A Note from the Author:

This extra chapter takes place at the picnic Darcy had organized for Georgiana after Mr. Bennet’s terrible fall. Mr. Tanner is one of my favorite characters and I enjoyed writing in his point of view.

Enjoy!

Tanner Meets His Match

Jonathan Tanner skirted around the assembled party of ladies and gentlemen lounging on blankets checkering the green grass of Oakham Mount. He scanned the small crowd, intent on his purpose: Extract what information he could out of Mr. Hurst … and keep his distance from Mrs. Annesley.

At the thought of her name, his eyes drifted to where she stood. His breath caught in his throat as he gazed upon her ethereal beauty. He knew he should look away, but he was drawn to her with a force more powerful than his will to obey his own mind.

The soft breeze rustled the golden curls beneath her bonnet; the sun’s rays kissed her creamy cheeks with a becoming pink glow. Her rounded body was the kind a man wished to wrap his arms around and never let go. Her hair resembled a halo above her porcelain skin and rosebud lips, but as pleasing as those features were, it was her eyes which captivated Tanner.

Silver strands like bolts of lightning in a thunderstorm swam in clear blue orbs. Danger and calm. Turbulence and peace.

Tanner felt an overwhelming urge to save her — to come to her rescue — but drowning was imminent. And what did she need rescued from anyway? She was a strong woman who saw after her own needs. An independent woman who protected and cared for Georgiana admirably. And she held her own before Miss Bingley, who clearly made Georgiana uncomfortable with her constant flattery and overzealous gushing. Tanner felt his muscles coil. If Miss Bingley pet Georgiana like a dog one more time, he would march over there and remove her hand from his sister’s person. He would stand over Georgiana like a watchdog to growl at the arrogant interloper if she dared approach his little sister again. He was not of the gentle class. He did not have to conform to their ridiculous rules of propriety. And he could not care less if they thought poorly of him. He was no one of consequence for their opinion to matter to anyone … least of all to him.

Mrs. Annesley moved to the side, pulling Georgiana with her and just out of Miss Bingley’s reach. Well done, madam. While Tanner cared naught for what his social superiors thought of him, he would hate to be the cause of embarrassment to his brother and sister. They were of the gentle class. They did have reputations worth protecting. And he would no sooner cause them shame than he would burn down his inn. Yet, that was precisely what he was. A black mark on the Darcy name. An illegitimate son. A mistake so shameful, his own father had refused to acknowledge him, cutting off all ties to his mother and leaving her to fend for herself. All because of Tanner. Every drip of sweat from his mother’s brow, every tear cried (though she had thought she hid them) had ultimately been his doing.

Georgiana departed, leaving Mrs. Annesley alone with Miss Bingley, to join Darcy who sat with the Philips and Miss Mary (who held a book in front of her nose whenever Mr. Collins hovered nearby. She was a smart one, that Miss Mary. Too smart for an oaf like Mr. Collins.) Georgiana leaned against Darcy and smiled when he spoke to her. She poked him playfully in the arm and he laughed. Tanner’s heart squeezed and a lump tightened in his throat. He could never enjoy the sense of belonging his half brother and sister so naturally displayed. He would never truly belong no matter how much they insisted to the contrary.

He closed his eyes, refocusing on his purpose, when a strand of vicious words reached his ears.

“Surely, you cannot believe you belong here,” Miss Bingley’s voice accused.

Tanner’s eyes sprung open and he moved forward, acting before his thoughts could prevent him from intervening.

Mrs. Annesley’s eyes widened as he approached, but Miss Bingley had not yet seen him.

She continued haughtily, “…clever plan to attach yourself to a family such as the Darcys to put yourself in the way of handsome, rich gentleman, but you cannot succeed when other younger, untainted–“

Mrs. Annesley reached a hand out to Miss Bingley to prevent her from continuing. Her manners were so calm and superior to those of the so-called lady before her, as if she were untouched by the malicious words, or so accustomed to hearing them, the accusation had long since lost its power. All the same, they were unjust and Tanner would silence their speaker.

“Any woman who is brave enough to earn her living, to keep her dignity instead of imposing on the kindness of others, is a lady worthy of imitation,” he said, placing himself between the two ladies.

Miss Bingley harrumphed. “Perhaps a common laborer may see things as you do, Mr. Tanner, but a gentleman of the first circles would not, I assure you.” She waved her nose in the air and sighed in boredom.

Mrs. Annesley answered, “Then I wonder why you waste your precious time conversing with one such as me, Miss Bingley, when there are other, more important ladies present with whom a further acquaintance may benefit you. Lady Lucas’ daughter recently married into a titled family and her own husband was bequeathed a knighthood. Surely, you would prefer the wisdom they have to impart over the company of one who only inspires insults.”

Mrs. Annesley had not needed his interference at all.

With a huff, Miss Bingley departed. She paused as she passed the blanket where Darcy and Georgiana sat, but thought better of joining them in favor of the Lucases.

The companion turned her attention to him, considering him silently and making Tanner feel foolish. He bunched his hands at his sides and tried to think of the best way to excuse himself. If only his feet would move. He stood frozen and stupid before Mrs. Annesley, wishing he could disappear.

“Thank you,” she said softly, giving Tanner a start.

“You are welcome,” he said cautiously.

“Are you here in search of Mr. Hurst? I saw him wandering over by the grove of trees minutes ago. If it is not disagreeable to you, perhaps you would take a turn with me? I feel the need to distance myself from the crowd and regain my calm.”

Tanner looked at her closer. While her exterior gave the appearance of complete control, he now noticed the strain in her pleading eyes and the thrumming of her pulse against her temples. Tenderness filled his heart and lifted his arm for her to take. He could not deny her.

Not when he recognized the iron-like resolve to rise above the hurt pooling in her tempestuous eyes and the immense strength of her restraint to bear it like his mother had. Like a lady.

They walked several paces in silence, and Tanner had to remind himself of their purpose. They were searching for Mr. Hurst.

“Do you often see your mother, Mr. Tanner?” she asked politely.

“No. She has a steady life with her husband and children now. I do not like to interfere.” He had left home as soon as he could. His stepfather never said as much, but as more children were added to their family — children who did not bear a damning resemblance to George Darcy — the more Tanner felt like an outcast. He had not belonged with them either, and he could not bear to give cause for worry to his mother when she was so happy.

“That is a pity, Mr. Tanner. I do not think a mother ever loses the love she had for her first child.”

Guilt overtook Tanner. That was quite enough about his family. “What about your family, Mrs. Annesley? Do you often see them?”

She tightened her grip on his arm. “They disowned me when I married contrary to their wishes.”

Tanner groaned. “I am sorry.”

Mrs. Annesley peered up at him, the sun revealing gold tips on her eyelashes. “I would not have asked about your family were I not prepared to speak of mine. We are both outcasts, you and I, rejected by society and those who should have protected us from its cruelty. I was supposed to marry a rich, old man. Instead, I followed my blind heart and married a penniless soldier who proved to be exactly what my father had claimed him to be.”

Her tone was not one of a victim, but of one who spoke a simple truth.

He was not prepared for her smile. Small creases at the corners of her eyes tilted upward and her lips curled, revealing straight, white teeth.

“We are fighters, Mr. Tanner. There is honor and dignity in that. And we have good friends in the Darcys,” she said cheerfully.

“How did you come to be in their employ?” he asked, his curiosity in the creature beside him bursting.

“My husband was in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s command. Knowing my circumstances when my husband was killed…” she paused, swallowing hard. There was another story there — a painful one given the set of her jaw. Continuing, she said, “Colonel Fitzwilliam took pity on me and introduced me to his cousin, Mr. Darcy. Miss Darcy was in need of a companion and I happily took the position. If not for their generosity toward me, I do not know what I should have done.”

Tanner’s arm tensed under her touch. There were few options available for an honest lady with a pleasant face and a sumptuous body. He turned to face the breeze, letting it cool his skin and his angry thoughts. Two of his barmaids had been faced with that same choice when life had turned on them. He would fill his inn with barmaids and housekeepers if it prevented a young lady from falling into disgrace.

Mrs. Annesley smiled softly, “I suppose I would have sought employment at a respectable inn.”

Tanner guffawed. “A fine lady such as you would chop onions, clean tables, and empty chamber pots?”

There was a glint in her eyes as she said, “I am an excellent cook.” That took Tanner by surprise. “Are you now?”

“And I do not back down in terror at the sight of dirt… or blood. I traveled with the army too long to allow myself the luxury of remaining squeamish.”

“You are not what I supposed you to be,” Tanner commented, more to himself than to Mrs. Annesley.

“People rarely are, Mr. Tanner,” she replied, capturing his gaze in her stormy eyes. Oh, yes, he needed to stay away from Mrs. Annesley. She was dangerous.