Page 17 of Chivalry & Chauvinism (The Victorian Vagaries #2)
During their last weeks in Brighton, young Master Collins continued to grow and thrive. Charlotte came out of her mourning and looked better than ever in her finely cut gowns. The family went sea bathing, rested quietly after their months in town, and socialised very little, though the sea town was bustling, as it was every summer. Elizabeth and Darcy took the opportunity to spend much time together, alone and with Diane. They took many walks on the beach during the day and sometimes even late at night when they could sneak away.
Richard planned all manner of excursions for Mary, including all the other young ladies in his plans, keeping them entertained while the older residents of the cottage relaxed and enjoyed the summer. Lord Rutherford called regularly, and Richard did his best not to scowl, since he did not wish to upset Mary. Georgiana was still watching him like a hawk. Sometimes he thought she was hoping he might slip so that she might have the excitement of boxing his ears at least once. He made an effort to stay out of arm’s reach of his ward.
Toward the end of their stay in Brighton, Mary and the ever persistent Lord Rutherford had a conversation where she shared the depth of her attachment to Colonel Fitzwilliam. She begged his pardon for any misunderstandings or hurt sensibilities related to their abbreviated courtship. Lord Rutherford assured Mary that she was all a lady ought to be, and that she owed no apology. He assured her she was his perfect ideal of a woman in every particular, and that his feelings for her were so sincere that he could do nothing but wish fervently for her continued health and happiness. He took his leave of the residents of their cottage cordially, closed his rented house, and returned to his estate. Richard observed to Darcy that Rutherford’s display of civility made him feel like an ape, to which Darcy ribbed his cousin that it was fortunate that Mary seemed to have an affinity for apes.
Elizabeth made the plans for Mary’s birthday dinner in advance by corresponding with Mrs Nichols, and sent out the invitations three weeks before they returned to Hertfordshire. Mrs Bennet was asked to help with the menus, and Elizabeth knew that when she arrived, Mrs Bennet would have conspired with Mrs Nichols to plan an incomparable menu. She invited the Gardiners to stay at Netherfield as well as the Bingleys, at Will’s request. Jane responded to say they would attend the dinner, but would stay at Longbourn with the Bennets.
When they returned to the neighbourhood, Kitty and Lydia went to Longbourn. Kitty’s mood was softened considerably from her enjoyable experiences in town and at the seaside, although she still became difficult at any reminder of Willoughby.
Mrs Bennet thanked Elizabeth for having cautioned her about the man’s unsteadiness. “If not for you, Lizzy, I might sound as delirious as your Cousin Marianne and her mother, and who knows what could have happened to your sister had she been allowed to stay in Derbyshire to chase after that capricious man. Mrs Dashwood is demented. As if the Duke of Leeds’ son would take any prop er notice of her daughter over my Kitty ! You had better watch that girl. Lizzy. She will cause trouble; I am certain of it.”
All was in hand for the dinner party when they arrived at Netherfield. Colonel Brandon arrived two days after the family, and as they were bachelors, Elizabeth housed him with Richard at Lilac Cottage along with the other bachelors Elizabeth insisted Darcy and Fitzwilliam invite, insisting that it was her duty to the neighbourhood to bring eligible single guests to the area to mingle with the residents. The Matlocks arrived with Anne, as well as the viscount and his family. There were also a few young ladies Mary had made friends with in town, attending with their mothers or chaperones. Charlotte was of great assistance to Elizabeth with keeping everyone entertained.
Jane was her usual self when paying calls with her mother, and seemed to be paying more attention to the pleasantries between Elizabeth and the younger girls. Elizabeth could tell Jane did not like what she saw. Elizabeth could not understand her. The woman did not wish to be bothered with her younger sisters, but she did not want Elizabeth bothering with them in her absence.
*****
Everything came to a point the day before Mary’s birthday, and it was not pleasant. Elizabeth and Mary were visiting Longbourn to discuss some future plans with Mrs Bennet when Jane announced to all of the ladies in the parlour, “Kitty, Lydia, I have news. I have spoken to Charles, and we have decided to send you to school.” From the expressions upon the faces of everyone in the parlour, Jane may as well have announced that Kitty and Lydia were to run away with the fair.
“Jane, why on earth would the girls need to go to school? Their education is being seen to here at home,” inquired Mrs Bennet.
“Oh, Mama, you do not believe in education; you only taught us to be pretty. Kitty and Lydia are to go to the finest ladies’ seminary, where they shall learn to act like ladies and gain a few accomplishments so they may be married to fine men,” responded Jane derisively.
Mrs Bennet lowered her teacup and stared at Jane as if she had never seen her before. “Do you truly never read any of our letters?” she asked, crestfallen.
“I have been saying this for nearly a year,” observed Lydia darkly. “She never answers our questions or replies to our concerns in her letters, which do not come often. She never responds to anything we say, only gives brief reports of parties or dinners, and gowns she has worn or ordered. I do not believe she reads a word we write to her.”
Jane looked to Mrs Bennet, “Well, I am much kept up with managing Mr Bingley’s home and building our social circle, of course. I have little time to read letters begging for gowns and visits.”
In the past Mrs Bennet might have launched into spasms of delight at the mention of her daughter’s busy schedule as Mrs Bingley, but Mrs Bennet had no such reaction today. She glared at Jane. “I am quite certain no one here has requested any such notice from you, Jane. Your sisters are too much taken up studying and with their art masters. They have all the gowns and lace they require. There will be no need for them to attend school or for them to disturb you for fripperies.”
Jane looked at Elizabeth with distaste and said, “There is really no need for you to accept charity, Mama, when your own daughter is well able to provide for you.”
“It was my mistake that I treated Lizzy differently,” said Mrs Bennet softly. “She is your father’s child, and just as much a daughter and sister of this house as any of you. I regret it.”
“Perhaps instead of trying to tuck us away so Lizzy cannot interfere with us, and then forget we exist, you could actually correspond with us, and act like our sister,” said Lydia.
“I agree. I am not a toy you left behind in the nursery, Jane, waiting for you to remember me and pick me up again. If you want to be friends, I have no objection, but please remember, we are people with feelings,” said Kitty.
In the end, Mary had the final word. “Jane, if you ever wondered what the difference is between you and Lizzy, just think of how Lizzy purchased stationery for your sisters when you married, so they could keep correspond with you. And then think of how you have spent the last year and a half ignoring their letters, and now you are trying to keep your sisters apart. You only suggested school because you do not like Kitty and Lydia spending so much time with Elizabeth. You are so filled with malice, it is painful for me to be so close to it. An angel indeed. Mr Bingley certainly has peculiar taste in angels. Lizzy, I believe I will return to Netherfield. I suddenly have a headache.”
Elizabeth returned to Netherfield with Mary and the young woman composed herself on the carriage ride. “I do not wish to allow anything to upset me. I have been looking forward to this time for weeks, even months now. I shall not allow Jane to cast a shadow upon it.”
The next morning, Mary woke up a woman grown. Elizabeth visited her in her apartment and gifted her a large and lovely garnet pendant to hang from the pearl choker that she had received the year before. This was no young girl’s jewellery, but a serious piece for a grown lady. It would go beautifully with the luminous rose gown that Mary was to wear for her birthday dinner.
*****
Charlotte and Georgiana were already downstairs, arranging flowers and checking the arrangements. The party was not a ball, but there would be a great number of people in attendance. The formal dining rooms were opened, and Elizabeth would have several large parlours opened so the young people could dance, and young ladies could exhibit, as well as have rooms for cards. The entire neighbourhood, as well as the landowners and gentry from all over Hertfordshire had been invited. All the Bennets were assembled for once, for Mrs. Bennet would not allow Mr Bennet to get out of the obligation. Dinner was a great success, with all of the courses done perfectly. The entire county agreed that the spread had never been equaled, and that Lady Darcy was lucky to be stepdaughter to Mrs Frances Bennet, who was notably the most skilled hostess of the neighbourhood.
There was an enormous birthday cake at the end of the meal. Mr Farinacci had travelled to Hertfordshire to work upon it for many days. Darcy stood up to say a few words to congratulate his sister upon reaching her majority, and the entire party toasted Mary and wished her many happy returns.
During a quiet moment in the meal when he thought no one was watching them, Richard, able to wait not a single moment longer to secure her, asked Mary to marry him. She blushed, shed a few tears, and happily said yes. A few seated close to them noticed the exchange, and Richard sliding an enormous garnet ring (having coordinated with the lady’s sister on a stone) up Mary’s finger, and they all turned away quietly in anticipation of an announcement that may surprise the rest of the party later this evening. The enormous garnet had been taken from a brooch that once belonged to Lady Matlock’s mother, and was part of a small collection that had been left to him for his wife.
Richard could not wait to speak to Mr Bennet. Darcy and Richard had spoken about it some weeks before, and Darcy speculated the man might not be reasonable or he may just not care. Either way, he recommended Richard give him the option to bless and announce the engagement out of respect. Richard was prepared to do so, and when the sexes separated after the meal, he cornered Bennet and asked for a word. There was not much Bennet could do to oppose the match, though he really could not have cared less what Mary did. He made sure the man understood Mary would only receive one thousand pounds on her mother’s death, and gave permission for Lord Matlock to make the announcement, due to his rank.
Bennet might have tried to obtain some of the dowry he knew his eldest would settle on the girl, but he knew better than to try such tricks with a man like Fitzwilliam. Due to Mary’s age, he doubted he would be asked to sign the marriage settlement, though he still had hope that one of his younger daughters might fall in love with a silly youth whom he could manipulate before the girls reached their majority. There was also the possibility of taking one of them away once they had fallen in love, and threatening to marry them to a farmer if Elizabeth did not pay him. With two more daughters under one and twenty, Bennet thought an opportunity was bound to present itself.
When the gentlemen rejoined the ladies, Lord Matlock asked for attention. “I would like to announce to all of you, the engagement of my son, The Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, to Miss Mary Bennet. Please join us in wishing them every happiness.” Champagne flowed, and Lady Matlock squeezed Mary’s hand and cried over her, thinking that Richard leaving the military and finding happiness with a lady might never have happened if not for this darling girl.
The ladies exclaimed over Mary’s ring, and her wonderful good fortune. All the guests staying at Netherfield were invited to remain for a ball to celebrate the wedding and the wedding itself in three weeks hence. Elizabeth and Mary asked Mrs Bennet to plan the wedding breakfast, to which Mrs Bennet’s sentiments nearly reached the excitement she had used to display in the old days, but not quite.
*****
An announcement appeared in The Times, and the banns were read the following Sunday with Mary and Richard proudly sitting together in the Netherfield pew. Mary did not need a wedding gown, since in November when they had gone to London for their wardrobes, Mary had planned a special gown. It was a stunning creation, and she had kept it safe and hidden in the back of her wardrobe all season. Elizabeth knew she had designed it with Madame Clarisse with her wedding in mind, and it was good that the gown was ready. She still needed a trousseau, so Mary went to London with Elizabeth, Darcy, Richard, and Lord Matlock for a week, so the party could manage all of the business of the wedding.
Charlotte remained behind and served as hostess for Elizabeth for the numerous houseguests who remained while the party was away. Charlotte knew well how to entertain in her own neighbourhood, and so the guests were kept busy with a picnic, a group ride and outing to Oakham Mount, as well as a farther afield tour of Hatfield House, which had been the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth I. They visited the Roman ruins near St Albans, and received an invitation from Maria Scott to visit the Poet John Scott’s Grotto in Ware. One afternoon the gentlemen went fishing, and the ladies, led by Charlotte, Lady Lucas, and Mrs Bennet, spent a day indoors, and sewed for both Netherfield and Longbourn’s poor baskets, which they filled by tea time. It was a pleasant and peaceful afternoon, with the young ladies taking it in turns playing the pianoforte or the harp softly, while the other ladies sewed, conversed, and took refreshment.
Mary and Elizabeth ransacked their uncle’s warehouses and placed an order for a trousseau that would feed Madame Clarisse’s family for years. They shopped for days; Mary often insisted she did not need nearly so much, though Elizabeth eventually stopped her. “Dearest, you are about to be a married woman, with your own fortune, and your own husband to buy your wardrobe and see to all of your needs. This is my last chance to spoil you as you deserve. Do not take it from me.”
Mary hugged her sister and accepted her trousseau in the spirit that it was given. The sisters were grateful they had chosen cousins who regarded themselves as brothers already. Pemberley and Rosings might be days away from each other, but the family always endeavoured to spend the holidays together. Richard, Georgiana, and Darcy were already in the habit of travelling to visit each other often. This would allow Elizabeth and Mary to see each other much more often than many other married sisters might.
Richard stayed at Matlock House with his father, and neither house accepted visitors while they were in town. They did attend the theatre together in the Matlock box and Richard and Mary rode together in an open carriage in Hyde Park at the appropriate social hour and accepted congratulations from many in the ton. At the end of the week, they returned to Netherfield with the marriage settlement completed and signed. Elizabeth would settle a dowry of fifty thousand pounds upon Mary. Twenty thousand went to Richard upon their marriage. Twenty thousand stayed in trust for Mary, providing her pin money and an income in her widowhood, while the remaining ten thousand would be invested under Elizabeth’s management. Elizabeth, their Uncle Gardiner, or her man of business, would meet with Mary and Richard quarterly to discuss their investments and advise them.
Mary and Richard would decide together whether to use the profits of the investments to invest in their estate, or to provide dowries for future daughters and provision for younger sons. Mary was to have the same personal freedoms as Elizabeth. She must have complete autonomy of her own person, could live where she chose, could not be locked away, and her children could not be kept from her. They did not bother to ask Mr Bennet to sign the document, since Mary was of age. Mary received two copies to keep in her own strongbox in her apartments of their country and London homes, and Richard kept one each in his strongboxes at Rosings and Darcy House in London as well. Copies were also retained by the solicitors, Elizabeth, Mr Gardiner and Lord Matlock. Both Richard and Mary made their wills as well while they were with the solicitors, just as Darcy and Elizabeth had done.
*****
The most illustrious of their acquaintance arrived at Netherfield the day before the ball. Mary had been very well received in London, and had made friends among many of the society matrons and young debutantes alike. Having their own townhouse in Mayfair, the Fitzwilliams would be much in society when in town, and more than a dozen of Mary’s, Elizabeth’s, and Lady Matlock’s friends were invited.
Elizabeth had not been at all sure she would make the trip, but Granny Rose turned up the day before the ball, stating that she had been kept at Pemberley for Darcy’s wedding by Georgiana’s illness, but she would not be kept from seeing Mary and Richard marry. Because spacious and comfortable ground floor apartments and modern plumbing were present at all of Elizabeth’s properties, The Duchess of St I___, Lady O________, and Granny Rose’s other tyrannical friends were all very comfortable at Netherfield, and promised to visit Pemberley the following summer.
Granny Rose’s birthday was fast approaching. It had not been acknowledged as it ought the previous year, due to Georgiana’s illness. Darcy insisted his grandmother would murder them all publicly in the ballroom if they made any announcement, so Elizabeth, Darcy and Georgiana privately gifted her the pearl tiara to wear at the ball. Elizabeth also loaned her the impressive Darcy pearls from the family collection to wear with it.
Elizabeth’s pearl tiara was not yet ready, but the citrine set was. Elizabeth turned heads in her gown of golden yellow silk, and the ladies from London were wild to learn where Elizabeth had obtained such an impressive parure. Granny Rose was delighted with her tiara, and was in her element watching over the ball with the other dragons of society.
The people of Meryton were beside themselves at the distinction of attending a private ball and wedding with so many people of high rank. Their own Lizzy Bennet, a countess! And a duchess visiting Meryton! And the duchess was accompanied by her younger son, who had the most scandalous nickname, and was rumoured to be one of the most notorious rakes of the ton! When the matrons fluttered about this tidbit, Elizabeth assured them that indeed the man had been a Rake (with a capital R ) but that he was reformed by his wife, who accompanied him on their visit from Scotland, and that young innocents from country villages were in no danger from him. Before his marriage, he had consorted with the diamonds of the demimonde, and was now a devoted family man who would never ruin a young lady. This information made the gentleman very appealing to the matrons for some reason Elizabeth could not understand, and much fluttering of handkerchiefs occurred when the gentleman was mentioned; there were many whispers about whether reformed rakes made the best husbands.
The ball was the most elegant event Meryton had seen in living memory. Mary and Richard opened the dance as was expected, Mary radiant in a scarlet gown and garnets, the colours setting off her dark hair and porcelain skin beautifully. As Elizabeth and Darcy took to the floor, she unobtrusively pointed out to him some of the local men who were watching Mary and Richard, and shaking their heads in disbelief at this new Mary. Elizabeth remembered Mary saying she wouldn’t like to marry any of them now, after Jane’s Twelfth Night Ball. They had lost their chance with her and rightly so. Mary’s hope of meeting a new gentleman who might find her worth sweeping off her feet had certainly been realised, if the dreamy expression she wore as she waltzed with Richard was any evidence.
Georgiana attended the ball, for it was a country event in their own home, and a special celebration for Mary and Richard. With Darcy and Elizabeth’s permission, she was allowed to stay up all night, rather than retire after supper. The rule of only dancing with family or Elizabeth’s sisters stood in effect, although her brother and both of her cousins each promised her two sets. She would also dance with hers and Elizabeth’s uncles, as well as Mr Bingley, so she would be dancing all night. She would sit between Lady Rose and Mrs Annesley at supper, and she was not permitted to converse with, nor accept refreshment from any gentleman unless Mrs Annesley or Lady Rose were with her.
There were not too many bachelors from London. Most of the gentlemen who had been invited were husbands or sons of the ladies attending. The dozen or so town bachelors who did attend did their duty by the local ladies and their hostess. Elizabeth spent the evening making introductions and assisting her guests from London to converse with those from Hertfordshire whose conversation she knew would suit each other’s dispositions and interests. Darcy did his duty as well, dancing with a number of the local ladies, as well as Elizabeth’s friends from town. She smiled when she observed him also facilitating conversations between their guests.
He caught her eye and made his way to her. “And what are you thinking, my dear, with such a tender expression?”
“I was just thinking how skilled you have become in conversing easily with those you have never met before. You have become remarkably skilled at catching their tone of conversation, and appearing interested in their concerns, sir,” Elizabeth teased.
“I owe all of it to you, my dear. It is astonishing how easy it is to speak to a lady when she has no expectation of being able to trap you into marriage. In addition, it is much easier to be social when one’s wife has the good taste to be friends with all the best people. I never find the gauche or insipid upon our guest lists, and for that, I thank you,” Darcy replied.
“I suppose it was rather good of me to rescue you from the clutching grasp of all the Miss Bingleys of the ton. You may thank me properly later,” Elizabeth invited wantonly. Darcy resisted the urge to drag her upstairs immediately. Instead, he looked about and saw no one was looking, and pulled her down the hall and then into the study. “I think I had better thank you now, my dear.” When Lady Darcy emerged from the study, followed by her husband a short while later, her lips were swollen, his cravat was askew, and the two of them looked for all the world as if they had a secret.
*****
Elizabeth and Darcy did have a secret, and they had been keeping it for two months. Even her sisters had not noticed, but Charlotte noticed that Elizabeth had ceased being a morning person while they were in London. She also observed her friend had begun sneaking away for naps before tea time, and suspected that Elizabeth was going to have news to share very soon. Elizabeth was waiting for the wedding to be over to make an announcement, but she would tell Mary about it alone before she went away. Then, they planned to tell everyone else before they returned to Pemberley. It had happened a little sooner than planned, for no methods were completely foolproof, but Elizabeth and Will were overjoyed.
Mrs Bennet had taken Elizabeth aside during the ball and asked in confidence, “Lizzy, your Mr Darcy is very in love with you. Anyone with eyes can see it. I did not know Sir Christopher well. Was he quite in love with you as well?”
“Well, I believe he was, Mama, at least I certainly hope so. Why do you ask?” Elizabeth said bemusedly.
“That’s just it dear. Mary and Colonel Fitzwilliam are clearly very much in love. And, well… someone must advise her as to what will happen upon her wedding night… and… my own experience was not comparable. I feel unequal to advising a young lady whose experience is likely to be so much different than mine. Indeed I find the entire topic rather embarrassing, and difficult to speak of. I fear I might frighten the poor girl.”
Elizabeth hugged her stepmother and promised to manage the talk with Mary. When they did sit together, late in the night before her wedding, when the other ladies had finally retired, Elizabeth said, “Mary, it is time for us to have a talk about your wedding night. Do you have any particular questions?”
“Well, Lizzy, I have witnessed some encounters with the farm animals growing up at Longbourn, but I am unsure how similar that is to what happens between two people.” Mary blushed.
“That is a good start. The answer is yes, the situation is similar in execution. The man has an appendage that he inserts into a special place between a lady’s legs. After a few moments of vigorous activity, he spills his seed into the lady, and it is that which has the potential to conceive a child. That is where the similarity ends. People are different in the fact that animals nearly always do it in the same position, whereas a man and a woman can choose many different methods and situations in order to achieve better comfort,and more intimate and loving experiences. People also can communicate during marital relations, kissing, caressing, and expressing their love to each other, as well as their likes and dislikes about the act. This is what makes it special and pleasurable to those of us lucky enough to truly be in love with our husband.
“The first time, it will hurt a bit. It is not a frightening pain, and it does not last long. If your husband is patient and waits a moment to proceed until you have acclimated to the change your body is experiencing, then you will have a moment to relax, and the rest of the experience will be better. I recommend having a glass or two of wine before you retire. Not enough to make you disguised. Just enough to help you relax.
“Everyone says that it only hurts just the once, but I will be honest with you, the second and third times can also be rather uncomfortable, but that is often due to soreness left over from the first time. After that you will have become fully adjusted to the new experience and it should not hurt at all as long as your husband is kind and gentle. If it hurts more than general soreness after you have become accustomed to the activity, then your husband might need to be more gentle, but I do not believe you will have that problem. I will also tell you that it can be an exceedingly pleasurable activity, and that in your first weeks you will very likely be sore, not unlike after riding a horse when you are unused to the activity, and you will not care in the slightest, nor will it likely prevent you from doing it quite often in the beginning.”
Mary seemed unsure. “Lizzy I know that I desire Richard, even though I am unsure of what it is precisely that I desire, and he has made it clear that he desires me greatly, but what you are describing seems rather wanton.”
“Dearest, you may be as wanton as you like with your husband. The marital act is a holy worship for each other and your love, and is intended by God. Nothing that you and your husband do together can be wrong or wicked, as long as you both want it, and you are assured of complete privacy. Anything that brings you both pleasure is to be celebrated between the two of you when you are alone. and you may do it any time of day or as often as you both like. It is important to tell Richard what you like or dislike without fear from the very beginning. I assure you, he will want you to tell him if you like or do not like something, and it will be very important that you do so. You must listen to his feelings on the matter as well. In the beginning, it will be natural for you to allow Richard to take the lead and guide you. Later, when you feel emboldened to do so, you may begin to initiate intimacy yourself, and to take the lead exploring aspects of it that you are curious about.”
“Lizzy, that sounds frightfully bold and embarrassing!” Mary shrieked, hiding her face in her pillow.
“It does indeed, my dear and especially for a gentle girl such as yourself, but you and your husband will find your way together. Soon you will learn not to be embarrassed at all with him. You will likely never wish to speak to me, nor anyone else of this again, especially not after your wedding night, but I predict that after a time, you will become frightfully bold with your husband. That is as it should be in a loving and happy marriage. But if there does come a time when you wish for advice or someone to speak to, you may always approach me privately. I will always be here if you need to talk, and our Aunt Gardiner can be a blessing of advice as well.”
Elizabeth then gave Mary some information about the signs that would tell her when she fell with child, so that if they presented themselves, Mary would know what they meant, but assured her that not all women fell with child instantly, and that she should not become concerned for at least several years if it did not immediately happen for her.
Mary thanked her sister. “Lizzy, you have been so good to me. I do not feel I deserve it. You changed my life, and none of this would have happened if you had not taken me away from Longbourn.”
“You changed your life yourself when you found the courage to ask to come live with me, and I am so glad that you did,” Elizabeth insisted. “Now, I would like to share a secret with you. Will and I have told no one, and will not make an announcement until the wedding day has completely passed. You may share the news with Richard once you are away. Will and I are expecting a child in January.”
“I thought you seemed a little different the last few months. Your entire morning schedule changed, and you stopped riding your horses. I thought it was the demands of the season,” exclaimed Mary. “I am exceedingly happy to be an aunt over again. You will need help next year. How are you to bring out Kitty and Georgiana next season if you are recently recovered from birth and are nursing?”
“It will be the nursing that makes it most difficult, if nothing else,” Elizabeth said wryly. “I cannot think how I shall manage balls when I am leaking every few hours, but we shall think of something. Lady Matlock will present Georgiana, and I shall present Kitty, or perhaps you can present her. Arabella is presenting Anne. Perhaps they can all share a ball at Matlock House, and I can avoid too much entertaining. I am sure you and Richard will come to London and help, and perhaps Jane can also assist in escorting Kitty to events.”
“You are going to ask Jane for help?” Mary inquired dubiously. “ I cannot imagine that being helpful, but I cannot stop you. I hope she is kind in her answer at least. I will never understand how you are so cynical to most of the ways of the world and still be so naive when it comes to Jane.” The ladies bid each other good night, and Elizabeth left her sister with a glass of brandy to dull her nerves and hopefully help her sleep.