Epilogue （Dialogue Only）
“Mrs Darcy, would you mind terribly talking to a lady who has applied for a position?”
“You do realise this is not my house, Mrs Jamison?”
“You jest, same as always, I see.”
“Did you expect otherwise?”
“Of course not. It would not be right.”
“How may I help?”
“A widow about your age applied for the position of governess without a character. Mrs Wilkinson believes we should scrutinise such cases, because much of the time the problem is with the old master, not the servant, so I did not dismiss her out of hand.”
“I am of the same mind.”
“Well, you see madam, there is something… amiss about this lady… but not enough for me to send her packing. I believe some of your skills might be called for, because I cannot quite make her out.”
“You may be giving me too much credit, but I will talk to her. What else can you tell me about her?”
“She seems like a woman coming down in the world, and it seems a precipitous decline. She was never of the first circles, but thought herself to be. Her clothes are expensive, and turned out neatly, but she clearly does not know how to care for them properly and does not have any help. Also, if I am not mistaken, she has missed more than one meal recently. She is at least half a stone underweight.”
“None of that seems overly problematic. It is a story as old as time. Why do you need me? You have hired women like that before, and with a governess you are just making the initial selection. The mistress will make the final choice.”
“I know, ma’am. I could not do it this time… not without some advice.”
“Pray, bring her to me.”
~~~
“Mrs Harrison, ma’am.”
“Oh! Pardon me, madam. My mistake. I am not… I will leave you. My apologies. Goodbye.”
…
“CAROLINE! Wait!”
…
“Please, wait.”
…
“You are the former Caroline Bingley, are you not?”
“I beg your pardon, I will go. I had no idea you would be here, Mrs Darcy. I will trouble you no more. Good day. I shall leave.”
“I wish you would not! “
…
“Please, Mrs Harrison. Come back and sit down. I shall not harm you. Mrs Jamison, may we have some tea, and perhaps some bread, cheese, and biscuits? I am famished.”
“Of course.”
“Pray, sit down, Mrs Harrison. I assume this is exceedingly difficult for you, but… allow me to assist you.”
…
“I apologise, Mrs Darcy. I had no idea you were here.”
“Mrs Wilkinson is my good friend, but she is nearing confinement. I am here to assist her, but she is napping just now.”
“Sleeping soundly, I imagine… or else tossing and turning trying to find a less uncomfortable position.”
“Yes.”
“Mrs Darcy… I… I—”
“Mrs Harrison, we had a disagreement over a decade ago. Might we just leave it behind us?”
“I do not know if I can… or how you can be generous enough to—”
“Let it go, Mrs Harrison. The words were unkind, and you were violently disagreeable, but it all worked out in the end. I suffered some, but much good came of that night, so please just let it go. I have! Might you tell me how you came to be here, if it is not asking too much?”
“Well—”
“Or keep your own counsel… you need not confide in me. I will not invade your privacy. I admit I have not kept track of you these ten years, and your brother is not even in England just now. I have not personally spoken to him or Jane for nearly two years.”
“With the way we parted… I would not expect you to know of me. I am surprised you will even receive me.”
“It was one unkind remark. May we consider it in the past?”
“It was much worse than—”
“Let it go! I think of the past only as it gives me pleasure, and I shall insist you oblige me.”
“Thank you, Mrs Darcy.”
“Let us have tea, and then you will tell me how I can help you.”
~~~
“Thank you, Mrs Jamison.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Mrs Harrison… might I make an observation?”
“Yes.”
“My hearing is particularly acute. It accompanies the blindness, I imagine. I could hear your stomach growling from the other room. May I assume Mrs Jamison brought enough food for half a dozen stout men?”
“She did.”
“Eat… and then when you are ready to talk, I will be ready to listen. I only ask that you pour my tea and put it here on this table along with bread and cheese.”
“Milk and sugar… plenty of sugar.”
“You remember?”
“I may be terrible person, but I was a good hostess.”
“I am all astonishment! Now, eat!”
~~~
“Mrs Darcy, I must tell you my story.”
“Only as much as you wish to.”
“You are not curious?”
“I am, of course, but I do not pry.”
“I am asking for help. You have a right to ask.”
“And yet, I shall not. I can hear… may I tell you something, Mrs Harrison?”
“Of course!”
“I have a preternatural ability to read more into voices than anyone ever shows on their face. In your voice I hear pain, fear, and perhaps some contrition. Do I deceive myself?”
… …
“No.”
“Pray, continue your story.”
… …
“After my brother turned me out of Netherfield, I tried once again to contact Mr Darcy and he gave me the cut direct. I never believed he would do so, but he did.”
“I am sorry for that.”
“You should not be. I deserved it.”
“Perhaps—”
“Do not mince words. It does not suit you. I deserved it… at least be honest about that.”
“You did. I have said it is forgotten, so take me at my word. What happened after that?”
“I did manage to marry well. Or at least I thought so. A clever man of large fortune. No title, but he seemed perfect.”
“May I assume he was not?”
“You may.”
“How so?”
“He was a gambler, drinker, and libertine, but kept it well hidden. He spent all of his fortune over three or four years, then all of mine.”
“Oh… I am so sorry!”
“It happens. Then—”
“Take your time.”
“Then he was killed in a duel in Italy, leaving some… let us say… well… disreputable people seeking blood. I barely managed to escape back to England, and I have hardly a penny to my name.”
“Unless I am mistaken, you have something else… something more precious?”
“You really can hear things unsaid—”
“I can. I have yet to meet anyone who can dissemble or lie to me, and I have been sorely tested.”
“I have two daughters… three and five years old. I will do anything for them. I would have killed or died for them if I thought it would do any good. Now they are all I live for.”
“Where are they now?”
“I left them with a lady in a boarding house where I lodge in—”
“I hear a caustic laugh in the back of your throat, Mrs Harrison.”
“That is just the ironic chuckle. I am lodging in Cheapside.”
“I admit, I see the humour.”
“What are their names, if I may ask?”
“Claire and Emily.”
“Are they as hungry as you?”
“No, but they will be ready for supper soon.”
“You have been feeding them at the expense of your own health?”
“Of course. You would do the same.”
“I imagine I would. May I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Why did you not come to me at Darcy House? Or even your brother? Did you really believe I would let my nieces starve?”
“They are not your nieces.”
“Are they not? They are quite close. You are sister to my sister, so they might as well be my nieces.”
“It makes sense when you put it that way, I suppose, but the thought never occurred to me.”
“Why did you not ask for help?”
“Can you really believe I would have thought forgiveness was possible?”
“Were you afraid we would take them, or interfere in their upbringing?”
… …
“Mrs Harrison—”
… …
“Perhaps, but I think it might have been my pride. I thought if I could secure a position, then I could eventually hold my head up… eventually have my girls think their mother was… well… worthy of something more than charity from a family who rightly despised her.”
“I understand. May I ask you one thing more?”
“Yes.”
“Is that still your aim? To become a governess—a teacher?”
“If that allows me to raise my girls well, then yes.”
“I have an idea. Can you teach two girls all the accomplishments you learned in your seminary, without the condescension, ill manners, scheming, backbiting, and spite?”
“I am not what I was. I cannot claim to be the best of women, or even much better than the worst, but if you give me a chance, I will not disappoint you.”
“Very well. Would you mind ringing the silver bell?”
“Of course.”
… …
“Ma’am”
“Mrs Harrison, could you call for my carriage, and… I think… Martha. Yes, Martha… and Joshua. I wish them to assist me.”
“Of course.”
… …
“Mrs Darcy.”
“Ah, Joshua. I cannot leave your mistress just now, so I would ask some assistance.”
“It would be my pleasure, madam.”
“Would you kindly escort Martha and Mrs Harrison in the carriage to collect her two daughters? They are three and five years of age. Martha, I would like them fed, bathed, combed, in new night-rails, and tucked into bed in that order as soon as it may be arranged. Take a hamper with you for the girls, and another for the lady taking care of them. Borrow some clothing from Jenny and Susan. Joshua, pray pay any owing on her lodging and a bit extra… a substantial bit.”
“Where shall I take them, ma’am?”
“Darcy House, naturally.”
“Do I rightly understand you? You are offering me employment?”
“I thought that was obvious.”
“I… I cannot… well—”
“You can tell me later. At present, you must see to your girls.”
“Will… that is to say… do you really want me in your home? That will be—”
“Uncomfortable? Painful? Embarrassing? Patronizing?”
“All those and more.”
“It most certainly shall be. I believe you have learned some of life’s lessons, but need to learn others.
Do not worry! We will see you well settled or married to a man I trust eventually, but for the moment, I believe I have a few things to teach you about forgiveness.
You are welcome to go when that skittishness and fear leave your voice, but be aware you will never fool me on this or any other subject. ”
“And Mr Darcy will go along with the scheme?”
“Of course.”
“I am sceptical. I truly do not wish to importune him.”
“You do not wish to importune him, or suffer embarrassment yourself.”
“I would hope the former, but I am a poor judge of my own motivations.”
“We shall see. My husband is neither the man from Netherfield, nor the man you think he is. We have been through much. You will be fine, and he will dote on your girls. All will be well. I will send him a note as soon as you leave and invite him here. You will not see him until tomorrow, under my protection.”
…
“It will be fine, Caroline. Go and collect your precious charges.”
“Yes, madam.”
… …
“Mrs Darcy, I cannot thank you enough.”
“Thank me by raising my nieces well.”
“That reminds me. Who exactly am I to be teaching? You seem to enjoy omitting details.”
“My nieces of course! Oh dear, I imagine that was confusing.”
“You will pay me to raise my own children?”
“Of course!”
“Why?”
“Two reasons, really. First, I have five boys, Mrs Harrison! FIVE BOYS! My dinner table is more like a Rugby pitch than anything else. Jane has four, Mary has two. My friend upstairs has two, and may even have another on the way as we speak. We only have three daughters amongst the whole sorry lot. I am outnumbered. You will be doing me a service by evening out the numbers.”
… …
“Was that a little chuckle, Caroline?”
“I wonder if I am jumping from the frying pan into the fire.”
“Do not be concerned. My boys are very well behaved… well, they are reasonably behaved… well, they are mostly well behaved… well, perhaps… yes, they are fine, upstanding gentlemen, if a little mischievous.”
“Should I run back to Italy?”
“It is much too late.”
“Fetch your girls, and Caroline—do you mind if I call you Caroline, and you call me Elizabeth—not Eliza—Elizabeth?”
“I might find it odd, but I will adapt. Elizabeth?”
“Caroline, you asked why?”
“Yes, and you gave half an answer, but I will not complain.”
“Let me give you a better answer.”
“I would appreciate that.”
“You will understand why I do this when you no longer need to ask why. When you fully understand that I had no other alternative, then you will understand. If it must be explained, you cannot understand. Once you are capable of understanding, you will not need an explanation.”
“I do not understand.”
“I do not expect you to, but you will.”
“Thank you, Mrs—Elizabeth.”
“You are welcome, Caroline. Bring me some reinforcements.”
~~~Finis~~~