Mary was first down the stair, as though she might secure departure by reaching it ahead of everyone else. She carried a small parcel, which she pressed into Elizabeth’s hands at the foot of the steps without ceremony.
“It is not grand,” she said. “But it is useful.”
Inside lay a small leather-bound volume of sermons and reflections—not ostentatious but marked in the margins with Mary’s careful annotations.
“You will not have the pianoforte,” Mary said, with more feeling than usual. “But you may have this.”
Elizabeth touched her sister’s hand. “You shall expect it returned improved.”
“Naturally.” Mary straightened. “And you must observe the construction of the lantern mechanism. I should like a proper description when you write.”
“You shall have diagrams. With annotations. If I can manage to learn how to draw—I suppose I have a year, but I shall never have Kitty’s talent.”
Mary approved of that.
Kitty lingered halfway down the stairs, one hand on the banister, and would not be hurried. When she reached the hall, she produced a narrow ribbon of blue silk.
“For your bonnet,” she insisted. “The north will not soften you. You must do it yourself.”
Elizabeth submitted with a small laugh while Kitty tied it with earnest concentration.
“You must not walk alone upon cliffs,” Kitty added. “I know you, Lizzy. You will take your book and forget where your feet are.”
“I shall walk only where I may see my feet.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“No,” Elizabeth conceded. “But it will serve.”
Mr Gardiner stood in the doorway giving instructions to the driver. “The trunk must not ride upon its side. There are books in it.”
“The books will survive, but they might crush the gowns,” Elizabeth corrected. “Gowns stiff enough that you may crumple them without consequence.”
“Your aunt would never forgive me.”
Mrs Gardiner adjusted the fall of Elizabeth’s cloak and stepped back to inspect her. The inspection took longer than the cloak required, and when she nodded, the exhale came out as a tremble rather than satisfaction.
She drew Elizabeth a little aside. “If the situation proves unfit, you will not hesitate to send us the earliest word.”
“I shall not freeze myself out of stubbornness, Aunt.”
“I did not refer just to the cottage, Lizzy.”
“I know.”
Mrs Gardiner’s expression softened, and she touched Elizabeth’s shoulder. “You will remember that duty does not require folly.”
“I shall attempt to distinguish between the two.”
Her aunt kissed her cheek. “See that you do.”
The driver cleared his throat.
Elizabeth turned toward the door. Kitty had already begun to cry in earnest and was pretending she had not.
“Do not let Mary take the pianoforte entirely for herself,” Elizabeth said lightly. “I expect to return and find you improved.”
“You shall find us insufferable,” Kitty replied, and then caught Elizabeth’s arm and held fast. “Every week, Lizzy. Promise me.”
