Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×04 “The Diamond Feather” Spoilers Ahead
My, oh, my! This week’s episode of Miss Scarlet and The Duke certainly brings in a multitude of emotions. “The Diamond Feather” reunites Eliza and Nash, and their dynamic is certainly fun, but more importantly, a significant shift occurs in Eliza and William’s relationship. Unsurprisingly, we have some thoughts and are eager to share them.
We learn that after that near-fatal gunshot, William has been recuperating under the attentive care of Eliza and Ivy. The arrangement feels natural, giving us a glimpse of domestic intimacy, not just from Eliza and William but with Ivy as well. It’s often easy to forget that William does not have his parents just as much as Eliza. While Mr. Henry Scarlet was a paternal figure for William, Ivy is the maternal figure today just as much as she is for Eliza. She’s feeding him and making sure he gets rest, but she’s also there to prompt him with some sage advice without overstepping her boundaries. And like a mother, she’s observant enough to deduce the reason why William and Arabella ended their relationship, urging William to act on his feelings toward Eliza.
As for William and Eliza, Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×04 “The Diamond Feather” shows that they’ve adapted to the routine established since William was discharged. It’s quite a reversal of the stereotypical roles between a man and woman, especially in the Victorian era — Eliza leaves the house to work all day, and William eagerly waits for her to come home and talk about the day. Quite frankly, it appears that William enjoys sharing the day with someone as he confides to Eliza that he’s glad he’s not back at work and is contemplating his future. William previously commented on wanting marriage and a family, but I don’t think he was implying that he expects a wife to stay home and cook. While staying with Eliza, he doesn’t expect Eliza to cook for him; as a matter of fact, he’s growing weary of Ivy’s pampering and feeding. As he reflects on his time away from work, he realizes that Eliza is more important than anything else in his life, including his work.
Therein lies the difference between Eliza and William, resulting in a striking obstacle in their relationship. It’s always been very clear that the two care for each other deeply but hold themselves back despite that glaring sexual tension screaming into the silence. All one needs to do is look at William’s countenance when Eliza lays her hand on top of his — the man is ready to unleash years’ worth of pent-up feelings right there while simultaneously bursting with joy. However, it is also evident that Eliza’s mind is primarily concerned with her career.
Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×04 “The Diamond Feather” also sees Nash’s return and disappointment with Eliza’s management of Nash & Sons (not that he has any sons) only drives Eliza to prove herself more than usual. So when William approaches Eliza not once but twice to share his feelings about her, she’s off in a hurry and then forgets about the dinner date she promised. Her actions sting more during the second approach when William tries to lay out how important it is for him to speak with her by stating that he is a man “ill at ease with getting things off his chest.” Here he is, making the second effort of the day to talk to her, at her office even though he should be resting, and for someone quite as perceptive as Eliza, she is blind to the notion that his presence is not inconsequential. It is after this that William is reminded of Arabella’s words that “Eliza’s ambition will outweigh everything.”
Even when he is discussing his future, she assumes that his future will be Scotland Yard, as if it were presumptuous that he could be thinking about anything else but. It’s understandable that Eliza is preoccupied with work; we’ve seen William do the same. Yet, Eliza feels comfortable pushing the conversation with William aside because she knows he will always be there. On countless occasions, he has thrown everything aside, particularly when at work, just for her. Even during the most hectic situations, William always puts Eliza first. But when it is her turn, he doesn’t get the same response.
Perhaps that’s why she is shocked when he not only declares his love for her but also informs her that he’s taken the secondment in New York. He knows exactly how he feels about her, but he’s aware that nothing is going to change at this moment. Instead of forcing her to make a decision, he chooses to give Eliza and himself some space, allowing Eliza to fulfill her ambitions with nothing else on her mind to hold her back while he avoids heartbreak.
Nash’s return also forces Eliza to confront impediments in her stalling career. Does she encounter an assortment of challenges due to her gender? Yes, absolutely. Is Eliza a skilled investigator? Again, yes. However, the lack of business at Nash & Sons cannot be solely blamed on Nash’s men not wanting to deal with a woman. And a business doesn’t just thrive because you’re good at a particular thing. Eliza doesn’t have the forethought to conduct due diligence on potential clients, nor does she make the effort to work with Nash’s men — she just expects them to carry out her orders.
She has a tendency to think she is the right person in the room. As a leader, she needs to learn to take accountability, build relationships, delegate tasks without questioning, and communicate effectively. She’s surprised that Nash is asking for progress reports about his business and is unhappy about her performance, but at the end of the day, it’s his business. He’s leading by example — if he didn’t care enough to come to London from Paris to save his business, why would anyone else who works for him bother to do their job? He may not be as brilliant as Eliza regarding detective work, but he puts in the effort to ensure a thriving business, whether it be maintaining a network of clients, informants, or useful connections, which, in turn, provides him with loyal and dutiful workers.
For someone who excels at finding the answers, Eliza does not have all of them. There is much growing for her to do as she embarks on a career without William on her side. Will she finally realize that her feelings are bigger than her career? Will she understand that she can have both a job and a relationship because finding the right balance in life is what a person truly needs? Will the kiss haunt her the same way it will haunt us? We’re seated to find out.
Related Content: Scene Breakdown: William and Eliza’s Kiss Plus Love Declaration in Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s “The Diamond Feather”
Now streaming on PBS: What are your thoughts on Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×04 “The Diamond Feather?” Let us know in the comments below.