Page 14 of Five Gentlemen at Netherfield (Pride and Prejudice Variations)

Longbourn

Mary and Elizabeth sat side by side on a couch, both with novels, both taking frequent breaks to look out of the window across from them, which faced the drive that led to Longbourn.

The sky was largely masked by clouds, which allowed the sun to play hide and seek with the inhabitants of Longbourn, but it was far better than the days of continuous rain.

It was also a comparatively warm morning for autumn, and Elizabeth hoped that later in the day she would be able to take a good long walk.

It was not quite eleven o’clock when a hired carriage trundled its way down the now mostly dry lane, and both girls set their books aside and walked out of the room, down a hall, and out the side door which was closest to the stables.

They arrived at the carriage as a modestly dressed woman descended, and Elizabeth said, “Miss Fairchild?”

“Yes, I am Miss Fairchild,” the woman replied in a composed tone.

“I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and this is my sister Mary. Welcome to Longbourn.”

“Thank you,” Miss Fairchild said and curtsied, and Elizabeth and Mary curtsied in return, and when Elizabeth straightened, she studied the new governess with interest.

She was pleased with what she saw. Miss Fairchild was about five and thirty years of age, and tall for a woman, even taller than Lydia. Her eyes and hair were dark brown, and she was pretty, though not lovely.

“Miss Fairchild,” Mary said, “we will show you to your room, but I wished, that is…”

She trailed off and looked at Elizabeth, who took a few steps away from the stable and the listening ears of the outdoor servants.

Mary and Miss Fairchild followed her, and the threesome were some thirty feet distance from the stables before Elizabeth halted, turned toward the governess, and said softly, “I am not certain how much you know about the situation at Longbourn.”

“I spoke at length with your uncle, Mr. Gardiner, when he hired me,” the woman replied.

“He informed me that there are concerns about your younger sisters, who are livelier than desirable and prone to be somewhat reckless. Moreover, there is a regiment of militia officers currently stationed in Meryton, which provokes even greater concern for the young ladies.”

Elizabeth and Mary exchanged relieved glances, and the latter sighed and said, “That is exactly it, Miss Fairchild. We are very concerned about Kitty and Lydia. Now my mother is not concerned in the least, as she, well…”

Again, she trailed off and looked at Elizabeth, who continued, “She captured my father by being flirtatious and lively, along with being very beautiful. So she sees no particular problems with my sisters’ behavior.”

“I understand,” Miss Fairchild said. “I do beg you not to concern yourselves too much, as I have a great deal of experience as a governess. Now, Miss Mary, I understand that you yourself have an interest in singing and playing the pianoforte?”

“Yes,” Mary said, flushing.

“I have taught both singing and playing for many years, and often with less than enthusiastic students. I look forward to working together.”

Mary smiled at these words, and Elizabeth felt herself relax. She knew her uncle Gardiner to be a sensible man and had trusted him to choose a good governess, but still, it was reassuring to observe Miss Fairchild’s calm good sense.

“I look forward to that too,” Mary said. “Now, shall we show you to your bedchamber?”

“Thank you.”

***

The Broken Bridge

Netherfield

Mid Afternoon

The sun shone momentarily through the clouds, warming the dirt road that had hardened enough for horse hooves to clop along, rather than sucking into mud.

Darcy reached up to adjust his scarf, enjoying the sudden glow of warmth.

Beside him, Richard Fitzwilliam tipped his face gratefully towards the sky, and Bingley, beyond, grinned over at them.

All three gentlemen were in good spirits, and their mounts, equally pleased, frisked beneath them.

Everyone was tired of being cooped up inside, and though business kept both Lord Stanton and Sir Quinton at their desks writing letters, the other three gentlemen of the party had escaped gratefully out of doors.

It was a fine day, plainly determined to make one glad to be alive with a brisk breeze stirring the blood and drying the ground.

The clouds hung heavy overhead and had for most of the day, but sometimes they would part for long enough to glimpse the blue sky beyond.

Still, with the rain some days gone, the ground had begun to dry, though one of the southern Netherfield fields was conspicuously in need of better drainage.

Field inspections were not the purpose of this ride, however, and Darcy looked ahead at the bridge, which was under repair.

Men swarmed around like ants, large draft horses dragged planks, and hammers pounded, with the sound skipping over the rushing stream like stones.

Bingley reined in and swung down, and Darcy and Fitzwilliam followed his lead.

Darcy inspected the work being done from his distant vantage point, and Fitzwilliam, behind him, did the same, the colonel’s eye professionally assessing.

One of the men speaking with a group of workers finished his conversation – or perhaps instructions – and separated himself from the main body of workmen and walked over to the gentlemen. His simple, sturdy boots were liberally spattered with mud, all the way up to his brown homespun breeches.

“Good day, Mr. Finch,” Bingley said genially. “Is progress being made?”

“Indeed, sir,” Finch replied, pulling his cap off his head and holding it in his work-roughened fingers. “Assuming it does not rain today, we will have this bridge ready for conveyances by this evening.”

“That is excellent news. Thank you,” Bingley said. “We will leave you to your work.”

“Yes, sir,” Finch answered, replacing his cap and turning back toward the work crew.

The three gentlemen swung back up into their saddles and, by silent agreement, made their way down the bank to the foot bridge some half a mile from the carriage bridge.

From there, it seemed a simple enough thing for them to cross the bridge onto Longbourn land, and then the gentlemen touched boots to flanks and the horses broke into trots, and within a few minutes, the men were at the stables at Longbourn, eager to visit the ladies of the house.

***

Drawing Room

Longbourn

Lydia was, Elizabeth thought wryly, displaying perfectly why engaging a governess was paramount.

The youngest Bennet daughter was curled up in the chair nearest the window, her feet tucked under her, with a novel from the lending library open in her hands.

She was applying herself to it with more than her wonted industriousness, her focus so complete as to eclipse her paying the scantest amount of attention to anything – or anyone – else in the room.

It was rude of her, and Miss Fairchild’s quick eyes had already noted this, but she was agreeably overlooking Lydia’s behavior and becoming acquainted with the rest of the girls.

Kitty was, for once, ignoring her younger sister’s lead, due to her curiosity about the new governess.

She was sitting close to Miss Fairchild, asking rapid-fire questions about sketching and watercolors in between Mary’s enthusiastic discussions of Mozart and Beethoven.

Jane, nearby, caught Lizzy’s eye and smiled.

Elizabeth smiled back, pleased with her uncle Gardiner’s judgment.

Miss Fairchild would do very well, Elizabeth thought, and was already fitting into the household.

Mrs. Bennet had greeted the newest member of her staff at the door, all solicitous questions about Miss Fairchild’s journey and gracious welcome.

She had not lingered in the drawing room for long after tea was brought, however, but had leapt to her feet with a word about going to speak with Cook about dinner.

Elizabeth had watched this domestic enterprise with rather sardonic humor.

It was obvious that Mrs. Bennet wished to convey to the new governess that she had come to a household of quintessential domesticity, run by a lady who fully understood how best to manage an estate.

“Is your bedchamber adequate, Miss Fairchild?” Jane asked as she poured more tea into the new governess’s cup.

“It is very satisfactory,” the governess said with a smile. “It was kind of you to have a fire already burning within.”

“That room, which has been a guest chamber, has been uninhabited for some months,” Jane said, “and we would not wish you to catch cold from the damp. I hope you will tell us if you need more blankets or something of the like.”

The door to the drawing room opened, and the Bennets’ butler entered and said, “Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

Elizabeth, who had been speaking to Miss Fairchild, rose to her feet and looked at Jane, whose initial surprise gave way to a smile.

She stood up as well, along with Miss Fairchild, and said, “Gentlemen, come in. May I please introduce you to Miss Fairchild, our newly arrived governess? Miss Fairchild, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

The gentlemen bowed and the lady curtsied, and Jane asked everyone to sit down. Bingley, of course, took his place next to Jane, while Darcy seated himself on a nearby chair, and Colonel Fitzwilliam drifted over to talk to Mary.

Jane poured out tea for the guests, and Bingley, turning a genial look on the governess, said, “Miss Fairchild, am I to understand that you arrived here at Longbourn recently?”

“Yes, sir, I arrived only this morning.”

“Have you ever been to this part of England before?”

“I have not. I grew up in Sussex and have largely served in London in the past. Hertfordshire seems a pleasant county, and Meryton a charming town.”