“We have just one more place to visit,” Aunt Gardiner told Elizabeth as their carriage crawled through the streets of the city.
They had been seeing to errands all morning. Elizabeth had agreed to accompany her aunt while Jane had wished to remain at home with the children. Therefore, Aunt Gardiner and Elizabeth had had ample time to talk about many things. The chief topic of interest for Aunt Gardiner had been the gentleman who had called with his sister on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday.
“The orphan house?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes, Mrs. Verity’s.” Aunt Gardiner sorted through her parcels to find the one that Elizabeth knew contained two shirts and three petticoats. “It is not much,” she said as she found the correct parcel and placed it on her lap, “but it will be appreciated. Mrs. Verity relies not only on her own funds — substantial though they are — but also on the generosity of her friends to meet every need of her charges.”
Mrs. Verity was a wealthy widow, who, having no children of her own, had chosen to use the money left to her by her husband to set up a house for orphans. Her intention was not just to give them a safe place to live, but to educate them in every area of life that might afford them a proper future, free of crime and filled with hope — at least, that is how Aunt Gardiner had described it.
Elizabeth had to admit she was curious to see what an orphan house looked like. There was nothing of that sort in Hertfordshire, and the idea of a lady running her own establishment and aiding the less fortunate intrigued her.
“Mr. Darcy seemed disappointed yesterday when you refused his offer of a drive in the park.”
Elizabeth’s reply was a tight smile.
Aunt Gardiner sighed. “He is a fine gentleman — handsome and rich — and quite obviously besotted with you. I do not know why you insist on repelling his every advance.”
Elizabeth wished she had an answer for that herself — or at least one that did not show her in such a poor light. “I have been such a fool, Aunt. I cannot see him without being reminded of my shame.”
“Pride is a dangerous thing, Elizabeth.” Her aunt tipped her head and looked at her very seriously. “Apologize.”
Elizabeth pulled the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth and winced at that one word.
“Oh, it will smart for a time, to be sure,” her aunt continued, “but then, it will be done.”
Elizabeth knew it was true. The proper thing to do was to gather her courage and admit her folly. “He will hate me,” she admitted in a whisper.
Her aunt’s brows rose. “And you wish for him to not hate you?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth could feel her face turning red. “I believe I have wanted him to not hate me ever since the assembly at Michaelmas. I had hoped when I saw him enter and when his friend paid attention to Jane that he might consider me.” She looked down at her hands. “But he did not.” It was the first time she had admitted how much Mr. Darcy’s slighting comment had humiliated her. She had managed until this moment to wrap that pain in indignation and anger.
“Oh, my Lizzy!” Her aunt reached across the carriage and grasped Elizabeth’s hands. “Then let him love you now. He is a good man. Do you not believe that?”
Elizabeth nodded. “He does seem to be a good and kind brother.”
“He cares very well for his sister,” Mrs. Gardener agreed. “I know many who would not treat a daughter or sister with such care after making such a scandalous plan as to elope with a ne’er-do-well. Why, there is one young lady who found herself in Mrs. Verity’s care after being caught with a beau of whom her father did not approve. Miss Darcy was not ruined as this girl was, but still, to be cast out in such a way.” She shook her head. “And you know as well as I that she is one of the fortunate ones to have found a good place to live until she could find a position where she could earn her keep.”
Elizabeth nodded. Everything that she had seen or heard about Mr. Darcy since she had arrived in town spoke of his goodness. “I am being foolish, I know.”
Her aunt patted her hand. “Learning to love is a fearful prospect.”
“Love?” the word jumped from Elizabeth’s lips. She did not love Mr. Darcy. She admired him; she found him attractive; she even found his company to be pleasant; but she did not love him.
Her aunt smiled as the carriage drew to a stop. “Yes, my dear, that is the opposite of hate.”
Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open and then snapped closed. “Just because I do not want him to hate me does not mean I love him. It means…it means…” she stammered indignantly.
“You value his good opinion,” her aunt completed. “And when not having it can threaten to rend your very soul, then it is time to consider just how deeply you admire the gentleman. Do not be stubborn about this, Elizabeth, or you may lose something that cannot be replaced.”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together and followed her aunt out of the carriage and up the steps to Mrs. Verity’s door.
“Mrs. Gardiner!” A lady with dark hair, streaked with thin ribbons of grey, greeted Elizabeth’s aunt as she and Elizabeth entered a spacious study. The walls were lined with book-filled shelves. There was a grouping of chairs near a hearth, and another pair tucked in a window alcove. At one side, a large desk stood before two more chairs. It was to these chairs that Mrs. Verity directed her visitors.
“I have some shirts and petticoats,” Mrs. Gardiner said as she placed the parcel she carried between two neat stacks of papers on the desk. “This is my niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth, this is Mrs. Verity, the capable headmistress of this fine establishment.”
“Oh, be seated,” Mrs. Verity waved away Mrs. Gardiner’s compliments and chuckled. “Your aunt is always attempting to swell my head even more than it is already swollen.”
“I speak only the truth,” Mrs. Gardiner retorted with a grin.
“Well, then, I shall leave that to Miss Elizabeth to decide,” Mrs. Verity arranged herself in the chair behind the desk and picked up a paper. “This is the young lady who is seeking a position,” she said, handing the paper to Mrs. Gardiner. “And this is the lad in need of an apprenticeship.” She handed a second sheet of paper to Elizabeth’s aunt.
“We instruct all our residence in every useful skill,” she explained to Elizabeth. “Both boys and girls are taught to read, write, and do their sums. The boys practice various skills such as placing and removing things from a table without being a distraction, tying cravats, planting, caring for animals, working with their hands, and when an aptitude in one or another of these skills is noted, we attempt to find them a place where they can earn both a bit of money and experience. Master Riley shows an inclination to be very good with figures. He is not meant to work with his hands. He must work with his mind.”
“My husband thinks he would do well with Mr. Crenshaw,” said Mrs. Gardiner.
“He may lodge here if there is no place for him there,” Mrs. Verity turned her attention to Mrs. Gardiner who assured her that all the necessary arrangements would be in place before Riley began any work.
“The girls, such as Miss Clara, are taught cooking, cleaning, tending to and instructing young ones, as well as stitching and the like,” Mrs. Verity continued her explanation to Elizabeth. “Clara has a love for fashion and can ply a needle and thread with such skill.”
“Mr. Gardiner will surely know of a mantua-maker in need of an assistant,” Mrs. Gardiner assured Mrs. Verity. “I see that Miss Clara is also skilled at making bonnets,” Mrs. Gardiner said as she continued looking over the sheet of paper she held. “Would she be inclined to work with a milliner?”
“She would indeed. Again, lodging is available here if required, but if a place can be found for her, as well as Riley, that provides living arrangements, then I can take in two new children.”
Mrs. Gardiner nodded her head. “We will see what we can do.”
“You always do,” Mrs. Verity said with a smile. “Now, your niece has not been here before. Would you care for a tour, Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth looked hopefully at her aunt.
Mrs. Gardiner laughed. “I dare say I shall not hear the end of her disappointment if we do not have a tour. Elizabeth is an industrious sort of young lady who might need a charity in which to be involved after she is married.”
“And is marriage in the near future?” Mrs. Verity asked as she led them from the room.
“No,” Elizabeth answered as her aunt replied “possibly.”
Mrs. Verity laughed. “The hopeful aunt, but I can see why she is hopeful. You are a lovely young woman.”
Elizabeth blushed and thanked Mrs. Verity for her compliment.
“Is there a particular gentleman?” The headmistress of the orphan house asked Mrs. Gardiner.
“I cannot say,” Mrs. Gardiner replied while allowing her eyebrows to flick in a manner that told Mrs. Verity that there was indeed a particular gentleman.
Elizabeth shook her head. “Aunt,” she pleaded.
“Very well,” said Mrs. Verity, “we shall pursue that topic no further. This room on your left is where the children take all their meals. After they reach a certain age, they are required to take their turns in serving — not just because they may someday be employed in a fine home, but because there is value in learning to serve others.”
The room was furnished just as a dining room in a wealthy estate might be furnished.
“It is beautiful,” Elizabeth murmured.
“I give them the best,” Mrs. Verity said. “They must learn to work in such places as this, so they must be familiar with both sides of the room so to speak. Those who eat and those who wait.” She led them down the hall and up a set of back stairs. “The children are required to use these stairs at all times unless descending for lessons. I will show you the classroom last.” She led them through the halls, showing them this room and that and introducing each child she met to the ladies.
Elizabeth smiled and curtseyed in response to each polite greeting she received. It was evident that Mrs. Verity and her staff had taught the children very well, and from their clear complexions and bright eyes, they were all well-fed and happy.
After touring the upper levels, Mrs. Verity took them down to the storehouses and kitchen before returning to the floor on which they had begun their tour.
“There were two drawing rooms and a library when I first purchased the house,” Mrs. Verity explained as she stood outside a closed door. “We have kept one drawing room for receiving guests, and the other two rooms have been converted into schoolrooms. This is the room for receiving guests,” she said as she pushed the door open.
The room was empty save for a young woman sitting near the window stitching.
Elizabeth stopped and stared at the woman. She looked very much like the maid who had delivered the tea to the drawing room at Darcy House. “Does she work here?” she whispered to Mrs. Verity.
“No,” Mrs. Verity paused. “Not all of our children are orphans..”
