Free Miss Darcy's Companion: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Joana Starnes

again. He ought to foster that, and he intended to.
    Admittedly it was not his way to encourage such freedom of address. While a considerate master, he had uniformly maintained the natural distance between himself and the people in his household, with the sole exception of Mrs Reynolds, who had known him since he was unbreeched. But then they always said that the position of the paid companion, and likewise the governess, was in the marshy middle ground. Above the servants, yet below the family. She was not part of the family of course, but it would do no harm to treat her with kindness. Which was why, at least on this occasion, he saw fit to indulge her with a matching retort:
    “Regret it? Why? Is Miss Elizabeth Bennet such a fearsome creature?”
    “Perhaps not fearsome, but far too outspoken for her own good, as she has been repeatedly reminded. Speaking of which, Sir, I find I rather value my position here. Should my forthrightness become rather too difficult to handle, pray say so before we reach the point of no return.”
    “Be assured I shall. For now though, pray rest easy, I can handle a little forthrightness. I am known to favour the unvarnished truth over obsequious fawning. Though perhaps your truths could be delivered with just a hint of varnishing,” he good-naturedly quipped, and she laughed, but also blushed.
    “This I have also been told. I shall endeavour to apply myself to the task, Sir.”
    “Pray do, Miss Bennet, and we might get along tolerably well,” he smiled, offering his arm.
    She took it, and they returned at a slow pace to the house.
     

 
    CHAPTER 6
     
     
    The following weeks saw the establishing of patterns, and Darcy easily fell into his own. There was a vast deal at Pemberley that required his attention and long conferences with his steward or riding out to attend to the concerns of the great estate filled most of his morning hours. As for the young ladies, they resumed their occupations, and gradually Darcy was occasioned to learn more about their daily pursuits, and thus about Miss Bennet.
    Apparently she had not only encouraged Georgiana to read extensively and practise her drawing and her music, but also show more interest in the housekeeper’s domain. This was a surprise for Darcy and no less of a pleasure, for such skills would stand her in good stead when she was older. To date, mundane tasks such as choosing menus had been within Mrs Reynolds’ remit, with little or no contribution from his sister, but lately she had begun to ask him about his preferences and confer with the elderly lady as to how they could be met.
    Likewise, at Miss Bennet’s instigation, the young ladies spent many hours not on decorative embroidery, but on sewing tiny garments intended for the poorest children of the parish. Miss Bradden, the new parson’s sister, regularly joined them in that particular activity. Darcy soon learned that although Georgiana and her companion had kept themselves to themselves at Pemberley in his absence and had not entertained acquaintances, nor ventured further than Kympton Church or Lambton, Miss Bradden was an established visitor to the great house. She came to call every Tuesday and Thursday, and the ladies would sit and knit or sew together.
    Miss Bradden was very plain and Darcy found it difficult to tell if she was younger or older than her brother, but she was clearly determined to assist him in his duties. Whether or not she was also determined to assist him in establishing an interest with Miss Bennet was equally hard to tell. For his part, Darcy could not claim to have seen much sign of it, other than the lady often speaking of her brother with a great deal of praise and obvious affection.
    He conceded it was natural that it should be so. He was her protector and provider and her sole surviving relation. Moreover, Darcy had long determined that the man was well worthy of praise. Bradden did not call at Pemberley often and when he did, it was mostly to see