Page 36 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

At her father’s approbation, a glow of gratitude started to form in Lizzy’s chest.

Kitty’s eyes widened. “Even Lizzy?”

Lydia choked with laughter.

Lizzy’s glow fizzled out.

“Even Lizzy,” their father stressed.

The glow began to grow again.

“But all she ever talks about are animals,” Lydia complained.

“Lydia has a point,” Mama said, shaking her head. “Lizzy, dear, you must make the attempt at conversation that is not centered around animals.”

Lizzy inwardly moaned. I suppose I will simply sit still and say nothing at all. Perhaps we will not stay long.

“But, Mama,” Jane said, blinking rapidly, “what is Lizzy to do if someone asks her about her animals, or wishes to talk about their own pets. You know it is bound to happen.”

“Humph,” Mama intoned, vigorously cutting her food

“Lizzy may speak about animals if someone else initiates the subject,” their papa said in a kindly voice.

“I wish to ask the attendees if they know of anyone who has misplaced a guinea pig,” Lizzy confessed, keeping her voice small.

“Oh, Lord,” Lydia said, rolling her eyes.

Lizzy frowned at her. “Jeffry is a well-cared for animal. I am sure someone is missing him. It is my Christian duty to find his person.”

“I think the subject is perfectly unexceptionable,” Jane stated in a firm voice. She did not quell beneath her mother’s glower, as her general demeanor might have indicated. Her features firmed. “Am I not correct—” Jane turned her gaze from her mother to her father, “—Papa?”

Lizzy swallowed and gazed admiringly at her closest sister. It was not often that any of the sisters alluded to the fact that their father had married a woman not of his class. Jane knew that their father had a better knowledge of what was proper than his wife, and chose that moment to remind their mother of the fact. A champion of her younger sisters, Jane used the weapons in her arsenal when needed in defense of them. Lizzy knew that though Jane’s soft heart would require her to make time for soothing her mother’s hurt feelings, she would not retract her support of her sister.

“You are quite right, Jane, dear,” Papa said calmly.

“But…but…” their mother said, attempting to dispute his claim, though unable to find the right words.

“Mrs. Bennet, if you are finished with the sausages, would you kindly pass them down the table?” their father asked.

His request closed the discussion. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia would join their sisters and mother in the afternoon.

“Eat up, now,” he ordered Lydia and Kitty. “You must have strength for your study session this morning.”

“Yes, Papa,” both sisters said, reaching for dishes of cold stewed pears and cream.

*

Jeffry contemplated his empty food dish. Have I really eaten everything already? Goodness, I’m going to put on weight at this rate, and Aunty will scarcely recognize me. He twitched his nose and backed away from his dish, beginning to twirl around and around in his anxiety.

When is Aunty coming?

Is she still ill?

When will she feel well enough to take over here?

I am going to fail.

There’s no way I can do this by myself. I’m going to fail.