“That is nonsense. I have no intention of lying a-bed when there is much to be done. Besides, exercise is good for an expectant mother, and there is no need for Dr. Evanston to be pulled away from ill people to tend to me. Having a child is a perfectly regular event and Maura is far more qualified.”
Much to Elizabeth’s amusement, and Darcy’s chagrin, Dr. Evanston himself agreed.
“Mrs. Darcy is correct. Maura Runnymede has caught far more babies than I have and is quite competent. Had she been a man, I have no doubts of her being a fine physician. In fact, there have been occasions where I have sought her advice. Provided that logical care is taken, I see nothing to prevent a happy arrival in a few months… that means no more traipsing about in derelict houses.”
“Of that, you may be assured,” Darcy replied, raising an eyebrow at Elizabeth, who chose not to acknowledge this restriction.
After the doctor and Maura departed, Elizabeth promptly changed the subject to that of the proposed school. “The house is perfect, but does need considerable repairs. It may be months before we can begin advertising for students and staff, but I still believe that there is a need for such an institution.”
“I am not denying the logic of your idea, I would just prefer that you put the baby first.”
“How can you believe that I would not? Will you allow Pemberley to fall to ruin once our child arrives? I think not…surely it is possible to do both. Besides, I am simply the benefactor, I have none of the qualifications to be a teacher. And I have Georgiana to assist me.”
“Yes, I have often wished for a way to give back to the community…and I will make sure Elizabeth takes no undue risks,” Georgiana insisted. She still harbored guilt for the accident, believing it was her fault, despite reassurances otherwise.
“Indeed, you will, or I will call a halt to everything.”
This announcement set Elizabeth’s mouth to a tight line of irritation. All it did was reaffirm the fact that she had only the power permitted by her husband. Seeing her ire, Darcy immediately apologized, modifying the order into a request.
“I only want what is best for you and our child. I cannot imagine what I would do if something happened. As you have your heart set upon that old house, perhaps we should look over the original builder’s plans and come up with a rational course of action. It must be safe before anything else can be considered… is that acceptable to you?”
Temporarily mollified, Elizabeth agreed. “It is, there are a great many things to be done aside from the house. But now that is settled, I expect you to assist me with the hiring of workmen and such. Georgiana and I will manage the subject matter and what sort of students will be interested. We have already contacted a number of employment agencies. They all had one common concern, and that was the lack of experience to be found in many of their applicants. I believe that a mutual benefit could be had between our establishment and those agencies. We could supply qualified people for a share of the fees charged.”
Darcy grimaced at the mention of money. It was not seemly for a gentleman’s wife to openly earn money. People would suspect that Pemberley or the Darcy family was in financial trouble and that only bred discontent and fear. Unable to hide his feelings, he pondered how to formulate a solution.
“And to where would these monies go? Surely you see how this can make for awkward appearances?”
“What is awkward?”
“Working for wages…”
“But we are not. I simply want the place to be self-supporting. It is not as if we will be asking for any sort of tuition.”
“Even so, I doubt many of the local crofter families will consent to send their daughters there. Many do not even finish the local school, much less any sort of independent training. They are expected to help their families until they marry.”
This time, Georgiana lost her patience and voiced her opinions. The tone of her words, unusually firm and decisive, made him pause. Who was this woman masquerading as his sister?
“And what of those who do not marry… or have no family? Must they be dependent upon charity? We all know the value of a well-trained servant. Did you not complain terribly when your valet retired? You said “no one cared for anything like old Perkins” but how do you suppose a person obtains those skills? Elizabeth has a fine idea to fill a void in society. I am sure that there are many young girls living in local orphanages that would love an opportunity such as this. I suggest we look there for our students. No one would dare criticize this level of Christian charity.”
Darcy stared at his sister in amazement, but could not deny the validity of her speech, nor could he deny the smile of agreement on Elizabeth’s face. Shaking his head, he agreed to do whatever he could to assist.
“I cannot fight you both. What will you have me do?”
~Fifteen~
As the Darcys formulated their plans for a school, Maura Runnymede returned to more pressing matters at her own establishment. While she wholeheartedly approved of Elizabeth and Georgiana’s venture, there were none in her present charge that would benefit by the opportunity. Instead, she had a very spoiled young lady under her care; one that had deliberately sought to break the very firm rule of no outside contact. Unfortunately, Maura blamed herself, she never should have allowed an outsider in, priest or not. At least the old man had the wisdom to tell her of the request, and Reverend Munson relinquished the letter that Rosamund had hoped to send.
At first, she thought to simply discard the missive, or perhaps present it back to Rosamund, proving that her attempts had failed, but it was the person to whom it was addressed that made her pause.
“Reverend Andrew Hanneford…where have I heard that name before?” she muttered aloud, but the recollection did not present itself until Melinda jarred her memory. The young girl, soon to be nineteen, had an unusual memory for one that to all outsiders, appeared to be severely impaired. She dragged one foot and was often seen chewing upon her left thumb, much like a toddler. Her clothes were regularly mismatched and hair an impossible item to keep combed, Melinda Runnymede looked more wild than tame. As for intelligence, Maura deemed her daughter to be caught somewhere between seven and seventy. A child’s innocence in habits and preferences was underlined by a keen ability to solve puzzles and memorize everything she heard and saw, often regaling anyone who would listen with a trove of random facts. As a result, one of Melinda’s tasks was to keep the pharmacopeia in order. Doing an excellent job, she was meticulous with keeping dangerous items separate and noting the slightest change in the contents, preventing any possibility of poisoning due to damp or mislabeling. Now, as Maura pondered the connection, Melinda piped up the answer.
“Uncle’s lady… lost lady,” she announced as if to express nothing more significant than the weather.
“Uncle? Uncle Peter? Is that who you mean?” Maura inquired, but was met with the same reply and nothing more. She did not press further, as it was never of any use, but now that the suggestion was put forward, Maura’s memory filled in the rest. In the nearly twenty years since she had lived in her current residence, Peter Endicott, Lord Upton and Rosamund’s father, had seen fit to visit his only sibling but once. And that was only for his own selfish motives, ones that she had refused. Now, in hindsight Maura wondered how different life would have been had things been different.
“Total misery, that’s what!” she announced, but Melinda, lost again in her own world, blissfully ignored her.
It had been shortly after the birth of his second child, a son, was stillborn. Rosamund’s mother had been a frail woman, never destined to bear children. But having his only surviving child be female was not enough for Peter Endicott. Poor Susannah Endicott had suffered numerous pregnancies with no success. But she had done her duty without complaint until it was simply too much for her. Susannah Endicott succumbed to one of the fevers that often besets those whose constitution is not strong after child birth. With no one to care for Rosamund, now six years old, Peter Endicott had sought
an easy solution. Not many servants remained in his household for long, and now he needed a substitute mother. Eventually, a governess as well. What better way to give the appearance of making amends than to have his own “widowed’ sister care for the child. Having been absent for so long, no one would question her status. To his mind, it was an equitable solution, after all, Maura owed it to him. Not only would she regain her inheritance, but also respectability. The only problem, in his eyes, was her child. He would never permit an idiot to live at Upton Chase.
“You are welcome to come home… your niece needs you.” He had said in a voice that sounded practiced, for Maura had never heard her brother ‘request’ anything. All he ever did was issue orders or make demands.
“My daughter needs me. My home is here,” she said simply. In truth, the offer would have been wonderful, had it come from any other person… and had included Melinda. What sort of person insisted that a mother discard her own child for another? Children were not disposable items to be tossed away when no longer useful. Her refusal had been met with a tirade of vulgar language, but eventually Peter Endicott had left. Maura had been filled with remorse and had often wondered what had become of her niece, but the ultimatum of sacrificing Melinda to an asylum was not acceptable. Afterwards, she had sought legal counsel to obtain the funds that had been withheld by her departure so many years ago. It had been a most fruitful expedition, because not only had it gained considerable interest, but had been carefully sheltered against anyone, even her immediate male relative, from touching a penny. However, she had been his sister, there was no such provision for children. If Peter Endicott wanted to cast his only child out without a cent, he had the right to do so. The one thing that had prevented even harsher measures was his obsession for a male heir. Now, as she reflected upon it, Maura knew that it was but a matter of time before he came again, and this time it would be for his grandson. According to the law, he had the right, unless something… or someone, superseded his claim. Perhaps it was time that she too, corresponded with the Reverend Andrew Hanneford.
~Sixteen~
The identity of the father of Rosamund’s baby was also on the mind of another interested person. Peter Endicott had hired investigators to observe his daughter’s progress. Knowing that Rosamund would be in the care of his sister had made the decision to allow Darcy to take her away easier. Although he harbored no attachment for Maura, he firmly believed that she would do her best to ensure a healthy delivery. He needed an heir badly. With each passing year, the effects of his indulgences became more apparent. Time was running out, but who he chose to bestow the title of Lord Upton was going to be on his terms. He would not have the child of some field hand take his family’s legacy. Not that it was likely. Since his daughter had become of age, he had dismissed any and all young men that could tempt a naïve girl. Now, there was hardly a man at Upton Chase that was less than fifty years of age. But yet, just as his sister had so many years ago, Rosamund had managed to disgrace the family once again. Sighing heavily, Peter Endicott rubbed his rheumy eyes and downed the last of his brandy. Women had a habit of bringing out the worst in him, but he would have the upper hand in the end. After all, who would dare question a peer of the realm? Any number of stories could be created to explain the sudden arrival of an infant. Eventually, people forgot and accepted what was readily before them without question. Money had a way of silencing even the most self-righteous. Now, as he awaited the arrival of those to whom money was all that mattered, the particulars of his plan needed a bit of ironing out. With a few months to spare, he wanted no detail left unconsidered. Peter Endicott, the seventeenth Earl of Upton, would have his grandson.
*****
As Peter Endicott planned his future, Elizabeth and Georgiana Darcy attempted to do the same for their new charges. With the repairs to the dower house nearly complete, they had engaged a housekeeper, a cook and a maid, but as of yet, there had been no replies to their advertisements for teachers. Of students, that had been easier than expected. It was difficult for orphaned young women to obtain respectable positions. The poor houses were also filled with prospective candidates, more than they could ever manage. As a result, they had been forced to create a selection process, one for which they both felt badly.
“There are so many that can be helped, but we can only accommodate twelve,” Georgiana lamented as they sorted through a pile of recommendations. Of those, most had come from poor families with too many children and it had taken great pains to choose from them. For every girl selected, three others were discarded. Most due to youth of age or ill health, but it was a tragedy nonetheless.
“Yes, Reverend Munson has overwhelmed us in his attempts,” Elizabeth concurred, almost wishing they had not included the ancient vicar of Lambton. Long past the age when most men retired, his visits, at first welcome, were now becoming daily social habits that took too much time away from actual work.
“I am of a mind that he comes here for Mrs. Finch’s tea biscuits and not to see us,” Georgiana giggled.
“Biscuits my foot, he comes to see her. Perhaps it is she who should spend hours entertaining him. I haven’t the time.”
By now, Elizabeth’s figure had lost its original shape. Her rounded midsection was impossible to hide and it had made Darcy all the more protective.
“Surely you can limit your hours a bit more?” he had suggested. His words were gentle, betraying the concerns he had harbored since the accident.
“I feel fine, besides, this week we shall have our first arrivals. Georgiana has offered to stay at the academy until we can engage a full-time teacher.”
“Really? My little sister? She is quite altered from the shy girl I used to know.”
“Indeed, I believe she has found her calling. And besides, she is very qualified in many areas.”
“Cooking and ironing?”
“No silly, deportment… No one will ever hire a person that has bad personal habits, especially not in the better houses. Besides, not all of our girls will be cooks and maids. We want to train governesses and nannies, but that requires ability. That we have yet to assess. I fear that education is quite lacking, some can barely read or write.”
Elizabeth had given these basic requirements much though. Although she had grown up a gentleman’s daughter, her own formal education had been lacking. If not for an interest in reading, she should have remained ignorant beyond how to run a household. The additional problem of having no fortune had not left any prospects for employment had she not married. It was a dismal future, and one all too familiar for many women. Now, as she arrived at the newly christened Darcy Ladies Academy, it was with great hope that they would be successful. Already, Georgiana waited on the veranda, with seven girls between thirteen and twenty, awaiting their new beginning.
~Seventeen~
As Elizabeth and Georgiana adjusted to their first students, Maura Runnymede did not find her sole charge to be so easy either. Rosamund Endicott was sullen and hardly spoke, and when she did so, it was terse and bordering on rudeness. While this was to be expected and occasionally tolerated, it bespoke of underlying emotions that were not ideal for the health of a growing baby. Unfortunately, Maura knew that this was from a lack of communication with the child’s father. The secret letter had been dispatched, but enclosed inside that of Maura’s own inquiry. Having not read Rosamund’s missive, she had been bold to presume that Andrew Hanneford was indeed the responsible party. If in error, it may cause untold embarrassment, especially for one whose calling expected perfection in behavior of the moral kind. So, it was with great relief that a response finally arrived, despite the lapse in time, for it had been nearly two months since the original had been sent. As before, the reply was addressed directly to Maura, but with a smaller note for Rosamund inside. Breaking the seal, Maura could only hope for a positive resolution. However, the formal salutation, as well as the contents, suggested that what she feared most was not fantasy. Peter Endicott was planning something sinister.
It was with the greatest of surprise and relief to receive you letter. My apologies for having not written sooner, but I have been reassigned to a small Parrish whose current vicar is presently too ill to perform his duties. My correspondence has taken some time to reach me at this remote location. As you have surmised correctly, I am indeed responsible for this unplanned, but happy event. My intentions towards Miss Endicott are of the most honorable and would have immediately requested her hand in marriage, but for Rosamund’s own preference that we wait. I believe that she had hopes of reconciling her father to the idea of a union between us before circumstances made it not only necessary, but scandalous. If I may be completely honest, Lord Upton, on his best of days, is less than cordial to members of the clergy. And considering the present situation, it would only serve as a cause to reinforce his opinions. He is not aware of my identity, and Rosamund has preferred to keep it so, at least for now. As I am sure you are aware, Rosamund can be quite adamant when wanting her way and I have conceded as there is no other recourse that would not cause embarrassment for her. However, please believe that it is my dying wish to make her my wife and care for our child. I can only believe that it is through God’s divine intervention, that you have been sent in our hour of need until we can be reunited. Until that day, you may contact me at the Kipperton vicarage in Northumbria.
Sincerely,
Andrew Hanneford
Maura had read the letter many times and as of yet, had made no decisions as to how to proceed, other than to deliver the private note to Rosamund. In her original letter, she had not mentioned Peter Endicott’s demand that any male child be given over to him. And from the reply, she doubted that the Reverend Hanneford knew of it. If only there was a way to have them married, that would solve so many problems. Surely the man could arrange some way to support his family? Unfortunately, a curate’s stipend was barely enough upon which to survive. If it were known of his indiscretion, it was unlikely that any living would ever be offered. At worst, he could be refused final orders and be turned out of his curacy. Where would that leave them? No, that was not an option. It was no wonder that Rosamund had kept the baby’s father’s name secret. This was a matter far greater than presumed and would require the assistance of people who held more sway in society than a reclusive midwife of questionable history. As in the past, she would need the help of the Darcy family if there was to be any pleasant resolution. Taking a blank sheet of paper, Maura dipped her pen and wrote a hasty note. It was obscure, but some things were best spoken in person, and with just a few months before the child’s arrival, the sooner the better. If anyone could convince Peter Endicott to consent to his daughter’s immediate marriage it would be Jane Hanneford and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Of Darcy she had no reservations as to his assistance, but would Lady Hanneford be so willing? Did she even know about Rosamund and her son?
A Child for Elizabeth Page 6