~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Do you think I should write to Gigi?” Elizabeth asked in the afternoon, a few days after she and her sisters arrived at the Gardiner’s House. “Aunt Maddie mentioning that she is to see Lady Matlock made me think of her. I am sure you enjoyed meeting her as much as I did.”
“I did, but is she the only Darcy you want to hear about?” Jane asked slyly.
“Jane Bennet! I think I preferred you before you began to tease me so mercilessly.” Elizabeth’s smile showed that she did not object to Jane’s humour.
“If you like, I can rediscover my mask of serenity,” Jane said innocently.
“No thank you; I much prefer you the way you are now,” Elizabeth replied seriously. “Do you have an opinion about me writing to Gigi? Would it be too presumptuous of me to write to her without an invitation?”
“Wait until Aunt Maddie returns and canvass her opinion,” Jane suggested. “I hear the carriage now. You see, mention of our aunt’s name brought her home.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her sister’s silliness. Notwithstanding her outward expression, she could not be happier to see this playful side of Jane, one she had kept repressed for too many years.
Before Elizabeth spoke, their aunt entered the drawing room. At that instant, there was noise from the front door as the four Gardiner children, Mary, and Kitty returned from feeding the waterfowl in the park across from the house. After greeting their mother and two eldest cousins, the four Gardiners followed the governess to the nursery while Mary and Kitty remained in the drawing room with their aunt and older sisters.
Maddie rang for tea and was soonserving her four nieces cups of the steaming beverage, prepared like each of them enjoyed. Jane passed around the plate with the seed cake and pastries on it.
Once the tea service had been cleared away, Elizabeth asked Aunt Maddie’s opinion of her writing to Miss Darcy.
“I do not think it is inappropriate for you to write to her. It is not like you are writing to her brother. However, I would wait until we have begun our travels,” Maddie suggested. “After our board meeting, I was invited to Matlock House for tea. When I asked about the Darcys, Lady Elaine told me there had been a fire at Pemberley, and Mr and Miss Darcy departed London the morning after the message arrived from the estate. I imagine they have much demanding their attention right now, which was the genesis of my advising you to wait to write to her.”
“I thought Mr Darcy was already at Pemberley,” Elizabeth puzzled. “Why was he in London at this time?”
“He returned to confront Miss Bingley.” Maddie smiled. “Lady Elaine told me…” Maddie related what Lady Elaine had been informed by her son, nephew, and niece regarding the set-down Miss Bingley received. “Miss Bingley attempted to enter society the next day…” She related the stone wall of disapproval the youngest Bingley had encountered.
“Good, she deserved that comeuppance,” Jane insisted.
If her aunt and sisters needed any other indications of the changes to Jane’s character, they would not have after that statement.
“You will not hear any of us disagreeing with you,” Elizabeth stated. She was not one to revel in the suffering and pain of others, but after the way Miss Bingley had behaved in Hertfordshire and had done everything in her power to try to inflict pain on Jane, Elizabeth could not find any sympathy for the woman. She remembered what her aunt said about the fire. “I hope no lives were lost at Mr Darcy’s estate. I will take your advice and wait to write to Gigi until I hear that things are calmer at Pemberley.”
“There is some good news. We have been invited to spend a few days at Snowhaven, the main estate of the Earl of Matlock. If your uncle agrees, which I do not see a reason why he will not, we will split our time between Lambton and Snowhaven when we return from the Lakes.” Maddie paused. “Did I mention that the manor house is built around what remains of the original castle that used to stand on the estate?”
“No, Aunt Maddie, you have never told us that,” Jane replied for her sisters.
“I wonder if we will ever have a turn to see such an interesting house,” Kitty said wistfully. As she developed her skill at drawing and painting, she had discovered she enjoyed sketching structures.
“You will get your chance one day, Kitty dear,” Maddie opined. “When you and Mary are at Meadowbrook while we are away, you will have many opportunities to draw. I am sure the Jamisons will also take you to Wokingham, the town closest to the estate, and you will find much of interest to sketch there.”
Mary and Kitty expressed their excitement about going into Berkshire. Other than London, they had never before left the environs of Meryton.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“I received a letter from Bennet; he has employed a companion and governess in one lady for our nieces Mary and Kitty. Aside from the expected areas of education, comportment, and propriety, she is evidently very accomplished on the pianoforte, so she will assist Mary to improve. She can teach Kitty as well. Even though she does not have the skill of a master, she isreasonably proficient in drawing and painting,” Gardiner related to his wife that evening while he changed out of the clothes he had worn to his offices. “Her name is Mrs Taylor, and she will arrive on the morrow. That way she will accompany the children to Meadowbrook.”
“It is timely, as our governess says her mother is ailing and requested leave to attend her while we are on holiday. I am sure the lady will not object to the occasional lessons for Lilly, Eddy, and Peter,” Maddie opined.
“I am certain that you are correct. I am pleased it is a little more than a sennight before we depart. I am looking forward to a holiday without worrying about work,” Gardiner responded as he tied his cravat. He offered his arm to his beloved Maddie. “Shall we join our nieces and two eldest children before dinner?”
“Indeed,” Maddie said succinctly as she took her husband’s arm.
Chapter 17
The day after the interment of the earthly remains of one William Collins, Anne had her solicitor search to see if the man had a will. None was discovered, but Mr Thomson did discover some notes that Mr Collins had made to remind himself to have one drawn up. Lady Catherine had advised him that now that he was married, he needed to do so.
It seemed that, like a broken clock that is right twice a day, Lady Catherine, very occasionally, dispensed advice which was sensible.
