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Just before they were ready to continue the journey the door was opened and two couples left the private dining room. They turned to the outside door of the inn and so Elizabeth saw nothing but the back of their heads. Their carriage was leaving the courtyard as Elizabeth and her companions returned to their own carriage. They too settled themselves and followed the other carriage as they both headed north. Elizabeth was surprised to note that the other carriage turned off for Meryton and they followed it all the way to the small town. It was only there that they separated. Elizabeth noting that the carriage took the road that led to Netherfield Park. Maybe these were the new owners? Thinking back to the voice at the coaching inn she grimaced, the idea suddenly not so appealing. But then it was time. The carriage turned into the short drive and pulled up outside the door of Longbourn.

Elizabeth was back. But was it still her home?

Chapter 7

Within an hour of arriving back at Longbourn Elizabeth was mad at herself. The Michaelmas Assembly was scheduled for that very evening. If she had stayed in London for one more day she would have missed all the madness. And that was the only way to describe that first hour back in her family home. There was so much happening all at once. It took Elizabeth, with significant help from Claire, several hours the next day to remember, review and analyse the reactions of the different members of the family. And that was before everything that happened at the evening Assembly.

Elizabeth and Claire were in Elizabeth’s room, the smallest of the family chambers. She had no issue with that and was not going to force all her sisters to move just so that she could reclaim her old bedroom, especially as it was Mary that now resided there. It was the middle of the afternoon on the day after her return and it was the first moment where she had a modicum of privacy.

“Let us talk about my welcome. I will make a statement but then I want your thoughts. I have a piece of paper and a quill, as there will be things that I will want to remember and to consider. So let us start. The family were all out front and all greeted me enthusiastically.”

Elizabeth looked at Claire, beckoning for her to comment.

“Do you wish me to be candid, bluntly so?”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. That was quite the comment before they had even started.

“Yes please.”

“Who were you focusing on? When you first alighted the coach?”

“Er, Papa, then Mama, then my sisters in order I think. Why?”

“Because Miss Lydia’s reaction when you stepped down was that of momentary annoyance. She schooled her features quickly but she frowned when she saw you.”

“Do you know why? Or at least a reasonable guess?”

“Your body.”

Elizabeth flushed at the blunt answer.

“She had the figure closest to your mother’s. Remind me what age she is please.”

“Her 15th birthday was last month.”

“As the youngest I think she took delight in having the most womanly or obvious figure. And then you stepped down and she realised that was no longer the case.”

“Really, she was upset about that? I find the scrutiny at best uncomfortable and at worst disgusting.”

“It is only a guess but I did notice she was pulling her shoulders back which emphasised her bust when I observed her at the Assembly.”

“Okay, what else?”

“Miss Mary was the only person who was relaxed and hugged you without constraint. Because she is the only one of your sisters that knows you. She is the one who has had the most face to face contact. We talked in the carriage about meeting the family again and you stated you were nervous. Everyone was nervous, I could see it in the faces of your parents and oldest sister.”

Elizabeth had come to this conclusion but it was based on the later interactions.

“I agree with that. I did not recognise it right away but rather after the later conversations.”

“May I turn it back on you?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“How did you think that first meeting in the drawing room went?”

Elizabeth grimaced, knowing what Claire was doing.

“You are far too sneaky. You are going to make me say it so that you can agree with me, rather than the other way round.”