“It is the Consultation Room.” Georgiana toldhim. “I shall fill in the walls later, but I wished to also have time to sketch the view from the summer room.”
“It is a lovely picture, I hope you will make one for me to keep as well.” Her cousin returned the drawing to her. “Miss Kitty, that is a marvellous piece of work, however did you complete it so quickly? I confess, I had some small skill as a youth, but I drew rather slowly, and had not the patience for such still work.”
“Did you enjoy your walk to the river?” Georgiana asked.
“We did, and if you ever visit again in the summer, it might be well worth a visit from you too. I think you would like to employ your pencils to depict the banks.”
“Lydia, I do hope you behaved,” Kitty said disapprovingly to her younger sister.
Lydia stamped her foot. “I have been pleasant all day! It isyoumaking everyone feel discomfort!”
Kitty looked unimpressed, while Georgiana looked quite mortified by her new friend’s behaviour, and uncertain about her open unkindness to her own sister.
“Let us return to the house.” Colonel Fitzwilliam held out an arm each to Georgiana and Mrs Annesley. “I do fear we have gone without sustenance for far too long. I simplymustfind a spot of tea and a sandwich. Do you think there will be scones, Miss Kitty?
The party retired to the house, and they were found a half hour later enjoying tea sandwiches, and cakes by Mr Bennet and Mr Hooper.
“I fear Mrs Hooper was detained on her estate visits today.” Their host popped a jam penny into his mouth. “One of our tenants has entered her child bed, and Maria has stayed to help with the other children for the day; the message came not an hour ago.”
“How kind of Mrs Hooper. I do hope your tenant and her child fare well.” Georgiana said.
“Now,youare George Darcy’s daughter, are you not? I believe I met your brother some twelve years or more back,” Mr Hooper inquired.
“Yes! My brother told me that he visited the grotto with my father before he passed.” Georgiana nodded.
“My condolences to both you and your brother on the loss of your father,” Hooper said to Georgiana. Then, in an aside to Bennet, “A better chess player never lived than George Darcy.”
“I believe I saw his name on the wall at Cambridge.” Mr Bennet reached out and took a biscuit. “He was several years ahead of me, so we never played against one another.”
“I wishIcould play chess,” Lydia announced.
Kitty snorted.
“Can you not learn?” Georgiana asked tentatively.
“Possibly, if anyone would teach me, but Papa prefers Lizzy’s company,” Lydia muttered.
Mr Bennet was entirely unmortified. “Do you believe thatyouhave the capacity to learn such a game?”
Lydia glared at him mutinously.
“Have you learnedanythingtoday?” Mr Bennet asked pointedly.
“Yes!I learned that a river can be built, and that a prize perch can be twenty inches long, and I learned that Mr Scott built the grotto alongside his workers, and many other facts!” Lydia answered hotly, pulling the large rock from her pocket. “And,I learned that this rock is a puddingstone, and that I want to find a book in the library to learn more about it when we return home. The boy who guided us said I could keep it.”
Jane wondered again how Lydia fit the large stone in her pockets.I must ask her how large her pocketsare.
“Of course you may!” Mr Hooper exclaimed. “I am certain your father’s library cannot be deficient in the geology of Hertfordshire!”
“Thank you, sir.” Lydia glowed.
“Ican play chess. My brother taught me. She does not look unintelligent. I am certain Miss Lydia could learn!” Miss Darcy seemed timidly outraged on behalf of Lydia.
Kitty did not care for this. “She could, but it is unlikely she would spare any real effort. If she were willing to be taught anything, she would have done so by now.”
Mr Hooper seemed uncomfortable by this display of sibling rivalry.The last time Bennet brought two daughters at once, it had been his two eldest, who were devoted to each other. “So, tell me about your impressions of the grotto, Miss Jane! Bennet told me all about your appearance on his lands, and your injuries. What an interesting condition! Do you believe that your adventure today helped your memory at all? Any recollections of having visited Amwell before?”
A half hour later, the party was gathering their belongings as they waited for the carriages.
