Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reading and for your kind reviews! I have gotten several questions about the ages of the characters, and so I thought I would list them here to make it clear for everyone.

Elizabeth – 30
Sarah – 10
Hugh – 4
Darcy – 23
Georgiana – 11
Jane – 32
Bingley – 22
Caroline – 19
Richard – 23

Hope that clears things up, and please enjoy this next chapter!

Chapter 6

The next day, Darcy received a missive from Northmore House. It was a message from the countess, with a short list of names of governesses that she recommended, along with the addresses where they could be reached. With the letter came a small book with blank pages. There was a Post Script at the end of the letter.

"Sarah and I went to the bookstore this morning and picked out this diary specifically for Georgiana. Perhaps she might find a use for it."

Darcy felt his heart swell at the sight of it, and was afraid that his infatuation for Lady Northmore was getting out of control. Instead, he focused on finishing his business for the day, so he could contact the prospective governesses on the list. But that was only after he called Georgiana down his study to give her the diary. She took it with a small smile tinged with sorrow, and disappeared back up to her room.

Darcy was beginning to wish he had Lady Northmore with him when he interviewed these governesses. He had originally expected Richard to be there; but Richard was busy with his regiment and Darcy did not know when he would see him again.

The first interview was a disaster. The woman looked about sixteen and was frail and tiny. She fairly trembled at every question he asked, and he found himself trying to temper his annoyance at her timidity, which just made her more nervous. When he asked for her references, and she stammered that she had not brought them with her, he thought that his involuntary frown would cause her to burst into tears. He quickly dismissed her.

The second interview went just as badly. The second interviewee was an old battle-ax of a woman dressed in black, about age forty. Her responses became more combative the more questions he asked, until both of them seemed to be gnashing their teeth. He dismissed her too and then sat in frustration. Why would Lady Northmore recommend these women? Perhaps she knew something he did not. There were still two names on the list. Perhaps he should simply ask her.

He pondered how he could do so, eventually coming across the slightly deceptive idea of bringing Georgiana with him on the pretense of wishing to see Lady Sarah and the dog again. He went to find his sister.

"Georgiana, would you like to come to the Northmores' with me? Perhaps you could see Lady Sarah again and her dog."

Georgiana looked up from the desk where she had been writing in her diary. Her face lit up. "I would love to!"

"We will leave in half an hour," he said, then left her to get ready.

Elizabeth was walking in the garden with Kitty, laughing over Lydia's last letter describing her baby's antics, when a footman came back to inform her that they had visitors.

"Visitors?" Her brows furrowed in confusion. It was not time for visiting. "Who is it?"

"Mr. Darcy and his sister, Miss Darcy, my lady."

Elizabeth's expression cleared. "Oh, that is all right. Have them brought into the drawing room and tell them we shall be in soon."

"Who are the Darcys?" asked Kitty curiously. She had grown into a beautiful woman, tall, slender, and with golden hair. At age twenty-seven, one could not tell that she had birthed two children and was three-months along with her third.

"Miss Darcy is a new friend of Sarah," Elizabeth explained. "We met at the park completely by accident, and Sarah was enchanted by her. In fact, I think the feeling is mutual; although I wonder if the attraction for Chester is not as strong." The sisters laughed together, and Kitty petted the head of the dog, who was walking next to them. He had been barred from the schoolroom so the children would not be distracted while they worked.

"Let us go in. Would you like to meet them?"

"Certainly," replied Kitty good-naturedly. Elizabeth thought she resembled Jane more every day.

When they entered the drawing room, Chester at once made a beeline for Georgiana, who looked delighted.

"Good afternoon Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy," she curtsied.

Darcy bowed and Georgiana curtseyed as best she could while still petting the dog.

"Thank you for receiving us, Lady Northmore. I know you were not receiving visitors today."

Elizabeth waved away his concern. "It is no trouble, Mr. Darcy. Do not concern yourself. May I introduce my sister, Mrs. Catherine Winthrop, although she goes by Kitty in the family."

Darcy and Kitty greeted each other pleasantly.

"Perhaps you would like to go upstairs to see Sarah?" Elizabeth turned to Georgiana. "She is at her studies with her cousin Belinda, and Hugh and Randolph, Belinda's brother, are playing in the nursery. I am afraid Chester cannot accompany you, however. He is too distracting to the children while they are attempting to learn."

Georgiana had no problem with this stricture. Kitty offered to take her up to the nursery; Elizabeth figured she probably also needed the retiring room again and was taking the chance to make a polite escape. The constant need to relieve herself had always afflicted her when she was with child as well. So she and Darcy were left to themselves for a few minutes. She immediately asked him how his hunt for a governess was going. Darcy seemed relieved at the question.

"It is going very poorly indeed," he said. "Lady Northmore, perhaps I am doing something wrong, for I cannot imagine that your candidates would be so bad."

"The candidates were bad?" She wanted to laugh, but it was clear that Mr. Darcy was truly distressed, and she did not desire to make him feel worse.

He described his meetings with Miss Groves and Mrs. Brown, and Elizabeth wondered how the young man had treated his interviewees, hearing the way they reacted to his questioning.

"I am sure they were not bad; but perhaps I do not know how to interview them adequately. I was wondering if, perhaps, you would do me the great favour of helping me interview the next two candidates? Perhaps we could meet them here."

Elizabeth nearly smiled. This young man was obviously in over his head when it came to young ladies. Although it would not be strictly proper to go to a bachelor's home with only his young sister in residence, she supposed that the rules of propriety would be observed if Darcy and Georgiana came here, since Kitty and her family were staying with them. She saw the uncertainty in the young man's eyes and felt compassion for him. "I would be delighted to help, Mr. Darcy," she replied. "Would tomorrow be convenient? Have you contacted the other two candidates?"

"I have," he said, looking relieved.

"Would you like to come upstairs with me? We could observe Sarah's governess, Miss Snow, while they are at work. You could see how a proper governess behaves. As long as we only peek through the door the children will not know we are there."

"Yes, thank you," he replied.

Elizabeth led him upstairs to the nursery and cracked the door open slowly and silently. The backs of Georgiana, Sarah, and six-year-old Belinda were to the door, so only the governess saw them as they stood in the doorway, and she said nothing. Hugh and Randolph, Kitty's three-year-old son, were playing quietly with their toys on the floor beside the table where their sisters were working.

Miss Snow was about five-and-twenty, a pretty woman with fair hair and skin but dressed in a severe dark grey gown and her hair was up in a simple bun. She was obviously teaching a geography lesson, for she had a globe before her on the table; but it was also obvious that Sarah was not paying attention, distracted by her friend.

"Lady Sarah, you must pay attention if you wish to learn. I know it is exciting that your friend is here, but perhaps she would like to learn something too. Would you like to learn about different countries, Miss Darcy?"

"Indeed, I would," Georgiana replied. "Could you tell us about Brazil? That is where the tapir at the menagerie came from."

"I certainly can. Can you show me where Brazil is on the globe?" She brought the sphere closer. Georgiana could not find it, but Sarah pointed it out after a minute's searching.

As Miss Snow began a fascinating story of the country of Brazil, Elizabeth observed Darcy. He seemed genuinely interested in the proceedings, and she was impressed that he would take such care over his young sister. Most young men his age and position would pass off the responsibility to a nanny or a relative so that they could live a life of ease, free of duty.

They listened for about ten minutes, while Miss Snow wove a fascinating tale from facts about life in Brazil. When it seemed that the governess was about to finish her lesson, Darcy backed out of the room with Elizabeth.

"I am impressed, Lady Northmore," he said. "She was able to correct Lady Sarah kindly but firmly, and seems to be able to make learning entertaining."

"We shall see if we can find a governess for your sister tomorrow. Maybe you could come in the early afternoon? Then we can have some tea afterwards."

"You are very kind. Thank you."

"It is no trouble at all. Should we retrieve your sister?"

"Yes. I am afraid I still have some business to conduct before the day is over."

They went back into the nursery, and Darcy told his sister it was time to go. She started to pout, but cheered up when he assured her they would be back tomorrow.

"We shall have ever so much fun, Georgiana," Sarah consoled her. "Belinda is not as much fun as you, because she is only six. But at least I get to tell her what to do. I am the oldest of all my cousins."

Elizabeth smothered a smile. "Goodbye, Georgiana. We shall see you tomorrow," she said.

Darcy was oddly nervous the next day when he arrived with Georgiana back at Northmore House. He realized that he wanted to make a good impression on the widowed countess. He had never worried about that before; in the past people had always deferred to him because of his wealth and position. But he found that he truly wanted Lady Northmore to like him, to even admire him as he admired her.

He also wanted Georgiana to have everything she needed, and that included an education, hopefully from a knowledgeable but kind woman.

He had written to the two next interviewees to request their presence at the Northmore townhouse. He was dreadfully behind in his business matters; he had done almost none of it since they had arrived in London; but Georgiana was more important. Once he had this settled, he could return to the matters of the estate. His father had imbued in him a strong sense of duty to his tenants and to all the people who relied upon Pemberley for their livelihood. He wanted to live up to his father's legacy.

When he and Georgiana arrived, she was quickly ushered away by Sarah, who had come with Chester to greet her at the door. Her cousin, Belinda, tagged along behind them, and Darcy watched them go with a smile.

"Belinda is a good girl," said Lady Northmore. "She worships Sarah, and even though Sarah sometimes complains about her clinging, I think she secretly enjoys it."

Darcy smiled again. "I was impressed with Miss Snow yesterday," he said.

"Yes. Let us see if we can find a good candidate for Georgiana. Why do not you begin the interview, and if I feel I need to add anything, I will?"

"Very well. Shall we have the meeting in the study?"

Elizabeth looked surprised. "The study? Is that where you met the others?"

"Yes. Is that not a good place?"

"I would suggest having tea brought, and sitting down with them in the drawing room."

Darcy was not sure what difference that would make, but listened to her advice.

When the first candidate came in, Darcy rose and offered her a seat before asking her name. This woman was a capable-looking matron of about fifty. She looked slightly surprised, especially since he had a piece of parchment before him with her name right on it, but she answered him politely. As he asked each question, the woman seemed to become more and more uncomfortable. Darcy was about to get frustrated again, when Lady Northmore interrupted the conversation. She had said nothing up to now.

"If you will excuse us, Mrs. Garret," she said, "we would like to discuss something before we continue the interview."

"Of course," replied the woman, and after a curtsey left them to their conference.

Darcy looked at his companion questioningly. "Mr. Darcy," she began. "Did you speak to the other candidates the way you spoke to Mrs. Garret today?"

Darcy was bewildered. "I did. Is there some problem with that? For I cannot imagine all your candidates are poor."

"They are not," she said with a little laugh. "Mr. Darcy, you spoke with them as if you were speaking to your steward, or to a servant who worked for you."

Darcy did not see a problem with that. "And that is wrong?"

"Most of the women who apply to be governesses are gentlewomen who have fallen on hard times, and must make their own way in life. When you speak to them brusquely and give orders, you either alarm them, as with Miss Groves, who barely escaped ravishment from her previous employer; or you offend them, as with Mrs. Brown, who was a member of the gentry up until last year when her husband died, leaving her impoverished. The governess is not seen as either servant or family member in the household, and it makes things difficult for them. Pretend you are speaking to a young lady you met at a ball, or a female cousin."

"I see," said Darcy, thinking through all she had said. He realized he had been speaking to all three women as if they were men of business he worked with, or servants who laboured for him. "Let us call Mrs. Garret back in."

Darcy did his best to be gentle and courteous in his questioning this time, and he noticed Mrs. Garret relaxing considerably. Once she had done so, he found her a capable woman, although perhaps a bit severe for someone as tender-hearted as Georgiana. Once she had been dismissed, Lady Northmore turned to Darcy.

"That went much better, I believe. What did you think of her?"

"She is very capable, but I am not convinced she would be the best choice."

"Shall we see the last candidate?"

"Yes, indeed."

The final candidate was a woman of about thirty-five who called herself Mrs. Annesley. She was polite and efficient in all her responses, and Darcy was careful to keep his tone from being condescending or curt. Lady Northmore occasionally asked pertinent questions that Darcy had not thought of, and he was grateful for it. Once more, they asked her for some time to discuss things, and once Mrs. Annesley had left, Elizabeth turned to her companion.

"I assume that you like her?" she asked.

"She does seem to be the best of all the candidates I have interviewed."

"I think it would be a good idea to bring Georgiana down to meet her, before you make any decisions."

"I shall do so. Thank you for the suggestion."

They rang for a servant, and ordered that Miss Darcy be brought to the drawing room. Georgiana appeared a few minutes later.

"Is it time to leave already, Brother? Sarah was just showing me the clapping game."

"Not quite yet. I want you to meet this lady and see if you would like her as your governess. She is the best of the ones I interviewed. Will you do that?"

"Of course, Brother."

Georgiana sat down between them, and arranged her skirts in a lady-like manner. Darcy suppressed a smile, and they called Mrs. Annesley back in.

At first, Georgiana was shy, but soon Mrs. Annesley had drawn her out into polite conversation. Both Darcy and Elizabeth saw that she had a gift with children.

"Thank you, Mrs. Annesley," said Darcy after fifteen minutes. "We shall be in contact."

"Thank you, sir, my lady," she said. "Good-bye, Miss Darcy."

"Good-bye," the girl replied.

"I like her," she said when Mrs. Annesley had left the room.

"Very well; then I will hire her," said Darcy.

"Miss Darcy, why do you not go find Sarah and tell her it is time to have some tea? You both will be hungry by now."

"Yes, of course, my lady," Georgiana replied before she sped away.

Darcy was surprised by how hungry he was. He had not realized how long he had been seated in this room in conference. He was infinitely grateful to Lady Northmore; he could not have done it without her.