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During the carriage journey to London an unusual restraint reigned, keeping the normally sociable Mr Gardiner and his niece silent. Jane was too wan to make light conversation on the passing landscape while Mr Gardiner was busily dissecting and rearranging ten plans for the Bennets’ continued maintenance. Arriving in London in the late afternoon, Mr Gardiner proceeded straight to the docks, begging Jane’s pardon for the diversion. After ensuring his ship’s cargo had been successfully unloaded and secured in his warehouse, Edward returned to his waiting niece and the carriage continued to its next destination in Ludgate Hill. Having hastily scribbled a note in his warehouse office, Mr Gardiner handed it to the groom who got down from behind the carriage. After knocking at the grand gate that bordered the street, the groom surrendered the message to a white-gloved hand that emerged from a small pass-through to receive it. The carriage set off again, and soon Jane recognized a landmark as they neared Gracechurch Street.

During a subdued supper, not much relished by either party, a footman arrived, advising that Mrs Garth would be pleased to receive Jane at nine in the morning in Ludgate Hill.

After crying herself to sleep in the attic bedroom she and Lizzy had alternately shared on the few trips to London they had been able to afford since their come out, Jane woke in the morning feeling a little tired, but resolute.

Completing her toilette, she dragged her pelisse over a long-sleeved sprigged muslin, complete with a chemisette that did up to the throat. At Jane’s request, a chambermaid had braided her hair and wound it in a halo round her head with the curls of her fringe pinned tightly underneath. The effect was decidedly demure. Gone was the shining beauty, replaced by a pleasant face that might not arrest the casual glance of a passer-by. But Jane’s face still harboured the fundamental elements of true beauty—the good bone structure and the clear blue eyes with their slightly exotic tilt downwards towards the tip of her nose—that could be appreciated by the connoisseur. Jane’s local fame in Hertfordshire had not been undeserved or exaggerated.

Arriving in the breakfast parlour, Jane at first disclaimed an appetite, but upon her uncle pressing her, she ate some bread and butter while she sipped her tea.

After Jane carefully donned her bonnet in front of the hall mirror, they climbed into the carriage along with the chambermaid and retraced their path of the previous night. When they stopped at the Garth residence in Ludgate Hill, Jane quaked inwardly. She could better appreciate the expensive-looking hammered metal gate that bordered the lane in the light of day. They were expected. Instead of the pass-through, a whole door opened in the gate as a footman waited for them to step inside. Mr Gardiner gave his niece’s hand an encouraging squeeze as he helped her alight from the carriage.

“Remember, have the footman summon a hackney when you are finished and wait inside until it arrives,” Mr Gardiner whispered as a reminder.

The maid, Sally, nodded to her employer as she sprang down behind Miss Bennet. She, too, was cognizant of her instructions. Finally, one of Mr Gardiner’s footmen, who had got down from his perch behind the carriage to pull down the step, also nodded to his employer and followed the women.

When they stepped through the door in the gate, Jane saw that it led into a cobbled yard that was quite at variance with the dirty lane outside. In the centre, a sandstone fountain splashed, making Jane wonder how they moved the water. She saw the courtyard was partly bordered by the house and a carriage house. The yard was decorated by hedge-bushes grown in what appeared to be wine barrels, cut in halves. Jane heard her uncle’s carriage depart as the Garths’ footman began to close the door to the street. She had the absurd notion to push past him and run after the coach, begging the coachman to stop. This thought was hastily suppressed, and taking a deep breath, she waited for the footman to secure the gate and lead her into the house.

Walking behind him, Jane noticed his fancy livery in the style of court dress of the previous generation, which, she realized, might very well explain its provenance. A riot of embroidered flowers graced the tails of his coat. They entered a small vestibule and turned a corner into a darkened hall. As Jane’s eyes adjusted to the dimness, she saw the footman stop ahead of her to knock on a door. He stepped briefly into the room to exchange a word with his employer. Returning, he held the door open to usher Jane inside.

The servant’s brief departure had allowed Jane to survey the narrow hall. The interior was like nothing else she had encountered before. The dark rust red walls were lit by lamps rather than candles, and the long narrow space was decorated with japanned furniture and porcelain. Taking these details in at a glance, Jane reminded herself to focus on the coming interview.

When she stepped into the room, she encountered a woman slightly older than her Aunt Gardiner, richly dressed in the current mode. The lady, who stood on Jane’s entry, curtsied slightly to Jane, upon which she returned a deeper curtsey in return.

“Mrs Jemima Garth, Miss Jane Bennet,” announced the footman. Moving a japanned chair to the centre of the room, he turned to depart.

Glancing round, Jane saw her maid had been ushered to another of the japanned chairs in the hallway.

Retreating slightly, the lady sat down upon the most startling sofa Jane had ever encountered. Distracted by its heavy black ends decorated with lions couchant, and its green and gold striped upholstery, Jane forced her attention back to the lady sitting on it. Mrs Garth, who was dressed in a dark green velvet gown with a golden girdle tied under her breasts, looked quite in keeping with the unusual piece of furniture she was seated upon, although Jane was not sure that she really looked comfortable upon it.

After the lady gestured Jane to the delicate japanned chair, Jane gathered her skirts about her and sat down.

“I gather you understand we are seeking a short-term replacement for our governess who is recuperating after a fall?” asked Mrs Garth.

Jane nodded her agreement.

“My sister suggested you, Miss Bennet, based on the recommendation of one of her friends.”

“Yes, my aunt, Mrs Gardiner, thought I might be suitable.”

“My sister says you have been brought up as a lady and are well-educated?”

“I grew up in Hertfordshire on my father’s estate, ma’am. I hope I can call myself well-educated,” replied Jane. Being aware of her father’s erudition, she was fairly sure she could not; but her uncle had stressed the importance of presenting herself well and reminded Jane that many daughters of well to do middle-class businessmen were still not routinely educated. Some apparently, could not even read.

“Are you familiar with the use of the globes, French, Latin and figuring? Are you proficient on the pianoforte and with needlework?” asked Mrs Garth.

Jane took a deep breath and prepared to perjure herself for her family. “I am familiar with the globes,” she repeated like a litany before realising her mistake and varying her responses. “My French is fluent”, she said, while thinking ‘passable’; “my Latin—tolerable,” almost non-existent; “and my figuring accurate.” Well, I have done the household accounts for the last eight years… “I play the pianoforte well.” Mary is better. “And my needlework is excellent.” Here, at last Jane felt she could speak honestly. Her needlework had won prizes at the Meryton Fair for the last six years and taken out the grand prize twice.

“Well!” replied Mrs Garth, clasping her hands together. “That sounds very well! So, please take your pelisse and bonnet off and Meg will show you to the school room.”

Jane was not sure she had heard correctly. She had expected more questions. “I am hired?” she asked uncertainly.

“Oh! Did I forget to mention the wage?” said Mrs Garth, standing. “It is fifty pounds per year, paid quarterly in arrears, and I will recompense you for the full quarter should my former governess return before that time. You have one day off, on Sundays. I expect you will wish to visit your aunt. You will have breakfast and lunch with the children, assisted by Nurse, and dinner with the family. You may retire at nine in the evenings and you are on call to assist Nurse should she require it during the night. But that generally only happens when one of the children is sick! You may leave early on Sunday morning for church and must return by sunset when the gate is fastened.”

Quite flabbergasted, Jane stood unsteadily and watched as Mrs Garth rang a small hand bell on a sideboard before motioning Jane towards the large mirror affixed to the wall above it.

“You may use this mirror to remove your hat.”

With shaking hands, Jane untied the ribbons of her bonnet and was relieved to see her plaits were still tidy. After hiding a single stray lock behind her ear, she removed her pelisse. Both garments were surrendered to the footman when he reappeared, accompanied by a maid dressed entirely in black but wearing a crisp white pinafore-like apron, presumably Meg.