Lydia knew she needed to wait until the indisposition actually commenced before she requested that Sister Etheldreda take her to see Sister Agnes.
It would be the longest two days of her life, but there was nothing for it but to wait. All of her prayers would be answered if Emma’s and Hannah’s courses came in another fortnight also. Lydia remembered that at Longbourn, as much as her father hated that time of the month due to the fact that all of the Bennet ladies had their courses within a day or two of each other, he used to withdraw from them even more than was his wont. Here at St Mary’s, it seemed the same was true for Emma and Hannah, who lived in the same dormitory together.
Lydia was with three other of the nuns’ guests, mopping the dining parlour’s floor. Thoughts of the approaching confirmation that she was not carrying the late seducer’s child only made her work that much harder.
As she mopped away, Lydia had a wide smile on her face.
Chapter 20
Two days after his meeting with Gardiner, Hillman was strolling along the shore of the lake, not too far from his rented house, when he encountered Gardiner, his wife, and two nieces. Based on his first view of them the day they had arrived he had considered them pretty. However, up close they were even more beautiful than he had thought. For him that did not mean very much, as there were many very pretty debutantes in London who did not have the character to match their looks. Most were vapid and empty shells who would agree with anything he said no matter how many times he contradicted himself.
“Gardiner, would you do me the honour of introducing the ladies to me?” Hillman requested.
“Certainly, Mr Hillman. It is my pleasure to introduce my wife, Mrs Madeline Gardiner, and our two nieces, Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. Ladies, Mr Colin Hillman, our neighbour whom I met with a few days past.” Gardiner extended his hand, and the men shook.
Hillman did not miss the knowing look from Mrs Gardiner, which told him Gardiner had shared the truth of his identity with her just like he said he would.
“Unless you are on your way home, Mr Hillman, you are welcome to join us as we walk along the shore,” Maddie offered. “We intend to walk for an hour or so, if that is not too much for you.”
“If it is not an imposition, I would be happy to join your party, as I too had only recently begun my constitutional,” Hillman accepted.
“I would not have extended the invitation if it was,” Maddie responded.
With Gardiner walking with his wife on his arm, Hillman offered an arm to each of the Bennet sisters. He soon had a dainty hand resting on his forearms either side of him.
“What is that island there?” Jane asked no one in particular.
“That, Miss Bennet, is Belle Isle. It is the largest of the eighteen islands in the lake,” Hillman related.
“May we visit it? I noticed a fascinating round house,” Elizabeth asked.
“If we are invited by the Curwens, who own Belle Isle, then the answer would be yes. They purchased the island in 1774; it was then called Longholme. Their daughter is Isabella, so they renamed the island for her; hence, Belle Isle,” Hillman reported.
“You seem to be knowledgeable about the area, Mr Hillman,” Jane observed. “Do you come here often?”
He did not want to mention that his parents had a house which was on a hill, giving it a view of most of the lake, but Hillman would not prevaricate about his coming here before. “Since I was a lad, I have visited the Lakes with my parents and other family members. As I was fascinated by the place, I asked many questions. When I was old enough, I read books about the area. I return because I find it so much more peaceful than the demands of London society,” he revealed.
“I agree with you about society in Town,” Jane mused. “There is too much dishonesty among the so-called polite society. I much prefer to associatewith those who are genuine and honest rather than the ones who smile at you while they are busy stabbing you in the back.”
“Strangely enough, I could not agree with you more, Miss Bennet,” Hillman responded. “I have withdrawn myself from London society for the foreseeable future.”
Jane liked the fact that Mr Hillman spoke to her and Lizzy like they were rational beings. Also, he had not once complimented her on her supposed beauty, which for Jane was very refreshing. She assumed the man was single. Uncle Edward had not mentioned a Mrs Hillman when he had returned from his meeting with the man, and neither had the gentleman alluded to a wife.
“Can you tell me what that small island is called?” Elizabeth requested as she pointed across the water.
“That, Miss Elizabeth, is the smallest island in the lake. It is Maiden Holme. It is neither inhabited by man nor is it private property. I do not know all of the islands, but if you want to know more, there is a bookshop in the town which has books which will answer any of your questions regarding the lake and the islands,” Hillman suggested.
“You had to mention a store which sells books to Lizzy,” Jane said with put-on exasperation. “If we allow her, she will happily spend hours getting lost among the tomes.”
“Does that mean you are a bibliophile, Miss Elizabeth?” Hillman enquired.
“Guilty,” Elizabeth replied. “Jane has the right of it; I love to lose myself in libraries or bookshops. On our way here, we were in Oxford, and I had the pleasure of seeing the Bodleian Library. I would have happily remained there for days. My father would have loved to see it, even though he is a Cambridge man. However, as soon as I saw the beauty of the nature hereabouts, I was not sorry I was not allowed to remain in the library for too long.”
“I commend your father on his excellent choice of universities. Has he mentioned the Wren Library at Trinity College? It is not as old or as large as the one you mentioned at thatotherschool, but it has an extensive collection,” Hillman stated.
“I think Papa did mention that name to me. As much as I love to speak of books, I also revel in the beauty of nature,” Elizabeth said as she took in the magnificent vistas which surrounded them. “I understand that there is only one river at the southern end, which carries the water away. Is there more than one to the north of us which provides the lake with water?”
“Yes, there are several rivers and streams which feed the lake on its northern end. The main ones are the Brathay, Rothay, Trout Beck, and Cunsey Beck rivers. The river which carries water away is the River Leven,” Hillman related. “Where we are is at a point that is about two-thirds of the total length of the lake, which is eleven miles. That is why it is hard to see all of the lake unless you are somewhere which is considerably higher.”
