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“Drunk and confused. He was clearly drunk, he had to be helped to his feet from the floor, and he had spread the blood about his face and chest more than staunched it. It fits into the pattern. None of the principals would confirm the timing but I heard from the Longbourn servants before I left, the local servants network keeping them appraised. He slept through everyone going to bed and it was only because Bingley woke him that he knew it was time to go to bed. That was between 11.00 and 11.20. He had slept for at least two hours so was probably not tired. There was an almost empty decanter of brandy discovered in the billiard room the next morning. Given that he woke the house just after 1.30 in the morning, my guess he was not tired, took the brandy through to the billiard room and wiled away a couple of hours. It appears to be the best way to account for the time gap.”

Elizabeth sighed.

“As to why he was trying to get into my bedroom I do not know. Walking down the corridor, my room was the second last on the right hand side, with Jane in the room beyond mine. We were the only two guests using rooms in the guest wing of the house. His own room, next to that of his wife was the last room on the left hand side of the family corridor. A completely different corridor and a different room location both in terms of the side and location of the room. I have said maybe half a dozen sentences to the man since I met him. It is not that he dislikes me, it is more he cannot understand me. The two instances that spring to mind were that I preferred a plain dish to a ragout, and the very evening of the incident he was confused that I preferred to read rather than playing cards. We were as close to indifferent strangers as it was possible to be while residing in the same house.”

“I am sorry to ask this, and again, I am assigning no blame to you. But do you think he was there deliberately. I was about to say consciously but I am not sure of the state of his mind.”

“If I had been awake 20 seconds earlier, 30 seconds earlier, then I might have an inkling as to why he was there.”

She fought her blush.

“If he had been standing at the door shouting ‘Elizabeth’ then we would be more certain as to the why. But it changes nothing about the outcome. My own best guess is drunken stupidity. Yet he chose my door, not the last on the left hand side of the guest corridor, and not any of the other bedrooms. Other than the room occupied by Jane they were all empty, yet he ended up bashing open my door. A door that was locked and in which I had left the key.”

Her blush brightened.

“Never having been party to an assignation I have no idea how they are conducted. But even a maiden such as myself can see that loud shouting and breaking a door down in the middle of the night, is not what one would expect. We will never know.”

Elizabeth’s aunt pulled her to her feet, hugging her fiercely.

“As you say, it changes nothing. I am sorry that it has come to this for you. May we ask your intentions?”

Her husband, Elizabeth’s uncle and her mother’s brother, was sat beside his wife. He was not being silently censorious, if anything he was being considerate, allowing his wife to handle the delicate topics.

“I am going to find the nearest library and start a rapid course in improvement. If I could ask you to check with your acquaintances and friends as to the qualifications of a governess, then I would be very grateful.”

Edward Gardiner spoke for the first time.

“It is a difficult life Lizzie.”

“I know Uncle, but what else am I to do? The spinster is a burden to her family, I know this as I have heard Charlotte Lucas talk of it for several years now.”

“Pardon my interruption but what was her reaction?”

“Silence.”

“After a friendship for all these years?”

“How much of it is her own inclination, and how much is the demand of her mother, I do not know. But Lady Lucas was happy to join in the damnation of my character.”

“Really?”

“She has a very complicated relationship with Mrs. Bennet. That lady called Charlotte plain, not just in comparison to Jane, but just plain generally. And she did so in the parlour of Longbourn in the company of the Netherfield Park party. Mrs. Bennet was happy to sow on the subject of the difference between beautiful and plain daughters. Now she is reaping the harvest as Lady Lucas talked of the difference between chaste and disgraced daughters.”

The Gardiners winced at the words and noted the disinterested tone of their niece.

“What are you going to study?”

“I have rudimentary French and so I will wish to practice that. Once I know what I need to demonstrate for the mistress of the house then I will concentrate on those subjects. I can sing and I can play the piano, although not well. The one area which may be an issue is my drawing and painting. I am terrible and have not attempted any decorative arts in at least eight years, maybe longer.”

“Our children are probably still a year away from needing a governess but we will advertise for one. It will allow us to ask about the skills they need to display, as well as the breadth of their knowledge. The other thing to consider is that you can improve over the years. You do not need to fully qualified when you are first hired, as long as you are ahead of your charge or charges then you will be fine.”

“That is a good point, and one I had not thought of. Thank you, Uncle Edward.”

Elizabeth stood but before she retired for the night she addressed them both.

“I am lucky to have you both. I do not know what I would have done if you had not been willing to accommodate me until I can find a position. I will forever be in your debt.”

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