The next days followed nearly the same pattern. Elizabeth and Lydia would walk out early in the morning, then join the household for breakfast. Lydia was not particular about their destination, but there were two routes Elizabeth preferred. One was along the cliffs, and to see the Martello Tower, also known in the area as the Wish Tower. The other was rather deeper into the countryside, where there was an imposing stone castle that the locals said was actually inhabited by a reclusive elderly woman of foreign descent. The grounds were not well kept, and there did not seem to be any harm in going close enough to see the great building, which was an incredible sight. The stonework seemed in good repair, though they never saw any servants outdoors. The locals said that orders came from the castle to the shops by a local boy who lived in the cottages, and deliveries were left at the back door, but that the farms attached to the place were not inhabited or in use. There were many squatters on the property, but its owner never had them evicted. Elizabeth and Lydia both found the edifice to be romantic, and made up stories about thereclusive lady who lived within, to amuse themselves as they walked.
After breakfast, some of the ladies would accompany Lady Catherine in whatever endeavour she wished to pursue, the others would go sea bathing with their new friends, or out to draw or enjoy the scenery. Georgiana and Priscilla enjoyed donkey rides, and all of the ladies enjoyed parading about on the beach with their parasols. Each day, Georgiana and Lydia would practise the harp. Lydia surprisingly showed promise very quickly in the endeavour, and was wild to become proficient. She had been abominable at pianoforte, and swore off instruments when she was a very young girl, but now she had found something at which she might excel. Lady Cartherine enjoyed their playing, and as promised, gifted the harp to Lydia to take home with her. By the time they returned to Rosings, the new instrument would have been delivered. Even Anne was inspired to make an effort at the harp, and was surprised that it was not as difficult as she expected.
Late each afternoon before dressing for dinner, Lady Catherine took her rest, for her condition exhausted her, and she could no longer make it through the day without lying down for some time before the evening meal. Each day, the ladies visited the assembly rooms, the tea house, the confectioner, the book shop, or haberdashery. Each of the Bennet daughters had come with an incredibly generous sum from their father, though Lydia’s was entrusted to Elizabeth for safekeeping, and close budgeting, for Lydia could spend any sum in under a week, if she were not prudent.
Sir Charles and Lady Gordon hosted a dinner party in honour of Elizabeth and Lydia’s heroic rescue of young Charlie. Elizabeth was embarrassed by the attention, though Lydia was not, and told and retold the story many times with great relish. Lady Gordon was an estimable woman in her early thirties, shequite reminded Elizabeth of Charlotte, with her practical nature and good humoured disposition.
There were dance assemblies every other week, but Lady Catherine preferred to wait for Darcy before attending them. They attended the assembly rooms by day, and not long after arriving, had been introduced to several matrons and their offspring, and a few gentlemen and noblemen. Lady Catherine preferred not to do too much socialising, and so they exchanged invitations mostly with the households that she already knew. The others, Lady Catherine was content to receive calls from but once a week. Two of the young noblemen were persistent; Lord Albert Swinton paid a great deal of attention to Anne, which she ignored, and Lord Henry Russell, the Earl of Lennox seemed positively smitten with Priscilla, and was also ignored. The primary local nobleman was the Earl of Amesbury, who lived nearby at his estate, Harefield, with his wife and family of five sons who were rumoured to be wild. The ones who had not yet married were presumably all off gambling in the capital. His family never visited the assembly rooms, but the countess did send her card around to select noble visitors to the area, and so Lady Catherine and her household did call upon her at her invitation.
CHAPTER 26
One afternoon, the day before Lady Catherine was to meet the physician, Georgiana came to Elizabeth and said, “Lizzy, I know my brother would wish for me to tell someone. I believe I have seen Mr Wickham.”
“Are you certain, Georgie?” gasped Elizabeth.
“I believe so. I was in the phaeton with Anne today – she does go along at a terrific pace, does she not? She says exhilaration is essential to exercise the heart, and circulating the blood.”
“Do I not know it!” Elizabeth laughed. Anne did like to race quite a bit faster than she ought in her little contraption, and her mother would have a seizure if she ever saw, but driving had been Anne’s only activity for years, and she had a firm grasp on controlling her horses.
“I only saw him for a moment, but I was certain it was him. He was in uniform,” Georgiana continued. “I swear, I think he even saw me.”
“Well there are enough soldiers about to have made a mistake in identification, but I do not wish to doubt you,” said Elizabeth. There was a militia in Eastbourne, though the town was not manned as the coast had been in the past. British troops were preoccupied in the Americas currently, and Napoleonhad turned his attention towards Russia. Tensions had been mounting in that direction for some time. Most of the current activity around the Wish Tower concerned smuggling. Elizabeth had a desire to tour the place properly for herself, but had not yet had the opportunity. “We ought to write to Fitzwilliam and send it by express messenger. He would wish to know, immediately.”
Bourne House,
Eastbourne
Dearest F.
I beg a thousand pardons for not having written to you since leaving Rosings Park. Your aunt, even though we can see that her condition exhausts her, and she takes rest each afternoon, is otherwise indefatigable when she determines to be. Other than her complexion and having grown rather thin, she never shows her illness when we are out and about, and she has insisted upon going out every day for some hours before returning to rest before dinner. I wonder if she is trying to distract us from her worries, or herself. She retires early on the evenings that we do not dine with the Fletchers or the Woodhouses, and we younger ladies repair to Georgiana’s and Priscilla’s shared parlour, or they visit Lydia and I in ours, and we all make merry late into the night. It is a novel experience for Georgie and Priscilla. Though they are cousins, they are not so close in age as you and Col F, and have not often engaged in such shenanigans as Lydia and I are used to at home with so many sisters. Poor Anne has never engaged in a shenanigan in her life until she fell in with us. We shall turn the three of them into hoydens before you see them again.
Anne keeps us just as busy, she has continued her fondness for driving since we have arrived. We each go out with her in our turn, and she is quite enthusiastic about the excitement at careening about the village each day. When she is not driving, she is taking the cure, for she has discovered a great fondness for sea bathing. Your aunt’s appointment with the physician is tomorrow, She is excessively outraged that he has refused to see her at Bourne House. She must travel to him, and she feels it is a degradation to her rank. Reformed though she might be, she still likes the distinction of rank to be preserved. Anne will brook no argument, she insists that Lady Catherine must go anyway. The two seem to be on the verge of some terrific battle. Lady Catherine abhors the idea of this doctor’s cure, and I cannot blame her, but Anne is determined to preserve her mother’s life at any cost.
As much as I desire to shower this message with expressions of adoration and flowery declarations of admiration, as we have previously enjoyed, I fear the worries for your aunt and another concern overshadow such wishes. I must inform you that Georgiana came to me today and confessed that she believes that she saw Mr Wickham here in the market town. She only had a moment to glimpse him, but she was certain it was he, in uniform, and that he saw her for an instant as well. As you instructed us in case of any fears for our safety, we informed Georgiana’s footman, Harry. He ensures us that he has sent to Darcy House for extra men to watch over Georgiana and the rest of us. Your sister has solemnly promised not to venture out alone, She will always have one or more of us with her, and at least two of your men.
I shall take a man with me and Lydia upon our morning walks. I do not wish for you to worry. It is possible that Georgie only saw a random soldier, and mistook his identity, but we shall take every precaution until you come to us. I long to seeyour face again. Will you not come to us, directly? Pray, ignore my selfishness. Of course Pemberley needs you. But do come, once you are at liberty. We would all of us rejoice in your arrival, none more joyfully than myself.
E.
The following day,Anne and her mother attended their appointment. Lady Catherine did not speak of the matter upon their return. Anne informed them that the doctor believed that Lady Catherine would benefit from his cure, but he did not work alone on these procedures, and he wished to consult the specialist who aided him in such endeavours. Lady Catherine was offended, because she believed both men ought to have been available from the start, and to drag the matter out so was unconscionable. Elizabeth understood her position. Lady Catherine was in a terrifying situation, and itwouldhave been kinder of the doctor to have had this other man here from the beginning, so that her hostess did not have so long to wait. Lady Catherine was also greatly displeased by what she considered to be the degradation of the examination, and irate that she must be imposed upon again in a similar manner. The doctor had assured Anne that he took no offence at her mother’s outrage. This was not the first frightened noblewoman he had helped, and he assured her that Lady Catherine’s feelings were perfectly natural.
Their hostess must wait another fortnight before this other doctor arrived, and her nerves were getting the better of her. She began to push herself beyond the limits of her strength, and the consequences made themselves known quickly. Lady Catherine and Anne argued daily in Lady Catherine’s apartments; Anne insistent that her mother agree to the procedure carried out bythe physician, Lady Catherine determined not to offend her body with such mutilation. Lady Catherine became stubborn very quickly, and stopped taking her rest in the afternoons, insisting that she was well, and that she needed no such measures. Anne was outraged that instead of taking better care of her health, that her mother was turning obstinate, and doing the very opposite.
Three days after her examination,Elizabeth and Priscilla were with Lady Catherine on the beach, as Anne took the cure with Miss Amanda Fletcher. Priscilla did not enjoy sea bathing; Miss Woodhouse did not find it enjoyable either, but she did enjoy sitting upon the beach and warming herself in the sunshine. Lady Catherine had harangued her about freckles, but Mr Woodhouse insisted that the activity was good for his daughter, and whatever brought her pleasure, must be encouraged. She could have as many freckles as she liked, he insisted, as long as she felt well. Elizabeth enjoyed sea bathing very much, though not so much as to wish to leave her friend alone with Miss Woodhouse while she enjoyed herself. When they accompanied Priscilla and Miss Woodhouse, Elizabeth joined them on the beach for conversation, when Priscilla went to sketch with Georgiana or drive with Anne, Elizabeth joined the others in the bathing machines.
Elizabeth wanted to like Miss Woodhouse, but there was something not quite right about her illness, and Elizabeth did not like her opinions on some subjects. She had said nothing, but it seemed that Miss Woodhouse was always more ill in the presence of her father. She was a bright young woman, if rather too conscious of rank. Elizabeth had learned quickly that Miss Woodhouse had felt rather proprietary about the matchmakingof her friend, Mr George Knightley, and had not deemed Charlotte worthy of him. She had said nothing specifically insulting, but she had made it clear that ifshehad set her sister’s brother up in matrimony, it would have been with a proper wife of his own station. She spoke endlessly about her efforts in pairing up her other neighbours and acquaintances, and complained often about the ones who made their own paths.
Elizabeth did not appreciate the suggestion that her dearest friend was not good enough for the man she had married, and only Lady Catherine’s friendship with the woman’s father kept her from saying so quite openly. She and Priscilla both rolled their eyes when Miss Woodhouse had wondered aloud at Lady Catherine’s approval of Darcy and Elizabeth’s courtship. Miss Woodhouse suggested directly that Mr Darcy would be a better match for Priscilla, and that she ought to introduce Elizabeth to someone who would suit her position better. She had been trying to get the rector in their village paired off for some time.
“Mr Elton would do very well for Miss Elizabeth,” she insisted, as Elizabeth and Priscilla wondered why Miss Woodhouse believed that they cared what she thought. “He is a very good looking man, and you seem like a sensible woman. You would do well for him, I think. I should have my father send for him.”
“Since I have committed myself to a courtship already, it would be excessively inappropriate of me to consider such a scheme, Miss Woodhouse.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes for the fortieth time since she sat down with the lady that day.
Before the young woman could begin to argue again about the merits of a connection of a man like Mr Darcy with his cousin Lady Priscilla, whose prior claim ought to be respected whether or not that lady was actually interested in him, there was a commotion in the water, and on the beach near the shore. The younger ladies were sitting rather further back on the beach thanLady Catherine and Mr Woodhouse, and when Elizabeth heard shouts of alarm, she rushed to her hostess, along with Priscilla, leaving Miss Woodhouse quite on her own.
“Anne! Where is Anne! I cannot see her!” Lady Catherine was crying at the shoreline, as Mr Woodhouse attempted to calm her. The ladies in the water were panicking, the dippers hurried Miss Fletcher back into her bathing machine, as it was pulled quickly from the water, and the other dippers nearby began to search the waters. After several moments of hysterical crying, Lady Catherine collapsed on the shore.
“Wait!” Elizabeth shouted, pointing. “I see her! She has swam out farther than she ought!”
