Chapter 20
Two days after his meeting with Gardiner, Hillman was strolling along the shore of the lake, not too far from his rented house, when he encountered Gardiner, his wife, and two nieces.
Based on his first view of them the day they had arrived he had considered them pretty.
However, up close they were even more beautiful than he had thought.
For him that did not mean very much, as there were many very pretty debutantes in London who did not have the character to match their looks.
Most were vapid and empty shells who would agree with anything he said no matter how many times he contradicted himself.
“Gardiner, would you do me the honour of introducing the ladies to me?” Hillman requested.
“Certainly, Mr Hillman. It is my pleasure to introduce my wife, Mrs Madeline Gardiner, and our two nieces, Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. Ladies, Mr Colin Hillman, our neighbour whom I met with a few days past.” Gardiner extended his hand, and the men shook.
Hillman did not miss the knowing look from Mrs Gardiner, which told him Gardiner had shared the truth of his identity with her just like he said he would.
“Unless you are on your way home, Mr Hillman, you are welcome to join us as we walk along the shore,” Maddie offered. “We intend to walk for an hour or so, if that is not too much for you.”
“If it is not an imposition, I would be happy to join your party, as I too had only recently begun my constitutional,” Hillman accepted.
“I would not have extended the invitation if it was,” Maddie responded.
With Gardiner walking with his wife on his arm, Hillman offered an arm to each of the Bennet sisters. He soon had a dainty hand resting on his forearms either side of him.
“What is that island there?” Jane asked no one in particular.
“That, Miss Bennet, is Belle Isle. It is the largest of the eighteen islands in the lake,” Hillman related.
“May we visit it? I noticed a fascinating round house,” Elizabeth asked.
“If we are invited by the Curwens, who own Belle Isle, then the answer would be yes. They purchased the island in 1774; it was then called Longholme. Their daughter is Isabella, so they renamed the island for her; hence, Belle Isle,” Hillman reported.
“You seem to be knowledgeable about the area, Mr Hillman,” Jane observed. “Do you come here often?”
He did not want to mention that his parents had a house which was on a hill, giving it a view of most of the lake, but Hillman would not prevaricate about his coming here before.
“Since I was a lad, I have visited the Lakes with my parents and other family members. As I was fascinated by the place, I asked many questions. When I was old enough, I read books about the area. I return because I find it so much more peaceful than the demands of London society,” he revealed.
“I agree with you about society in Town,” Jane mused. “There is too much dishonesty among the so-called polite society. I much prefer to associate with those who are genuine and honest rather than the ones who smile at you while they are busy stabbing you in the back.”
“Strangely enough, I could not agree with you more, Miss Bennet,” Hillman responded. “I have withdrawn myself from London society for the foreseeable future.”
Jane liked the fact that Mr Hillman spoke to her and Lizzy like they were rational beings.
Also, he had not once complimented her on her supposed beauty, which for Jane was very refreshing.
She assumed the man was single. Uncle Edward had not mentioned a Mrs Hillman when he had returned from his meeting with the man, and neither had the gentleman alluded to a wife.
“Can you tell me what that small island is called?” Elizabeth requested as she pointed across the water.
“That, Miss Elizabeth, is the smallest island in the lake. It is Maiden Holme. It is neither inhabited by man nor is it private property. I do not know all of the islands, but if you want to know more, there is a bookshop in the town which has books which will answer any of your questions regarding the lake and the islands,” Hillman suggested.
“You had to mention a store which sells books to Lizzy,” Jane said with put-on exasperation. “If we allow her, she will happily spend hours getting lost among the tomes.”
“Does that mean you are a bibliophile, Miss Elizabeth?” Hillman enquired.
“Guilty,” Elizabeth replied. “Jane has the right of it; I love to lose myself in libraries or bookshops. On our way here, we were in Oxford, and I had the pleasure of seeing the Bodleian Library. I would have happily remained there for days. My father would have loved to see it, even though he is a Cambridge man. However, as soon as I saw the beauty of the nature hereabouts, I was not sorry I was not allowed to remain in the library for too long.”
“I commend your father on his excellent choice of universities. Has he mentioned the Wren Library at Trinity College? It is not as old or as large as the one you mentioned at that other school, but it has an extensive collection,” Hillman stated.
“I think Papa did mention that name to me. As much as I love to speak of books, I also revel in the beauty of nature,” Elizabeth said as she took in the magnificent vistas which surrounded them.
“I understand that there is only one river at the southern end, which carries the water away. Is there more than one to the north of us which provides the lake with water?”
“Yes, there are several rivers and streams which feed the lake on its northern end. The main ones are the Brathay, Rothay, Trout Beck, and Cunsey Beck rivers. The river which carries water away is the River Leven,” Hillman related.
“Where we are is at a point that is about two-thirds of the total length of the lake, which is eleven miles. That is why it is hard to see all of the lake unless you are somewhere which is considerably higher.”
Gardiner looked at his fob watch. It was time to begin their walk back towards the houses they were renting.
After they had turned and begun the walk back, Maddie said something quietly to her husband.
Gardiner nodded. “Hillman, if you are not otherwise engaged, we would like to invite you to join us for dinner this evening.”
As he had never been so relaxed in the company of women of marriageable age before, Hillman accepted without delay.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Tears were streaming down Lydia’s cheeks, but they were tears of joy, not sorrow.
Her courses had begun, just like they always did, two days after she felt the first cramping.
Until last month, she had hated having to restrict her activities for anywhere from three to seven days.
Now, she cared not if it lasted for a fortnight.
She was not carrying the libertine’s child!
As soon as she was dressed, Lydia knocked on the door to Sister Etheldreda’s chamber.
“Yes, Child, what is it?” Sister Etheldreda asked.
“I have my monthly indisposition,” Lydia gushed. “Is it too early to go to Sister Agnes so I may give her the good news?”
“No, it is not too early. Give me five minutes, and we will go together.”
“Thank you, Sister Etheldreda. I will be right here,” Lydia enthused.
As much pleasure as she would have in informing the mother superior, that would fade in comparison to the joy Lydia would feel when she wrote to her mother about her news.
She would not be completely easy until she had discovered that both Emma and Hannah had been blessed in this way as well.
Sister Etheldreda emerged from her chamber in less than five minutes, but to Lydia, who could not wait until she was before Sister Agnes, the wait seemed interminable.
If there were not rules against running in the halls, Lydia would have done so.
Instead, she calmly walked next to Sister Etheldreda.
The days of Lydia Harriet Bennet flaunting the rules were past. This new Lydia would not behave with anything except decorum and good sense.
Sister Agnes bade them enter when Sister Etheldreda rapped on the door to her office. “If the joy on your face is anything to go by, it seems that He heard our prayers, and you are not with child. Am I correct?” Sister Agnes queried.
“As of this morning, I have my monthly indisposition,” Lydia reported proudly. “In my next letter to Mama and Papa, may I tell them the good news?”
“Of course, you may, Child,” Sister Agness allowed.
On her way back to her dormitory, Lydia kept herself next to Sister Etheldreda, but she was practically skipping because of the joy flowing through her body. As soon as the sister released her, Lydia sat at the desk in the dormitory to scribe a letter to her parents.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When they returned from their walk, the butler informed Mr Gardiner that a letter had arrived for Miss Elizabeth. It had been delivered by a courier who was resting himself and his horse, and if she had a reply before his departure, the man would take it with him on his return ride.
Gardiner handed the epistle to Lizzy.
“It is from Gigi!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Do I have time to read it now, or would I be interfering with plans for the afternoon?”
“You have time to peruse your missive,” Maddie allowed.
“Jane, come sit with me; there is nothing Gigi can write that you cannot read.” Elizabeth patted the place next to her on the settee. As soon as Jane was seated, she broke the Darcy seal and held the paper so she and Jane could both read Gigi’s neat script.
26 June 1812
Pemberley
Derbyshire
Lizzy,
I was filled with joy at receiving your missives. Rather than my objecting that you correspond with me, you are a soothsayer because I intended to write to you as soon as we were certain that all the arrangements for the families affected by the fire had been made.