by Kate Speck
Lizzy made several choices and they spent the next hours laughing and conversing, making note of character study of the patrons in the upper sections as well as the lower.
Lizzy leaned her head on William’s shoulder as she sleepily spoke with her eyes closed on the curricle ride back to Darcy House. “Today was the best day of my life, Will. I had a chance to see so many new things and my new clothes fit well and feels very soft. I was sad when I outgrew my uncle’s youth clothes but this one feels much more comfortable. It was fun to spend the day with you. Thank you for remembering my birthday.”
William kissed the top of her head and continued driving his curricle. “It was a good day. You will have many more ‘best days’ in the future, I promise. I will have my own adventures during my Grand Tour and I will miss you but I will write to you often. You must save all of your adventures by writing them down for me and we will have more together when I return. Sleep, dear one. I will wake you when we are home.”
Lizzy slept, leaning against her dear friend, and dreamt of the exciting day she had all over again.
~*~
“Did you have a good time, Lizzy?” Mr. Bennet asked her daughter while Mrs. Bennet was preparing for their theatre outing.
Lizzy grinned, “Yes, papa. I had read about horse races before but it was incredible to be there myself and see all of the exciting activities all around me.” She hugged her father and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for allowing me to go, papa. I know girls are not allowed at such a place but dressed as a boy, I was able to walk anywhere I wished and no one guessed that I was in disguise.”
Mr. Bennet chuckled, “Your mama nearly fainted when she saw you and even with such a costume, you could not fool your own mother, but you did pass well enough with that hat that William found. Did you see many ladies there?”
“Oh, yes, there were ladies finely dressed with large hats and beautiful dresses but they were very quiet and did not cheer like I wished. I did yell out and everyone looked at me but Will laughed and said I was a silly boy. I hope we have another outing again before Will returns to Cambridge. He will be at school for his final term and then head to Donwell Abbey to Mr. Knightley’s home in Highbury. He will be gone for years and I will miss him so much, papa.” Lizzy pouted.
“He will have a fortnight at Netherfield before heading south, my dear. And then you will be off to Ramsgate with the Darcys this autumn. Your adventures will not cease and I am certain he will write you as often as he can and you can continue writing your book.” He smiled. “You will be kept quite busy and time will pass.”
Lizzy sighed, “I hope so. I enjoy Will’s company above all others and I will be dreadfully sad without him. He is my friend and teacher and the only one who allows me the freedom to do what I want. I wish I could go to the theatre with you and mama. I don’t understand why girls have to wait until they are out.”
Mr. Bennet smiled and kissed her temple. “Those are the rules of society, unfortunately, but perhaps we might consider having you out earlier so we can take you when you are older. Jane is insistent that she wishes to be out at seventeen because she does not wish to think of marriage until she is older. But you, Lizzy, since I know you are not interested in the marriage market, would you be willing to be out at fifteen with Jane? Your mama will have to agree but if we have you out earlier, you will be able to attend balls and parties and theatres with your sister. Jane will be comforted with having you near her and you will enjoy seeing what entertainments are offered to debutantes.”
“That would be wonderful, papa!” Lizzy exclaimed. “I think fifteen is too early to be out but since I will never marry, I am eager to attend outings and not worry about being in disguise.”
“Let us decide when we are closer to that age.” Mr. Bennet laughed. “We still have two full years until then! How about if I take you to the docks tomorrow? I will be returning home in three days and we will have our entertainment to amuse us for months, and I will even allow you to dress in your new clothes tomorrow. I promise we will make more adventures together after William leaves for his tour. I know you will miss him dearly but with Jane and Georgiana and your younger sisters to entertain you, you will have much to do.”
Lizzy jumped up in excitement and clapped her hands. “Thank you, papa! I love going to the docks to watch the ships come in and out and being dressed as a boy will be far more fun. Thank you!” She kissed her father’s cheek and ran off to tell William all about her plans with her father.
Chapter 18
April 1806
Easter arrived and a grand dinner was held at the Darcy’s residence, with the Bennets, the Fitzwilliams, and the Gardiners gathering together. Lord and Lady Matlock were impressed with the Gardiners, as they had known Madeline Gardiner previously as Georgiana’s governess, but they were especially pleased to meet Edward Gardiner. Being a shrewd businessman, Lord Matlock had desired to invest with Gardiner Enterprises and to increase the number of Mr. Gardiner’s ventures with recommendations to his own friends.
“Thank you for seeing to Rosings, George. I am glad we found someone to lease it so quickly.” Lord Matlock commented while the gentlemen separated from the ladies.
The children had joined the meal but had departed for the nursery after dinner and the ladies jubilantly gossiped about the latest news from the ball they attended.
“Mr. Bingley was ecstatic to see the estate. He praised the beauty of Rosings to the skies and wish to take it this month.” Mr. Darcy replied as he chuckled. “I was concerned that we could not decide what to do with all the ostentatious decorations because it is Richard’s decision to keep them or dispose of them. Even if they are the ugliest things in the world, they are very expensive and might fetch several hundreds of pounds. Fortunately for us, Caroline Bingley liked the adornments so much that Mr. Bingley has agreed to take the estate as is.”
William huffed, “Of course, she liked it. I cannot believe how wrong I was about her.”
Mr. Bennet laughed, “She is a pretty thing, to be sure, William. I know why your eyes were turned but I am relieved to hear that a very big error might have been prevented. I am sure you would have found out for yourself eventually.”
William relaxed and smiled, “Perhaps, but my time in London is limited and I am glad I spent no more than only a few days chasing her. Bingley confessed to me that his sister had been acting strangely and Caroline Bingley had believed that she would be married by this summer. She was certain she could convince me to fall madly in love with her and cancel my Grand Tour.”
“Certainly not!” Mr. Darcy declared. “It is an experience of a lifetime and she believed you would give it all up for her? She has a big opinion of herself, does she not?”
“Yes, father.” William answered. “But Charles is a good fellow, friendly and very honest, almost to a fault and he had no idea of his sister’s duplicity and apologised profusely. He will be telling his father tonight and is glad that his father will likely cut her season short and take her to Rosings Park this month.”
Lord Matlock chimed in, “I have heard from Mr. Grantley that his daughter was not appreciative of Miss Bingley’s attempts to outshine her at the ball and that she had been speaking ill of the family’s situation with the eldest daughter. I had no idea that Mrs. Jenkinson was the elder Grantley daughter who eloped years ago. Mrs. Jenkinson has been a good companion to Anne and my niece has been flourishing away from her mother’s interferences.”
Mr. Darcy stated, “She is a good woman, Henry, and her parents are now willing to take her back and see about getting her married to a respectable gentleman, but she wishes to stay with Anne. I do believe she will be married in the future. I know a very good man who will be a fine match. I hope you will be kind, Henry. She is nearly family now.”
William hid his amusement while Lord Matlock answered, “Of course, George. She is like a daughter to me now. She is very kind to Anne, and Robert and Sarah adore her. Mrs. Jenkinson is more like a mother or an elder
sister than Catherine ever was to Anne and I hope she stays with our niece for a very long time.”
“And how is Lady Catherine?” Mr. Bennet asked. “Is she enjoying her exile to Brighton?”
Lord Matlock huffed, “She has always been a pain and of course she is nothing but trouble now. She is miserable and writes nearly every week to beg for her return to Rosings. I will be delighted to write to her that the estate will be leased to a former tradesman!” He laughed loudly. “She will vent her spleen about the shades of Rosings or some nonsense but she will finally realise that her home is now the cottage in the small seaside town, with only a few servants to obey her commands. She complains but she is only fortunate that I did not banish her to Ireland! She has to hire a hackney if she wishes to go anywhere and she is mortified with shame to appear poor. She has been served her piece of humble pie and I hope she chokes on it!”
The gentlemen laughed with Lord Matlock’s jest and hoped Lady Catherine would not cause further strife. The vengeful woman was fully capable of stirring up trouble and they wanted nothing to do with her. Soon, they returned to the ladies and enjoyed the rest of the evening with good conversations and many laughter as friends.
~*~
July 1806
“Somehow it feels different. I know I am the same person as last month but now that I have completed university and will be travelling for the next three years, I feel more grown up and prepared for more responsibilities.” William spoke while relaxing against their tree on Oakham Mount. “I am now one and twenty and ready to take on the world.”
Lizzy laughed from above his head, “I told you that you were old! You will come back from your trip with a full set of grey hair and I will have to help you walk around with a cane.” She easily swung from one branch and climbed down. “I will have to visit you and help you take your walks so you do not grow portly as well.”
William laughed and embraced her as she sat down next to him. “Who is the one giving me grey hairs, young lady? You must come stay with me after I return so we can fence and ride Snowflake and I can teach you to shoot a pistol then. Tell me, Lizzy. Will you miss me? At least a little?”
“No,” Lizzy replied. “Good riddance to you, Will. You have been so annoying lately.”
“Come now. Will you miss me? Just a little? You will not miss me at all?” William whined. “I promise to bring you back many gifts.”
Lizzy laughed, “Of course, I will miss you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and lay back. “I will miss you dreadfully. But I think it’s important for you to go. Too bad it is not to Italy and France and Greece where gentlemen usually go. I hope once this war ends, I will be able to travel and see the art and attend museums and meet many interesting people.”
“I wish you were a boy so I could have taken you with me.” William sighed. “It would be fun to have you with us.”
Lizzy sprang up excitedly, “Could I not dress like a boy and go with...”
“No, Lizzy,” William replied with a laugh. “Your papa would not allow it and it is too long of a journey.” He lifted her up onto his lap and hugged her. “If you were my daughter and left me for three years, I would cry and cry, and be sad endlessly. You belong here and you will learn many things and if you are very good, very, very good, perhaps I can take you to the continent someday. Once you help me choose a good wife, we can take you anywhere you wish when you are older and if your papa is willing to let you go to faraway places.” He kissed her head, “Would you like that?”
Lizzy remained quiet for a moment. William looked down and saw tears rolling out.
“What is the matter?” He asked.
Lizzy wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I will miss you. It will not be the same without you here. But I know you have to go and that it’s important for you to go.”
William smiled as he pulled out his handkerchief and dabbed her face, “I will write to you every day. I will collect my stories and send you my letters as often as I can and I will bring you back as many wonderful items as I can find for you. I promised Georgiana ribbons and charms for her bracelet, and I think my Grand Tour might just turn out to be a huge shopping excursion for my favourite girls instead! But I will think of you daily. I will miss you greatly, my dear Lizzy. I only have one blood-brother, remember?”
Lizzy nodded. “I expect to receive thick letters every time and you must share what you experience in as much detail as possible. I am writing my story of Will and Liam’s journey and want to include the places you saw and things you did. I will even mention you on my dedication page!”
“I will agree to that, Lizzy!” William laughed. “It is late and I must deliver you home.” He stood up with her in his arms carried her to his horse. “I have to get back to Netherfield to prepare for dinner with your family. Mama wanted to invite all the families in Meryton for my send-off but I told her I only wanted your family present. Your cousin Collins is an odd sort of a fellow but he is growing on me now after you explained his childhood. Your father has been a good mentor for him.”
Lizzy hopped onto the horse and they began to ride to Longbourn. “He is courting Charlotte and I could not be happier for my friend. He has at least two more years of schooling but papa said that once he completes his studies, he can live in the dower house if he wishes to marry. Charlotte is hopeful that they can marry soon, and I think she really loves him. She finds his eccentricities amusing and I can’t think of another reason to find his follies as to admire them, other than due to love.”
“It must be, Lizzy.” William responded. “I have quite given up on the idea of love and I no longer trust my own judgment, so I will wait patiently to return to England to pursue a courtship. You must find me several worthy ladies and hopefully I will choose the right one amongst them. I must have you interrogate them thoroughly before I make a decision. I trust your judgment more than I trust myself.”
Lizzy nodded her agreement and hugged him once more after he helped her down from Snowflake in front of her home. “In case I don’t get a chance to tell you later, Will, make sure you eat well and stay healthy. You will have such an adventure before you but you still have several weeks at Highbury and I don’t want you to become ill before you even have a chance to get to Ireland. You must promise me that you will take good care of yourself.”
“Yes, mother.” William laughed. “I promise.”
Lizzy smiled as she looked up at him. “I will never be your mother, Will, because that would make me very old and you will always be the old, decrepit man!” She stuck her tongue out in jest and smiled. She waved as he mounted his horse again while laughing and he returned to his home. Lizzy knew their separation would be keenly felt but she could not be more excited for her dear friend and hoped for the next years to pass quickly.
Chapter 19
September 1806
“I have heard from Will, papa!” Lizzy ran into her father’s study with the letter in her hand. “He travelled through Wales and visited a city with a ridiculously long name, Llanfairpw... I can’t say it. It is too long to try to pronounce.” She laughed. “He was to have spent August there and to sail to Ireland in September. He should have arrived there by now. How exciting! He wrote that he had met several interesting characters already and the Welsh language was very fun to learn. Oh, I wish I were there with him, papa.”
Mr. Bennet laughed, “But you have been enjoying yourself here and you will travel to Ramsgate next month with the Darcys. Are you looking forward to it?”
Lizzy beamed, “Oh, yes, papa! I have not seen the ocean before and I can’t wait to see it. It will be so vast and I will never wish to leave it. I wish I could be on a ship and sail the seas like Admiral Nelson.”
“I believe Mr. Darcy is planning on treating you and Georgiana to a boat ride so you will be on the waters for a little while, even if it is not as long as Lord Nelson’s journey on the sea.” Mr. Bennet told his daughter. “You will have a wonderful time during the two months there before y
ou return home for Christmas.”
Lizzy sat on her father’s lap, “Thank you for allowing me to go, papa. I have had so many adventures in my life and I know it is all thanks to you. Most other papas would have told me to behave myself and to cease my nonsense. You allowed me to learn and to teach myself and for others, like Miss Carter and Will and Mr. Darcy, to show me so many wonderful things in the world. Thank you, papa. I will make you proud. Even if I do not get Longbourn, Will has promised me I could live with him so I would not be a burden to anyone, and I know Cousin William will take good care of mama and my sisters if something were to happen to you.” She leaned her head on his chest, “I will write books and study sciences and perhaps be employed by King George himself!”
Her father chuckled, “I believe you can do anything you wish, child. I know you have a unique friendship with William Darcy and he will be good to you for the rest of your life. I know you think of him like a brother, Lizzy, but is there no chance...”
“I don’t understand why you think I would ever marry him, papa!” Lizzy laughed, “He is my friend and like a brother to me and you know I will never marry anyone.”
“Perhaps not William but someone else?” Mr. Bennet winked. “Perhaps a dashing officer in uniform might catch your eye?”
Lizzy laughed, “I think not, papa. Jane might be interested in marrying in two years but I will be an old maid and I don’t mind it one bit. I wish to wear my trousers and sneak into horse races and climb trees all of my life.”
Mr. Bennet conceded, “Come and show me your book, Lizzy. I will have to concede to the fact that my second daughter will be an authoress and possibly an actress on stage.” He smiled and sat her next to his desk. “We must have you practice more of your French and Italian if you are to be a competent actress, and I will instruct Mrs. Porter to add it to your schedule. It means less time in your tree and more in your books.”