“Allow me to seek Sister Etheldreda’s permission. If she agrees, I know the perfect place for us to sit in the shade and speak. Also, I need to discover how much time I have before I must return to my lessons.” With that, Lydia was off towards the door to find the named nun.
“Lydia is so different,” Jane observed. “If I did not recognise her face, I would have thought that she could not be the same girl who used to be so brash, flirtatious, and headstrong.”
None who had been familiar with Lydia before being sent to St Mary’s disagreed with Jane.
Having received permission, Lydia returned and led her visitors out of a door which led to a large quadrangle surrounded by the convent on all sides. There were some paths across it, but most of the area was taken up by pretty gardens and three oak trees, each one surrounded by a grassy area. Lydia led them to one of the oak trees which had chairs and benches below it. It looked verypeaceful, and thanks to the structure on all sides, there was hardly the feel of any breeze.
“This is called the Contemplation Garden,” Lydia shared. “The nuns and their guests use it when they want quiet reflection in nature. Now, you promised to tell me how this,” she pointed at the two engaged couples, “came about.” Lydia paused as she looked at those who were so high in society. “It speaks well of you that you are willing to be in my company after what I did.”
“Lyddie, do not forget that I fell for his lies as well,” Elizabeth soothed.
“And I was almost ruined by him. The only reason I was not was because he needed me to agree to elope with him so that he could claim my dowry. With all of my education, even though I knew it was wrong, I agreed to run off to Gretna Green with that libertine. I know now that had I refused, he would have forced me to give my virtue to him, so he would have been able to hold it over my brother’s head,” Gigi revealed. “Had it not been for William arriving earlier than he had been expected, my life would have been over.”
“Jane told me of your error before she accepted my offer for a courtship, and as you can see, it did not cause me to withdraw,” Hilldale stated. “With knowing all, I blame the dead seducer far more than you. Yes, you erred, but you were a girl of fifteen being manipulated by a man almost twice your age.”
Feeling much better for the words she had heard from both speakers, Lydia sat next to Gigi on a bench and took one of her hands in her own. She felt like they were kindred spirits.
“Were you aware Lizzy was to join Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward to travel to the Lake District?” Jane began. She saw Lydia nod. “Well…” With help from Lizzy, their aunt and uncle, and at times Andrew and William, Jane related all to her youngest sister. After a lengthy retelling, Jane completed the tale.
“I agree that the hand of God played a role in all of this,” Lydia opined. “It had to be Providence for all of the things which had to occur to happen. Jane and Lizzy, I am happy for both of you.” Lydia paused. “But before you depart, will you come with me to greet Emma and Hannah? I know they will be overjoyed to see someone familiar from home.”
“Of course, we will see them,” Jane agreed after seeing Lizzy nod her agreement.
Lydia stood. “I will return with Jane and Lizzy in a few minutes.” When they were out of earshot of the rest, Lydia stopped. “Are you aware I am not with child?” She saw her two eldest sisters nod. “My prayers were answered. Neither Emma nor Hannah has been afflicted with having to carry that man’s demon spawn. I know we were very fortunate, and it could have been very different. If I marry, that will be the only time I allow a man any liberties with my person again. Until then. I will be very circumspect around members of the opposite sex.”
Jane and Elizabeth were very proud of the young lady Lydia was becoming.
After the three Bennet sisters spent time with Emma and Hannah, the visitors departed, as Lydia needed to return to her lessons. Elizabeth promised to challenge Lydia to chess the next time they were in company together, as did her two future brothers.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On the ride back to Snowhaven, Darcy told Elizabeth that having met Lydia as she used to be, he could hardly believe she was the same person. He was well pleased that Gigi and Lydia had agreed to correspond.
In the Gardiner’s coach, which was in the lead, the conversation between the threewho had known Lydia since birth was similar to that in the Darcy coach.
“I am very proud of my youngest sister that she did not want us to apply to Sister Agnes to remove her from the convent,” Jane said. “It speaks well to the woman Lydia is becoming that she realises how important the education she is receiving is for her.”
“And what of her desire to be sent to school for a year or two? Before all of this, had anyone mentioned school to her, she would have unleashed a tantrum,” Maddie observed.
“As hard as this has been, some good has come out of it,” Jane opined.
“I was impressed with her,” Hilldale shared. “How were the other girls who had been that miscreant’s victims? They are not landed, are they?”
“No, they are the daughters of merchants in Meryton. Had William not provided the means for them to travel to St Mary’s, the families would have had to send them away, or worse,” Jane revealed. “They were very happy to see friendly faces from home, and like Lyddie, they are keen for the next two months to pass so they may return to their families.” Jane decided to change the subject. “How long will the journey to Hilldale be? It is in Staffordshire, is it not?”
“Not counting rest stops, it is about five hours, and yes, that is the shire where the estate is located,” Hilldale replied. “I am in anticipation of showing you your new home.”
“As I am to see it,” Jane responded.
“Hilldale, did I understand that Matlock is to send one of his well-trained under-stewards to your brother’s estate?” Gardiner remembered.
“Yes, he did so already. The man he sent is more than ready to be a steward in his own right, and if he had remained at Snowhaven, it would have been more than five years beforethe steward retired,” Hilldale replied.
“I assume Mother is keen to see Richard and Charlotte,” Jane supposed.
“Travelling south with us will make it much easier as it is much closer to Kent than Derbyshire. They will meet those of Charlotte’s family the did not at Rosings Park while we are in Hertfordshire. Mother intends to send Richard an epistle with the dates we will all be near Meryton,” Hilldale related. “She willinvitethem to join us in the area. I hope Anne will feel up to travelling with them.”
Soon enough, the coaches slowed for their arrival at Snowhaven.
