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“Indeed. I do not know how much you have been told of my past, but I would have you know my story, lest you believe falsehoods of me.”

“You do not have to tell us if you do not wish it,” offered Elizabeth.

“I do wish it,” she answered, “if you are willing to hear it.”

Upon her three nieces’ confirmation of their interest, she began. “As I said, Michael was a groom in the stables. Even before that, he was the son of the stablemaster, and therefore always at Longbourn whenever I visited in the summer. I found his company far more agreeable than that of my own siblings. He was kind, quick-witted, and entirely without pretension. My uncle, your great-grandfather, saw his value as well, and determined to educate Michael alongside his sons and nephews. I, of course, was excluded from many of these lessons, given my sex. It was not seen as appropriate for girls to learn Latin and geometry, for it was held that our time was better spent in the pursuit of accomplishments. Yet to be denied these lessons only strengthened my resolve to have them.”

Jane lifted her eyes from her embroidery, a sympathetic expression filling her countenance. “I am sure that was difficult. What did you do?”

Mrs. Ellington sat up straighter, her hands resting in her lap as she gazed out the window, gathering her memories. “I mentioned my disquiet once to Michael. I was about ten, and he had just turned eleven. I remember, for my uncle had bought him a slate of his own as a gift. After that day, he always had his slate when we were together, so that he might share whatever he learned with me. I was an eager student, and he was a capable teacher. Each autumn’s departure for London became a source of particular dread.”

“It sounds as if you formed quite the remarkable friendship,” said Elizabeth. “Did your family ever learn of your lessons?”

Mrs. Ellington laughed softly. “It was always a little more than a friendship, if I am honest. Michael was very handsome, you see, and by the time I was fourteen, between his kindness and his appearance, I was quite in love with him. If my family knew that Michael was teaching me, I do not know. They never tried to prevent my playing with him, assuming, I think, that our difference in stations would prevent any true attachment from growing. As I grew older, Michael would become the one who would accompany me when I rode or walked out, carrying my packages from town or simply keeping me company. By the time I moved to Longbourn, our time together was much more limited. Instead of acting as a groom, he was then assisting Longbourn’s steward, preparing for the day when he would step into that role. Even so, we found moments together, our feelings unspoken but obvious to each other.”

“Were you never afraid of being discovered?” Elizabeth asked. “To keep such a secret under your family’s noses seems a terrible risk.”

Mrs. Ellington’s gaze drifted towards the window. For a moment, she was not in the parlour at all, but in a time long past, her cousin’s sharp, accusing face before her, the word disgrace hanging in the damp air. She blinked, the memory receding. “There were moments of great trial,” she said quietly. “But they passed.”

“Did you have to elope?” asked Kitty, an undertone of excitement colouring her voice.

“We did not,” Mrs. Ellington said seriously. “While our love was not one most would approve of, we determined together that we must cause as little disturbance as we could. We went to my uncle together, for my father was away. We told him of our marriage plans, including that, since I was of legal age, we sought his blessing but not his permission. He expressed the greatest displeasure, as did my father when he came down to Longbourn a few days later. Eventually, however, they came to see that they could not stop me from marrying him. Thus, a quiet wedding by licence was planned.”

“A special licence?” asked Kitty.

Mrs. Ellington turned dubious eyes on the young girl. “A common licence, of course. We had no need for, nor means of obtaining, a special licence.”

Kitty’s shoulders slumped a little at this, for although she was not entirely certain why a special licence was so important, her mother always spoke of them in the same way she spoke of lace and London fashions.

“My uncle wished us far away, so that our presence might not continually remind the neighbourhood of my choice. To that end, he bought us a cottage in Norfolk, where we lived happily for many years. I gave up much to be with my Michael, but I gained a great deal more. I have never doubted my choice. We had a simple life, but a happy one.”

“Never?” asked Kitty. “Not even when you had to do things servants would normally do?”

“We did have a maid and a manservant, but you are correct that I did have to do things that might normally have been done by a servant. Two servants cannot manage a household of five without the mistress lending her own hand to the work.”

“Five?” asked Jane. “Papa said you had one daughter.”

Mrs. Ellington’s hands tightened for a moment in her lap. “Only one of our children survived to adulthood. The others... bless them, they were taken from us when they were still so very young.”

“To lose so many,” Jane murmured gently. “I cannot imagine such sorrow.”

“Then, when I lost both my husband and my daughter within just a few months of each other, I was quite alone. For a time, I did not know how I should go on. But I am so grateful for your father’s kindness. He wrote, expressing his condolences, and we began a correspondence. Eventually, we determined that, considering there are five of you and only one of your mother, it might be best to have another chaperone about Longbourn, and he invited me to come here.”

“We are ever so glad he did.” Jane smiled fondly as she looked upon her cousin. “Thank you for telling us about your life.”

“You are most welcome,” she said, her gaze lingering on Jane.

Before more could be said, Mrs. Bennet entered with a joyful expression, waving her hands about in her excitement. “Oh, my girls! What news I have! Netherfield Park has been let at last!”

“Indeed?” asked Jane.

“It is true!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet. “Mrs. Long has just been here and told me of it!”

“Who has taken it?” asked Kitty.

“Why, my dears, Mrs. Long has just told me everything! Netherfield is taken by a wealthy young man from the north! He came down on Monday in a chaise and four, was delighted with the place, and agreed to take it at once. He is to have possession before Michaelmas, with his servants arriving by the end of next week!”

“What is his name? Is he to be alone, or will others be in the party?” asked Elizabeth.