Chapter Fifteen
The colonel was as good as his word. He was at Darcy house near sunrise to escort the caravan to Ramsgate.
Mrs. Young’s megrim was resolved, and she seemed happy enough to be leaving London.
She was not as happy to be relegated to the coach with the maids and Longbourn’s governess.
Gigi wanted to start off the trip with her cousin Elizabeth, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Bennet.
Mr. Bennet rode with Mrs. Russell and his three younger daughters.
The Colonel, Mr. Smith, Jackson, and two of Darcy’s larger footmen would be outriders.
Since they did not want to change out horses, they would overnight in Faversham along the way.
“Miss Darcy, it will be very confusing if you address either our cousin or me as Elizabeth, will you not call me Lizzy as my sisters and Beth do?”
“Only if you will call me Gigi, as my family does.” Georgiana looked down shyly.
She very much wanted to be friends with the Bennet ladies, but it was difficult for her to speak without stumbling over her words.
She had only really made one friend while at school and had very little experience in conversing with anyone other than family.
By the time they made it to their first rest stop, Gigi was comfortable with the ladies.
Jane was so sweet and soft spoken. Lizzy was very witty and made everyone laugh.
Cousin Beth had very little sense of decorum, which Lizzy teased her about relentlessly.
“We are all family here, why should I watch my words? You English are very prim and proper, but must you be at all times?”
Lizzy chose to answer, “No, not all the time. My sisters and I rarely watch our words with each other, but only when we are assured of being alone. Servants talk, you know. We rarely have complete privacy. There always seems to be a maid or a footman about. Our servants at Longbourn are more discrete than most, but why take the risk? Also, it is part of the English way to attempt not to hurt each other’s feelings. We are simply careful with our words.”
“You have not spent much time around the ton, Lizzy. Neither have I, really, but my Aunt Camile and cousin Marie tell such stories! The slings and arrows and barbs sound quite devastating. My brother’s friend, Mr. Bingley, has two sisters who never have a kind word to say of anyone. They quite frighten me.”
“No, we have not spent time around the upper ten thousand.” Jane said softly. “I do not believe most of us girls would enjoy that. Lizzy and Beth are so quick of wit, they would likely run circles around the cats, but the rest of us have more delicate sensibilities.”
“Jane, you have a will of iron. You would kill them with kindness. I am not so sure about Mary and Kitty, but Lydia, she would kill them with her eyes alone!” Everyone chortled.
“Is Lydia so very bad? She did not look happy to be riding with her father.”
“Lydia has had a difficult time since mama died. She was the apple of our mother’s eye and was very spoiled.
Since Jane has taken over as mistress of the house, Lydia has had to change her ways.
She no longer gets everything she asks for.
She must study with Mrs. Greaves. Mama had promised she would come out at fifteen, like she did.
Jane put her foot down within months of mama’s passing and told the younger girls they would not come out until at least seventeen, or eighteen if they did not prove mature enough. ”
“You wrote me about that tantrum, Lizzy. It sounded like quite a scene!”
“Oh, it was! Papa almost gave into her, but Jane would have none of it! I was so proud.”
“Hush, Lizzy. The girls just need structure. Aunt Maddie showed you and I that. Our sisters did not have the benefit of spending months with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner.”
“So, in answer to your question Gigi, no, Lydia is not so very bad. She is petulant and tends to brood, but generally in silence. She has learned that temper tantrums simply will have her isolated to the nursery until she apologizes to everyone for her outburst. She is intelligent and has a sharp wit, but she is slow to trust. Give her time, and do not let her fiery gaze disturb you.”
“At the next stop, I will change places with her. That will make her feel special, and maybe it will be easier for her to get to know you Gigi and Beth. Lizzy knows how to stop her tongue if she becomes petulant.”
At the next stop Lydia was very surprised to be asked to change places with Jane. “You are closest in age to Miss Darcy; she wants to get to know you better.”
Lydia looked suspicious, but then she usually did.
It had become part of her persona, to be suspicious of people’s motives, and distrustful.
Her mama had been the only one she really trusted, and Kitty for the most part, but Kitty had the tendency to tattle and could not keep secrets.
Jane had become a dictator, as far as she was concerned.
Mary only cared about learning and playing the pianoforte.
She was always speaking about decorum, like Mrs. Greaves.
Lizzy…she liked her the best of her sisters.
She was witty and lighthearted but understood a sardonic quip.
The others did not seem to understand when she was jesting and teasing.
More times than not, only Lizzy or papa would laugh or at least smile.
Lizzy was Jane’s best friend though, so she couldn’t really trust her, could she?
Maybe Miss Darcy would be someone she could trust. She would try.
Her cousin Beth was an interesting study.
She was very forthright. She was clever and played chess well.
John Smith, now he was interesting! Not only was he a very manly man, but he was so intelligent and never flaunted it.
She had managed to take him to a draw in chess just twice.
The time she won did not count. She had learned a great deal about the game from him.
He was so very quiet too. She had told him an outrageous lie once, to test him out, but he called her on it and never brought it up again. She could maybe trust him…maybe.
By the time they reached Faversham, Lydia realized she liked Miss Darcy.
She was quiet, like John Smith. Shy and a good listener.
Being enclosed with her cousin Beth was also enlightening.
Lizzy had been her usual self and just encouraged everyone else to speak and occasionally threw a tease into the mix.
Lydia wished she felt so comfortable around people as Lizzy appeared to be.
Hopefully this trip would bring her closer to her family or at least be entertaining. Longbourn was so very dull.