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As planned, the six Gardiners with their four eldest Bennet nieces departed Gracechurch Street in three conveyances on the tenth day of June just as the sun crested the horizon in the east.
In the lead coach were the Gardiner parents with Jane, Lizzy, and Mary. Mrs Taylor, who had temporarily agreed to act as governess to the Gardiner children, Kitty, and the four young Gardiners were in the second carriage, while personal servants and Nurse rode in the final equipage.
It was a little over forty miles to Meadowbrook, which was why Gardiner planned for three breaks. As such, they arrived at the Jamisons’ estate a little before four thatafternoon.
Mr William and Mrs Hester Jamison, as well as their two children, a son and daughter, waited to welcome the arriving travellers. Their son and daughter could not contain their glee that Peter and May had arrived to be with them. The Gardiner parents and the two eldest Bennet sisters enjoyed the rest at Meadowbrook for a few days.
They planned to depart towards the north on Monday, the fifteenth day of June.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the second Friday in June, both Emma and Hannah had begun their courses. Just like she had warned Lydia, Sister Agnes made sure that the two girls understood there was a chance, a very small one, that they could still be with child.
During morning prayers on that Friday Lydia lifted her eyes to the heavens. ‘I will be forever grateful, Lord God on High, to You for allowing that none of us have to carry that dead criminal’s child. It is bad enough that there are some of his natural children in the world. I suppose You decided that You did not want any more of his offspring to have to suffer because of his manipulation and seductions,’ Lydia prayed. ‘I will be able to tell Mary that I have come to know You and Your Son. You are a God of mercy and love, not the disapproving one like Mary thought after reading Fordyce’s Sermons. I now know it is not what we inhabitants of the mortal world You created for us say, but rather how we act that we are judged on.
‘Now I pray that You allow all of us to have the next month’s courses as well. Even if You decide I am not worthy, please allow Emma and Hannah to be free of being in the family way.
‘After the way I used to behave, if my penance is to bring another life into the world, then by Your will that is what I will do. You know I would prefer for that notto happen, but I will bow to Your decision in this matter.
‘Please watch over Mama, Papa, Jane, Lizzy, Mary, and Kitty. I beseech You to keep them well, and if something should happen to me, please comfort them.’
After morning prayers. Lydia attacked her chores with gusto. Life was good.
Chapter 18
After warm farewells from the Jamisons, Mary, Kitty, and the four Gardiner children; the Gardiner parents, Jane, and Elizabeth departed Meadowbrook not long after they had broken their fasts. There were now only two carriages, having left one at the Jamisons’ estate. The family members rode in the larger coach while the second smaller and older conveyance carried personal servants and trunks.
“Where will our first stop be today, Uncle Edward?” Elizabeth asked excitedly not long after the coachman had guided his team onto the road leading north and away from Wokingham.
“In just about ten miles, we will stop in the town of Henley-on-Thames,” Gardiner revealed after looking at the notes he and Maddie had made. “Yes, Lizzy, we will stretch our legs there and walk around the town. I understand there is a shop where we can enjoy tea and some freshly baked treats which is right next to the Thames.”
“How long will we remain in Henley-on-Thames?” Jane enquired.
“Two to three hours. I do not intend to change horses, so we will make sure not to overexert them and rest them as much as needed,” Gardiner replied.
“And from there?” Elizabeth questioned.
“The midday meal, even though it will be later than that, will be in Wallingford, where we will visit the churchand stretch our legs after we eat.” Knowing that Lizzy would keep asking questions until she knew the plan for the full day, Gardiner continued. “We will take a short break in Dorchester and another in Berinsfield. From there it will be another ten miles or so until we reach Oxford, where I have reserved rooms for us at an exceedingly comfortable inn.” Gardiner paused. “Lizzy, can you guess what we will visit on the morrow before we leave Oxford?”
“The Bodleian Library!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“Of course. It would be cruel indeed to be so close to one of the most extensive libraries in the realm and not visit it. We know you are your father’s daughter in your love of books,” Maddie stated, “but remember, we cannot spend the whole day there. We will be travelling to Woodstock and visiting Blenheim Castle in the afternoon, and we want a few hours there as the house and park are so large. We discovered the house is open because the Duke of Marlborough and his family prefer one of their estates farther north in the summer.”
“Yes, that means we will spend the night in Woodstock on the morrow,” Gardiner clarified. “Before you ask, we will reveal the following day’s visits at the inn in Woodstock.”
Elizabeth remembered something she had heard Uncle Edward say to Aunt Maddie. “Did I hear correctly that you sent one of your clerks to Rosings Park to inventory all of the ostentatious and uncomfortable furniture as well as the gaudy, tasteless pieces of décor and art of which Lady Catherine is so proud?” She asked.
“Yes, that is what I said,” Gardiner responded.
“I cannot believe that Lady Catherine would agree to such a thing,” Elizabeth stated. “She was so proud of her home, which she thought highlighted her wealth and status when all it did was show how classless she truly is.”
“It is not her choice. Miss Anne de Bourgh has claimedwhat is hers…” Gardiner related what he knew and that Lord Matlock had recommended his niece engage him to sell all of the tasteless pieces. “Rasmusen will inventory everything Miss de Bourgh wants sold, and we will sell them for her.”
“Who would want to buy such inelegant things?” Elizabeth queried.
“Tradesmen who want to emulate the upper classes and members of the gentry who arenouveau riche. People like that awful Miss Bingley. They will pay a premium for such items, especially when they know the provenance. Being owned by a member of the nobility will be enough for some. I am confident that even after my commission, Miss de Bourgh will receive more than her mother wasted on the items in the first place.”
