Chapter Fourteen #2
Georgiana pulled on her gloves, waited while Fitz donned his and put on his hat, before they said their farewells and climbed up into the gig.
*
Monday morning dawned fresh and clear. Lizzy and Harry ran through the home wood, laughing and barking with the pure delight that comes from good health and fresh air.
When they returned to the house, she scampered upstairs to wash and change into clothing appropriate for the breakfast table, while Harry flopped down on the terrace.
Lizzy did not wish to incur any more remarks from her mother about tardiness and her foolish love of animals.
She arrived at the door to the breakfast room at the same time as her mother.
“Humph,” Mama said, eyeing her through narrowed eyes. “You are early, my girl.”
“I am, Mama,” Lizzy replied sunnily. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did,” was the reply. “Did you?”
Lizzy merely nodded, choosing not to tell her how a dreaming Harry had woken her several times during the night.
They entered the room together, discovering everyone else had arrived early as well. This seemed highly unfair to Lizzy, after she had done her best to arrive before at least some of her family members.
“There you are,” her papa said, though he was looking at his wife. “Shall we sit?”
“Yes, dear,” her mama said, waiting for him to hold her chair.
On the way to his own chair, Lizzy’s father asked, “How is your guinea pig fairing, Lizzy?”
“Jeffry seems happy,” she admitted, frowning a little as she unfolded her napkin and put it on her knee. “I thought he might pine—missing his human family, you know. But he does not seem to be.”
“I suppose that is a good thing,” he said in a reflective voice. Then, he clasped his hands together as a signal to prepare for grace, which he said in his calm way.
After they all said “amen”, he asked, “What is everyone doing today?”
“We have our reading to do this morning,” Lydia said in forced cheerfulness. “But, afterward, Kitty, Maria, and I are visiting Aunt Phillips.”
“You are kind to do so,” Papa said, nodding once. “And you, Mary?”
Mary chose a slice of toast and passed the toast rack along the table. “Miss Darcy is coming this morning so we may practice a duet on the fortepiano.”
“Unexceptional.” He lifted a platter of kippers, offered some to his tablemates, before taking one himself. “Jane?”
Jane picked up her fork and stabbed at a curried potato and egg fritter on the platter before her. “I am accompanying Mr. Bingley to the botanical gardens at Tring Park.”
Papa fixed her with a contemplative gaze. “How is he conveying you there?”
“I believe we are taking his chaise in case it comes on to rain later,” Jane replied.
“That means there is room for you to take Hattie,” he said, nodding emphatically.
“Yes, Papa,” Jane said in a mild voice.
“Husband,” their mother cried softly, holding her knife in one hand and her fork in the other, at the ready, as though preparing to do battle, “there is no need for a maid, surely.”
Biting off his words, their father said, “In a closed carriage? And with an hour drive, both ways? You are mistaken, my dear.”
“I trust Mr. Bingley to behave in a gentlemanly manner,” his wife said, close to snapping.
Lizzy and her sisters stared at one end of the table, and then at the other. No one dared to interrupt the brewing argument.
“And I trust that a load of gossip will be bandied about if we permitted any of our daughters to involve themselves in a potentially compromising bit of foolishness,” Papa rebutted, his tone severe.
Lizzy’s mother gasped. “Our Jane?”
“She is one of our daughters is she not?”
“Mr. Bennet,” their mother said severely, “Jane and Mr. Bingley must have time together if she is to catch him.”
Lizzy, Jane, and Mary drew back in shock at their mother’s blatant revelation of her matchmaking dreams. The angry energy stifled the air in Lizzy’s lungs.
She wanted her parents to stop talking, to stop fighting.
Wishing she dared cover her ears, Lizzy closed her eyes and pressed her lips together.
Jane’s hand squeezed her arm, comforting Lizzy.
“I am happy to have Hattie with me,” her sister said in a firm, quiet voice. “Her presence is no more than Mr. Bingley will expect.”
In spite of Jane’s remark, their mother released a sort of muffled shriek, making Lizzy flinch and open her eyes.
Their father looked approvingly at his oldest daughter. “Thank you, Jane. I can always count on you to be sensible. Mrs. Bennet, Hattie must go,” he stated in a cold, hard voice.
“I am certain Mrs. Hill needs Hattie,” their mother said through gritting teeth. “If we had another maid—”
“Jane takes a maid with her, or she does not go. If you wish for another maid, madam, I am happy to reduce your allowance by twenty-five pounds in order to pay her wages.” He took his gaze off his furious wife and looked at Kitty. “Kindly pass me the applesauce.”
“Yes, Papa,” Kitty said in a quiet voice. She exchanged a look with Lydia, and they concentrated on their meals.
Lizzy wondered how any of them could eat. She wished she could slip away and spend an hour or more with her animals. They always calmed her after turmoil. Before she might make the attempt, her father spoke.
“Lizzy?”
“Yes, Papa?” She glanced his way, twisting her fingers in her lap.
“What are your plans for today?”
“I…” Lizzy paused and looked furtively at her mother, before meeting her father’s gaze, “I thought I would take Jeffry to the lending library. I mean to show him to the guests—with the proprietress’s approval, of course—and see if anyone recognizes him.
” Lizzy bit her lip and waited for condemnation to fall upon her head.
Sometimes, she wondered if her mother had ever known her second oldest daughter at all.
Every day Lizzy endured some remark or comment from her mother in regards to her animals as though they were a new hobby, instead of one of long-standing.
Her mother inhaled sharply. “What? Are you mad?”
“I…” Lizzy frowned, unable to go on.
“I think it is a splendid idea,” Jane said in a hearty voice. “What do you think, Papa?”
“I am certain our Lizzy will ask the patrons in a tasteful way,” her papa said, an amused light in his eyes.
In a familiar lament, her mama moaned, “Lizzy will never find a husband.”
Mary dropped an opinion into the silence that followed their parent’s comment. “I do not think that is likely at all.”
Lizzy blinked at her sister.
“Oh? And what do you know about it?” their mother snapped.
After blinking at her mother owlishly, Mary looked down at her plate, began cutting her slice of ham, and made no reply to the clear insult expressed by her mother.
“Thank you, Mary,” Lizzy whispered. She passed her sister the condiment pot of Durham mustard. Mary accepted it with a nod of thanks.
Lydia and Kitty abruptly stood, putting their napkins on their chairs. Lydia spoke for both of them.
“Papa, may we be excused?” she asked. “We wish to begin our reading immediately so we will have more time to visit Aunt Phillips.”
“You are excused. When I come to my bookroom, we will spend some time discussing what you have read this week.”
“Yes, Papa,” they said together.
Kitty and Lydia curtsied slightly to their mother and rushed out of the breakfast room.
Their passage served as the last lively moment of their gathering.
Lizzy managed to down a bowl of savory oatmeal porridge, dotted through with crumbled bacon and mushrooms. She swallowed half a glass of milk, ate a few almonds and dates, and asked to be excused.
“You may go,” her papa said, waving his hand toward the door.
Lizzy made her escape. As she approached the entrance hall, a knock sounded at the door. She stepped to one side as Hill left the breakfast room and went to the door. He opened it, admitting Georgiana and Mr. Darcy. Lizzy hurried forward, her heart thumping alarmingly.
“Hill, kindly tell Miss Mary that her guest has arrived,” she said to their butler.
“Yes, miss.” Hill closed the outer door and walked calmly in the direction of the breakfast room.
Lizzy curtsied, Georgiana curtsied, and Mr. Darcy removed his hat before he bowed. “Good morning,” she said brightly. “Mr. Darcy, what a pleasant surprise. We had not expected you. Georgiana, Mary is so looking forward to your visit.”
“I am glad,” Georgiana replied simply. She removed her bonnet and Lizzy stepped close to take it from her. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” Lizzy said, hurrying to set the bonnet down on the hall table. “Mr. Darcy, may I take your hat?”
He did not hand it to her. “If you would like, I thought we might go for a walk.”
Lizzy blinked at him, thrilled by his suggestion.
She grinned. “I have an errand to run this morning that involves some walking—I am taking Jeffry to the lending library in Meryton, where I will ask the patrons if anyone knows him. Does this activity suit you?” She frowned in a mocking way, adding, “I warn you, sir, that my mother does not think this a proper way for her daughter to spend her morning.”
“And what does your father say?” Mr. Darcy asked.
“He has given his permission, for he is certain I will ask the patrons in a perfectly tasteful way.” Lizzy shrugged. “I certainly do not plan on making myself a nuisance.”
“I am, unquestionably, happy to accompany you.” He indicated the front of the house. “Though, I feel I should mention that we could use my gig, instead of walking.”
I will have his company for longer if we walk. Oh, dear, why am I acting as though he is my suitor? Surely, he is only using me—perfectly politely—as a distraction while his sister is visiting?