Part 15

The next few months felt strange and unsettled.  Darcy cancelled all of Mrs Judd’s orders and appointments, explaining everything over and over again. Simon Judd arranged for payments into Darcy’s account and in return, Darcy sent him the bills as they came in. However, there was little news of Mrs Judd’s condition. “As well as can be expected” was all anyone would say.  Suddenly, Darcy’s mind was awash with how best to fulfil her new role as woman of the house.

For the first couple of weeks, she carried on as normal but after that there had seemed little point, since the house was not being used. Darcy had done all of her usual jobs, she had also called the plumber in to repair a small leak, and she had herself repainted ceiling afterwards. Then she had called on the gardener to mend the side gate, which had come lose. He was also being retained and the money, which came to her account, also included his wage.

So strange, this instant guardianship

To live a life in different shoes

Beholden to a world, not yours

Not knowing what their fate would choose

To hold another’s time in palm

And undertake to maintain calm

Between two sets of learned ideals

A younger mind may not absorb

That which an elder values most

And which disruption might disturb

‘tis fine to be a helping hand

But hard to take the reins, unplanned

To run another’s lifelong home

No guiding hand to see her through

No past encounter forms support

In holding fort and making do

An arduous task, a tall request

A little bird put to the test

Finally, Darcy stripped the beds and closed up the rooms.

The house felt empty and gloomy. Darcy was immensely grateful for her other jobs. She would have gone crazy here all by herself every day. Fortnum and Mason, Mrs Judd’s two dogs, were also a great blessing. They were marvellous company and Darcy often took them out with her in the car. She even took them on her factory run, although she wasn’t sure what Mrs Judd would make of that idea, but it was better than leaving them alone so much and they seemed to enjoy the trip as much as she did. People made a great fuss of them.

Darcy had made the best she could of the situation. She just hoped it would be satisfactory.