A Governess for Longbourne Read online

  Darcy house- London

  Be not alarmed Madam on receiving this letter, that it contain any descriptions or disapprobation of your family for hiring her. I only write to explain in detail the reasons for my disapproval of Mrs. Young.

  I have nothing against the Lady as an instructor, or as a lady's companion, but there are a courage and conviction lacking when it comes to one person whom I should wish to forget. My sister, Georgiana who almost ten years my junior, was left to the guardianship of my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam and myself upon the death of my own, excellent father 5 years ago. Last summer she was taken from school to Ramsgate and placed in Mrs. Young's care. She had been known to our family at times over the years in London, so we trusted her. Thither also went one, Mr. Wickham, the same man I grew up with. His father was my father's steward and we grew up together. After his father died my father raised him and supported him at school, even Cambridge. He even left him valuable family living that became vacant upon the death of the elderly incumbent Vicar.

  Knowing Mr. Wickham's character and proclivities as I do, I was quite relieved when he chose to not accept the living, and requested a financial settlement in lieu of. He settled for three thousand pounds, and not two years later, he had squandered it in such amusements and vices as entice scoundrels of the first rite. It was this scoundrel who happened upon Georgiana at Ramsgate and persuaded her to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then, but fifteen years old. She acknowledged the whole plan to me at once when I joined them unexpectedly a few days prior to the intended day. Mr. Wickham's object was of course, her fortune of thirty thousand pounds.

  Mr. Wickham left the place immediately, and Mrs. Young was sent packing before sundown. The reason for her being released from service was that as many daily opportunities she had to protect my sister or to write me for help, she did not. She was in fact, encouraging Georgiana in this and approved the most ineligible match.

  This collusion to effect the ruin of my sister was more than enough to cement my disapproval of the lady. As to his character she cannot claim ignorance. It is well known by all who have been acquainted with Mr. Wickham for any length of time, that he is a scoundrel and cares not who he hurts or whose lives he ruins. There are three children being raised at Pemberly whose mothers are now reduced to the service class to provide for the children they bore him. Young women whose hands were once were sought after by upstanding men all over the county. No one had sufficient dowries to tempt him to the altar, and he had fled the village by the time the young women told their families what had transpired.

  I do not tell you this out of spite or to malign his or her character or cause an uproar, but my intent is to explain my ill opinion of the lady and preserve my tenuous standing in your good opinion after my unceremonious departure from your company today.

  As to the truth of this matter, Georgiana has agreed to answer any questions you may have, she is completely aware of this letter and even encouraged it, for she, nor I would want to see ill befall anyone else who would completely trust Mrs. Young. Again her attention, attendance, and instruction are in no way lacking, only that Mr. Wickham has some sort of hold over her to get her to do whatever he wants even to the detriment of her charge. Share what you will of this, to only those you must in order to protect your sisters. As you will gather, the fewer who know the identity of the wealthy young woman who fell for his designs, the better. I know we can trust your discretion.

  -F. Darcy

  The letter was hand delivered by a footman from Darcy house near Grosvenor Square the following morning along with an invitation for Elizabeth to meet Miss Georgiana Darcy at tea time that afternoon.

  "After the dire warnings in this letter, should we tell Father?" She asked Jane, pacing mercilessly on the rug at the end of the bed. "Lizzie, do sit down, there is no direct threat to Lydia so there is no need for such agitation! Aunt will thank you too, to not wear a hole in the new rug." "Oh Jane, always thinking of others feelings in the smallest of details. But what about her knowledge of one's ill character and not keeping her charge from such a man, although they had a long acquaintance?"

  "I believe you now trust Mr. Darcy, Lizzie." "His behavior has improved over the past few days, but he has never lied to us I think. Unless you believe he is telling an un-truth now, which would be quite unlike you. You don't believe ill intent of anyone."

  "If such a tale were not true, He would never have mentioned that it regarded his sister. He would never put her reputation at such a risk. Which revelation can only show the trust and respect he has for you." "Surely not Jane, He would just not want something like this to happen to some other one's sister. He said so," waving the letter at her. "I am hesitant," Jane said, "as you say, to believe such a tale about any one, much less someone Father has determined to be good enough to teach his daughter. Perhaps you should accept the invitation, and verify with Miss Darcy. She would certainly never concur with such a story were it a lie." Lizzie agreed and quickly dispatched a note to Darcy House by way of one of the lads that would occasionally run urgent messages for Mr. Gardiner.

  Georgiana Darcy was a tall, slender young lady, with a quiet spirit, like Jane, Elizabeth observed immediately upon introduction, the lady was well versed in the social graces, if but shy. "It must be a family trait, she thought, which further served to render Mr. Darcy in a more favorable light, due to her greater understanding. "Miss Bennett, I am honored that you accepted my invitation, my brother has spoken very highly of you." Georgina attempted to put Elizabeth at ease, while haltingly said, quite genuinely meant. "I am very pleased to be here and to meet you, Miss Darcy, I have heard so much about you. I understand that you are fond of music and play very well." "Oh, no. not very well, I mean, but I am very fond of music." She said earnestly. They made polite conversation over their first cup of tea, but when Georgiana's companion was called away to verify a delivery from the dressmaker, Georgiana was quick to refer to her brother's letter. "I was very concerned to hear of Mrs. Young's employment by your father, Miss Bennett. I know William wrote to you about the summer, and I assure you, He wrote it with my full blessing and insistence." Lizzie visibly relaxed a little at her pronouncement. "I thank you both for the warning, Mrs. Young had come with a very good reference." "Yes, that same reference is what got her the position as my companion." "Miss Darcy," "Call me Georgiana, please!" "And you must call me Elizabeth. Georgiana, you spent time with her, could you tell, looking back now, if she was involved or only blinded and in ignorance?"

  "I do not know how deep Mrs. Young's involvement in the plot went, but I do know this, William would have come to Ramsgate weeks sooner if He had received either of the letters I wrote mentioning Mr. Wickham's attentions. I had left them sealed on my desk for my maid, Marian to post, and asking her later, she had not found them, but only those two were missed; any other letters to friends or my brother went out as normal."

  "Thank you for your candor, Georgiana. I will pass on your warning regarding Mrs. Young's questionable character. I do promise I will not need to reveal anything of your story to my father, but only to tell him that her caution with suitors is lacking."

  Mrs. Annesley returned at that moment and Georgiana immediately steered the conversation to lace and trim and the fashions for the London Season.

  Elizabeth mulled upon all that Georgiana had said and all that she had not told her. It was clear that she must fear trusting any hired companion too soon, and must be near alone in the process of healing her young heart from the betrayals of those so close to her as to be called friend, and a fawning lover; as the literaries would say.

  Lydia began the day sulking. She resented the circumstances in which she now found herself; instead of living like a young lady of the house, as she had for the past three years, she was sitting on her bed in the old nursery!

  She had moved out of the nursery the same day as Kitty. She may be two years younger, but why should she be required to stay behind? This appli
ed to everything in Lydia's book. If Kitty got a new bonnet, she needed a new one and to have a better one. Kitty got to learn languages, Lydia... well, she had not liked languages, so had raised a fuss about it being taught at all, after raising a ruckus to be included in all of Kitty's classes. It had been attempted to teach Kitty French elsewhere in the house, but she would prevent it by any means she could, and more often then not, she convinced Kitty that since she, Lydia, would not, it could not possibly be good and she should not learn it; and if that didn't work, there were always pranks, and it led to the eventual cessation of outside instructors at all at Longbourne, horrid, dodgy old people without any sense of amusement, she called them. She was glad to be rid of them, and proclaimed it good as so. After all, she was thirteen, almost fourteen, and what young woman of near marriageable age was still stuck in the schoolroom.

  Kitty had not been able to do anything of her own since Lydia could walk; if Kitty tried to read a book, Lydia would wheedle her to read aloud, then declare the book to be horrid and boring and quickly suggest a game or other frivolous diversion, even traipsing into Meryton without supervision long before other families allowed their daughters out.

  Oh the echoes in the house the day Mrs. Bennett declared that Kitty was to come out in Society that winter. Kitty was nearly sixteen, and of traditional age to make a debut, and Lydia was full young to be out much in company, but she persisted and won. And poor Kitty was relegated to being the lesser sister once again. For wasn't she (Lydia) the better dancer, conversant, the most jolly and sought after company? Surely she was the best of her sisters, she thought proudly.

  I will make the best marriage match, the most money, the most charming man, and of course, he would wear a red coat, and with much distinction. Lydia vowed to herself aloud. "What was that dear?" Mrs. Young asked. But first, she thought, to get rid of this infernal governess.

  Mrs. Young laid out the first assignments for the day, and watched as Lydia pretended to listen to her instructions. She was a good study of human behavior and she knew immediately that she was in for quite a project in this student. She would not be the first unwieldy pupil she had, and certainly not the last, prideful and temperamental students seemed her lot in life. Some she quite succeeded with, turning them into ladies, proud to be numbered among the ton, of course turning about in the highest circles of society, so this country backwater, this little country miss, this tiny country house on such a small park, was a far cry from the prestige she was used to, but with recent events and her most recent employment running an inn, she was glad to be returned to her respectable station and little miss Lydia, would prove satisfactory.

  Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley called at liberty together for a few weeks, took the Miss Bennetts and the Gardiners to the theater, balls, and parties, even one hosted by Bingley himself at his London house; which Caroline bemoaned that she had not been informed of it beforehand, nor even able to reach London for Mr. and Mrs. Hurst had been summoned to some Hurst family business and left her without even a carriage, and worse, with a local widow for a companion.

  Then one Sunday afternoon deep in November, a stroll through the park was the consensus for the group. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Jane and Mr. Bingley, and Lizzie and Mr. Darcy paired off in escort as they traveled. Elizabeth was glad to see Mr. Bingley's continued attentions to Jane, whose pink cheeks were not only from autumn breeze. "The weather has remained inordinately nice for the time of year." Darcy said as way of beginning conversation, as they had walked in silence for some distance. "Indeed, it is quite nice to still be able to walk in mid December." Elizabeth agreed. "Not that a little snow would deter you, I think. Being such a great walker." Mr. Darcy said. Elizabeth laughed, "Not even mud, no!" She quickly regaled him of the time she had been walking across the fields for tea at Netherfield with Caroline and Mrs. Hurst. While Jane had taken the mare, Elizabeth was not especially fond of riding horses, or of taking the longer way round by road, had arrived with less than the immaculate petticoats expected by Miss Bingley's sense of propriety and fashion. Her tale was soon followed by his own self deprecating tale from his time at Cambridge, further showing Elizabeth another side of the enigma that was Fitzwilliam Darcy. "Miss Bennett, I do believe I owe you an apology for my prideful reserve back in Meryton, for which I know it has been hard for me to get in your good graces." "It is not necessary, Sir. Having met your sister, I have come to realize that shyness is what what hidden behind your haughty demeanor. So, if there must be an apology, I think it should be mine." "No, no. I gave you no other option of opinion, but in recent weeks, I have been attempting to remedy my faults, in hopes of changing that original impression." He paused to examine her face, attempting to read her thoughts. "I greatly desire your good opinion, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth." They froze in the path, turning to the other. "If the original, prideful man I showed you in Hertfordshire, is the only version that, in your mind, could ever be, one word from you will silence me on the subject forever; however if there is cause to hope, allow me the comfort of certainty."

  Elizabeth looked down to the left, anguished, and back to his stern but expectant face, before answering, "My good opinion once lost, was once lost forever, but you have proven me to be wrong, and prideful in my assumptions. You are not the arrogant man I thought you were when we first met, I could have not been more wrong, my opinion is quite the opposite."

  "Then, Elizabeth," he said fervently " you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

  At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner realized their party had not continued with them, and Mr. Gardiner said, "Well my dear, shall we have a seat over there by the water and wait?" Mrs. Gardiner smiled a knowing smile and nodded.

  "Such regard, respect, and affection that can only last a lifetime. I beg you most fervently to fulfill my fondest wish, and consent to be my wife." "Mr. Darcy," She softened and spoke again. "Fitzwilliam, nothing would make me happier than to do so."

  Darcy smiled, the worried sternness melted from his face, replaced by a contentment of place in life some would even describe as joy, but not so demonstrative as to be thought a fool, for it is said "grinning like a fool". Elizabeth however wore her best smile as she and Darcy, and Jane and Mr. Bingley, who were, suspiciously wearing matching grins, approached the bench where Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner sat, presumably watching the birds that swam on the pond.

  They heard the couples approaching and before they even stood up or turned around, or any of the four said a word, Mr. Gardiner said, amused, "Well, will it be a double wedding then?" Jane looked shocked, Bingley, a little confused, Darcy smirked and studied his hessians but Lizzie laughed at how quickly her Aunt and Uncle had determined their turn of conversations. "Well, I believe, we must first speak to Mr. Bennett." Bingley stammered.

  There were expressions of joy and much laughter all around as the party of six continued on their way toward the exit of the park, and back to Gracechurch Street.

  A few weeks later, an invitation to tea at Lucas Lodge arrived for the girls, and Mr. Bennett allowed Lydia to attend at Mrs. Young's endorsement, with her accompaniment of course. She had kept her pupil close to the schoolroom, stirring out of doors only so far as the garden, and at all times, working on manners, conversation, deportment and substance of thought.

  A sharp glance at Lydia as they reached Meryton on their way through to Lucas Lodge which was situated on a lane on the other side of the village, curbed her childish actions, but not excitement upon seeing the officers on parade, receiving orders in the square regarding the maneuvers they were to practice with their troops today. Mrs. Young surreptitiously regarded the young men in their bright coats and gleaming sashes and swords. She had liked a red coat herself once upon a time, and they did cut a fine figure in a space normally populated over fed and under washed townsmen with stinky carts and horses.

  Only practiced, measured steps prevented her misstep upon recognizing one young officer in particular. She had not expected to see him again on th
is side of hell. Mr. Wickham apparently had joined the militia since their paths had last crossed, which the months since summer at Ramsgate numbered few, he had not changed a bit.

  The black stylish hair, imposing presence, rakish grin that could not be concealed; even by military regulation, and that glint in his eye, that quality she most admired in him, the self importance that would not allow him to remain simply the son of a Steward, but would see him married to a young woman of status, no matter what route he had to take to get there. Some might call it greed, but she knew it to be blind, untameable ambition.

  Mary and Kitty, to her relief were engrossed in the next in a long line of discourses on Shakespeare's plays, comparing the behaviors and intentions of the characters to, with Mary in the conversation of course, positive and errant actions laid out in Scripture, or rather Fordyce's sermons on Christian morals and methods; and were completely oblivious to all, barely nodding a good day to those they passed that they knew. Lydia however, was fully engaged in appreciating the scene before her, proclaiming them handsome gentlemen, Mrs. Young's recent admonishments on volume of voice and appropriateness of expressing one's every opinion, especially when speaking of the opposite sex nearly ignored, maintaining the mystery of one's own thoughts was certainly not one of Lydia's strong points.

  He saw her, she knew. She could feel when his eyes touched her with recognition, and she also knew that he took in the fact she was with three young ladies, of whom she had only ever before taught those with money.