Page 56 of The Cheapside Runners
Darcy added, “Yes, I am finding much about this business gives me much to think about, and things to change. Many of the things that are just handed down from father to son without question now seem obsolete at best.”
“It is always best to question things,” Gardiner said. “You cannot question everything, and even if you decide some system has little to recommend it, you cannot change the entire world nor the whole race of man. You need to be strategic about it.”
“Any idea how the ladies are doing in the course?” the colonel asked.
“Do you think I would tell you if I did?”
“Cannot hurt to try,” Fitzwilliam replied with a laugh. “But, no I do not. You do not strike me as a man who blows about with the wind.”
“In that, I hope you are correct.”
“Can you tell me about how the school came about?” Fitzwilliam asked, quite interested in the strategy portion of it.
“I can tell you my part only. As you may surmise, I employ women and men to protect my charges. They all have to be somewhat clever about remaining unnoticed. Mrs Black is particularly good at taking the appearance of a servant, milkmaid, governess, companion, lady, or whatever she needs to be.”
“She sounds formidable.”
“That she is, Colonel. That she is. One day, she said her job would be much easier if her charges would do slightly fewerbone-stupid things. I asked her to elaborate, and she did. Like you, I had thought about it in the traditional way, and she made me reexamine the business. My epiphany came some years before yours, but from the same source.”
“Remarkable,” Darcy said. “Do you suppose we could meet her?”
“I will put it to her, but she is averyprivate person, so do not hold your breath. She has yet to willingly meet a single guardian.”
“Pity,” Fitzwilliam replied.
Darcy agreed, but nodded and let it go—for the moment.
Gardiner continued, “She started out just giving each new client a bit of good sense and then expanded the curriculum from a few hours to a fortnight. I periodically interview her graduates to ensure they seem satisfied, and I have followed up with those that graduated years ago. I am more than happy with the results, and it most certainly helps my business.”
The men took a few sips to absorb the discussion.
Gardiner said, “She would be embarrassed I mentioned this, so you should keep it under your hat, but she was instrumental in rescuing your ward. She was in Ramsgate working with another client and noticed a disturbing pattern. I do not believe she knew who she rescued, but she certainly pegged that Wickham fellow for the scoundrel he is.”
“I hear he is manning the King’s Navy these days,” Fitzwilliam quipped.
“More likely feeding the King’s Fish, but perhaps he is tougher than he looks,” Gardiner replied with a laugh.
They ended the night an hour later, not much better informed, but certainly better brandied, and doubly curious about the redoubtable Mrs Black.
20.Five Coins
Mrs Black’s students awoke the next morning to find they had been moved from the dungeon to ordinary looking bed chambers. They had been so tired after the training they fell into bed without even noticing. Also present were their own trunks, with their own day dresses, pressed and hanging in the closet. They were sharing two to a room, but compared to their previous accommodations, it seemed like a palace.
They had a good breakfast with Mrs Black presiding over the head of the table, directing conversation subtly. She made certain the shyer ladies, such as Miss Amber, had their share of conversation, and more boisterous ladies, such as Miss Green did not hog. She did it with some subtlety that impressed the Bennet daughters, although the elder two suspected it was mostly because their youngest sister was deathly afraid of their tutor. They would be astonished if the change lasted upon return to Longbourn, but it was at least a start.
Once they were finished, they all went into a good-sized drawing room, and sat down in a comfortable setting, as if awaiting callers.
Mrs Black began, “Now thatBrutality Dayis finished… it is time for some fun:Deportment Day!” The groans were loud and universal, with even Jane pitching in, but Mrs Black seemed unimpressed.
“Most of you have at least a vague idea about how to behave properly. Most ladies obtain some haphazard rules of thumb from siblings, aunts, mothers, or governesses. Some of you may have read the books on manners, but they are so dull they make sermons seem exciting. Am I correct?”
There was a certain amount of grumbling, but eventually they all agreed that their path to what passed for ladylike behaviour had been acquired as suggested.
“I might also speculate that yourcompliancewith the rules of good breeding have been… uneven…” then she let the pause hang for a moment. “…is that not correct, Misses Yellow and Green.”
Kitty and Lydia both jumped at being singled out, but at least they had briefly acquired the sense to keep their mouths shut occasionally.
“Ihopewhat you learnt these past days would at least show you some of the errors of your ways,” Mrs Black blithely continued. “For example, Miss Violet, inpractical terms, disregarding the rules of ladylike behaviour entirely, what is wrong with flirting with officers?”
