Mrs. Ericks. She will be in Sheffield for some six weeks. Therefore, she will likely visit Pemberley with the Ericks family. The lady knows a great deal of architecture: Her father has provided her an unusual education. You should hear her, Fitzwilliam. She recites Shakespeare and Greek philosophers and translates Latin, and she possesses ‘very’ strong opinions and does not mind defending them.” 

Fitzwilliam grinned. “Do you admire the woman or fear her, Darcy?”

“In truth, I am not assured which,” Darcy admitted. 

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