by Wells, Linda
Lydia sat still on the straight backed chair in the headmistress’ office and clasped her hands. “I have no idea.”
“Miss Lydia, you are Miss Jessica’s only friend, surely she told you.”
“She just left that note.” Lydia pointed at the desk. “That is all I know. She has not been telling me things so much since you moved her out of my room. She found out that my sister told my father about meeting the soldiers.” Lydia sniffed twisted her handkerchief. “She did not trust me to keep her secrets.”
Miss Edwards saw genuine distress in Lydia’s eyes. Since returning to school, she had found herself largely unwelcomed by the other girls who were making sincere efforts to improve. Jessica had felt the same disdain, and without Lydia always by her side, she had turned her thoughts to the friendly welcome that she received from Lieutenant Tike. “The window in her room was open.”
“oh.” Lydia whispered.
“Well?”
“She noticed it was over the roof to the kitchen.”
“Who was she meeting, Miss Lydia? Her parents need to know so that she might be found before it is too late.”
“For what?” Lydia looked up with wide eyes.
“Before she is raped, Miss Lydia.” Miss Edwards said angrily.
“What?” Lydia’s hand went to her mouth. “She wants to marry Lieutenant Tike!”
“And a fine match it would be.” She said sarcastically and looked around the office. “When news of this gets out I will have to close. Well maybe not.” She looked at Lydia. “This is a school for wild girls.” She swept out of the room to send a footman to summon the magistrate and the colonel of the militia. Lydia remained on the chair and listened to the buzzing of the gossip as the news travelled like wildfire around the school. Over and over she heard the words, “She is ruined!”
“NO, ROSA.” Elizabeth admonished.
“Teeth?” Darcy peeked over her shoulder and looked at her sympathetically.
“Look at her, she knows what she does.” She gave her daughter a stern stare. “No.” Immediately Rosalie began feeding again.
“She reminds me of you.” Darcy smiled. “That same mischievous glint is in her eye.”
“I know.” Elizabeth laughed softly. “It frightens me.”
“She will mind us, dear. We will watch over that.” He raised his brows at his daughter. “You will be a perfect little Miss.”
“Oh where is the fun in that?”
He sighed. “You are no help.”
“Would you have wanted me if I was perfect?” She tilted her head.
“No more than you would have wanted me.” Bending down he kissed her and stroked Rosalie’s cheek. “Fine, we will aim for humanity, not perfection.”
“Now that I can appreciate.” Elizabeth smiled and lifted the baby up to her shoulder.
There was a quiet knock at the door and Mary peeked inside. “May I join you?”
“Certainly.” Darcy moved away from Elizabeth and awkwardly sat down on the child sized bed, low to the floor. Elizabeth laughed and he blushed. “Not very dignified.”
“No dear, but very amusing.”
“Ha, ha.” He said dryly and looked to Mary who was attempting to remain serious. “What can we do for you?”
“Oh, a letter came from Rosings.” She held it out. “I … I thought it might be important.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth caught Darcy’s eye. “Well we should read it straight away!”
“Absolutely.” He broke the seal and read silently and without expression. Then folding it up went to place it in his coat.
“Wait!” Mary cried. “What did it say?”
“Hmm? Oh, the letter.” He drew it back out and reopened it. “8 March, 1811, Rosings, Kent …”
“Fitzwilliam!” Mary cried.
He lifted his brow and looked at her blankly, but could not hide his twinkling eyes. “De Bourgh is wishing to confirm our travel dates, and suggests meeting up in London instead of waiting to see each other at Easter. He will be at his townhouse next week, it seems, and … Oh he hopes to receive word of our arrival …” He peered at the letter then held it up to Elizabeth. “What does that say?”
“Um, the instant we arrive.” She said flatly.
“Ah, yes, the instant.” His lips twitched and he glanced at Mary, whose face was pink. “He mentions something of wishing to spend a great deal of time in our company, as well.”
“Oh?” Mary breathed.
“He further mentions that he has accepted invitations to several balls and wishes to confirm a minimum of two sets with you at each, he will escort you, of course, and although you are fonder of conversation than dancing, he hopes that you will bear with his unprecedented desire to explore the world of communication through,” Darcy cleared his throat, “demonstration.”
Elizabeth burst into laughter and Darcy could no longer hold himself in. Confused, Mary looked between them and Elizabeth waved to Darcy to handle it. “Mary, the man is besotted and wants to hold your hand.”
“Oh!” Her hands went to her face. “Really?”
Rosalie started squirming and Elizabeth set her down on the floor. They watched her happily crawl away and Elizabeth gasped when she reached and pulled herself up to stand. Rosalie jabbered and stared at them with wide eyes. Darcy grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and squeezed. Mary gasped and clapped.
“Good girl, Rosa!” He cried and they watched her let go, wobble, and fall. Darcy stood and then bent to scoop her up and spin her around the room. “What a good girl you are!”
“Ahaaaaa!” She cried and beamed.
“I love you dear girl!” Darcy kissed her.
“Mama!” Rosalie patted his cheek and he sighed as Elizabeth stood to stroke her hair. “You love Mama, I know. He looked her in the eye. “Papapapapapapapa.”
“Papa!” She crowed. “Papapapapapapaaaaaaaa!”
Darcy turned to Elizabeth and beamed. “She knows me!” He looked back at Rosalie. “Shall I buy you a pony, dear?”
“Fitzwilliam!” Elizabeth cried.
Darcy kissed his wife and immediately Rosalie wanted to be back down on the floor. They watched her scoot away and try to stand again. Slipping his hand around Elizabeth’s waist, he spoke proudly. “I was just seeing if you were paying attention.” Their eyes met and joy radiated from his. “Papa!”
The story continues in Volume 3 of the Memory Series,
How Far We Have Come
Notes
1 Robert Burns, “Farewell to Eliza”, 1786.
2 Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, “Canto vi. Stanza 1”, 1808
3 Robert Burns, “Thine Am I, My Faithful Fair,” 1793.
4 “Bye Baby Bunting”, English nursery rhyme, circa 1784.
5 Isaiah 11:6, “And a child shall lead them.”
6 Jane Taylor, Rhymes for the Nursery, “The Star,” 1806.
7 Translation: Ah! Vous dirai-je Maman! Mozart, 1785,
Ah! I shall tell you, mum, That which causes my torment. Papa wants me to reason like an adult. I say that sweets are better than reason.
8 Luke 6:31
9 Mother Goose’s Melody, “High Diddle Diddle,” 1765.
10 “Riddle Song”, 15th century lullaby.
11 Sally Odgers, “The Wedding of Henry and Joan,” 2004.
http://sallyodgers.50megs.com/lals.htm
12 Robert Burns, “O’er the Hills and Far Away,” 1794.
13 “It is with great pleasure that I see at last the Preservation of Children become the Care of men of Sense. In my opinion this business has been too long finally left to the management of women, who cannot be supposed to have a proper knowledge to fit them for the Task.”
Cadogan, Essay (for Nurses), London Foundling Hospital, 1756.
Main Cast of Characters
Volume 2
Darcy
Fitzwilliam b. 2 October 1784
Elizabeth b. 16 August 1791
Married 21 June 1809
Georgiana b. April 1796
> Fitzwilliam
Lord (Henry) & Lady (Helen) of Matlock married 1774
Stephen (Viscount Layton) b. 1776 married 1806 to Alicia
Richard b. 1783
Audrey b. 1785 m. Robert Singleton
Bennet
Thomas and Francine
Jane b. 1789
Elizabeth b. 16 August 1791
Mary b. August 1793
Catherine b. August 1794
Lydia b. June 1796
Gardiner
Edward and Marianne
Benjamin b. 1804
Amy b. 1807
Paul b. 1808
Bingley
Louisa b. 1785 married to Gerald Hurst 1805
Caroline b. 1787
Charles b. 1788
De Bourgh
Lady Catherine
Anne b. 1786
Captain Peter de Bourgh
Mrs. de Bourgh
Michael de Bourgh
Others
George Wickham
Dorothy Younge
Lord and Lady Creary
Victoria Gannon
William Collins
Lucas
Sir William Lucas and Lady Lucas
Charlotte b. 1785
Robert b. 1786
Maria b. 1793
Two other brothers
Friends of the families
Jeffrey Harwick (wife died mid-late April 1807)
Evangeline Harwick Carter b. 1784 widowed 1806
Lord and Lady Moreland (Stewart)
Daniel Stewart b. 1784
Laura Stewart b. 1788
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Henley
Julia Henley
Servants
Mrs. Somers (Nanny Kate)
Mr. Foster (butler, Darcy House)
Mrs. Mercer (housekeeper, Darcy House)
Mrs. Reynolds (Housekeeper Pemberley)
Mr. Nichols (Steward, Pemberley)
Adams (Darcy’s Valet)
Millie (Elizabeth’s maid)
About the Author
Linda Wells worked for years in the environmental engineering world until she traded her career as a geographer for one as a mom to a challenging and really great son. After seeing the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice, she bought a copy of Jane Austen’s masterpiece and fell under the spell of her unforgettable characters and story. Eventually, a story of her own started nagging at her until she finally wrote it down. It has become a wonderful and rewarding experience to stretch her imagination, and with ideas for new stories still nagging at her, she hopes to write many more.
If you would like to contact Linda, she would be happy to hear from you: [email protected] or you may find her on Facebook, as well.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30