Chapter 24 #3
Sarah Lucas had been waiting for the ladies in the neighbourhood, led by Hattie Phillips, to come excoriate her and crow about Lady Frances’s elevation.
For two days, no one arrived, and when she braved going into Meryton to the haberdashery, other than some of the friends she had in common with Hattie and her younger sister greeting her and speaking of banal subjects, not one of the ladies Sarah used to crow about her title to said a negative word to her.
The elevation was only mentioned when she was asked if she had heard about them being made a baron and baroness.
Lady Lucas could not understand why this was.
It was mid-morning on Wednesday, and as Lady Lucas exited the shop with the packet of ribbons she had needed for a dress she was making for Maria, she saw the Bennet carriage on its way to the turn-off towards Longbourn.
She knew she had amends to make and was about to follow the conveyance to Longbourn when she felt a hand on her arm.
“Lady Lucas, good morning,” Hattie said pleasantly. “Fanny wrote to me and requested I let it be known that she will be ready for callers on Friday morning. She wanted me to convey that all her friends would be welcome then. And yes, that includes you.”
“Hattie, why has no one come to crow about Lady Frances’s good fortune…” Lady Lucas began to say.
“It is because to her friends she is still Fanny,” Hattie corrected.
Hearing what Hattie said almost caused Lady Lucas to cry tears of mortification, but she managed to regulate herself.
Why had she not behaved as it seemed Fanny was?
Why had she forced all her friends to use her title?
“I deserved to be seriously admonished for the way I behaved about my husband’s knighthood.
I do not understand why no one has taken me to task. ”
“Go see Fanny on Friday,” Hattie suggested. “Now, Lady Lucas…”
“I am older than Fanny, but not too old to correct my errors. Please Hattie, call me Sarah like you always used to before my head swelled up with my self-importance.”
“As I was saying, Sarah, Frank will be home for his midday meal soon enough, and I want to make sure all is ready for him.” Hattie gave a quick curtsy and proceeded towards her house.
She had not prevaricated to Sarah; she did need to make sure everything was in order for the midday meal.
As soon as Frank returned to work, Hattie would be on her way to Longbourn.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The convoy of coaches travelling north was rather lengthy.
Aside from the armed footmen on the benches, and the ones next to each coachman, there were two dozen outriders as well.
In addition to the two Osbornes, the Bennet offspring, a Lucas, the Fitzwilliams, the Darcys, and Maddie Gardiner and her four children were travelling to Kiveton Park and thereafter Hornby Castle as well.
The Bingleys and Hursts were also part of the line of conveyances.
They would travel as far as Kiveton Park and then continue on to Scarborough.
In the Fitzwilliam coach, travelling with her parents and brothers, Anne Fitzwilliam was in anticipation of travelling into Yorkshire as it brought her much closer to where her Harry was. His year of mourning for his father would end soon enough.
Bethany had been a little disappointed when Uncle Edward had said he could not get away until the first week of August; her frown had quickly turned into a smile when she was informed that Aunt Maddie and the four cousins would join the travellers.
When the three older Gardiner children had been informed of their ultimate destination, Eddy, who was seven, wanted to reach the castle as soon as possible.
He and May, who was four, did not understand why Cousin Lizzy was now to be called Cousin Bethie, but they were trying to remember to do so.
Lilly, who was nine called her cousin ‘Lady Bethany’ once and was told by said lady in no uncertain terms to call her Bethie only. Since then, Lilly had done so.
It was only the first day of travel, and with the long hours of daylight, it was possible they would reach Kiveton Park in three days. Bethany was both nervous and inquisitive to see the house where she was born and from where she had been kidnapped.
Even with her instant recall, she did not have any memories of the time she had been a babe there.
At least Jupiter was being led behind Lady Bethany’s coach.
She could not have imagined going the many months they would be away from London without her mare.
She was looking forward to arriving at one of the Osborne estates so she would be able to ride astride again.
The coach Bethany was travelling in, except for one addition, contained the same group who had been with her when they departed Longbourn for London.
Mother sat next to her, Jane and Charlotte on the opposite bench.
Between herself and her mother was Lilly Gardiner.
She was very excited to travel with two duchesses.
As would be expected, Biggs and Johns were on the back bench of Lady Bethany’s carriage.