As we wandered back happily towards the house with our saffron bundles, I determined to set Miss Harvey right at the earliest opportunity. The only design that my cousin had upon Rosings was to visit often, and assure himself that its heiress - that was I - was still the most beautiful and accomplished young lady in the country! I searched for her later that afternoon, but failing to find her I returned to the schoolroom to daydream amongst the daffodils, imagining a dozen pleasant future scenarios involving Edward, my father and my grown-up self before hitting upon the one that so obviously suited every convenience and solved every problem that I leapt to my feet, transported by the genius of my own imagination!
What was it that had Edward said? 'I'm sure plenty of people will advise me to marry a rich heiress, and acquire a grand house in that way.' Well, I would be a rich heiress - why should he not marry me in due course, and come to live at Rosings? Unable to remain still, I began to dance about the room as the possibility took root in my imagination and began to put forth shoots. What if this had been Papa’s plan all along? Would not that explain everything, from his special treatment of Edward to my cousin’s embarrassment when I brought up the subject of marriage? Oh, what to do – should I speak to Papa immediately, or wait until the Fitzwilliams had left us? Mrs Jenkinson would certainly advise me to wait… but Miss Harvey …
Determined to find her there and then, I rushed headlong out onto the stairway, where I almost collided with Mrs Jenkinson coming to fetch me for supper.
“Oh Jenky!” I gasped, ignoring her gentle admonition, “Do you know where Miss Harvey is? I’ve been looking for her everywhere!”
“She is out walking,” was her cool reply, in tones so laced with disapproval that my curiosity was aroused.
“Out walking where?” I demanded, as she ushered me firmly along the corridor towards the nursery – and then, as an unmistakable peal of laughter rose up the stairwell towards us, I ducked out from her restraining grasp and rushed to the banister just in time to see my governess enter the hallway on the arm of my cousin John! Disengaging herself from his eager grasp, she removed her bonnet and re-arranged a stray curl; and as he pulled playfully upon her arm, Mrs Jenkinson pulled firmly upon mine, telling me not to tarry as my soup was cooling. Dumbly I followed her, unable to make sense of the scene I had just witnessed - for had not Miss Harvey described John, in tones heavy with contempt, as a 'great coxcomb' and 'a danger to the female sex'? Why then would she walk with him, laugh with him, even – there was no other word for it – flirt with him in so obvious a manner? I had never seen her behave so, and it troubled me deeply. Upon reaching the nursery, I went straight to the table and ate my supper in silence - a silence upon which Mrs Jenkinson did not intrude, though she regarded me with watchful eyes.
John remained at Rosings until after Easter, giving me ample opportunity to observe the flirtation that he and Miss Harvey pursued whenever they thought themselves unobserved. They were discreet enough to escape the notice of my parents and uncle, but not that of the servants, whose barely concealed disapproval caused me agonies of mortification. It distressed me beyond words to see my beloved governess reduced to a simpering ninny by a man I so much disliked, and whose attentions she could surely not imagine to be serious. Could she not see that she was being made a fool of? When John left for London, abruptly and with no word of farewell to anyone save my mother, I breathed a long sigh of relief.
Miss Harvey’s red eyes on the following morning, however, could not but arouse my pity. In an attempt to raise her spirits - and also to divert her attention towards a more deserving object - I invited her to join me in reading poetry with Edward that afternoon, a pastime which had already given me much pleasure. She looked at me as though I were utterly mad.
“What a baby you are, Miss Anne,” she sniffed, tossing her red curls. “’Tis as well I set little store by your judgment of the male sex. Go and read to Mr Edward by all means, but don’t expect me to hold your hand – not that you’ll need a chaperone in his company!”
My pity evaporated upon the spot, and I retaliated in kind: “Just because my cousin John has made a fool of you in front of the whole household, 'tis no reason to take it out on me! And you were utterly wrong, you know, about Edward - Papa has no intention of adopting him.”
I saw her fist clench, and knew that she would have struck me had she dared. Her face contorted into a sneer. “Well, I can see that!” she snapped; “I was wide of the mark there, and no mistake. That will teach me to listen to peasants’ gossip! No wonder your poor mother complains - the sooner that young man goes into the Army, or gets married off to some poor undemanding fool, the better!”
At the mention of marriage I blushed involuntarily, and my cheeks burned hotter as Miss Harvey stared at me. Suddenly she began to laugh.
“Oh Lord! I don’t believe it! You think you're to marry Mr Edward, don't you? You poor little fool! Well I've news for you Miss Anne, 'tis another cousin who's in line for you - young Mr Darcy, your mother's sister's son! What do you think of that? And you’d better raise your expectations before the wedding or you’ll be in for a shock!”
I felt the blood drain from my face, leaving me as pale as I had been scarlet the moment before. “Young – young Mr Darcy?” I stammered, as William’s stern, aquiline features and haughty expression leapt into my mind.
Miss Harvey laughed on, enjoying my discomfiture. “Don’t tell me you had not an idea of it? Why, your mother is quite determined upon it, ‘tis the talk of the household! He’s quite the young gentleman, I hear, and handsome to boot – I’m sure I wish you joy. I'd settle myself for a husband half so fine!”
I left her still laughing as I ran from the schoolroom, heading for the sanctuary of the nursery where I could be alone. Closing the door behind me, I threw myself down upon the bed, burying my face in the bolster as the hot tears spilled.
In less than three months' time we would be making our annual summer visit to Pemberley, which William's brooding presence and disapproving frown would no doubt once more drain of all enjoyment. It was always the same: my aunt and uncle would welcome me affectionately and do their best to put me at my ease, but all of their efforts would be brought to naught by their son's unsmiling, rigid manner. Whilst remaining perfectly polite, he would make it clear that he found my presence an irksome nuisance to be borne only at his parents' behest; he would dutifully chaperone me and my cousin Georgiana on all outdoor excursions, observing our play with haughty composure whilst refusing all invitations to participate; he would converse with me only when strictly necessary, in tones designed to reduce me to painful confusion. The possibility that this arrogant young man could be my future husband had never in my wildest dreams occurred to me. Was I to be sent away from Kent into the rugged wilds of Derbyshire? Was I actually to leave Rosings - my inheritance, my home – behind, and become the lifelong companion of someone whose society I dreaded? Did Papa know of this? Could this possibly have his approval?
With a few careless words Miss Harvey had rocked my world to its foundations, and now everything, everything was changed.
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