Zanzibar and . . ." Elizabeth paused to glance around her, then laughed at herself remembering she was mistress of this house and there was no danger should others hear, "Mr. Darcy taught me to ride astride!"
Jane's face paled as she sat legitimately shocked that her sister, the sister who avoided horses like the plague, had not only learned to ride, but also in the most unladylike manner possible. "How odd, I would have guessed it would offend Mr. Darcy to see a woman ride in a less than appropriate manner."
"I think you will find my husband to be a man of surprising taste and manners. He has certainly surprised me, in the best ways possible, since our marriage."
At this news, Jane smiled meekly at her sister, torn between the honest feelings of happiness stirring in her heart and the fear it might be she who never found a match. Elizabeth noticed Jane's discomfort and suggested they ask Mr. Hopkins to drive them into town. Jane cheered at the prospect and as the two walked together to their suites for suitable attire for the damp weather outdoors, they passed Lydia's closed door.
"Let's find a present for Lydia! It was my fault she felt so awful. I don't know what I was thinking to go on and on about London and the balls." Jane stopped in the hallway and hung her head. Elizabeth squeezed her sister's hand.
"You will need time, but please know there was little to prevent this morning's outburst. They say a woman with child can become impossibly moody and easy to anger, and with Lydia, the doctor does not know if it's her age, the situation, or merely her displacement, but she is one of the worst cases he has seen."
Sadly, Jane shook her head, and hugged Elizabeth with ferocity. "I am here. I should have been here the whole time. Pray, forgive me."
As the two pulled apart, both sisters teared up and Elizabeth assured Jane there was naught that could be done to change the past.
"And I know, I know, we should only reflect on the past as it gives us pleasure," Jane said before her younger sister could finish the motto their father had handed down to all of them, anytime their childish hopes or expectations were disappointed.
"Papa is watching over us, Jane. I can feel it. Now, go don your cloak, the breeze from the sea turns quite chilly but I would not have us take any but the barouche. It is well-sprung and the countryside is so gorgeous, it's like riding through a painting." Despite the tears, the two sisters giggled and squealed, both overjoyed to be reunited.
❂❂❂❂❂❂
The evening after their trip to Haddington, it was Mr. Darcy who surprised the ladies of the house with a secret. The three sisters congregated in the entryway as instructed, and Elizabeth laughed as Jane rocked back and forth on her heels.
"Do you think Mr. Darcy truly means to take us to town? Or perhaps out to dine? I am so grateful to be included in the invitation!" Lydia tittered on and on, constantly waddling to the alcove to check out front for a carriage or the barouche. Elizabeth tensed her shoulders and consciously inhaled metered breaths. Her husband would never embarrass their family at so late a stage as this. Over and over she repeated in her mind that he had her trust.
"Lizzie, are you keeping knowledge from us?" Lydia asked, looking to Jane for reinforcement of her inquisition.
"None, I'm afraid. Surprises are Mr. Darcy's favorite game." Elizabeth laughed as the girls heard voices and a familiar jingle from outside. Mrs. Buchanan appeared from the back hallway towards the kitchen carrying a bundle of blankets. As the front door swung open, the barouche stood decorated with garlands of flowers and glass jars with flickering fireflies.
Gallantly, he offered his arm to Lydia who stood utterly still until she began bouncing up and down in jubilation. "How lovely! Are we to go for a ride?"
"More than a ride, I happily invite the three fair Bennet sisters on a moonlight picnic, if they are so inclined to humor a humble
Jane's face paled as she sat legitimately shocked that her sister, the sister who avoided horses like the plague, had not only learned to ride, but also in the most unladylike manner possible. "How odd, I would have guessed it would offend Mr. Darcy to see a woman ride in a less than appropriate manner."
"I think you will find my husband to be a man of surprising taste and manners. He has certainly surprised me, in the best ways possible, since our marriage."
At this news, Jane smiled meekly at her sister, torn between the honest feelings of happiness stirring in her heart and the fear it might be she who never found a match. Elizabeth noticed Jane's discomfort and suggested they ask Mr. Hopkins to drive them into town. Jane cheered at the prospect and as the two walked together to their suites for suitable attire for the damp weather outdoors, they passed Lydia's closed door.
"Let's find a present for Lydia! It was my fault she felt so awful. I don't know what I was thinking to go on and on about London and the balls." Jane stopped in the hallway and hung her head. Elizabeth squeezed her sister's hand.
"You will need time, but please know there was little to prevent this morning's outburst. They say a woman with child can become impossibly moody and easy to anger, and with Lydia, the doctor does not know if it's her age, the situation, or merely her displacement, but she is one of the worst cases he has seen."
Sadly, Jane shook her head, and hugged Elizabeth with ferocity. "I am here. I should have been here the whole time. Pray, forgive me."
As the two pulled apart, both sisters teared up and Elizabeth assured Jane there was naught that could be done to change the past.
"And I know, I know, we should only reflect on the past as it gives us pleasure," Jane said before her younger sister could finish the motto their father had handed down to all of them, anytime their childish hopes or expectations were disappointed.
"Papa is watching over us, Jane. I can feel it. Now, go don your cloak, the breeze from the sea turns quite chilly but I would not have us take any but the barouche. It is well-sprung and the countryside is so gorgeous, it's like riding through a painting." Despite the tears, the two sisters giggled and squealed, both overjoyed to be reunited.
❂❂❂❂❂❂
The evening after their trip to Haddington, it was Mr. Darcy who surprised the ladies of the house with a secret. The three sisters congregated in the entryway as instructed, and Elizabeth laughed as Jane rocked back and forth on her heels.
"Do you think Mr. Darcy truly means to take us to town? Or perhaps out to dine? I am so grateful to be included in the invitation!" Lydia tittered on and on, constantly waddling to the alcove to check out front for a carriage or the barouche. Elizabeth tensed her shoulders and consciously inhaled metered breaths. Her husband would never embarrass their family at so late a stage as this. Over and over she repeated in her mind that he had her trust.
"Lizzie, are you keeping knowledge from us?" Lydia asked, looking to Jane for reinforcement of her inquisition.
"None, I'm afraid. Surprises are Mr. Darcy's favorite game." Elizabeth laughed as the girls heard voices and a familiar jingle from outside. Mrs. Buchanan appeared from the back hallway towards the kitchen carrying a bundle of blankets. As the front door swung open, the barouche stood decorated with garlands of flowers and glass jars with flickering fireflies.
Gallantly, he offered his arm to Lydia who stood utterly still until she began bouncing up and down in jubilation. "How lovely! Are we to go for a ride?"
"More than a ride, I happily invite the three fair Bennet sisters on a moonlight picnic, if they are so inclined to humor a humble
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