Dear readers,
I'm back to work on this, but yeah, the first line still needs work.
CL

CHAPTER ONE

August 1811

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man acting as sole guardian to an adolescent girl must be in want of a wife.

The thought no more appeared in the mind of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy than he banished it. Such inklings were unhelpful at best, and distracting at worst. He had a duty to perform, and perform it he would. Mr. Darcy turned to face his cousin, glancing across the too-warm sitting room at the Colonel.

"She needs a governess," said Darcy.

"They're easily gotten," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. "The servants will not have discarded the morning papers yet, I expect; we could have a look."

"I find the idea of bringing on a perfect stranger to the task… unsavory," said Darcy. The Colonel shrugged.

"Boarding school, then," he replied. "Ten's as good an age as any to go. Likely do the girl some good to be among other young ladies."

It was the most rational choice to be sure yet Darcy was loathe to send the girl away when she'd only just arrived. The death of a parent was a grievous injury for any man — how much more so for a girl of ten?

He did not consider himself a sentimental man, but it was no hardship to rouse empathy for the orphaned bastard left to his care. Young Miss Susan Avery deserved that much of his consideration at least.

"Let me think on it," he said at length.

"There's no rush to it," said the Colonel. "She's well provided here at Pemberley."

"I've had a letter from Charles Bingley," said Darcy. "He desires my company at his new estate in Hertfordshire."

"Ah," said the Colonel. "You don't want to leave the girl unattended."

"You see my dilemma."

The child would hardly be alone. Pemberley was among the largest family homes in the county; at any given moment it housed well over a hundred servants, not counting the locals who farmed or worked the grounds. Susan Avery would be well cared for at Pemberley; his housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, would see to it.

"It speaks well of you, cousin," said Colonel Fitzwilliam with a smile. "That you feel so keenly for a young orphan who's been thrust upon you."

"It's hardly the child's fault," said Darcy archly. "I expect she did not ask to be delivered from her home to my door like some parcel."

"Even so," said the Colonel. "When will you depart for Hertfordshire?"

"Bingley takes possession of the place at Michaelmas. I intend to follow within a fortnight."

"You've plenty of time, then," said the Colonel.

"Plenty of time for what?" said a female voice.

Georgiana Darcy came in to the room, quietly taking the chair nearest the Colonel. He was a favorite to them both, almost a second father to Darcy's young sister.

"Susan Avery has had no education to speak of," said Darcy. He would not conceal his plan from his sister, not when concealment had lately caused so much pain between them. "I intend to place her with a reputable boarding school, as soon as a situation can be found."

"Oh, please," said Georgiana. "Please, do not make her go."

"I understand you feel for the girl, Georgiana, but she must be properly looked after. If I am to see to her education we'll have to find a place for her," said Darcy. He disliked refusing his sister anything, but five years of raising her up since their own father passed had taught Darcy to be swift where he could not indulge.

"Why not hire a governess? I had one," she said, her distress plain.

"We've discussed it," Darcy said, glancing at the Colonel. "If a suitable candidate can be found in a reasonable frame of time, there's no reason young Susan might not have a governess."

"You procured the nursery maid quickly enough," said Georgiana.

"I have some experience hiring servants, Georgiana," said Darcy. "I have no experience whatsoever with hiring a governess."

Not to mingle with servants, nor to act as part of the family, a governess held a particular - and very separate - station in a household.

"You were away at Cambridge when Miss Bartlett came to stay," said Georgiana, nodding as the memory surfaced.

"Precisely," said Darcy. "Our mother had the hiring of Miss Bartlett, and I knew nothing about the matter. At the time, I did not need to know."

"And now, here sit we three," said the Colonel, smiling again. "Educated, refined, with resources enough to hire any person in the country and yet we seem to be unable to come to a consensus on this point."

Darcy did not acknowledge the Colonel's teasing, though he earned a small smile from Georgiana.

"We will hire a governess, if you wish young Susan to remain at Pemberley," Darcy said to his sister. "In the meantime, I am to travel to Hertfordshire next month to see Mr. Bingley at his new estate."

"Will you take Susan with you?" asked Georgiana.

"Certainly not," said Darcy. It would be inappropriate and decidedly inconvenient, for he did not intend to remain away for long. The presence of a child and all the accompanying considerations would inevitably hamper his movements. "I believe she will be more comfortable here. Armitage, the new nursery maid, will keep her company. And I daresay there are other children on the grounds to keep her amused."

"She should not be left alone," said Georgiana softly. Darcy's frustration rose, but his sister continued in that same gentle tone. "I would stay behind with her."

"Aren't you bound for London next week?" asked the Colonel. Fitzwilliam knew the scheme full well; it had been his office to employ a suitable new companion for Georgiana at her new establishment in Town, to replace the deceitful Mrs. Younge now banished from their company.

"I am," she said. "That is, I was. I would stay behind with Susan, if it pleases you." Georgiana bowed her head. The Colonel nodded at Darcy, his expression full of approval. Darcy remained unconvinced.

"Why should you remain at Pemberley?" he asked. "Would you not prefer the diversions of London? You're to resume your lessons with Master Frederick." She was devoted to her practice; a gifted player, his sister.

Georgiana rose suddenly and slowly crossed the room, avoiding their eyes. Knowing Georgiana's modest temper so well as only family could, the men waited in silence.

"You think me fearful," she said, finally meeting her brother's eyes. "I cannot fault you for it. Perhaps I am afraid to be out among company again after failing you so wretchedly this summer."

Darcy could not stand to hear her speak thus.

"You did not fail, certainly not in any way that could be described as wretched, and I will not hear you speak of yourself in so denigrating a manner," he said in a low, cold voice. "The man who imposed himself on you at Ramsgate is at fault."

"Nevertheless," said Georgiana, averting her eyes once more as a blush stained her cheeks. "My character is in question. I should like the opportunity to restore it, if only in your eyes."

Darcy heard his cousin sigh. In that moment his hatred of George Wickham reached a new depth.

"I propose to remain at Pemberley until such time as a suitable governess may be found; perhaps even past that time. I will attend Susan in the meantime. My own governess Miss Bartlett was a credit to her profession; everyone said so. Perhaps I might make myself useful in instructing Susan until then," said Georgiana.

"You take too much upon yourself," said the Colonel.

"Perhaps," Georgiana conceded. She looked to Darcy. "Please, brother? I will not fail you again."

A fracture where Darcy's heart had been healing shifted, widening once more. Had his father seen fit to tell him the truth, had he trusted him all those years ago, poor Georgiana would have been spared this pain.

"You are too severe upon yourself," he said darkly, after a calming moment. Georgiana made no reply but waited for his answer.

"I could as easily arrange for Mrs. White to travel here as Mayfair," Fitzwilliam said to Darcy, referring to Georgiana's new companion. "Master Frederick, too, if he's available."

The Colonel's acquiescence was necessary as they shared the guardianship of Darcy's young sister, though it was perhaps now more a formality than anything else. As his cousin's approbation was clear, Darcy relented.

"You may stay with young Susan," said Darcy. "However, I expect letters from each of you while I'm gone. We'll have no more secrets between us."

"Of course, brother. Thank you," said Georgiana, making curtsy as she smiled. "How long will you be in Hertfordshire?" While Georgiana enjoyed their acquaintance with Mr. Bingley and his sisters she'd preferred little company since her return from Ramsgate.

"I've not yet determined my return," said Darcy.

"Will we be seeing young Miss Susan at dinner this evening?" asked the Colonel.

"I do not believe so," said Georgiana. "Three weeks she's been here and she's not dined with us since the first night."

The child had been too frightened to speak and wholly ignorant of appropriate table manners. On reflection Darcy realized he ought to have expected as much; it benefitted no one to force the girl to lollop her way through social graces, the likes of which she'd never seen.

Perhaps Georgiana's suggestion had merit. But for a lingering tendency toward shyness his sister was ladylike in every respect, a fact in which Darcy took immense pride. Georgiana's continued presence at Pemberley guaranteed his young ward would have daily proof of the deportment required of her to move in society. Until he was able to secure an appropriate governess to see to young Susan's specific instruction, perhaps this was truly the best course of action.

"If that is all," Darcy said. Georgiana and the Colonel both nodded.

"Do excuse me," he said. "I must write to Mr. Bingley."