MR. DARCY'S FIRST ELIZABETH

by John Edwards

  My brother has enclosed his own letter to you, Elizabeth, but be assured we are in good health and looking forward to our next meeting with you. I hope you will give some thought to the offer I made for you and I to do a coming out this next season, but I do not wish to pain you in this decision so will leave it up to you.

  My brother will probably tell you in his letter, but he will be visiting Wakefield next week as he has plans for visiting with his friends there. Truth be told, he is trying to avoid Jane Smithwick. He has been in high dungeon these last three weeks so I hope a visit with the Kimbles and yourself will improve his countenance.

  Your Friend,

  Charlotte Winstead

  Elizabeth was affected by the letter and read it a second time before opening John Winstead’s letter. He told her that both he and his sister had missed her company since she had been gone and he hoped to find that all prospective suitors had been turned away by the Kimbles. He said that the business about the man and the young girl which he went to town about was being resolved and that he would see her next week when he visited the Kimbles and others in Wakefield and would fill her in on all the particulars. He also told her about a dream he had about a bull charging at him from a trail at Hunting Hills, but the bull was her, and she had injured him.

  Right away Elizabeth’s spirits were lifted and, except for her deep blush, she had her vigor back. She now looked forward to seeing John Winstead again and for her, she wished him there beside her at that very moment.

  On the next Tuesday, John Winstead arrived and greeted the Kimbles and the two men walked off together. Elizabeth was with the children helping with their lessons so had not greeted him since his arrival and noticed that nearly an hour passed before the men returned. He greeted the children and then he saw Elizabeth. “You look well today, Miss Watkins. I hope things are well with you?”

  “Yes, sir, things are very well, the children are working hard on their studies and are a real pleasure for all of us.”

  “Then, once you put the children down for a nap, I would be honored to take a turn with you in the gardens. Will you join me Miss Watkins?”

  Elizabeth looked in Louisa’s direction and Louisa smiled back at her, “You may go with Mr. Winstead today, he also wanted to go into Wakefield. You have worked very hard since you arrived back and you need a break. Just let us know if John becomes a problem.” All laughed.

  Soon after eating, the children went for their nap and Elizabeth prepared to meet Mr. Winstead for a walk. Louisa and Frank went outside for their own private walk.

  “Frank, now tell me all, what is up between those two?”

  “It is as you and I suspect. The man is an absolute wreck. I do not believe he is getting four hours of good sleep a night. He will not admit that he is in love with Elizabeth, and I have not asked him, but he is in so deep he does not know what to do. He told me that William’s old beau, Jane Smithwick, is paying a great deal of attention to him, no doubt to pick up where she left off with William before he died. John told me the plan was for William to marry Jane and unite the two estates. She is a beautiful lady, besides being rich.”

  “So is John going to propose to Elizabeth, or is he going to ask us to grant him permission to court her?”

  “Neither, my dear. He is looking for Elizabeth to come to Hunting Hills and become a companion for Charlotte in her coming out this season and next year too. That is what we were talking about in our walk this morning.”

  “We could not easily part with Elizabeth, Frank. Think about the children. They would be devastated if she left.”

  “No, they would be sorry but the children would still see her often. John has already screened several young women who could be the new governess, if we like them. I did tell him his request was very unusual but that you and I would talk it over, and I also told him that Elizabeth may not accept his offer.”

  “I am not so surprised, because I feel that Elizabeth too is in love. Since she last returned from Hunting Hills she has not been the same, as if her mind is far away. As much as I feared that someday we would lose Elizabeth, I can see the benefit for John and Charlotte and Elizabeth. If this will make Elizabeth and John and Charlotte happy, then I will not stand in her way. Besides, Elizabeth could always return to us if things do not work out.”

  “Then, my dear, let us sleep on this tonight.”

  The two then embraced and Louisa said, “Frank, but they are so much in love. Just think, our friend John is in love with our Elizabeth. It is a good thing but how will he be able to remain the gentleman with Elizabeth living so close to him?”

  “That my dear, could be a problem, but I trust my friend and I trust Elizabeth. Even so, I am not so sure that I trust them together, because there is a powerful attraction between them that may be impossible to resist. Nevertheless, I do expect them to marry, and soon.”

  Elizabeth came downstairs and greeted Mr. Winstead and they soon began their walk.

  “Elizabeth, I am glad you could walk with me. I have missed our early morning walks at Hunting Hills. Let me get to the point, I have come for Charlotte’s sake, and my own as well, to ask you to reconsider our offer for you to be her paid companion at her coming out this season and next year too.”

  “Yes, she did mention it to me when I was there, but I am a governess for your friends two children. I feel a sense of obligation to them to stay on at Kimblehouse.”

  “I do know that Elizabeth and believe me, I have attempted to see what can be done and hinted at this to Frank and Louisa even when we were last together at Hunting Hills. Louisa had a companion for her coming out and so did her sister. Both Frank and Louisa agree that you would be an excellent choice to be Charlotte’s companion. They would wish you to stay with them but also care enough for you to know this companion job would be very uplifting for you, and believe me, they do want what is best for you. I have proposed to help them find an excellent governess for the children and they have posed no objection if you chose to go to Hunting Hills. Now Elizabeth, I do not wish you to make your decision this moment, but ask you to consider what this could do for your own life, which you have told me has been hard over these past three years.”

  “This is a lot to think about, Mr. Winstead, but I will take my time to make the correct decision.”

  “Now Elizabeth, let us go into Wakefield for I must pay a visit to a friend.”

  He helped her onto the carriage and soon they went into the town and stopped at Mrs. Watson’s house. After helping Elizabeth down, he lifted a basket from the back and carried it with him. Soon after he knocked Mrs. Watson greeted them with hugs to Elizabeth and Mr. Winstead too.

  “How good it is to see you both, and sir, your letter said to expect you to visit at this time and indeed you are on time. Did you bring the surprise?”

  John Winstead reached into his basket and uncovered two male kittens, who looked like they could be named Rascal 1 and Rascal 2, for they looked like him. Then Rascal made his appearance and after inspecting the kittens he turned away proudly and soon found Elizabeth’s lap, for they were now sitting.

  “What is going on, Mr. Winstead? Mrs. Watson? Are these kittens for you Mrs. Watson?”

  “Well, yes and no, though I do want them so, but they cannot share the same house with Rascal, so he must go. Besides, Elizabeth, he loves you; look now as he sleeps upon your lap. I tell you Elizabeth, the cat grieves when you are away; it is most astonishing.”

  “I cannot take your cat, the Kimbles would not accept him.”

  “Miss Watkins, Mrs. Watson prefers the kittens, see now as they are bonding to her. Would you deny her this pleasure?”

  “Sir, you can be very naughty indeed, to think that you would resort to such a scheme. So this is all part of the plan to make me Charlotte’s companion?”

  Mrs. Watson then spoke. “Elizabeth, Mr. Winstead has told me he would make you this offer of the companion’s job. I feel it is a position that you should accept. The Kimbles have also tol
d me it is acceptable to them for Rascal to stay at Kimblehouse with you. Apparently their children would also like for Rascal to live with them.”

  “Elizabeth,” said Mr. Winstead, “If you accept this offer, Louisa has asked that you stay at Kimblehouse for another two weeks. Mrs. Jordan will act as governess after that until another governess can be found.”

  “It seems many have made the decision for me, but I still wish to think on it a little longer.”

  Soon, after tea and biscuits, it was time to leave and Mr. Winstead and Elizabeth and Rascal left for Kimblehouse.

  “Mr. Winstead, I thank you for having an interest in what is best for me, but I have to ask you, what is in it for you?”

  “Elizabeth, I owe my sister everything I can give her, and there is nothing I would not do for her. You are the most perfect person to be her companion, and this will also be a coming out for yourself. You have shown us all that you are a remarkable young woman, full of spirit and good of heart and exceedingly smart. I do wish to give you the same opportunities as I am giving to Charlotte, though on the selfish side, I would wish for you to live at Hunting Hills. You must believe me, my interest is for your welfare and your future happiness, and I believe your taking the position as a paid companion for Charlotte will help you.”

  “Now tell me sir, would it not be talked about when others learn that I, a single woman, has a male friend that regularly sleeps in my bed?”

  “I guess I can put up with that Elizabeth, but only because he is a four legged friend. Certainly no other creature would be allowed this arrangement.”

  “Then how would Miss Smithwick react to my being in the same house with you?”

  “So Charlotte has told you about Jane and her brother? Well, I will answer your question. I do not care for what anyone so unconnected with me thinks. You are the daughter of a gentleman and I am a gentleman protecting his own sister and, hopefully, her companion. As long as I can make you both happy and improve the lot for the folks at Hunting Hills and others too, then all will be well.”

  “You are a kind man, Mr. John Winstead. I will sleep on the offer tonight after discussing it with the Kimbles.”

  “Elizabeth, I almost forgot, the situation with the man and his supposed grand daughter has been resolved as an attempt at extortion that involved Hunting Hills’s former butler. It seems that earlier last year a Mr. Grayson and a young woman and her child came upon my father and claimed my brother was the girls father. The butler and this man had plotted and executed this scheme while my father was at home alone, and quite frankly, when he was becoming more feeble and not in his right mind. He gave the man three hundred pounds and promised the same amount each year until the girl reached her sixteenth birthday.”

  “My word sir, you have people coming after your fortune from many directions.”

  “Well, that is beside the point. The supposed grandfather is the real father and the woman, the child’s mother. They were trying the same scheme with one of William’s friends, and that is how they were caught. I certainly hope all this unpleasant mess is over for good.”

  “I wish that too, Mr. Winstead.”

  That evening Elizabeth let the children play with Rascal, and still later Elizabeth spoke with their parents. She was relieved when Louisa hugged her and both her husband and her agreed that, for Elizabeth at least, this would be a good opportunity that she should take advantage of. They discussed the details that she might stay on an additional two weeks before leaving for Hunting Hills, and she was promised her governess job back if she wished it.

  That night Elizabeth could not sleep for her thoughts were too many. She knew she would accept the position. Now she was happy again and just as she surrendered to sleep her friend jumped on her bed and laid against her side. Her dreams though were more about the gentleman she knew herself to be in love with, the same man who in two weeks time would be two rooms away from her.

  The next two weeks went by quickly, and Elizabeth immersed herself with the children’s studies and manners lessons. She explained to them why she was leaving but told them she would see them often and that they would always be friends. They took the news hard at first but understood that she needed to prepare for her own future just as Elizabeth had helped them prepare for their own. On the day that John Winstead was to come for her, she hugged each child and left them each a letter she had written. After saying her goodbyes to Frank and Louisa Kimble, she walked outside to greet Mr. Winstead on his return to Hunting Hills, but to her surprise,

  John Winstead had sent a driver for Elizabeth, as he had been in London on business and would not arrive home until the next day at the earliest. The servants loaded her things including an upset male cat, who clung close to Elizabeth. When at last they arrived at Hunting Hills, Charlotte game out to greet her and as Elizabeth’s bags and Rascal were taken away, Charlotte and her came into the house.

  “It is good to see you, Charlotte. I hope you and Mr. Winstead are well.”

  “Thank you, Elizabeth. We are well. My brother was hoping to meet you at Kimblehouse but had to go to London for some business matter. He said I should look after you until he returns, which will be the morrow at the earliest. I hope your trip went well and that the Kimbles are also well. They are such good friends. My hope is that they are not too upset that you have chosen to leave Kimblehouse.”

  “They were very understanding and told me that I might one day regret if I did not accept your offer. Mrs. Kimble took be aside and for over an hour discussed all manner of details of what to expect during the coming out Season, then she gave me more of her clothes that she wore during her coming out. She is such a sweet lady, Charlotte, but she cautioned me that both you and I will be worn out by the coming out process.”

  “Yes, there will be dances and grand balls and reviews and trips to the theatre and to the opera and parties and picnics and teas and other such events to keep us so busy that we will be away from our London town home more than we will be there.”

  “I must confess, Charlotte, I am excited for you and will work to be the best companion for you that I can, though with such a whirlwind of activities, I wonder if I can keep up with you.”

  “There is one thing that I am bothered with Elizabeth, but your stamina will not be an issue. As much as my brother wants me to experience a grand coming out, I feel he fears some dandy will sweep you off your feet and thus leave me without a companion.”

  “Why Charlotte, I will resist all entreaties from gentlemen during the Season. You see, I already have a male friend that I have been seeing.”

  “Now this is a surprise, does my brother know?”

  “Yes, he does. He was shocked at first when I said I had slept with my male friend, but he understands.”

  “Come now Elizabeth, who is this man?”

  “I did not say my friend was a man. No, it is my cat, Rascal, and he is here with us at Hunting Hills.” Both women laughed at this but Elizabeth noticed Charlotte’s reaction when she first heard that she had a male friend. Elizabeth surmised that Charlotte believed her to have a love interest in a gentleman friend and she had asked if her brother knew. Her question was a fair one and now Elizabeth felt that her playfulness had gone too far.

  “Charlotte, I should not have made a joke about Rascal, please forgive me. It is just that I find the story of Rascal jumping on my bed in the middle of the night and tip toeing across the bed to lay his back against me, very loving. No, I have no suitors and I am surely not looking to be courted by any of the men we might meet. I am so very happy to be here with you and your brother, otherwise I would not have come. Both of you are very dear to me.”

  These words consoled Charlotte and fed her suspicion, one that she had thought of many times, that both John and Elizabeth were quite fond of one another. That night the two women talked until near midnight, before retiring. Elizabeth again felt rascal jump onto her bed and nuzzle close to her. She gently stroked his head and tail until he settled down to sleep and
they both slept very well.

  The same could not be said for John Winstead as he was overseeing improvements to his London town home as well as settling business matters with some of the other properties that he owned in London. Being away from Hunting Hills was tolerable at best, but now it would not be easy for him to leave, not with his Elizabeth there, mere feet separating her bedroom from his own. John Winstead was intoxicated by her presence, by the liveliness of her dark eyes and her mind and spirit and he had thought of her often since the day they first met, and now his feelings were growing more difficult to manage. At night he would dream of how he loved their walks together and her sweetness and her loving heart and her beauty and he wished to tell her these things, but was unsure how she would react. Though he thought it was too soon to tell her of his feelings, for technically she was still in mourning, he knew that soon he had to face her and tell her these things. Now he thought that his pushing Elizabeth to be Charlotte’s companion might be a bad idea. His would be a struggle now, for he would be tempted everyday and every night and he did not know if he could live with it. Suppose he told Elizabeth of his feelings and she was disinterested, how would he recover? Considering Elizabeth was a member of the house staff, would not her disapproval for him make him a laughing stock? All these things brought John Winstead another near sleepless night. He also had learned that he had a few more days of business in London so he wrote to Charlotte and told her this and suggested that she and Elizabeth go to Lampton to see his cousin. From there they could visit Pemberly, which he considered the grandest home in all of England. He was sure this offer would be accepted.