Page 67 of The Shades of Pemberley

E vents of the season were not the only claim on the Darcys’ time in those days.

While the dinner at Lord Matlock’s house signaled an increase in their participation in higher events of society, neither was of a mind to adhere to the breakneck pace set by so many of those around them.

It seemed all of London was infected with a fever, provoking them to indulge in balls, parties, dinners, excessive strong drink, and various forms of debauchery in a race to see who could debase themselves the most. Neither Elizabeth nor Darcy had any interest in such extravagance.

“No, William, I do not need society every night,” said Elizabeth when he asked her about her preferences. “Let those who crave such things misuse themselves. I am much more interested in our family party and doing what makes us happy than performing before the masses.”

Darcy grinned at her, knowing how she would respond and appreciating her forbearance—betwixt them, he was far less likely to enjoy society than she was. Elizabeth understood this and was more than willing to keep to his tempo rather than try to push him to run faster than he wished.

“Our neglect will provoke them to consider us countrified.”

“Let them think what they will,” was Elizabeth’s dismissive answer. “I have no care for what others think—in truth, I suspect we will never be anything but countrified to the worst of the naysayers.”

“With that, I cannot disagree, my darling wife,” said Darcy, while drawing her in for a kiss.

Society aside, there were other activities in which they indulged, many of which concerned the three girls under their care.

While Kitty and Georgiana were happy in each other’s company, Lydia was a little more fractious, requiring more guidance to ensure her mind remained engaged and she was not bored.

The Darcys took to escorting them to various attractions, and though the youngest member often grumbled about her exclusion from balls and parties, Darcy thought her protestations were often from the force of habit rather than true displeasure.

In truth, the more Elizabeth and Darcy spent in the girls’ company, giving their attention, guiding their youthful minds to appropriate pursuits, the more content they appeared to become.

When Georgiana and Kitty reached the age when they could come out into society, Darcy knew handling Lydia would become more of a problem, but for the moment, all appeared to be harmonious.

That Mrs. Younge remained silent in those days was a relief to Darcy, even as he waited for the response from Lord Matlock’s investigator.

Thompson, who Darcy had instructed to watch over the girls, confiding some of their reservations about Mrs. Younge’s motives, was on hand to guard them at all times, whether in the house or about in the town.

The man was diligent, though soft-spoken, and Darcy was coming to rely on him as much as the previous master had.

With his support, Darcy relaxed something of his vigilance, though his observation of Mrs. Younge did not cease.

In time, he saw another concerning pattern, one which he spoke with Elizabeth about on more than one occasion.

The issue was conspicuous enough that it even drew another reprimand from Darcy.

Though Darcy had no notion of how long it had been ongoing, he noted a distressing tendency for the woman to speak with sharpness, especially after Lydia joined them in the house.

At others, she all but ignored the younger Bennet sisters or made comments that were little more than veiled insults.

“Come, Georgiana,” said she one morning not long after breakfast. “It is time for your daily lessons. We will accomplish nothing if you remain all day in the idle company you have been keeping of late.”

“Of what are you speaking, Mrs. Younge?” asked Elizabeth, her patience with the woman at a low ebb. “From what I have seen, the girls have been diligent in their studies, and at present are speaking of a book they have all read.”

Mrs. Younge, as she often did, glanced at Elizabeth in a manner that was not only insolent but lacking even the appearance of respect. “It is time for Georgiana’s lessons.”

“Perhaps it is,” said Darcy. “There is no need to speak in oblique insults to my sisters.”

“I apologize if you considered it as such,” replied Mrs. Younge, her manner far from subservient, “but I only meant to remind Georgiana that there are studies she must still undertake. If you will pardon me, you do not pay me to provide instruction to Miss Darcy’s friends.”

“No, Darcy does not, though I suspect he could afford to do so.” Mr. Bennet grinned at Darcy, though he could see his father-in-law was not pleased with the woman. “Yet you are not in a position to ignore them either.”

“Tell me, Mrs. Younge,” said Darcy, wondering at this constant butting of heads with a woman who should not challenge them, “if I paid you to provide instruction to Kitty and Lydia, would that meet your approval? Surely you would welcome the benefits of extra income for little extra effort.”

The way the woman’s jaw tightened, Darcy was certain a host of caustic retorts had entered her mind. That she did not voice them was an improvement, for she had not always been so circumspect.

“I would advise against it, Mr. Darcy,” said she after a moment in apparent consideration—Darcy was certain she had been gathering herself to avoid saying something she should not.

“Though I will, of course, abide by your instructions, I have always found it beneficial to concentrate on personal instruction. Adding your sisters would dilute the effectiveness of what I teach.”

“That is quite altruistic of you, Mrs. Younge.”

Though Mrs. Younge heard the mocking quality of Elizabeth’s comment—anyone of any sense at all could not have missed it—she spared only a glance for Elizabeth. Instead, she directed her comments to Darcy.

“Unless you have any objection, it is time for Miss Darcy’s lesson.”

“Very well,” said Darcy. Georgiana appeared annoyed at Mrs. Younge, but she did not protest as they departed from the room.

When they were gone, Thompson stuck his head into the room, fixing Darcy with a questioning look.

Darcy nodded, and Thompson turned away, his light footstep following Mrs. Younge and Georgiana away down the hall.

The man was not unsubtle; he would not loiter outside the door to Georgiana’s chambers, but Darcy knew he would keep watch for anything out of the ordinary, likely stationing himself near the entrance.

Darcy did not know that Mrs. Younge would attempt to spirit Georgiana from the house, but he was not willing to chance it either.

“That woman is a menace,” grumbled Lydia, drawing Darcy’s attention back to her.

“What do you mean, Lydia?” asked Elizabeth.

Lydia blushed, appearing to believe she had overstepped, trying to stammer an apology.

“Do not apologize, for we wish to hear your opinion about Mrs. Younge,” said Elizabeth, giving the girl reassurance.

“She is never kind to Kitty or me,” said Lydia, a note of complaint in her voice. “In fact, she rarely takes the trouble to speak to us at all.”

“That is an improvement, to own the truth,” said Kitty. “Before that, she was often belittling in her comments.”

“Openly?” asked Elizabeth.

“No, she has always been more careful than that. When she spoke to me, she would often use a smile that I saw as insulting, thinking I would not understand what she meant. Sometimes I did not.”

“That is a strange way for a companion to speak to a friend of her charge,” observed Mr. Bennet.

“It is all part of the growing trouble we have had with her,” sighed Darcy. “I am now more inclined than ever to relieve her of her duties; there is something amiss with her and no mistake.”

“That is an option,” agreed Bennet. “If you do so now and put her out of the house, it may be difficult to find her again should Lord Matlock’s investigation reveal something untoward.”

Kitty gasped. “You are investigating Mrs. Younge?”

“Of course, they are, Kitty,” said Lydia. “Even I, who have never had a companion, know that Mrs. Younge’s behavior is odd.”

Darcy acknowledged the girls’ comments, but his attention was focused on Elizabeth, an eyebrow raised in question. Elizabeth understood at once and did not hesitate to respond.

“I agree with Papa. It is best to keep her on for the moment until we learn something more.”

Though he was uncertain of the wisdom of their path, Darcy nodded. “Perhaps we could increase our activities with the girls. More time under our oversight would give her less time to scheme.”

“That is acceptable if you can bear to withdraw from society.”

Darcy grinned at her saucy comment. “I count it as no loss, Elizabeth.”

His beautiful wife grinned and turned back to her sisters. “For the moment, you must be silent about this matter, for we do not wish to alert Mrs. Younge to our investigation.”

“Can I tell Georgiana?” asked Kitty.

“If you can do so without Mrs. Younge overhearing,” said Bennet. “You must be certain, girls, for we have no notion of what she will do if she learns we suspect her of disloyalty.”

The two girls nodded and voiced their solemn assurance that they would practice caution.

Thereafter, the Darcys withdrew from society to a large degree, instead concentrating their attention on the girls and keeping watch over them.

While they still attended certain events in the evenings, they did not stay late, and Mr. Bennet remained behind to keep watch over them.

That was no sacrifice for Mr. Bennet, of course, as he was no more eager to perform for society than he had been before, and it allowed them some measure of relief.

That Mr. Bennet found Longbourn too quiet for his tastes was of great assistance!