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Little Madeleine de Bourgh might be only four years old (going on five) but she had a good mind and an inquisitive nature that was nurtured by both parents.

Walks with her father were often occupied with identifying plants, birds, and insects that they encountered.

While her mother had taught her numbers and encouraged her interest on the pianoforte, her papa had taught her to make her letters and she was deeply proud that she could write her name.

A happy evening in the de Bourgh home was one with her parents settled in comfortable chairs by the fire, each with their nose in a book.

For as long as she could remember, little Maddy had joined them, usually lying on the rug, paging through an atlas of maps or a monograph illustrating plants and animals from England and abroad.

Lady Anne smiled softly at the little girl.

Her own parents had followed the traditional path of leaving her and her siblings’ care to a series of nurses and governesses; she was struck by the simple joy of this mother and daughter.

It had never occurred to her to regret the rather distant relationship with her own mother, but clearly Rebecca de Bourgh saw children as a joy, not merely a duty and Anne tucked the thought away for future consideration.

At that point, Lady Anne’s mind suddenly registered the presence of another gentleman in the room.

Mr. George Darcy was a tall, handsome man with an ease in society that gained him a large circle of friends.

In her first Season, Lady Anne had noticed him immediately and was embarrassed at how often her thoughts returned to the one dance that they had shared.

Her father’s estate in southern Derbyshire ensured that the families saw each other occasionally in the country as well as in London and although Mr. Darcy had never paid her much notice, she could not help but wish for his attentions.

Her elder sister warned her not to aim so high; the Darcys might not have a title but their wealth and history made them one of the most powerful families in northern England if not all the British Isles.

To be honest, Mr. George Darcy had paid scant attention to the youngest Fitzwilliam girl.

He had asked her for a dance out of respect for his old school chum, Lord Henry Fitzwilliam (the girl’s elder brother).

To himself, he had acknowledged her to be pretty enough but she had been so quiet during their dance that he was left with no sense of any personality at all.

In addition, the Fitzwilliams were still nouveau riche by Darcy standards and he was well aware that his own father was currently hoping to broker a marriage for him to one of the Duke of Norfolk’s daughters.

For the next fortnight, young Mr. Darcy chose to spend some significant time with Jonathan de Bourgh; the living at Lambton had recently fallen vacant and Darcy’s ailing father had given him the responsibility of appointing a new cleric.

By default, Mr. Darcy also found himself spending time with Mrs. de Bourgh (or rather, Mrs. Rebecca, as she insisted she be called in all but the most formal of situations) and that lady’s new friend, Lady Anne.

Although on the surface it might appear that Anne and Rebecca had little in common, they found a great deal to admire in one another.

Both had a sincere love of music which separated them from the dilettantes so frequent in society.

They both enjoyed the freedom that riding gave them and the week saw the pair often exploring the Essex countryside on horseback.

Lady Anne was sweet and innocent, wishing all around her to be happy.

Rebecca was clever and far more cynical, but knowing so much about the world’s evils made her appreciate her new friend’s sunny optimism all the more.

Unfortunately, Jonathan and Rebecca’s enjoyment of their stay at Wolfram was quite ruined in the second week when the Reverend overheard his eldest brothers arguing over billiards.

Barely containing his disgust when he realized that they were already drunk at barely two in the afternoon, he confronted them.

When he came to understand the terms of their wager, he lost his temper entirely.

Lewis de Bourgh had bet his elder brother that he could seduce a certain young lady by the end of the house party but George was dismissing Lewis’s claim of success because he had not arranged to be observed in flagrante .

When Jonathan railed against their behavior, his elder brothers dismissed him as a prude.

He went to his father but Lord Maxwell brushed him off, exclaiming that if the girl’s father could not keep her under control then there was little hope she would have remained chaste, wager or no.

“Boys will be boys,” he grunted and dismissed his youngest from his presence, not at all sorry to see the girl’s family brought down a peg or two.

In later years, Jonathan and his wife would look back on that summer party at Wolfram with deeply conflicted feelings.

After discussing the situation with Rebecca during the coach ride back to London, Jonathan made an appointment with the lady’s father to inform him of the situation.

The girl was found to be with child and never again seen in London, although the circumstances surrounding her removal were kept quiet.

Thoroughly disgusted by his family’s lack of morals, Jonathan and Rebecca severed all connection with the de Bourghs.

This was made easier when, in less than a year, they found themselves settled in Derbyshire at the Lambton parsonage.

One of Jonathan’s first duties was to marry the newest Master of Pemberley, Mr. George Darcy, to Lady Anne Fitzwilliam.

Father Jonathan and Mrs. Rebecca, as they were known in their parish, settled happily into their new life.

Rebecca visited Pemberley House regularly and servants and guests alike were often treated to duets by the new mistress and her dear friend.

With Mr. Darcy’s blessing and occasional assistance from Lady Anne, they organized a ragged school, teaching the children of the poorest tenant farmers, miners, and villagers their letters and numbers.

Young Madeleine found herself perfectly content with their move to the country.

Her greatest pleasure, however, arose from the appearances of two little brothers and a sister named Ruth.

She embraced her role as elder sister and Maddy’s parents were often treated to impromptu spelling bees or recitations of psalms. As she grew, her role in the school expanded from pupil to tutor and, perhaps not surprisingly, she informed her parents that she wished to become a teacher, or, if that was not possible, a governess when she grew up.

Comprehending the harsh realities of such positions far better than their daughter, Jonathan and Rebecca recognized that the young lady’s great capacity to love might be better served as a wife and mother but opportunities to find a well-matched beau were limited by the size of the neighborhood.

Thus, when Madeleine turned eighteen, her parents arranged for her to visit her mother’s Churchill relations in London for several months and enjoy a proper Season.

Although Sir Paul Churchill had passed on several years before, his widow was still active and retained her good nature.

In addition, Rebecca’s brother, Edmund, had married a delightful young lady named Agnes and the couple had several children, including a daughter who would be entering society that very spring.

Though they expected to miss her dreadfully, her parents were content that exposure to a broader society would serve their eldest daughter well.

Madeleine departed Derbyshire just as the arrival of spring triggered a faint veil of green to fall over the landscape.

She had no doubt that she would miss her family and friends immensely but the young lady could not ignore the excitement that stirred in her breast. Her memories of London were those of a little girl; she returned with the eyes of an adult and was looking forward to seeing and experiencing all that she might see.

Her sojourn was everything that she might have dreamed.

In addition to parties, balls and shopping, her mind was edified by visits to museums, exhibitions, and the occasional scientific demonstration.

Sooner than seemed possible, the family was rising early to take breakfast at Vauxhall Gardens in celebration of her last Saturday in London.

For years Madeleine would be unable to think of that idyllic day without falling prey to a paralyzing guilt.

After a decadent meal of pastries and ices, they had wandered the paths to be entertained by tightrope walkers and clownish jesters.

Madeleine had convinced her cousin Emma to ascend to the clouds in a hot air balloon while holding on to each other’s hands tightly.

The happy group had returned home tired and dusty but full of good cheer.

Maddy had climbed the stairs to her room and just tucked away her ticket stub and program in a box she was using to collect mementos.

She was about to ring the bell for a maid when a knock came at her door.

Deep inside, she had known immediately that something was desperately wrong when she looked up to find both her aunt and uncle standing there with miserable looks upon their usually good-humored faces.

“What has happened?” she asked with more composure than any eighteen year old should have.

Her Uncle Edmund opened his mouth twice but was too overcome to speak.

He finally held out an express from Derbyshire that had arrived while the family was out.

As Madeleine began reading the letter from George Darcy, she barely registered her aunt guiding her to the bed and wrapping her arms around the sobbing girl.

The letter was brief and the words not at all what Madeleine would usually have expected from the jolly Mr. Darcy. In the instant before her own grief crashed down upon her, Maddy sensed the intense heartache and guilt that the Master of Pemberley was suffering.

Dear Miss Madeleine,

In the month of May, a pox epidemic swept through Derbyshire and claimed the lives of many at Pemberley as well as the surrounding villages.

It is my sad duty to inform you that both of your parents were taken from us.

The sickness also claimed the lives of your sister and brothers.

I do not know if there is anything I can say to adequately express my sympathy for your loss.

Please know that Father Jonathan and Mrs. Rebecca’s good works shall be remembered as long as there are Darcys at Pemberley.

Although your parents’ lives were cut short, they have left a legacy that will endure.

Please contact me immediately if there is anything that I may do to assist you.

With greatest sympathy,

George Darcy