To Do Them Justice (Austen’s Magical Girls)

Sneak Peek A Lady’s Rapid Imagination

Book 3: A Surfeit of Sisterly Affection

It was startling, how swiftly Lydia's life had changed from dull monotony to a series of novel new experiences.

First, Netherfield Park being let at last.

Then, a suitor for Jane who wasn't an utter bore.

and utterly undeserving of Lydia's eldest sister.

Mr. Bingley (who actually looked past Jane's beauty to the person underneath) was swiftly followed by the arrival of the Militia, and the shattering of Lydia's fantasies about the suitability of an Officer husband.

For Mr. Wickham to have run up so much debt in only a few months, he certainly would not be able to afford a wife in any degree of comfort.

and Lydia had seen quite enough of slums the one time she accompanied Aunt Gardiner on one of her Charity visits in London.

Besides, Jane was married now, so the main attraction of marriage - the ability to go first before all her sisters for once in her life! - was no longer the option it had been.

Even if Lydia were to marry Mr. Denny tomorrow, Jane would still go before her.

The idea of marriage had not entirely lost its charm; Even if Mary was engaged, she was not married yet, and Lydia might still go before Kitty and Lizzy, if she found a husband in the next year or so.

But the death of one dream led to the realisation of another; Lydia was finally being permitted to travel beyond the bounds of Hertfordshire, and not merely to the confines of Uncle Gardiner's house in Cheapside!

True, she was not the only one of her sisters travelling, or soon to do so.

Lizzy was visiting Charlotte in Kent, and had a promised trip to the Lakes with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner later in the year to make up for enduring Mr. Collins for a month or more.

Mary was the only sister remaining in Hertfordshire, busy with plans for her own wedding and the establishment of a schoolhouse.

Kitty was absorbed in some new field of study, and disinclined to have to wait weeks or months for news of Sir Jasper.

Though nothing had been offered when Lydia left Longbourn, Kitty was also hopeful of Mama orchestrating an invitation for her to join Sir Jasper and his family on their annual visit to London.

Lydia wished her closest joy of it, touring dusty art galleries and museums, while Lydia would be enjoying Scarborough and Scotland.

Yes, she would be in the company of Mr. Bingley and Jane, who had promised to be far less lenient than Mama if she tested the limits of acceptable behaviour, but she would be travelling! Besides, they would be meeting Mr. Bingley's investors and business partners, who would be far less in need of liveliness and casual flirting than a soldier was.

That was what the men of the Militia had claimed, at least, in between describing their far-away homes and the places they had been stationed.

Having realised just how few of them had seen genuine combat, Lydia was beginning to doubt their justifications of 'the grimness of war, banished by flirting with a pretty girl'.

Lydia had always tailored her behaviour to what the people around her were most receptive to; a gossip, a capable dance partner, flirtatious compliments.

If her holiday was to come at the expense of socialising with businessmen like Uncle Gardiner, Lydia could emulate Jane for the duration.

Sir Jasper Longbottom’s estate lay some miles outside of Scarborough.

Not so very far as the crow flies, but the winding road seemed to circumnavigate the entire estate before reaching the front door!

They had been invited to Dinner, and then to stay overnight, but three mares went into foal over breakfast, so the Bingleys and Lydia departed early, rather than oblige their hosts to entertain them.

Lydia had seen foals born before, and it was an awkward, messy process that she wanted as little to do with as possible.

They arrived in Scarborough shortly after luncheon, late enough that Lydia's stomach had been grumbling for the last several miles, but early enough that Mr. Bingley had suggested pressing on rather than stopping at an inn.

Bingley house was a townhouse equal to any of those in Grosnover Square, or the woodcuts of the Royal Crescent in Bath, if one discounted being located several hundred miles north.

What must the interior look like? No sooner had the carriage drawn up outside, than footmen were opening the doors and a staff of at least ten were lining up outside to greet them.

Lydia thought that staff were supposed to wait outside to greet the family, but perhaps that was only for country estates.

Besides, it would have been unreasonable to have them waiting outside in the chill of early March.

Mr. Bingley handed down first Jane, then Lydia herself, and greeted the Butler and Housekeeper cheerfully, before performing the introductions.

"This is my dear Jane, the new Mrs. Bingley, and her youngest sister, Miss Lydia Bennet.

My dear, this is Mr. and Mrs. Fields, who have been the most capable stewards of Bingley House that anyone could wish for."

Mrs. Fields curtsied, "I will be most happy to give you a tour, but would you care to refresh yourself first? Have you eaten already?"

Jane smiled warmly.

"If you could have wash water sent up to our rooms with the bags, it would be greatly appreciated.

No need for full baths at the moment.

We did not stop for lunch, if something simple could be arranged for perhaps half an hour from now?"

Mr. Bingley nodded.

"No need for anything fancy, Mrs. Fields, Aunt Claire has invited us for dinner this evening, but I hoped to invite the Board to dine with us tomorrow or the day after."

Mrs. Fields smiled, seeming to restrain herself from patting him on the head.

That seemed to be characteristic of Housekeepers who had watched One grow up; Mrs. Hill often treated all the Bennet sisters as though they were fresh from the Nursery.

"Mrs. Bingley, I will have some Menu suggestions available for you to review after the tour."

She gestured to one of the maids.

"Madeline will act as Abigail for you and Miss Bennet, while you are here."

That was a blessing.

Susan, who had performed the duty at Longbourn, did not travel well, and Maggie, who had taken on the duty at Netherfield, had fallen ill just before their departure.

Jane and Lydia had been making do with maids at whatever Inn they stopped at, but a proper Abigail would be wonderful!