Chapter 5 #2
“It has been many years, actually since two years before Papa passed away, that we have used the house in Ramsgate. Can we not spend the month of June there?”
“I have some business I must attend to in London in June. You know, I prefer to be out of Town before July.” Darcy saw the way his sister’s face fell.
He cogitated speedily. “What we can do is all journey to our house on Coast Road in Ramsgate on the fifth day of June. I will spend some time with you to make sure all is well and return to London to attend to my business. I will be back with you around the final Friday of the month. If you are comfortable remaining with Mrs Younge for above a fortnight, then, yes, we can plan to visit Ramsgate.”
Anna squealed with joy. She kissed her brother’s cheek and then hugged him. When he waved her away with a smile, she went to seek out Mrs Younge to report her success to the companion.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The estate was unremarkable as estates went; however, it was in good order, and for the cost of the lease, which covered the manor house and the home farm with access to all areas good for hunting, it was a good value.
Darcy judged it an adequate place for Bingley to learn how to manage an estate.
The fact that the owner employed the staff and servants, even when there was no tenant at the estate, demonstrated care for his land, something which impressed Darcy.
As such, when Bingley asked, Darcy recommended he take the lease.
After Darcy and Phillips went over the terms of the lease, Bingley signed promptly.
As Darcy had promised Anna, he was home in time for dinner.
Over the next few days, packing was completed, and on the fifth day of June, a convoy of carriages departed Darcy House, turned out of Grosvenor Square and began the journey to Ramsgate.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Early July 1811 saw the Gardiners, with Mary and Kitty, depart Longbourn for Lambton to spend a month with the Lamberts.
After only a full day without Lydia’s influence, Kitty took up her drawing materials again.
That first day, Kitty had been somewhat reluctant to enjoy herself, as if it would be a betrayal of her younger and more forceful, sister.
Maddie was aware that Lizzy and Mary had made sure that they counteracted any of Lydia’s machinations aimed at causing Kitty to refuse travelling with the Gardiners.
Edward had written a letter to Thomas, and it had had the intended effect.
Their brother-in-law had threatened both his wife’s and youngest daughter’s pin money if they did not cease any sort of attempts to have Kitty change her mind.
He had bestirred himself for once and told Kitty she was going.
Maddie was not sure what had changed that first night at the coaching inn where they had slept, but by the morning, Kitty was much happier, which led to her drawing once again.
So it was that on the afternoon of the second day of travel, they had stopped at an inn to rest for a few hours to enjoy the midday meal.
After the meal, Kitty asked permission to go sit outside, and she had no objection to Bea and Lilly joining her.
Mrs Mulberry and a footman were close by the three girls as well.
When Maddie walked out to see where they were, a very pretty picture greeted her.
Bea and Lilly, eight and six, respectively, were seated next to a small pond where a duck and her ducklings were swimming.
Kitty was seated on a bench, her sketch pad on her legs and a piece of charcoal in her one hand.
She had captured her cousins’ likenesses very well, especially the look of delight on their faces as they watched the mama duck lead her ducklings around the pond.
She accurately captured the trees, an oak across the pond and a willow close to where the younger girls were seated.
Maddie could see that Kitty still had a real talent.
“Kitty dear, would you consider gifting me that drawing when you are done? You have captured your younger cousins’ likenesses very faithfully,” Maddie requested.
“Lydia and Mama tell me I am wasting my time when I should think about flirting with men to catch a husband,” Kitty replied. She seemed to be embarrassed that her aunt had complimented her effort.
“I hate to differ with your mother and Lydia, but they are very wrong. By too much flirting, you are telling a man you may be a girl who can be led astray without very much effort, while good men look for accomplished women who behave with propriety,” Maddie stated gently.
“You know that your mother was not gently raised, so she is not aware of what is needed at your level of society, and Lydia is not yet fourteen, so what knowledge does she have? Kitty, you were recently fifteen; how is it you defer to Lydia’s judgement and push aside something like drawing and painting, which you obviously love? ”
“Mama gives all of her attention to Lydia and some to Jane; hence, I thought that if I emulated Lydia, Mama would take notice of me as well,” Kitty explained plaintively.
“When you mimic Lydia, does your mother pay more attention to you?” Maddie asked pointedly.
All Kitty could do was shake her head.
“Then Kitty, dear, why do you keep doing that which does not produce the results you desire? What has denying yourself what you truly want to do, purchased for you?” Maddie pushed.
“Nothing,” Kitty owned.
“If you ever want to speak while we are together, you know I will listen, do you not?” Maddie hugged her second youngest Bennet niece to herself.
Kitty dashed a few tears away from her cheeks.
They had escaped her eyes while Aunt Maddie had been speaking to her.
She had much to consider. Jane, Lizzy, and Mary were always themselves.
They never tried to be who they were not, and as far as Kitty could tell, they were happy.
Mayhap she should speak to Mary before returning to Longbourn.
“Aunt Maddie, if you want the drawing when I have completed it, I will give it to you,” Kitty said shyly.
“I would like that very much, thank you, my dear.” Maddie hugged her niece again. She could tell that Kitty was not used to physical expressions of affection. It was sad. She and Edward never shied away in word or deed to show their children how loved they were.
Jane, Lizzy, and Mary had always been open to hugs and other expressions of tenderness, but that, Maddie supposed, was because those three Bennets had spent much more time with them than Kitty had.
She had only come to London once before she allowed Lydia, with Fanny’s assistance, to convince her to not accept any more invitations, until now, that was.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Before two o’clock in the afternoon of the third day, the Gardiners, two Bennets, the governess, and servants arrived at North Star House to a very warm welcome by Eve and Adam.
Even though little Gerald was only three months past one year, he seemed very happy to see them.
He could toddle already, but he was in his mama’s arms, a fist in his mouth with a river of drool escaping.
A sure sign that he was teething. He had by now been blessed with hair on his head, which was a golden brown.
His eyes had remained blue like both of his parents. ’
Although he put on a mask of normality, Maddie and Gardiner could see that something troubled Adam greatly. They waited until after dinner when all of the children, including Mary and Kitty, who were tired from the travelling, had retired for the night.
“Adam, what is it? I can see something troubles you,” Maddie stated once it was only the two couples in the small family sitting room. Her husband nodded his agreement.
“My friend Darcy returned to Pemberley about a sennight past. While he had always been somewhat reticent, I have never seen him like this. If I did not know better, I would say that some great tragedy has befallen him,” Adam shared.
“I know that all of his relations are hale and healthy, so none of them have passed, and Miss Darcy is with him at Pemberley, although she has not been seen since they returned.”
“Brother, you are not only Mr Darcy’s friend but his spiritual advisor as well, are you not?” Gardiner questioned.
“Yes, that is true,” Adam agreed.
“Then, little brother, go see your friend. He has known you long enough to be sure that you will never share anything he asks you not to, and speaking to you may relieve his burden slightly,” Maddie suggested while Edward nodded his agreement.
“What Maddie proposes is sound, Adam,” Eve stated as she took his hand and rubbed over his knuckles.
“The worst could be that he does not desire to speak, but he will know you are ready to listen if and when he is,” Maddie encouraged.
“Your counsel is wise; I will go to Pemberley in the morning on the morrow,” Adam decided. “I will pray that Darcy will be willing to speak to me and share the weight he carries on his shoulders with me.”