And, whatever may be generally understood to be the consequences of such a choice for the children of the first marriage, Lady Hallendale proved to be an unusually good mother to the two boys, in that she was genuinely solicitous of their health and their happiness. Lord Hallendale had sent the boys off to school as soon as they reached a suitable age, and to University thereafter. On holidays, when the boys were at home, they found their new mother to have easy, kindly ways, and always willing to leave aside the rent-books or other business to take up those duties that more commonly fall within a mother’s sphere. Apart from the early loss of their mother, neither boy had any cause for unhappiness, and none at all that could rightfully be imputed to their father’s second choice. On the contrary, William and especially the younger son, George, found Lady Hallendale to be more ready with her time and attention than ever their own father had been, and this even though—as is most often the case—she had more claims upon the hours of her day. The Viscount’s character was more inured to the preoccupied neglect of his father, and he was like-wise of an age when it was unfashionable for boys to be guided by a mother; the younger son’s warm heart and gentle temper inclined each to the other—she as teacher, play-mate, and confidante, and he as a companion for that portion of each day, and often whole days altogether, when His Lordship was busy with his scientifical societies or otherwise engaged away from home. The man George Fitzwilliam was genuinely fond of his step-mother, and found occasion to return to Hallendale House more frequently than might otherwise be the case at his time of life.

Mrs. Darcy, too, liked Lady Hallendale. In her she found a woman of sense and use, and one whose penchant for uncommon domestic arrangements was parallel with her own. She greatly admired not only Her Ladyship’s skill with matters of the estate, but the delicate diplomacy through which she spared the feelings of her husband in the discharge of those duties. Her servants treated her with respect and something more—affection. Elizabeth could not impute such attachments as owing to any other cause than Lady Hallendale’s kind and grateful treatment of themselves. Elizabeth longed to be held in such esteem at Pemberley, respected and admired for her own merits, not just as mistress and wife. She genuinely wished to be useful to her husband—perhaps not to the degree occupied by Lady Hallendale—but to make some contribution, if only to increase the hours of leisure her husband might be spared away from his own necessary employments.