Your very good friend,
Leticia
When Fanny told Lizzy that the presentations would not be postponed, Elizabeth feigned a pout and, for effect, addeda light stamp of her slippered foot before releasing gales of tinkling laughter at her own silliness.
Elizabeth gained permission from her mother before collecting Mary—Jane was busy in the still room—to walk to Lucas Lodge to pass the intelligence on to Charlotte. Mary had agreed to walk with her next older sister because she had completed her practice on the pianoforte before Lizzy had urged her to walk with her.
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Leticia was sitting in the small west parlour, enjoying the morning sunshine when Mr Adams presented his salver to her. It was another missive from Fanny.
Louisa was meeting with Mrs Adams, going over the coming week’s schedule while Harold was riding the estate with Mr Church to ensure that the preparations for the spring planting had all been made. It was also his way of making sure there were no issues he needed to take care of for the tenants.
Arthur and Tisha were sitting on the rug before her, playing away happily, and Nurse kept a watchful eye on them. Leticia smiled as she opened the epistle.
14 March 1809
Longbourn
Leticia,
I hope that this letter finds you well, my dear friend. I know you wrote that the winter past was severe, but I trust that spring has begun to make itself known there, just like it has here.
We will see one another in less than 2 months! I am so looking forward to being in your company again, my friend.
Has time not seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye? It feels like yesterday that Tommy was born, and yet he will be 4 in July. Can you fathom that Arthur will be 5 and Tisha 2! None of us get any younger, do we?
Jane is no longer being called on. Andrew was a guest for Lizzy’s 18th birthday, and after we had the cake and Lizzy opened her gifts (I am sure she wrote, but she loved the single pearl on the gold chain you, Harold, and Louisa sent her), Andrew asked if he might speak to Jane. Thomas agreed, as did Jane.
When they returned to the drawing room, Jane was beaming from ear to ear. Andrew asked to speak to Thomas and when they came back to us, Thomas announced that the couple was in an official courtship.
We had always planned that Jane would join us when we travelled to London prior to the presentations, but now, she has another reason—Lord and Lady Matlock are very keen to meet her. In fact, we will all be in London. Thank goodness, I have learnt to behave with propriety. I can only imagine what the old me would have been like meeting an earl and countess.
Alicia and Jemima have been worth their weight in gold. Not only has the former helped me so very much, but now I have5 well-behaved, accomplished, and proper gentleladies. Talking of Jemima, she will begin to work with Tommy in less than a year.
Have Louisa and Harold found a governess for Arthur yet? I remember you said they were seeking one, and by the by, writing to Maddie for recommendations was a very good idea.
I must away, as I am to have tea at Haye Park this morning. Sarah Lucas, Hattie, and a few others will be present as well.
With my warmest regards,
Fanny
Leticia could not help but smile at Fanny’s letter. Her friend had the right of it. Through Maddie, Louisa and Harold had found Mrs Adelaide Pinkston, who had begun as Arthur’s governess towards the end of February. She was a treasure while at the same time, she was firm but not inflexible and knew how to tailor her lessons to a boy who would be five soon.
Leticia had remained resolved to continue to wear half mourning for the foreseeable future. She thought she may change her mind in the future, but for now, she was firm in her decision.
She was looking forward to seeing her friends in London again. They would depart the final Monday in April so that they would be in Town before Saturday, the day the year of mourning was to end. They would notify people of their presence starting the first Monday in May.
Chapter 18
By the time Bennet, Fanny, Elizabeth, and Charlotte moved to Hurst House, the three who were being presented had been practising for some weeks already, under Mrs Annesley’s watchful eye. Jane stood in for the Queen as she received the curtsies from the threedebutantes. The truth was that Fanny would be presented separately from Elizabeth and Charlotte. She would be in the group of married women, who were making their first, or in many cases, second curtsy before Her Majesty, as the majority would have done as debutantes.
Bennet was in attendance to accompany his ladies to meet Jane’s suitor’s family. He had believed what Hilldale had said about his family’s acceptance of Jane, but Bennet felt he would be derelict in his duty were he not to see for himself.
If there was a hint of mistreatment of his daughter, he would terminate the courtship, and they would leave the earl’s house.
Two days after the move to Hurst House and a fortnight prior to the Queen’s drawing room to be held at St James Palace, a note was received to inform the Bennets that the Fitzwilliams had arrived at Matlock House in Grosvenor Square. Andrew had been in residence at Hilldale House in Portman Square since the date he knew the lady he was courting was to arrive in London.
