afternoon. I do not believe that Miss Elizabeth had any hidden motives.”
I hope you are correct, Poppet.
~%~
The following afternoon, Mrs. Younge stood before the grand desk that the master of the Darcy household had been using as his own since their arrival at Ramsgate the previous day, receiving her orders for the time that he would be absent. She was thankful that he would be leaving on the morrow. Rarely had she met a man who could intimidate her, but Mr. Darcy did. Whenever she saw him, she doubted the correctness of her scheme, and she hated him for it.
Mrs. Younge had stifled her gasp when Mr. Darcy told her of giving permission to his sister to spend time with the two young ladies they had met yesterday. How could she be so unlucky? To further their plan, she and her partner had been counting on Miss Darcy’s increased feelings of loneliness and isolation here in Ramsgate! This will not do!
“Do you understand my instructions, Mrs. Younge?” the master asked firmly.
“Of course, sir. I will follow them to the letter, as always.” Well, perhaps not quite that closely. I will find a way to keep her from the Bennets, she added in her thoughts.
“Very well. Mrs. Younge. You will find a little extra in your pay this month to reimburse you for the inconvenience of having to travel so far from home.”
She waved him off, arranging her features into an expression of humility that she knew she always accomplished well. “I thank you, sir, but it is quite unnecessary. Wherever you may wish your sister to go, I will follow quite willingly. It is a pleasure to serve Miss Darcy as her companion.” It will be a pleasure to lead the little mouse so easily into the trap we have set for her, using a unique variety of cheese!
“Yes, I am certain it is, but I do insist you take it.”
She curtsied. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I hope you have a safe journey in the morning, sir.” Although, I cannot help but wonder how your will is made out. This all would be so much sweeter if Miss Darcy should inherit the lot in the event that you should suffer an accident! She smiled politely.
“Thank you, Mrs. Younge. You may go now.”
~%~
July 23, 1811
Although the children wished to try the treacherous-looking stairs to descend the side of the cliff to the sands, the ladies thought better of it and took them down the road at Sion Hill to stroll the West Pier, and of course, obtain a closer view of the docked ships and lighthouse.
Luckily, as the family neared the end of the pier near the lighthouse, a ship was entering the harbour. Elizabeth’s attention was distracted for but a moment when she heard little James’s quick steps and his voice calling out, “Miz Dosee!”
Elizabeth followed the blur of brown knee breeches down the pier.
James ran up to Georgiana and pulled on her skirts. “Miz Dosee!” When she looked down at him, James attempted a bow.
Miss Darcy smiled widely. “Good morning, Master Gardiner.” She curtsied and looked around to see Elizabeth rushing towards them, still several yards away. When Elizabeth noticed he was with Georgiana, she stopped and , with a hand on her chest, sighed with relief and shook her head. Georgiana held out her hand to James. He took it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Have you been enjoying your day, sir?”
James nodded and did his best to salute.
“Are you to go out to sea soon, Admiral?”
James giggled.
Elizabeth approached. “Thank you, again, Miss Darcy.” Both ladies curtsied, and Georgiana introduced Mrs. Younge.
Once their greetings were complete, Elizabeth said, “I am afraid that James is becoming quite the expert at wandering off whenever he sees something of interest to him, which is exactly the circumstance of our meeting the other day, as well. Heaven forbid I should need two hands to retrieve something from my reticule!” She raised both eyebrows and looked down at James.
James diverted his gaze to the ground.
“James, do
I hope you are correct, Poppet.
~%~
The following afternoon, Mrs. Younge stood before the grand desk that the master of the Darcy household had been using as his own since their arrival at Ramsgate the previous day, receiving her orders for the time that he would be absent. She was thankful that he would be leaving on the morrow. Rarely had she met a man who could intimidate her, but Mr. Darcy did. Whenever she saw him, she doubted the correctness of her scheme, and she hated him for it.
Mrs. Younge had stifled her gasp when Mr. Darcy told her of giving permission to his sister to spend time with the two young ladies they had met yesterday. How could she be so unlucky? To further their plan, she and her partner had been counting on Miss Darcy’s increased feelings of loneliness and isolation here in Ramsgate! This will not do!
“Do you understand my instructions, Mrs. Younge?” the master asked firmly.
“Of course, sir. I will follow them to the letter, as always.” Well, perhaps not quite that closely. I will find a way to keep her from the Bennets, she added in her thoughts.
“Very well. Mrs. Younge. You will find a little extra in your pay this month to reimburse you for the inconvenience of having to travel so far from home.”
She waved him off, arranging her features into an expression of humility that she knew she always accomplished well. “I thank you, sir, but it is quite unnecessary. Wherever you may wish your sister to go, I will follow quite willingly. It is a pleasure to serve Miss Darcy as her companion.” It will be a pleasure to lead the little mouse so easily into the trap we have set for her, using a unique variety of cheese!
“Yes, I am certain it is, but I do insist you take it.”
She curtsied. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I hope you have a safe journey in the morning, sir.” Although, I cannot help but wonder how your will is made out. This all would be so much sweeter if Miss Darcy should inherit the lot in the event that you should suffer an accident! She smiled politely.
“Thank you, Mrs. Younge. You may go now.”
~%~
July 23, 1811
Although the children wished to try the treacherous-looking stairs to descend the side of the cliff to the sands, the ladies thought better of it and took them down the road at Sion Hill to stroll the West Pier, and of course, obtain a closer view of the docked ships and lighthouse.
Luckily, as the family neared the end of the pier near the lighthouse, a ship was entering the harbour. Elizabeth’s attention was distracted for but a moment when she heard little James’s quick steps and his voice calling out, “Miz Dosee!”
Elizabeth followed the blur of brown knee breeches down the pier.
James ran up to Georgiana and pulled on her skirts. “Miz Dosee!” When she looked down at him, James attempted a bow.
Miss Darcy smiled widely. “Good morning, Master Gardiner.” She curtsied and looked around to see Elizabeth rushing towards them, still several yards away. When Elizabeth noticed he was with Georgiana, she stopped and , with a hand on her chest, sighed with relief and shook her head. Georgiana held out her hand to James. He took it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Have you been enjoying your day, sir?”
James nodded and did his best to salute.
“Are you to go out to sea soon, Admiral?”
James giggled.
Elizabeth approached. “Thank you, again, Miss Darcy.” Both ladies curtsied, and Georgiana introduced Mrs. Younge.
Once their greetings were complete, Elizabeth said, “I am afraid that James is becoming quite the expert at wandering off whenever he sees something of interest to him, which is exactly the circumstance of our meeting the other day, as well. Heaven forbid I should need two hands to retrieve something from my reticule!” She raised both eyebrows and looked down at James.
James diverted his gaze to the ground.
“James, do
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