12. Chapter Twelve

Looking up from his conversation with Mr. Goulding at his desk, his smile for his son and Kiernan never wavered despite the fact that his son was covered in mud and Kiernan appeared rather perturbed. Putting down his writing implement he asked, "What can I help you with Kiernan?" Watching his son fume but remain quiet, Darcy managed not to laugh, but only just. Though Artie seemed to have an equal sharing of his parents' qualities when it came to the expression on his face, at that moment, it was all his Elizabeth.

With an amount of eye contact that communicated volumes, Kiernan spoke up with a civil tone despite any misgivings he may have had. "Well, Mr. Darcy, this young lady is in a disagreement about a few things with Artie."

Noticing his sister, Mr. Goulding turned in his chair to face her, "Evaline? What is going on? I thought you were going to visit with the ladies?" Looking her over, he observed that though she seemed uninjured, she did not seem happy about the current situation at all.

Glancing momentarily at the dirty face of Artie who stared at her in contempt she looked back to her brother and after straitening her shoulders began her story. "I was outside in the garden when two dirty children started crying some nonsense. I do not know what is going on."

Taking a moment to study his son, Darcy saw that all was not well. Only a child as precocious as his own could pull off such a look of wrath despite a thorough coating of mud. Artie's glare seemed capable of piercing through the strongest armor. "Artie, do you have something to say?" Darcy already knew that there was going to be quite the story. His son's expressive green eyes held a world of anger.

Looking first at Evaline and then his father Artie began his impassioned declaration, "Bad girl is liar! Ellie was nice. Bad girl, not nice, she push Ellie. Ellie fell an' cry. Bad girl lie." Shaking his tiny, pointed finger at the culprit, he growled in anger. Then pausing, he seemed to consider something and then added, "I not kick bad girl ‘cause, she girl, kicking girls wrong, K'nan said. But bad girl still lies!"

Placing his hand in front of his mouth, Darcy covered the grin that he could not help. The earnest confession of his son not kicking the girl was too much, but he knew he had to remain stoic for the moment. "Mighty charges indeed." Looking to Kiernan, he asked, "What did you observe?"

"While I had my back turned for a moment, I did not see the initial confrontation. I did, however, turn to see Ellie stuck in a rose bush crying and little Artie here standing protectively in front of her telling the young lady that she was bad and she should not hurt Ellie. He was quite adamant in his protection of his cousin." Looking down at the muddy tyke in his arms, he ruffled his hair. "You would be proud."

"Evaline, how could you?" Mr. Goulding could not look more disappointed if he tried to. Then turning to Darcy, his face contrite, he apologized. "I am so sorry, Mr. Darcy. I do not know what came over my sister. I had thought giving the chance to spend time with Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Bingley, and Miss Bennet would help her, but I never would have brought her here if I had thought she would behave thusly."

Eyes wide and pleading, her lips stretched in a wordless oh for some moments. Evaline managed to ground out, "Brother, you would apologize for my behavior over what that little boy said? He cannot even speak in proper sentences."

"Yes, I would take his word over yours. Go stand in the hall, Evaline, you will come with me to Longbourn after you apologize to Mrs. Bingley and Mrs. Darcy for your behavior towards their children."

With an inarticulate sound that was akin to an outraged cat being bathed, Evaline turned and stalked out of the room. Her head held high, though if one were to look closely, they could see tears in her eyes. She disappeared through the door, not quite slamming it behind her.

Coming out from behind his desk, Darcy gestured to Kiernan with his chin, signaling that he should set his son down, mud and all. Then, with his son standing before him, he knelt so that he could look him in the eye. "Kiernan is right. We do not kick girls and I am glad that you did not hurt Evaline, no matter what she may have done." Pausing, he made sure that his son seemed to absorb the information. Artie nodded his little head as if aware of the serious nature of their discussion. "I am proud of you, Artie. You did what you could to protect your little cousin. Well done, my boy."

"Tan'k you Papa. I check Ellie now?"

"I believe that you will need to bathe first as you are rather muddy, but then yes, you may check on your cousin." Looking up at Kiernan, Darcy asked, "She was not hurt too badly, was she?"

"No, I think she was mostly just shocked that she had been treated differently than she was used to. She might have a scrape or two from the rosebush, though her nurse bundled her away quickly, so I am not sure." Kiernan looked down at his own muddy clothes. "I am sure her nurse probably intended to give her a bath as well. She was just as muddy as we have turned out to be."

Tapping his son on his muddy nose, Darcy asked, "Artie what were you doing that you got so dirty?"

Artie beamed proudly, saying, "Mud house for Crumb."

Smiling, Darcy looked up at Kiernan, glad that the boy was so tolerant of his son's various entertainments. Kiernan was getting to the age where boys could start to turn off their original course. By fifteen, Wickham had already begun laying wagers on one thing or another and cheating where he could. Yet Kiernan was ever the same, ever good and loyal to those he counted as friends and family. He was what his father had wanted to foster in Wickham, what never was but could have been. "Of course, and what were you doing, Kiernan?"

Grinning with all seriousness that Artie would expect of him, he answered, "Oh, I had been tasked with building a Crumb. They needed a horse to go with the house."

"Little Crumb." Artie showed with his hands how big the little crumb was going to be before things had gone wrong.

"An important endeavor indeed." With one last ruffle of his son's hair, Darcy nodded to Kiernan, who scooped up Artie. He would spare his valet a fit of the vapors by saving his clothes from the mud if he could. "Go get and clean. The both of you. Mrs. Nichols will have my hide if she sees either of you tracking mud all around the house."

"Come along scamp, let"s go get you clean and then I will get clean as well." Swinging Artie around a bit before they left the room, Kiernan gave the boy a conspiratorial grin. "Do you think you have any clothes I could borrow? You are the one who got me dirty, after all."

"No, you not fit my clothes, you too big!" Giggles followed Artie and Kiernan out of the room as they went.

After the door closed behind them, Mr. Goulding began, "I am so sorry about Evaline."

Waving his comment off, Darcy settled more comfortably in his chair. "I am sure Eleanor is fine. I would say think nothing of it, but I know you will, regardless. We none of us are responsible for the actions of others. I can tell that you are trying to help her along a better path."

Shaking his head in apparent discouragement, Mr. Goulding sighed. "I was away at school for so much of her life. I am just trying to get to know her, and I am finding I am not fond of who it is that she has been trained to become."

Trying to help his young friend. Darcy pondered what to say for a moment. He had become better at expressing himself, but he still had to think about things at times so that he was not offending people. "I understand what you mean. It is worth noting that sometimes we can become the people we are despite the influences of our parents and the people who raise us. She is still young enough to forge her own path. I do not think her personality is a set thing, be patient with her." Darcy looked at the plans on the table. "I think that the plans we have in place for the first few tenant homes will work and the glaciers have finished the windows. So we can be confident that there will be no more damage to the floors moving forward. What were you planning on working on today?"

Jane sat, looking at the little girl before her. Around twelve maybe, she had brown hair that appeared to have fallen out of curls. Though she was apologizing, it was in a very unapologizing way. There was no regret and possibly only the slightest amount of remorse. "I have already checked on Eleanor, and she seems fine, all things considering." Giving the sulky girl a smile that was rather wide and genuine, Jane tilted her head "I thank you for your apology, Evaline. Maybe in the future you can find another way to protect your nice dress. Eleanor was really rather muddy and though the mud will wash out, I can understand your hesitation with the dirt."

Evaline's eyes widened, apparently shocked that the beautiful woman in front of her had guessed the issue with little difficulty. "I am not fond of mud, and neither is my mother."

Jane"s eyes widened in even greater understanding. The poor girl had one of those mothers who might very well punish her for even the smallest hair out of place, or a speck of mud on an outfit. She watched as Evaline gave a precise curtsy and walked out of the room and into the hallway.

Mr. Goulding stepped forward, his apprehension still evident in the hard lines on his face. "Thank you for speaking with my sister. I had thought that you and your sisters might be positive influences on her. I never would have brought her with me if I had thought she would act in such a manner."

Smiling at the man she hoped would one day be her brother-in-law, Jane said, "Do not worry too much about it. Despite everything, I am more than willing to have her visit again. She is at a very hard age, and I am sure that with time, my sisters and I could help her find her way."

"That is very kind of you. For today I will take her with me to Longbourn. I want to check on how some of the plaster is drying and if the new door for one of the tenant cottages has been delivered."

Looking out the nearby window, Jane frowned at the visible gathering of clouds in the sky. "Do be careful to keep an eye on the weather. I would hate for you two to be caught in a downpour. Autumn weather here can be very intemperate."

"I am sure we will be fine, Mrs. Bingley. The weather has cooperated thus far." With a bow, Mr. Goulding excused himself and left the room.

Jane frowned as he left. Just because the weather had cooperated thus far did not mean that it would continue to do so. Rolling her eyes, as she only did when she was alone or with her sisters, Jane rang for more tea. She just did not understand how men thought sometimes.

Mary made her way to the stables just in time to see Mr. Goulding and his sister leave. She had heard from one of the maids that there had been a bit of a kerfuffle between Evaline and the children. Though she did not know the specifics, she had hoped to take advantage of Mr. Goulding's presence to speak with him about what was in her heart. She could wait until the next day, but she was afraid her courage would falter. Mary continued to ponder, a frown forming on her face.

"Did you need something, Miss Mary?" Kiernan's voice came from further down in one of the stalls.

Whirling, Mary put her hand over her pounding heart. She had thought she was alone in her contemplation. "Oh, Kiernan, I did not see you there. I was hoping to catch Mr. Goulding before he left." Looking after the swiftly retreating figure of the two riders, Mary continued in a much harder tone of voice. "I had wanted to have a much overdue conversation with the gentleman."

"I could saddle one of the horses for you if you wanted to follow him. It would not take you long to catch up. Besides, they are only going to Longbourn. It is not far, and you know the way." Kiernan smiled mischievously and wagged his eyebrows. "I am sure that you are eager to have this conversation with him as soon as possible."

Mary hesitated a moment, considering the implications of following after Mr. Goulding. It was not the most proper idea she had ever had, but then again, being proper had not brought her the one thing she desired most. It was not completely out of the bounds either. Mary was sure there would be workers at Longbourn who could act as chaperones, and then there was also Evaline. Squaring her shoulders, Mary nodded her head confidently. She knew that if she wanted to confront the man she loved, she had to summon the courage to follow after him. "Maybe that is a good idea. I am certain he would prefer our conversation to be private." Mary knew the way she responded fully implied it may very well become an argument or a lesson in patience, depending on how things progressed.

Helping Mary up into the side saddle that he had affixed to her horse, Kiernan gave the placid mare a pat before looking up at her. "I am planning on going over soon enough, so if you need me to, I can have a conversation with him as well." Then, as she nudged her horse into action, he added, "Be careful on your ride, Miss Mary."

Mary had become a competent horsewoman in the time since Elizabeth had married and they had moved to Pemberley. William's property was so much larger than Longbourn that she could not properly visit the tenants without the ability to ride. She was not going to win any races, especially side saddle, but she was perfectly capable of making her way to Longbourn. Normally she would take a groom with her if she went about, but she had been in such a rush that she did not think of it. But it was no matter. There would be any number of grooms at Longbourn doing various things, in addition to Mr. Goulding and Evaline.

In no time at all, she had arrived at Longbourn and was happy to see that it was a small hive of activity already looking much better than the last time she had seen it. The piles of trash were gone and there were no longer any broken windows marring its once proud frame. Her review of her childhood home came up short, however, when she heard Mr. Goulding's angry voice.

"How could you? Eleanor is barely more than a baby, all of fourteen months. What could she have done that would make you shove her down?" Mr. Goulding shook his head, disappointment and anger evident in every line of his face and body.

Shaking her head so much that her hair swirled around her head in a curtain, Evaline cried. "I don't know. She was all muddy. I…" Trailing off, she looked up, her eyes glistening, her small shoulders trembling with repressed emotion.

"You what, Evaline? Shoved a toddler into a rosebush because she was muddy?" Running his hand through his hair in frustration, Mr. Goulding sighed. "I know we have never been close. I was away at school for most of your life, but I am just now realizing how much I do not know you. My own sister… And to have you act in such a way that I am ashamed. I like and respect that family a great deal, and you embarrassed me by your actions."

"You do not understand! No one understands." Her last words were soft and barely audible. With one last hurt look, she dashed away, running through the garden and into what had once been the little wilderness the Bennet ladies had cultivated so long ago.

Having quietly dismounted from her horse during the argument, Mary walked over to Mr. Goulding. When he had not noticed her approach, she spoke up, "You were rather harsh on your little sister."

"Miss M… Miss Bennet, I did not know you were there."

Tilting her head, Mary smiled blandly. "Yes, well, I did not feel it was right to make myself known during your fight."

Eyebrows raised in confusion, he said, "I am surprised that you would be so kind to her. She pushed your niece into a rosebush."

"It appeared to me that she was struggling and was remorseful. I am not saying that her actions were acceptable by any means, but she appears to be having a difficult time and may need support, not castigation." Mary squared off against Mr. Goulding as her own frustration with him fed into their dispute.

After a moment of hesitation, Mr. Goulding made a face, his voice lacking its previous vigor as he asked, "What makes you say that?"

"I grew up with four sisters and I know more of what her heart must be struggling with. When I was her age, I came upon Fordyce's sermons. I would have done much better if someone had questioned why I had become so obsessed than merely rolling their eyes and avoiding me. Instead, it took several years for someone to realize my insecurities and get me to come out of my shell." Looking at the broken home reflected so much of her broken childhood, Mary shrugged. "Not that I blame anyone, of course. Life then was difficult for us all."

Nosing the tip of his boot in the dirt at his feet, Mr. Goulding seemed to think before he responded. "I will take it into consideration. As it is, I barely know my sister and I am finding that I am not fond of what I am discovering about her." Then, narrowing his eyes at her, his eyebrows drawn together in question, he asked, "Why are you here, Miss Bennet? The maids are not working today, and there are not any tasks for you to do. I was only going to check on the plasterwork that was drying and see that the woodwork had been delivered as it should have been."

Catching a loose strand of hair blowing in her face, Mary tucked it behind her ear in frustration. She hated it when her hair came loose and got in her face. "We need to talk, and you left Netherfield too quickly for me to speak with you before you rode off."

Eyes widening slightly, Mr. Goulding swallowed convulsively before speaking, "Speak with me? What about?"

Eye narrowing at the sign of nervousness in the man before her, Mary plunged forward, earnestly desiring to learn the truth. "What are your intentions with regard to our relationship, Mr. Goulding?"

Evaline sat on a bench under an overgrown arbor, weeping for all that she was worth. Why were things so difficult? Her mother found her lacking, her father ignored her existence, and now her brother was disappointed in her.

Gabriel was right. He did not know her much at all and they had never spent much time together, but she had half hoped that he would become an ally of sorts. After all, mother and father did not care for him just as much as they did not care for her.

Of course, there was also her other brother Jude, but he had tormented her whenever he could. When she was younger, he would push her into the mud and then tell mother that he saw her playing in the mud. How many times had she gone without dinner as punishment for something he did? Now all she received from him was petty sniping at her looks and deportment.

Why had she pushed the little girl? She had been so happy despite being covered in mud, but that had changed so fast. Her angelic features had quickly turned into something sad and pitiable. It was as if she did not understand, could not comprehend her goodness being rejected. Or possibly, the very concept of mistreatment was foreign to her.

And that little boy! He was astounding. Evaline knew she had never really been around children of his size, but did they all speak that much? He had moved so quickly to protect his little cousin. He showed such passion and determination to do what was right at such a young age.

Would anyone ever want to protect her in such a manner? If Jude had seen her pushed into a rosebush, he would not have tried to help or protect her. He would have laughed. Her mother would have berated her for soiling her dress. Her father would not have noticed. What would Gabriel have done? She could not know. At one time she would have hoped that he would come to her rescue, but now, with his disappointment in her evident she was uncertain.

Getting up, she continued along the overgrown path, heart sore and confused. She knew that someone might come looking for her, but until then, she wanted to walk. Something made her crave movement. If no one was watching, no one would complain about having the proper posture or keeping her eyes demurely cast to the ground. The little wilderness she had found was pretty, even if all the leaves had mostly fallen. It could not hurt to explore it for a while. Her brother had said he had work to do, anyway.