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The conversation in the study was not too long. Thanks to the information gleaned from Mrs Annesley, the Bennet parents were already well aware of Mrs Crawford’s qualifications. They knew that one of her posts had been as governess to a royal princess, but based on what Mrs Annesley told them, that was not something Mrs Crawford would discuss as she was sworn to keep the royals’ confidence. Both Mr and Mrs Bennet asked questions which were answered to their satisfaction. At the end of the interview, Bennet requested that the lady return to the drawing room and join her sister. He told her she would be summoned as soon as he and his wife spoke.

“Well, Fanny, what think you? Will you be comfortable allowing Mrs Crawford to teach you the ways of the gentry? Please remember, it is not a demand I am making for you to take any sort of lessons. It is entirely up to you.”

“It will only assist me to learn more about the way to behave as a gentlewoman, so yes, Thomas, I would enjoy having her as a companion,” Fanny agreed. “With Mary soon to marry and Jane’s and Lizzy’s courtships proceeding well, the older three will not need a companion for very long. When all three are married she can be my companion and also help Mrs Taylor, the lady Maddie is sending, to us to educate Kitty and Lydia.”

Bennet rang for Hill and asked him to have Mrs Crawford join them. The position was offered and the lady accepted it.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

On Saturday, the Gardiner carriage arrived after conveying Mrs Taylor from Gracechurch Street to Longbourn. Seeing that the Gardiners would be arriving at Longbourn on the Friday before Christmas Eve, none of them accompanied the lady into Hertfordshire. One of the Gardiners’ maids and a footman travelled with her.

As they trusted Maddie and Edward Gardiner implicitly, Bennet and Fanny decided there was no need to interview the lady. They offered her the position on the strength of the glowing recommendations from the Gardiners, and Mrs Taylor happily accepted. She was introduced to all the Bennet sisters and her two charges were pointed out to her. She specialised in hard-to-reach children which was the reason the Gardiners had been sure she was the right lady for the task at hand. She also met Mrs Crawford. She knew of that lady by reputation and was happy they would be working together.

With Mary leaving the home in less than a month, her chamber would soon be open. It also seemed like Jane and Elizabeth would not be far behind her. Hence, when their parents requested it, Mary agreed to share a chamber with Elizabeth, and Lydia with Kitty. This opened up the two chambers needed to house the two ladies. Kitty and Lydia were assured that as soon as their sisters married, they would once again each have a chamber to themselves.

The lessons would begin for the two youngest Bennets on Monday upcoming, and Mrs Crawford would accompany the eldest three sisters whenever they left the house.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

On Saturday evening when William Bennet arrived at the parsonage in the Longbourn Village, his hosts asked him to join them in the sitting room.

William felt very comfortable in this house as it was not very different in size and layout to his parsonage in Hunsford. Add to that, Mr Pierce was a clergyman who acted like William tried to act; that is, living his faith and not preaching one thing and doing another.

“You asked me to join you?” William enquired. Normally, the old couple was in bed by the time he returned from Longbourn.

“Indeed, young man, we did. Hester and I have been speaking of my time in the church more and more of late,” Pierce stated as his wife nodded her agreement. “My Hester is still a spring chicken who will only reach the age of sixty next year, but I am soon to be seventy. It seems that our Lord God has indeed agreed to grant me at least three score and ten in the mortal world. This, William, my boy, is a long way of telling you that I want to retire. We have three sons and two daughters, all of whom are married, and at last count, fourteen grandchildren; and in the next year, we will be great-grandparents. I would like my last years He grants me to be surrounded by my beloved family.”

“You have served God as well as any of us for many years; you deserve to rest and to be with your children and grandchildren,” William responded. “Why tell me before you speak to my cousin?”

“Because when I meet with Bennet, I would like to recommend you as my replacement; that is, if you agree,” Pierce replied.

“I am not one of those clergymen who collect livings to increase their wealth and status. I will only hold one living at a time,” William revealed. “Is there no one else you could think of to try and fill your shoes?”

“Did you not tell me that your curate, a man named George Keating, deserved to be preferred to the Hunsford living, but the former patroness would not accept him because he was not the pusillanimous bootlicker she was seeking? You also told me that the parishioners are very comfortable with him,” Pierce pointed out.

“Yes, I did say that,” William owned.

“I honour you for not wanting to be one of those clergymen who have multiple livings and leave all the work to a curate while they count their pieces of silver. That is why I am suggesting you recommend Mr Keating to the living in Hunsford, and you take the one here. It will allow you to keep an eye on your inheritance, and you will be aware if Bennet falls back into his old ways,” Pierce added slyly.

“There is much logic in what you propose,” William acknowledged. “Allow me a few days to speak to Mary and write to my patroness. I will give you an answer forthwith. Certainly before I return to Hunsford on Thursday upcoming.”

Pierce extended his hand and he and William shook. When the Pierces went to their bed, they were close to ebullient as they were almost certain young William would be the next parson at St Hugh’s.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

At Church on Sunday, Mary informed William that Mr Bingley had sent a note with the news that the Earl and Countess of Matlock, former Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Miss de Bourgh would arrive on Monday, negating the need for William to write to his patroness.

After the midday meal, William asked Mary to join him in the west parlour, with Mrs Crawford chaperoning them. She agreed without delay. The couple, with the companion trailing them, made their way to the parlour. Mrs Crawford took a seat as far from the couple as possible and commenced knitting. Mary and William sat on the sofa on the opposite side of the room.

William Bennet shared what the Pierces had discussed with him and asked Mary’s opinion.

“I pray that Papa has made permanent changes to his character. That being said, I agree with Mr Pierce that there are myriad advantages to being close to Longbourn,” Mary stated. “Did you not say that the parsonage and the glebe lands are comparable in size to what they are in Hunsford?”

“Indeed, I did. Also, Pierce was correct that Keating deserves to have the living. I am certain that if I recommend him, Miss de Bourgh will prefer him to the parish,” William related.

“Had Mamma, Papa, Kitty, and Lydia remained as they were before you took charge of things, I would not have wanted to live too close to Longbourn; but that is no longer the case,” Mary added. “Anything we can do to allow Mr Pierce to retire will be a blessing.”

“When I return to the parsonage this evening, I will impart our decision to Mr Pierce. I still need to speak to Miss de Bourgh and Keating. Also, your father has to agree to prefer me to the Longbourn Village living.”