Elizabeth was surprised to get an answer to her ad so quickly. Before she could lay her head on her pillow, the very day she threw her ad at Mr. Darcy, a heavy cream-colored envelope arrived addressed to her. It could only be one thing, she thought as she sat down at the little desk in her room. She had kept herself busy all day, remaking her wedding dress. She refused to wear Darcy's gowns. They were not befitting her new station in life. In them she was not her own woman, she was Darcy's. A day before, this thought might have made her feel a possessiveness toward the man who bought her such nice dresses. Today… she wished not to think about it. She had removed all the lace, all the pearls, from her dress; she had carefully pulled the intricate embroidery from its bodice. When she was done, it was a simple white gown devoid of all decoration and embellishment. It was plain and course. Perfect for her new station in life. She lifted out of the daze she had fell into and carefully opened the letter.

Miss. Bennett,

My children and I have just recently arrived here in Scotland. I was relieved to see your advertisement, as I am looking for a governess for my young son and a companion for my daughters. If you agree, your services are greatly needed immediately. I have no time for a reply to my letter. If you accept this job, simply be in front of your hotel at six tomorrow morning. A carriage will be waiting to take you to my estate.

Before you make your decision, I feel you should know that my name is synonymous with scandal. Your reputation might be tarnished for taking a job related to my household. All my servants take this risk. Is it one you are willing to take? If you accept my offer, we will discuss a salary once you have arrived.

Sincerely,

Mr. Roger Jones

Elizabeth was no stranger to scandal, especially not lately. She liked Mr. Jones' honesty; it spoke of a respectable man with a sense of humor, despite his reputation. She knew that she could not impugn on Mr. Darcy's hospitality any longer. She would pay back every penny for the dresses and room; she would be in that carriage at six.

The travel in the carriage had been lonely and tiring, but the house Elizabeth rolled up to was incredible beyond belief. It was a Scottish castle overgrown with the richest green ivy. The rolling hills that surrounded it were bright indeed, a glowing green backdrop for the deep green and gray of the castle and it's ivy. She was shown upstairs to her room by a bright-eyed young maid who was too shy to talk unless spoken to.

"You must be mistaken," admonished Elizabeth. "This room is too grand for me! Surely you've shown me to the wrong room."

The maid looked nervous, the small smile on her lips disappearing. "Oh no ma'am. This is the exact room. The master showed me himself." She decided to be offended instead of scared, and with a flip of her nose upward, left the room and closed the door behind her.

Elizabeth, who had been expecting a small cold room somewhere close to the children's quarters had every right to be surprised by the elegance that confronted her. She sat with a thump on the bed, feeling quite overwhelmed. She would take up the subject of her lodgings with he employer when first she met him. With this thought, she went to the mirror to tidy herself up before being shortly presented before him. She was pale and tired looking, and the simple white dress that was wore on the day that was supposed to have been the end of her life, but ended up being just the beginning, washed out her features even more, making her look almost sickly. But, she sighed, there was nothing to be done about this. She could not afford new clothing until paid Mr. Darcy back. Which she would do. She felt quite certain that he would try to fight her on this, but she would fight him back every step of the way.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Come in."

"Miss. The master wishes to see you now." Nodding her head, she followed the maid down the grand staircase and knocked on a large dark wooden door to the right.

"Come in!" said a jolly voice from the other side of the door. The maid opened the door, and granted a suddenly shy and nervous Elizabeth entrance. The man she saw sat in a small yet comfortable looking chair to the side of the large mahogany desk centered in the room. "Ah! You must be the incomparable Miss. Bennett," said the man, rising and striding across the room to grasp and thoroughly shake her hand. He was tall and well built with warm brown eyes and hair that was slightly silvered at temples and sprinkled like pepper throughout. He had laugh lines about his eyes and mouth and a twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes," said Elizabeth, making a slight bow once he had released her. "Are you Mr. Jones?"

"Yes, yes my dear, I am the very man. Now, have a seat my dear, and we'll discuss you're wages."

"Before we do… I think that I've been put in the wrong room sir."

"Oh no. I'm sure you were put right where you were intended to be put."

"Oh no, the room is too grand sir. Surely there is some mistake."

"Hm. Well, if you insist, but I would know nothing of it." Mr. Jones' face went beat red. "I'm afraid I've not been completely honest with you Miss. Bennett."

The very man she had admired for being utterly honest in his letter! All men were the same! First Darcy, then her employer… sigh. "Yes Mr. Jones."

"This is not my estate Miss. Bennett. It belongs to a very good old friend who is providing me and my family with sanctuary while in this country. I'm afraid he is the one who has housed you in such an unsatisfactory manner."

"Oh, I had no idea. My presence here isn't unsatisfactory in any way is it?"

"Oh quite the contrary dear," said Mr. Jones slyly.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing dear, nothing. Let us go up and meet the girls. I'm afraid my friend and master of this house has abducted my son Hinton. You will meet him later."

With that, she was swept upstairs to a series of large rooms on the third floor. She was ushered into a quaint little sitting room in between two bedrooms. Much to her amazement, two of the most exotic girls she had ever seen stood facing each other off in the middle of the room. Both had long curly dark hair that hung down their shoulders, defiant of all decorum and propriety. When they noticed that they were no longer alone in the room, they turned their sparking glares toward their father and guest. They were of the same height and build. The one on the right had slightly darker hair and lighter brown eyes, though her irises were not far from black. Her sister's hair had more auburn in it, more sunshine to it, and her eyes were as black as coal. Their skin was not the faint porcelain so coveted by Miss. Bingley and the rest of polite society. They were tanned darkly, the girl on the left more so than her sister however, whose skin had more of a dark olive look to it. "Hello father," said the girl on the right. There was a sincere look of affection in the girl's eyes.

"Hello father," echoed her sister, who still possessed an angry spark in the black wells of her orbs.

"Girls, I simply do not want to know what you were arguing about. I'm here to introduce your new governess." The one with the darker hair shot him a deadly look. "I'm sorry, your new companion." This seemed to appease her. "Miss. Bennett, this is my eldest, Elaina," he stepped toward the girl with the darker hair and affectionate eyes. The shook hands. Stepping to the other girl he announced, "And this is Rene, my youngest. Sixteen. Has yet to come out you know. She should this year. But we'll see." Rene gave him a deadly scowl.

"I will be out this season Miss. Bennett, whether my father approves or not."

Elizabeth's eyes widened and Mr. Jones stepped closer to the door. "I'll just leave you ladies to get better acquainted," said the cowering man as he left the room and practically ran down the hallway.

Elizabeth was left alone staring down her two charges, or rather, they were staring her down. "Well," she said, not knowing quite what to say.

"Well," they said in unison.

"You two could pass as twins! You look so much alike; only small differences."

"We do not!" admonished Rene.

"Haha. Some say we do, some swear we don't. It's all in the eye of the beholder, as is everything else," replied Elaina. Her younger sister rolled her eyes.

"What is your first name?" asked the younger brazen beauty.

"Rene! Don't ask that!"

"No, it's fine. My name is Elizabeth. And now it is my turn to be bold. Why were you two about to tear each others heads off when I came in?"

Both girls' attitudes froze up and their glares turned fiery. The eldest answered first. "The same thing we always fight about, our mother."

"Don't you say a word about her!"

"She took us from our father! She cheated on him! She left me to raise you!"

"You were never my mother! She raised me, not you! Why do you hate her for living her life!?"

"I do not hate her! I simply don't respect her! She was a lively person! A horrible mother!"

Elizabeth could see that they were about to start throwing fists; she had to do something and fast. "Girls!! Girls!! I think It's time we left this alone! If neither of you will listen to the other because you're so bent on screaming at each other, then this will lead no where good. I have four sisters of my own. What helps when we get in fights is separation. Now, each of you to your own rooms."

Both girls turned annoyed gazes on her. Startled, she focused all her attention on not running away, and stared defiantly back. "Fine! You do not have to listen to me! But I will not stand here and listen to you scream at each other!" Elizabeth left the room, slamming the door after her. But she seemed to have slammed one door and walked into another. But it wasn't a door, it was a man. Looking up, expecting to see Mr. Jones, she tried valiantly not to faint at the man she did see there. There the pirate stood in all his frowning glory. She lost, she fainted.