Chapter 4 #2
“I have reminded her that she was hired for my convenience and not the other way around so many times, I am quite appalled by myself,” Miss Darcy whispered. “It is not in my inclination to fight back, but if it were up to Mrs Younge, I would never leave Darcy Cottage.”
“You have no need of such close supervision when you are in the company of a trusted older member of the family, even if I am a few months shy of my majority.” Lady Priscilla tossed her head. “Let her follow behind with the footman.”
“Have you seen anything interesting since you arrived?” Miss Darcy asked the two Bennet ladies as they walked.
“I believe that Jane and I observed the most ridiculous spectacle Ramsgate has to offer when we walked out yesterday morning,” Elizabeth announced.
“Oh, I cannot think of it without laughing. I cannot compose myself!” Jane looked slightly panicked in a most amusing fashion.
“Tell!” Lady Priscilla demanded. “What could you encounter on the coastline that early besides pedestrians?”
“A runner,” Elizabeth said with a perfectly straight face.
When Lady Priscilla and Miss Darcy required more information, she gave it to them.
“Yesterday, when we reached the shore, we were treated to the sight of a gentleman in a most peculiar costume, and instead of walking for his exercise, he was running for it.”
“Do not forget the dog.” Jane Bennet covered her mouth with her gloved hand and appeared to be nearly weeping with the effort not to laugh out loud.
“A dog?” Miss Darcy said in confusion.
“He runs with a dog, for companionship.” Elizabeth did not even attempt not to giggle.
“Well, certainly he must run with a dog, for there cannot be any people wishing to join him!” Lady Priscilla quipped. “I am excessively diverted. This is quality amusement that cannot be found in town. You must tell us everything.”
“I am not very certain that Horace wanted to run with him very much either, but the two of them did get in a great deal of exercise,” Elizabeth replied.
“Horace? You met the dog?” Miss Darcy looked properly shocked as she giggled in amusement.
“They must have met more than the dog, for I doubt Horace told them his own name,” Lady Priscilla observed.
“The appearance of the gentleman was interesting enough for one morning, but his dog certainly gave him a great deal of exercise!” Elizabeth told the tale.
“Horace is naught but a little pug, but he quite obviously regards the entire coast as his personal domain, and kept the runner chasing him in every direction but that which the gentleman seemed intent to go. One moment, the animal was chasing waves most aggressively, the next, he was tripping up his master, tangling his legs so that the gentlemen fell far too many times for his dignity to survive.”
“But he never lost his enthusiasm!” Jane stopped walking and laid a hand upon her sister’s shoulder, her own shoulder heaving with giggles she desperately attempted to suppress.
“Not even after falling half a dozen times! Not even after taking a soaking to rescue Horace from an unjudicious attack upon the water!”
“No!” Lady Priscilla could not believe it. “He remained composed the entire time?”
“Entirely.” Elizabeth linked elbows with Jane and once again stepped forward. “We did not get the runner’s name, but we were introduced to Horace when the creature presented himself to Jane for her admiration.”
“I have always got on well with dogs,” Jane said agreeably. “A pug is too small an animal for such vigorous exercise. I am certain that was why he attempted to hide in my skirts. He wished for me to save him from the insensible gentleman.”
“Did he?” Miss Darcy giggled.
“He did, and I gave the gentleman a stern talking to, that he requires a much larger dog for such exertions. Horace obviously loves the shore, but he requires a lead to ensure he does not get swept out to sea, and a brisk walk is all such a small dog needs.” Jane giggled.
“Nothing seemed to sober the gentleman’s enthusiasm for his purpose, however. ”
“Once he had obtained possession of his dog again, he proceeded to elucidate to us about running for exercise for five whole minutes!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“Without any introduction?” Lady Priscilla asked.
“Only the introduction to the dog,” Elizabeth replied with a straight face, making all the other ladies burst into giggles afresh.
Mrs Younge suddenly caught up to them and demanded to know what was being discussed. “It cannot be anything proper, standing here laughing on the shore in the open with no prudence at all.”
“We are making plans to sneak out at midnight to go and see a pugilistic match at the garrison,” Lady Priscilla said sarcastically, causing Miss Darcy to look rather alarmed.
“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, please accompany your father and sister when they call upon Darcy Cottage today.” Lady Priscilla turned her back on Mrs Younge entirely.
“Georgiana and your sister can find a quiet place to read, and the rest of us can find some pleasant method of passing an hour or two.”
“We would be very pleased to pay a call upon you this afternoon, though we ought to part now, so that Lizzy and I may inform our family and everyone can make whatever other plans they are designing for the day,” Jane answered as she and Elizabeth curtsied to Lady Priscilla, and the ladies parted for their homes.