Chapter 21
After all of her practice, in what Lizzy termed, the ‘hooped monstrosity’, Jane was given a reprieve from curtsying to Mamma, Aunt Elaine, or Aunt Anne.
The three had alternated in playing the role of the queen to prepare her for the upcoming Queen’s Drawing Room, a sennight after her birthday was celebrated.
Aside from the Fitzwilliams and Darcys, the Gardiners and Phillipses—they had travelled to London especially to help celebrate Jane’s entry into society—were all present on the day Jane turned eighteen.
Even though Jane did not enjoy being the centre of attention, she did not complain on this day.
Mamma had planned a dinner featuring many of Jane’s favourites, and she had been showered with gifts, many of them jewellery—not that she thought she needed more.
Far more important to Jane was the fact that she was surrounded by those she loved and who loved her in return.
Aunt Agatha and Uncle Frank—over the time the Carrington-Bennet sisters had known their younger sisters’ adopted parents, it had seemed natural to address them thusly—had brought Kitty, Lydia, and Lawrence with them.
Jane loved being surrounded by children; with Anna and the Gardiners’ four included, there were many young children to liven up the occasion.
As thankful as she was to her Aunt and Uncle Phillips for having the children accompany them, the best surprise had been Charlotte Lucas’s inclusion in the travelling party from Meryton.
Lizzy was as pleased as Jane was that Charlotte was present and, would remain to celebrate with Jane at the coming-out ball Mamma and the aunts had meticulously planned.
Always an astute observer of people, she had not missed that Jamey was as pleased, if not more so, that Charlotte had arrived ahead of her parents, and others from Meryton.
Those coming from Meryton would reach Holder House the day of the ball.
From Lizzy’s powers of observation, it seemed that Charlotte returned her brother’s regard, if the way her cheeks bloomed pink anytime she was near him was an indication.
Over the years since she had met Charlotte, Elizabeth had seen that her friend was without artifice, and as close as they now were, having her friend as a sister, if that was what occurred, was a thought which gave Elizabeth pleasure.
She was aware that Mamma and Papa approved of Charlotte as well, caring not that her father used to earn his money in trade.
As she stood observing her family and friends after dinner once the gentlemen had rejoined them subsequent to an abbreviated separation of the sexes, she knew exactly when William approached. She detected his scent of sandalwood and spice before he made himself known to her.
“Lizzy, it is not fair that because this is a London ball and that you are not out, you will not be allowed to attend the ball and leave after supper, like you would have had the ball been in the country,” William noted.
The truth was he would have loved to have danced a set with her—preferably the supper set, with her father’s permission—at Jane’s ball.
It was such a pity that the rigid rules of London society forbade what was perfectly acceptable in the country.
“It is the way of things, William,” Elizabeth replied philosophically.
“It will not be long until I am eighteen, and then I will be allowed to attend society events in Town. I am sure my parents will allow me to do so in the country at the same age they did Jane.” She paused and scrunched up her nose.
“I know I need to make my curtsy before Her Majesty; however, I wish she would not demand debutantes wear those hideous gowns of the previous century. Perhaps I will meet the Queen in a less formal setting so I may be presented in a fashionable gown.”
“Yes, I know you have about seventeen months before you will be presented,” William responded. The tips of his ears turned red as he realised he had just indicated that he was counting the months until Lizzy joined society.
Elizabeth instantly knew that William was keeping track of the time until she turned eighteen.
It caused her to blush scarlet. However, she was not at all sorry he was counting the months just as she was.
What had started as an infatuation of a young cousin for her older, very handsome relative had begun to change and become something deeper in the last few months.
Elizabeth was not willing to name the feelings because as yet she did not understand what they were, and she had not spoken of them to anyone, not even Janey.
William was thankful Lizzy had not commented on his instant knowledge of the time until she came out in London.
He hoped when she did, he would be able to keep to his resolve, just like the one Richard had taken with regard to Jane, that he could hold back from making a declaration until Lizzy enjoyed one season.
‘At least,’ William thought ruefully, ‘with Jane’s birthday and taking her curtsy on Friday next, Richard is that much closer to making his intentions known.
’ He was not jealous of Richard, but William did envy how much sooner his cousin would be able to declare himself to the woman to whom he had lost his heart.
Just as Richard would have to wait, watching and hoping Jane did not make an attachment to another man during her season, William would have to survive the same torturous uncertainty when Lizzy came out.
He thought of something to discuss which would not be embarrassing to either of them.
“Is Snowdrop in London?” William enquired evenly.
“She is. I assume that the same is true of Zeus?” Elizabeth asked in return. Uncle Robert had gifted William a stallion, who was three at the time, shortly after William’s graduation from Cambridge. Zeus was a full three hands higher than Snowdrop.
“Yes, my stallion is here. Will you and others ride in Hyde Park on the morrow?” William queried. “Yes, I know your small footmen will escort the riders.”
“Indeed, we intend to make a riding party to set out just after sunrise,” Elizabeth responded.
“In that case, if it is not an imposition, Anna and I would like to join the riding party,” William requested. At the age of eleven Anna had graduated from a pony to a cob, and like the rest of the Darcys, she loved to ride.
“Of course you are both welcome. I know that Kitty and Lydia will be very happy that Anna will join us. They greatly enjoy time with her,” Elizabeth said.
“We will be here a quarter hour before sunrise on the morrow.” William knew Anna would be more than happy to join them, as so many of her friends and family members would be present.
Elizabeth excused herself and made her way over to where Jamey, Jane, and Mary were seated speaking to Richard and Charlotte. She dismissed the warmth she felt all over.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Lizzy does not need someone to educate her, but she does need a companion, as does Mary. We have been remiss in not finding one for them before now,” Edith stated. She and Paul were in their shared bed the night of Jane’s birthday celebration.
“We always thought that Mrs Kendrick would continue on with us after Jane’s presentation. We did not know she would chuse to retire to live with her daughter’s family,” Holder replied.
“Be that as it may, the way time flies by, it will be Lizzy’s, and then less than a year later, Mary’s, coming out.
We must seek someone. I will ask my friends for recommendations,” Edith decided.
“Perhaps Marie’s companion will be interested in working for us.
Thanks to Andrew coming to the point and proposing and the date set for the third Friday in November, if Mrs Annesley does not retire, she will be available. ”
“In the meantime, we will search for a companion. I will place an advert in the papers as long as we know that we will need to carefully verify any characters of ladies who apply from the notice. Word of mouth will be best, but this way we will cast a wider net,” Holder opined.
“You do that. Regardless of how they apply, we will thoroughly verify the characters of anyone who wants to work with our daughters,” Edith stated firmly.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As he had said they would, the morning after the birthday celebration, William and Anna were waiting atop their mounts when the group from Holder House left the stables. With them was Richard Fitzwilliam, who had decided he wanted to be part of the riding party.
Kitty was riding the cob Elizabeth used to ride while Lydia was on one of the ponies kept in the London house’s stables.
Biggs, Johns, two more of their men, and a groom rode as escorts. Two of the footmen-guards rode on either side of the riders while Biggs, Johns, and the groom rode just behind the group.
Perhaps it was because of Jane’s significant birthday, but the Carrington-Bennet sisters stopped, and the rest of the riding party with them, at the bench behind which they had been found by Jamey on that fateful sixth day of April 1792.
“This is where Mamma Fanny left you?” Kitty enquired softly, almost to herself. A few years past, she and Lydia had been told the truth.
“It is,” Jane confirmed. “Mamma tells us she left a blanket with us, and there was an empty milk bottle, so she must have provided us with some food, even though it did not help us feed Mary. We understand that the woman she used to be was very different from the mother you knew.” Jane paused and looked at Lizzy and Mary.
“I think I am finally willing to forgive her for abandoning us.”
“And me as well,” Elizabeth agreed. “If she had not done it, we would not have met Mamma and Papa.” She paused. “Although it does not make what she did right, and things could have gone far worse for us.”
Mary added her forgiveness, and the riders set off along Rotten Row towards the Serpentine. The fastest they rode was a canter.