Gardiner looked at his fob watch. It was time to begin their walk back towards the houses they were renting. After they had turned and begun the walk back, Maddie said something quietly to her husband. Gardiner nodded. “Hillman, if you are not otherwise engaged, we would like to invite you to join us for dinner this evening.”
As he had never been so relaxed in the company of women of marriageable age before, Hillman accepted without delay.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Tears were streaming down Lydia’s cheeks, but they were tears of joy, not sorrow. Hercourses had begun, just like they always did, two days after she felt the first cramping. Until last month, she had hated having to restrict her activities for anywhere from three to seven days. Now, she cared not if it lasted for a fortnight. She was not carrying the libertine’s child!
As soon as she was dressed, Lydia knocked on the door to Sister Etheldreda’s chamber.
“Yes, Child, what is it?” Sister Etheldreda asked.
“I have my monthly indisposition,” Lydia gushed. “Is it too early to go to Sister Agnes so I may give her the good news?”
“No, it is not too early. Give me five minutes, and we will go together.”
“Thank you, Sister Etheldreda. I will be right here,” Lydia enthused. As much pleasure as she would have in informing the mother superior, that would fade in comparison to the joy Lydia would feel when she wrote to her mother about her news. She would not be completely easy until she had discovered that both Emma and Hannah had been blessed in this way as well.
Sister Etheldreda emerged from her chamber in less than five minutes, but to Lydia, who could not wait until she was before Sister Agnes, the wait seemed interminable. If there were not rules against running in the halls, Lydia would have done so. Instead, she calmly walked next to Sister Etheldreda. The days of Lydia Harriet Bennet flaunting the rules were past. This new Lydia would not behave with anything except decorum and good sense.
Sister Agnes bade them enter when Sister Etheldreda rapped on the door to her office. “If the joy on your face is anything to go by, it seems that He heard our prayers, and you are not with child. Am I correct?” Sister Agnes queried.
“As of this morning, I have my monthly indisposition,”Lydia reported proudly. “In my next letter to Mama and Papa, may I tell them the good news?”
“Of course, you may, Child,” Sister Agness allowed.
On her way back to her dormitory, Lydia kept herself next to Sister Etheldreda, but she was practically skipping because of the joy flowing through her body. As soon as the sister released her, Lydia sat at the desk in the dormitory to scribe a letter to her parents.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When they returned from their walk, the butler informed Mr Gardiner that a letter had arrived for Miss Elizabeth. It had been delivered by a courier who was resting himself and his horse, and if she had a reply before his departure, the man would take it with him on his return ride.
Gardiner handed the epistle to Lizzy.
“It is from Gigi!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Do I have time to read it now, or would I be interfering with plans for the afternoon?”
“You have time to peruse your missive,” Maddie allowed.
“Jane, come sit with me; there is nothing Gigi can write that you cannot read.” Elizabeth patted the place next to her on the settee. As soon as Jane was seated, she broke the Darcy seal and held the paper so she and Jane could both read Gigi’s neat script.
26 June 1812
Pemberley
Derbyshire
Lizzy,
I was filled with joy at receiving your missives. Rather than my objectingthat you correspond with me, you are a soothsayer because I intended to write to you as soon as we were certain that all the arrangements for the families affected by the fire had been made.
In fact, I was nervous you would not welcome an uninvited correspondence, but William assured me that would not be the case, and he had the right of it. Speaking of my brother, before I omit it, he begged me to give you, Jane, and Mr and Mrs Gardiner his warmest regards. I join him in wishing you all a wonderful time exploring the lakes.
Our Fitzwilliam aunt and uncle have a home there; it is higher up and gives a wonderful view of Lake Windermere. You can also see Moss Eccles Tarn and Esthwaite Water from one side of the house. It has been three years since we were last at the lakes.
William has been busy each day making sure that he is doing everything possible to make life better for the three families who lost their homes in the fires. My brother is so generous, but I will not say more, otherwise I will embarrass him. He does what he does because it is the right thing to do, not because he wants accolades.
The three families are being housed in the dower house until the new homes are built.
Now that most of what can be done is being done, I have returned to my lessons with Mrs Annesley. Knowing me and my love for the pianoforte, it should not come as a surprise that I am back to practicing as much as I am able to each day.
