Chapter 17 #2
Thomas is also very careful not to overindulge Tommy as well. We are greatly entertained by his antics, but if he ever does the wrong thing purposefully (thankfully he is not a wilful child so far), then he will be punished.
My sister Hattie and brother-in-law Frank are both very well and asked to be remembered to you.
Until I hear from you, my friend.
Your very good friend,
Fanny
Leticia passed the letter to Louisa and Harold. The latter held it between them as they both read.
“My husband the matchmaker,” Louisa teased.
“Hilldale was already interested; all I did was give him the opportunity to be in her neighbourhood,” Hurst claimed.
“You do not fool me. I know you turned down a two-year lease so that Hilldale would have the estate,” Louisa returned. “I approve. Being of service to a friend, even if he does not know what you did, is worth more than money.”
“I suppose I must read Caroline’s diatribe now,” Louisa said resignedly.
She broke the seal and skimmed the page.
“Nothing different. She demands money for clothing, as she will soon reach her majority, and now that Harold owns Hurst House, she has instructed me to make it available to her and Charles. Of course, I have no choice but to get her invited to high society events and make sure she sees Mr Darcy.”
“Your sister is delusional!” Leticia exclaimed.
“Mother, if you are waiting for me to dispute what you said, I am afraid you will be waiting for a very long time,” Louisa responded.
“I must go reply to Fanny,” Leticia stated when the meal was over.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
It was the first week of November when Fanny received a reply from Leticia. She was in her favourite chair in the main drawing room enjoying some peace and quiet while Tommy napped. She broke the Hurst seal and began to read.
27 October 1808
Winsdale
West Riding
Yorkshire
Fanny, my very good friend,
I am afraid I must disappoint Lizzy. I made a promise to Ignatius before he went to his final reward. I vowed to keep on and not give up. Even had I wanted to, and I have no desire to give up, Arthur and Tisha would never allow me to be so self-indulgent.
You have Tommy in the same age range so you know of what I speak.
As I was saying, my year of mourning will be over at the end of April 1809. That means that I will be more than happy to present you, Lizzy, and Miss Lucas.
By the by, Fanny, rather than thinking that adding Miss Lucas is an imposition, I am more than pleased she will be with us.
I applaud Lizzy for thinking of her friend and realising that once she is presented, a much larger pool of potential husbands will be available to her.
I am not surprised Lizzy would not take no for an answer.
I remember meeting Miss Lucas when we were in the neighbourhood and found her an eminently sensible and very well-behaved lady.
It was generous of your Thomas to subsidise the costs of her clothing, etc., for her, so Sir William’s pride is not pricked that he is not paying all the actual expenses associated with the presentation.
You all have more than 6 months to prepare, so no excuses (Lizzy) that you did not have enough time to ready yourselves.
I am very pleased to hear of Jane being called on by Lord Hilldale. He is a very estimable man and that has nought to do with his title or wealth. If they reach the logical conclusion, I am certain they will be very happy.
Louisa and Harold have been my strength and have made sure that I have everything I need, even before I realise I need it. They will remain here until the spring when my year of mourning is complete.
Like your other daughters and son, Arthur and Tisha are doing very well and seem to grow each day. At the age of 4, my grandson has much to say, and he is such a good and loved boy. It was very hard for Louisa and Harold to explain to him why he would never see Ignatius again.
On that subject, I miss him every moment of every day, but I soldier on.
I am not sure yet, but I think when I reach the end of my mourning period, I will keep wearing the muted colours of half mourning for the rest of my days.
There are more than 6 months before I must make that decision.
I must admit to you, my dear friend, that I will not be sorry to be out of the blacks in 2 days from now.
I will always keep my beloved husband in my heart, and the colours I wear will not change that.
Based on the above statement, I can hear you ask, ‘Then why am I considering remaining in the colours of half mourning?’ That is not to signify my mourning for Ignatius, but rather to put off any man who may get it in his head that I am looking for another husband. I will never marry again.
Enough maudlin thoughts. I look forward to seeing you in May next year, and until then we will keep up our correspondence.
Your very good friend,
Leticia
When Fanny told Lizzy that the presentations would not be postponed, Elizabeth feigned a pout and, for effect, added a light stamp of her slippered foot before releasing gales of tinkling laughter at her own silliness.
Elizabeth gained permission from her mother before collecting Mary—Jane was busy in the still room—to walk to Lucas Lodge to pass the intelligence on to Charlotte.
Mary had agreed to walk with her next older sister because she had completed her practice on the pianoforte before Lizzy had urged her to walk with her.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Leticia was sitting in the small west parlour, enjoying the morning sunshine when Mr Adams presented his salver to her. It was another missive from Fanny.
Louisa was meeting with Mrs Adams, going over the coming week’s schedule while Harold was riding the estate with Mr Church to ensure that the preparations for the spring planting had all been made. It was also his way of making sure there were no issues he needed to take care of for the tenants.
Arthur and Tisha were sitting on the rug before her, playing away happily, and Nurse kept a watchful eye on them. Leticia smiled as she opened the epistle.
14 March 1809
Longbourn
Leticia,
I hope that this letter finds you well, my dear friend. I know you wrote that the winter past was severe, but I trust that spring has begun to make itself known there, just like it has here.
We will see one another in less than 2 months! I am so looking forward to being in your company again, my friend.
Has time not seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye? It feels like yesterday that Tommy was born, and yet he will be 4 in July. Can you fathom that Arthur will be 5 and Tisha 2! None of us get any younger, do we?
Jane is no longer being called on. Andrew was a guest for Lizzy’s 18th birthday, and after we had the cake and Lizzy opened her gifts (I am sure she wrote, but she loved the single pearl on the gold chain you, Harold, and Louisa sent her), Andrew asked if he might speak to Jane. Thomas agreed, as did Jane.
When they returned to the drawing room, Jane was beaming from ear to ear. Andrew asked to speak to Thomas and when they came back to us, Thomas announced that the couple was in an official courtship.
We had always planned that Jane would join us when we travelled to London prior to the presentations, but now, she has another reason—Lord and Lady Matlock are very keen to meet her.
In fact, we will all be in London. Thank goodness, I have learnt to behave with propriety.
I can only imagine what the old me would have been like meeting an earl and countess.
Alicia and Jemima have been worth their weight in gold. Not only has the former helped me so very much, but now I have 5 well-behaved, accomplished, and proper gentleladies. Talking of Jemima, she will begin to work with Tommy in less than a year.
Have Louisa and Harold found a governess for Arthur yet? I remember you said they were seeking one, and by the by, writing to Maddie for recommendations was a very good idea.
I must away, as I am to have tea at Haye Park this morning. Sarah Lucas, Hattie, and a few others will be present as well.
With my warmest regards,
Fanny
Leticia could not help but smile at Fanny’s letter.
Her friend had the right of it. Through Maddie, Louisa and Harold had found Mrs Adelaide Pinkston, who had begun as Arthur’s governess towards the end of February.
She was a treasure while at the same time, she was firm but not inflexible and knew how to tailor her lessons to a boy who would be five soon.
Leticia had remained resolved to continue to wear half mourning for the foreseeable future. She thought she may change her mind in the future, but for now, she was firm in her decision.
She was looking forward to seeing her friends in London again. They would depart the final Monday in April so that they would be in Town before Saturday, the day the year of mourning was to end. They would notify people of their presence starting the first Monday in May.