“No, Sir, it was not,” George owned. “However, I am determined to walk an honourable path; if by some small miracle you employ me, I could not have you know anything less than the unvarnished and complete truth about me.”
“You say you did not receive a formal education, but you have always had an aptitude for numbers?” Gardiner verified. George allowed it was so. “As Christians, it is our duty to forgive and to allow a man to prove he can change. As a businessman, if you apply those principles blindly, you do so at your own peril.”
George was sure he was about to be shown the door, but at least Mr. Gardiner was being gracious about it and not having him thrown out—yet. “I understand, Sir. I would not employ me either had I heard what I revealed to you. I do thank you for your time,” George made to stand.
“If you will allow me to finish what I was about to say, Mr. Wickham.” Gardiner looked at the chair and George sat again. “I am willing to take a chance on you. You will begin in a training position where you will have no direct contact with any money. Forgiveness is between you, God, your father, and it seems Mr. Darcy. I cannot grant you absolution and based on your past, trust must be earned.”
“Anything you require of me, I will do.” George could not believe the man was willing to give him an opportunity to prove himself worthy.
“In the spirit of honesty, I must tell you I am well acquainted with Mr. Robert Darcy,” Gardiner revealed. “Both in business and as a very close friend of my sister’s and brother-in-law’s family. I will see him when my family and I spend Christmastide with our relatives in Hertfordshire. At this point, I will not mention you to him unless you break my trust, then I will be sure to talk to him. Conversely, if you prove yourself over time, I will be very happy to inform him, and by extension, your father will also be aware of the fact,” Gardiner shared with young Wickham.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Mr. Gardiner.” George knew this was his one and only chance and he would do nothing to spoil it.
“I own a house across from the warehouse where our single male employees can live if they choose to. You will be paid the minimum of five pounds a month. If you choose to avail yourself of room and board, one pound per month will be deducted to cover your rent and meals,” Gardiner explained.
George Wickham accepted a room at the employee house. It was not in the attic like the one at Edward Street and the bedchamber was much larger than he had lived in since he left his father’s house. It was with glee he returned to Edward street for the last time, dropped off the bolt of sprigged muslin, and collected his meagre belongings. Mrs. Younge paid him the few shillings of outstanding wages she said he was owed. He knew she shorted him, but he was so happy to depart, he did so without complaint.
He was determined his father would finally have a son worthy of the Wickham name.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After meeting with Rosings Park’s steward, Lord Matlock sent his sons to invite their aunt to meet with the family. The man at her cottage told Andrew and Richard that Mrs. de Bourgh was not home and were directed to the school his mistress had established, using some of her monthly funds.
The school was a large cottage which had been converted for teaching. In one room they found children being taught sums, and in the other their aunt was teaching children their letters.
She was dressed in the same style of dress as the other ladies the brothers had seen in Hunsford. If they did not know their aunt’s profile so well, they would have thought they were hallucinating. The thing that struck them more than anything else was the pure contentment that seemed to radiate from their aunt.
Rather than disturb the class, Andrew and Richard stood in the doorway until the lesson was complete and were surprised anew when most of the children hugged their teacher—the hugs were received and returned with genuine warmth—before leaving the classroom. It was then then Catherine noticed her nephews.
“Andrew, Richard!” she exclaimed with joy. “I had no idea you would be in Hunsford today. How are my family, and how is Anne?”
“We are here to invite you to a meeting at Rosings Park, Aunt Catherine,” Andrew informed his aunt.
“As long as you are sure I will be welcome, I will accompany you there,” Catherine accepted. Her nephews assured their aunt she would be welcomed with open arms.
A little under an hour later, the carriage halted under the portico at the manor house. Mrs. de Bourgh wore the same dress she had worn while teaching. She had a shawl around her shoulders, and other than a little cross her late grandmother had given her on her fifth birthday, she wore no jewellery even though her personal jewellery had been restored to her almost a year past.
The brothers noticed she was hesitant as she was shown into the drawing room—the one she used to rule over from her raised throne-like chair. It did not escape her notice that the house had been redecorated and the décor looked similar to that in the Fitzwilliam and Darcy houses—understated elegance with no gaudy or ostentatious displays.
“Welcome, Mother,” Anne said warmly.
“Anne?” Catherine froze as she saw the pretty woman who stood before her. Anne was the picture of health and looked much like Catherine had around the same age, except Anne was happy rather than looking to find fault as her mother had been prone to do.
“Hello, Catherine,” her brother welcomed her.
“Reggie and Elaine,” Catherine acknowledged her brother and sister, but her eyes were locked on the commanding presence of her daughter. She thought after that day and her disgusting behaviour at Pemberley she would never see Anne again. Catherine’s overwhelming gratitude caused tears to flow freely down her cheeks. “Anne, you look wonderful; I never dared to hope you would allow me in your company again.”
“As you used to be, Mother,” Anne stated as she approached her weeping mother, “no, I would not have wanted to know you. However, the lady you have become, the one that sees to the needs of others to the exclusion of her own needs, the lady who is happy among the people of Hunsford and Westerham and does not try and exert her authority over them, that mother is the one who I would very much like to come to know.”
“You will forgive me?” Catherine asked between sobs.
“How could I not?” Anne enfolded her mother in a hug. “Many would have become bitter and resentful, refused to see the error of their ways. You have made many more changes than most are forced to make, and I—no, the whole family—want to get know Mrs. Catherine de Bourgh.”
“My brother Darcy would welcome me back into his company, William and Georgiana too?” Catherine asked in wonder.
“You are not the only one who is able to change, Cathy,” her brother informed his sister. She felt warmth and gratitude when Reggie used the name he used to call her as a little girl for the first time in almost forty years.
“Cathy, would you like me to ask the Prince to restore your courtesy title?” Lord Reggie asked.
