Page 22 of Ever After End

CHAPTER 21

E ver After End

Near Glastonbury

2 June, 1812

Dear Uncle Edward,

I write to assure you of our comfort at Ever After End. The gentlemen, what we have so far seen of them, have behaved with propriety, and the chaperones are quite friendly and amusing. Mary and I walked out this morning of course, and we were accompanied by Captain Lytton and Mr Cartwright. Pardon my saying so, but if a proposal were to come from Mr Cartwright, I could not possibly accept. After a walk of one and a half hours, I could now build my very own steam engine! I fear that despite my appetite for edification, I lack the proper enthusiasm for his career, though I am certain that someone here will suit him.

I know you did not beg the favour, but I asked Mrs Darlington if there was any place that a city gentleman at leisure such as yourself might enjoy some fishing hereabouts, and she has offered for you to fish in her river. There is a location where the river runs quite close to the road, where her border meets with that of a place called Folly Farm. Some tackle accompanies this note, and Mrs Darlington advises you to have Mr Atkins at the inn send you with a boy to show you the location. If you must waste time sitting around in the country, you ought to have a treat, particularly considering that you are the very best uncle in all of the world.

Hoping you enjoy the delights of leisure,

Your Lizzy

The afternoon of shuttlecock on the green was, as Mrs Darlington promised, the perfect way to spend the day after so many hours and days of travelling. Elizabeth got to know most of the other guests, some quite as well as she wished to. As women with property, Elizabeth and Jane received a great deal of male attention. Even a modest freehold house in London was a great asset to have, and while it may not be the equal of some dowries, Elizabeth’s fifteen thousand was an extremely respectable portion. Jane’s future inheritance of an estate of two thousand a year was even more attractive, even without Jane’s beauty. Jane’s beauty was, however, very much present, and blooming as usual, so most of the men spent the day flocking about her.

Elizabeth and Mary enjoyed their share of male attention. Elizabeth, from Mr Cartwright, Mr Brentwood, and Mr Mercer. Mary, from Colonel Gordon and Captain Lytton. Lord Chesley, Mr Pemberton, Mr Fletcher and Mr Whittaker all buzzed around Jane like bees, while the remaining men did not select any particular quarry, only joined the others on the green for good-natured exercise and frivolity.

After playing for over an hour, Elizabeth sat to rest on a blanket for a moment. Perhaps ten feet behind her were Miss Winslow and Miss Blackwood, resting on another blanket with Miss Crawford, Miss Bertram, and Mr Elwood. “I heard the most peculiar thing about Miss Bennet … though I am certain it is only idle talk,” said Miss Winslow.

“Do tell!” exclaimed Miss Blackwood .

“I heard she paid the fifty pounds because she is in trouble , and must marry!” continued Miss Winslow in a hushed tone.

“From who?” Elizabeth said loudly behind the little party, making Miss Winslow jump nearly out of her skin.

“I beg your pardon?” asked Miss Winslow.

“I asked from whom you heard the scurrilous lie about my sister, Miss Winslow,” Elizabeth demanded with a completely straight face.

“Oh… I- I’ve quite forgotten,” stammered Miss Winslow, knowing she had been caught out, and in front of the others too.

“You ought to forget the rest of it then, as well. Unless you wish to claim yourself as the source.” Elizabeth stood and shook out her skirts. “You should just be patient. I have been Jane’s sister all of my life, and she has always been this beautiful. She can only be courted properly by one man at a time, and I assure you, my sister is always proper. She will make her preference known in due course, and the gentlemen will disperse to other ladies. They always do. You have no need to be spiteful. She is a kind person, and cannot help her looks.”

“Hear, hear,” said Miss Crawford, rising and going over to Elizabeth, followed by her friend Miss Bertram. “Miss Elizabeth, have you seen the folly on the other side of the garden? It is simply delightful!” She linked arms with Elizabeth, and along with Miss Bertram, they left the others.

“I do applaud your defence of your sister, Miss Elizabeth. I have known a few pairs of sisters in my time, and not many are as loyal as you,” said Miss Crawford as the three ladies made their way around the garden to the folly.

“I know my sister was never so loyal,” said Miss Bertram. “ My sister had to have the best prize for her husband, because she was the eldest, the most beautiful, and had the best dowry. Mine was only half of hers. Then to make it all worse, she could not be content with the kind and vastly rich husband she had. She would take every prize. Instead of being happy with her lot, she panicked that the more dashing suitor paid court to me after her nuptials, and she had to take him too! She was willing to ruin us all in order to have every man for herself. They never even thought, the pair of them, that they were even harming not only me, but also poor Mary.”

“Jane could never behave like that,” Elizabeth insisted. “She truly is an angel. She would never harm another or even speak unkindly, and I will defend her with my last breath against anyone.”

“You are so fortunate to have such a sister,” said Miss Crawford. “Are the others all as amiable? I understand that there are five of you.”

“Well, none of us could be considered as good and kind as Jane, but all the same, Mary has her merits,” mused Elizabeth. “She used to be rather pedantic, though in recent months, she puts more effort into being amiable. She is certainly kind, though in a different manner than Jane. Mary has greater expectations of her fellow man, and is more likely to see the imperfections of others. My other two sisters are good girls, but they are full young, and have much growing up to do.”

“Have you found a gentleman that you like here yet?” asked Miss Bertram.

Elizabeth laughed. “Hardly. A few of the gentlemen have made themselves agreeable, but I am certain I could not make any selection so soon. We know only what is practical about them so far, nothing about their characters.”

“I agree with you completely, but I would not object to more notice from Mr Mercer,” observed Miss Crawford.

Elizabeth gave another peal of laughter. “It is a good thing that we all appreciate different qualities, or we would be at one another’s throats. I think the gentleman talks far too much.”

The three ladies explored the folly and gardens thoroughly, and by the time they returned to the others, were fast friends.