Chapter 7
Mr. Gardiner was a practical man. He knew his fortunes this far had a lot to do with luck. He knew if Fanny had married a lesser man, he would not have had the opportunity to invest in Meryton as his brother in-law did much to improve the local economy by providing work. As he took over the company where he worked, he needed his brother in-laws investment. Edward had even been thrilled when they offered him more than he needed. As he went through the accounts of Gardiner Imports, he invited Thomas up to work through them. As Thomas ran several estates, perhaps he would have some insights on where the firm could improve. Once he improved the efficiency of the company, Edward would start putting some of the profits into some of the new machinery and advances happening.
An invitation was sent off and promptly accepted. Thomas rode up with his family. After settling in, the house sat for dinner. Breaking from custom, they decided to let Jane and Elizabeth sit at the table while Mary was in the Nursery with her Nurse. Before departing the Nursery, Jane and Elizabeth each went to Mary to give her a kiss and tell her to behave for Nanny. They were sad to depart from Mary for dinner, but the excitement of seeing Uncle Ed and Aunt Maddy was much too exciting.
"Well Thomas, it would appear that this year will be a fine year for the Bennet and Gardiner households." Edward started of dinner.
"Indeed. With the death of my father we shall have much more freedom to move around and your new business looks to be a promising venture." Thomas was indeed glad that this year would be a turning point in their lives.
"Our children will not be forced into any form of matrimony or box and shall be free." Fanny refused to let her precious children be forced into a marriage like herself or Thomas' sister.
"Speaking of children; while we are in London, we were thinking of placing an advert for a governess. Would you mind terribly if we used your home for the interviews?"
"Not at all. Treat this as your own home. In fact, if you have a draft, I will send it to the paper for the earliest printing and sent a copy to our lawyer tomorrow to look into some options."
"Excellent. It is settled. When shall I sit and go through your books with you?"
"How does the day after the morrow sound. The ladies can then go shopping as I am sure they are eager to do."
"That is agreeable to me. Fanny are you in agreement?"
"I think it sounds lovely. Shall we also look around for a pianoforte and harp for Longbourn?"
"Ah yes. We shall need to procure and instrument and some learning materials for the girls."
"I think we can fit that into the schedule. You will be here for a few weeks."
The rest of dinner was spent discussing the schedule for the next few days, with Jane and Elizabeth occasionally inserting that they wanted to see a toy store.
The next morning the family spent catching up in the parlor while Fanny worked on teaching Jane and Elizabeth their stitches. In the afternoon, Uncle Ed got convinced to read to the girls after they worked on their letters and sums. The day was very relaxed. The next morning, all but the children piled into the carriage to set about their respective errands. The children remained at home with their nurse working on their lessons from the previous afternoon and having a dolly tea party.
At the office, Thomas and Edward started going through the reports to work out what money was being sent where and how much money various products were bringing in. They decided to first go through the largest purchases then work onto the smallest purchases. As they went through each good was notated in a new book with the purchase and sale information. They got through the last 3 months of data before they decided to take the new book home for the afternoon and peruse this information. It would be in this manner the next week was spent, with two afternoons being dedicated to Thomas getting a fitting for a few new shirts and breeches.
The next week, they started getting responses to the advert they placed. The mornings would continue to be spent with Thomas and Edward at the office of Gardiner Imports or touring a warehouse, and the afternoon was spent interviewing potential candidates. It was here they met Ms. Watkins. The lady entered the parlor clearly nervous. As she settled down in a chair and the interview started she demonstrated a clear breadth of knowledge and understanding in the development of a lady. She was fluent in French and German, knew the pianoforte and harp, and was proficient at painting and sketching.
"Madam, you sound like a marvelous fit and clearly far more qualified that we were expecting. May I inquire after a reference?" Mr. Bennet was quite surprised that such a qualified candidate walked in the door for the position of governess to a gentleman's daughter in a small county.
At this she visibly deflate and sighed. "Sir, I do not have a reference letter. And I am afraid that I may also be disqualified for another reason. I am with child and no husband."
"I do not wish to judge. So why don't you tell us your story?" Fanny had become very much an advocate for women in all sorts of straights.
"I got a position in the house of a baronet. The first few months went well, I got along with my charge and she showed much potential. However, after a few months, the baronet started making advances. I turned him away and tried to avoid being near him. I did everything proper." As the story progressed, Ms. Watkins started to shake and her voice became more stilted. Fanny quickly reached over to provide a comforting hand, which was gratefully accepted. "One night, he was much more in his cups than usual. I locked my door every night. As the owner of the house, I should have realized he had a key. Well, that night he broke in and took advantage of me. I begged him to stop. The next morning, he got up and left like nothing happened. I didn't know what to do. I remember feeling numb for the next few days. I had nowhere to go and a little bit of money. I decided to wait until my next pay at the end of the week and disappear into the night. I kept hearing the servants whisper my name as I was now a pariah. I asked for more money when I went to collect my pay, and was laughed at. That night I boarded a carriage to London. I immediately looked for more employment, but I soon realized I was with child. No one would take me on as a governess. I saw your ad in the paper, and I did not wish to lie to you. But if it is a problem, I can pretend to be a widow or wait until the child is born then say it is my younger brother. I will do anything."
The sheer desperation and her story were enough that Fanny and Maddy were both in tears. "Will you wait in the hall Ms. Watkins?" Edward knew this was a matter to be discussed before the interview preceded. She nodded, looking resigned and ready for rejection.
The moment she stepped out a chorus of "We must hire her," rang from Fanny and Maddy.
"We must also consider the implications of a child out of wedlock on your daughters and their reputations." Edward wanted to hire the young woman too, as she was qualified and in clear need of help, but he also knew that the family had to be protected.
"We managed to hide an estate that makes seven thousand pounds a year from our neighbors and planned the secret take-over of Long's imports. I think we can manage one more secret." Fanny bristled. She would defend this young woman.
"And how do you suppose we hide it?" Thomas decided to hear out Fanny. While she was occasionally impulsive and was quite willing to take risks, she was very intelligent. It was a trait the siblings shared.
"We were talking about taking in some of the foundlings on the estate and moving some of the married servants to the empty cottages that are promised to long serving employees. If she joins the estate, then she can remain out of view of the public. The servants are loyal and won't talk. We also discussed providing them basic reading and writing before we trained them for duties on an estate. Her child can join the foundlings in the school room and in training on the estate." Fanny had the basics of a plan alright, and this even fit neatly into her side project.
"It is a decent plan, though more details will need to be ironed." Edward conceded that the plan could work. He had seen firsthand the loyalty of those on the estate. "While she is here, I also think it prudent to call her Mrs. Watkins. She need not say she is a widow, as I doubt any will ask. But my staff is not nearly so loyal."
"Stay here?" Fanny was confused as to what Edward was suggesting.
"Well, as you said, she is clearly desperate. You have a nurse upstairs to whom the situation can be explained. And if she stays here, the girls can get a jump start on the education and she can help you select the best learning materials."
"That is a marvelous idea." Maddy was immediately on board with the idea. "I shall have another room in the servant's hall prepared."
"Perhaps we shall inform her of her employment."
After being brought in and offered another cup of tea, they explained the plan to her. The relief on her face was evident, and she broke down in tears thanking them for their kindness. The position was immediately accepted, and a footman was sent to help her pack her bags in the inn she was staying at and settle her bill.
The next morning she was introduced to her new charges. And the next week was spent as starting on her duties, while the rest of the family continued to work on their business. Edward and Thomas had decided to cut the bottom performing goods from shipments, reorganize the warehouse, and adjust the manifest logs as the first orders of business. The decided the following year when new contracts were negotiated, several goods could likely be negotiated down in price in exchange for larger orders. Warehouses would also maintain detailed logs of every item in and out.
The last weekend in town, Edward and Thomas planned to go to a demonstration on some new machinery being put on by the Royal Society. As they sat discussing it one afternoon, Jane started looking at the pictures in the magazines advertising the demonstrations and asked to go. Thomas and Edward tried to persuade her that it wouldn't be very interesting. Jane pleaded and pleaded.
"But Uncle Ed, I want to go. Please?"
"My darling niece, it will be filled with older men all talking about boring things."
"Please? I want to see the pretty pictures move."
After many minutes of begging, Uncle Ed relented if Fanny and Maddy agreed to go. Jane convinced Elizabeth to help her beg Aunt Maddy. Soon the entire family was taking a trip to the Royal Society's demonstration. As they entered the hall, Jane immediately was entranced. Jane watched wide-eyed as the man giving the demonstration crouched next to her and Elizabeth and explained what the machine did. Elizabeth was equally entranced by a discussion with a discussion on mathematics and the concept of alchemy.
That evening Jane and Elizabeth could only talk about the wonders they say. The adults wondered if this was a budding interest. Before leaving Thomas and Edward discussed the possibility of allowing the two girls to explore this unusual interest. They decided to wait to see how their interests would pan out. If interested the girls would be supported and encouraged to pursue their interests. The discussed these plans with the new governess. While surprised, she realized that it was this openness that provided her safety and if such openness was well managed there was no reason the girls couldn't explore such options. She agreed that allowing them to develop the interest would be beneficial before pursuing anything, but providing a few books and reading materials to herself may be useful so she can maintain the conversation and see if it the interest naturally develops. Thomas and Edward agreed and discussed the plan with Fanny and Maddy (who also agreed).
The rest of the trip was spent picking out reading materials for the governess on science, supplies for the school room (for both the girls and the foundlings), a pianoforte, a harp, and a few new frocks for the children.
