Jane noted that fact and returned to where Mary stood. “What is it, Mary?”
“Am I a bad person that I do not miss our parents? Does the bible not command us to honour our mother and father?” Mary worried her lip.
“It is a subject with which I too have struggled,” Jane admitted. “Something Lizzy said makes much sense to me. As soon as our parents showed they were willing to barter one of usfor their own selfish needs, they stopped being our parents. Mrs. Bennet only cares about her own future comfort and Mr. Bennet wants everything to come to him without stirring himself from his study.”
“Brava Jane! That is the most unforgiving statement I have ever heard you utter, and it is all true.” Jane playfully swatted at Mary’s arm. “When I think of how our two youngest sisters,” Mary inclined her head towards where Kitty and Lydia were assisting Lilly and Eddy feed the ducks, “had they been raised by our moth…Mrs. Bennet, they would have turned out very wild indeed, especially Lydia, I believe.”
“As much as I wish Lizzy was not tied to that old man, there could be some positives to come out of our move away from the pernicious influence of our parents. All we need is Lizzy to be free for everything to be good.”
“How do you like the expanded house?” Mary queried to change the subject to one less melancholy than them worrying about Lizzy.
Rather than completely break down the walls between the two houses altogether, a builder had suggested making a series of doorless entryways. Uncle Edward had agreed and the work had been completed within a fortnight and now there was plenty of room with bedchambers to spare at the Gardiners’ house.
“Sharing with you was never a chore, but I must admit to enjoying having my own chamber, especially as it is next to yours and across from Kitty and Lyddie’s.”
“Lilly, Eddy, and May are enjoying the new nursery which is twice the size of the old one. I like that Uncle is converting the old nursery into rooms for the governess and nurses,” Mary agreed.
The two linked arms and made their way towards where their sisters and cousins were feeding the quacking ducks trying to demand their attention and the pieces of bread being thrown.
As the sisters turned, neither saw the Viscount turn back and then freeze in his tracks.
Andrew’s heart was convinced it was indeed Miss Bennet, but how could he be sure at the distance and what excuse would he have to suddenly make an about face and walk back from whence he had come.
He told himself he could only hope he would be given another chance to see her. Why had he not asked her direction at that first meeting?
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the next morning, which was shaping up to be a gorgeous day, the story of how the Duchess had been concerned for the servants being able to eat had made its way to all those who worked below stairs like wildfire through dry brush.
Her words of greeting became all the more believable and the servants had begun to believe the new mistress would not treat them the way the master did. When Her Grace’s lady’s maid had reinforced her mistress’s goodness and kindness, the prevailing sentiment was the new Duchess was someone who deserved their loyalty.
In the past when Wickham heard of negative sentiments regarding His Grace being expressed he would have reported what was being said and who was saying it. As he agreed with the expressed sentiments, not a word was repeated to his master.
As was her wont, especially when she was in the country, regardless of the fact he had wanted to importune her yester-night—only receding when he saw proof she was still indisposed,Elizabeth was up before the sun. Loretta attended her soon after the bell had been pulled.
Elizabeth dressed in a dark green day dress and laced up her favourite half boots for walking. She had Loretta pull her hair back into a simple chignon, took her lightweight pelisse, the same one she used to wear at Longbourn, and a bonnet, and then made for the front doors one floor below her.
Seeing two footmen in the hallway outside her apartment, Elizabeth greeted the men cheerfully, and just like she said she would, she asked each his name and then said it back to burn it into her memory.
She descended the grand staircase and found Mr. Wickham at the bottom in the entrance hall. Elizabeth was concerned he would stop her from taking a walk. Her husband had not forbidden the activity, but neither had he countenanced it. First, Elizabeth greeted the four footmen on duty near the front doors and repeated the method she had used with the first two.
Next, she turned to Mr. Wickham with an arched eyebrow challenging him to stop her. “It is not my intention to curtail your desire to exercise Your Grace,” Wickham bowed to the young Duchess. “However, walking out on your own, or riding, would not be looked upon with favour. I, and two footmen-guards, and when you ride, a groom will accompany you.”
“It will be a walk. I do not ride,” Elizabeth informed her husband’s man. “As long as you allow me some space so at least I can imagine I have solitude, I will not object to being escorted,” Elizabeth allowed.
“Most gracious of you, Your Grace,” Wickham bowed again.
Detecting no mockery or condescension in his tone, Elizabeth accepted Mr. Wickham was being sincere. It confused her. The man had always been her husband’s man in every way. Now was the time for walking, not contemplating Mr. Wickham and her husband.
One of the footmen assisted her into her selected pelisse, she thanked him recalling his name was Ralph, and then tied her bonnet’s ties loosely under her chin, and they were off.
Not five minutes after being introduced to her enormous personal footmen-guards, John Biggs and Brian Johns, Her Grace began her walk, the servant’s network had made it be known she had meant what she said which only added to the prevalent opinion stating she was the best mistress they could have hoped for.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr. Wickham kept to his word, he and the two guards walked behind her allowing the Duchess a little space.
The first thing Elizabeth did was circumnavigate the house. She discovered the wings did in fact extend out at the back of the structure so if one looked at the mansion—and it truly was that—from above it would look like an ‘H’ albeit a very large one.
