Page 9 of Moments Frozen in Time (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
“There is much to be gained from books, Lydia,” I replied.
“Whilst not all novels are what we ought to model ourselves after, for some of them are rather scandalous, there are still lessons we can learn from most. Perhaps if we were to read some together after supper and discuss them as a family, or at least between us sisters, we could talk about what makes some of the characters good examples and some less so.”
Although Lydia did not seem terribly excited about the idea, she did appear somewhat willing. She suggested that we do so in the same sitting room where we had met the previous night and not in the presence of our parents, and she asked, “Can we… might we keep it between our sisters?”
Her voice was softer than I had ever heard it before, and I was surprised by its intensity.
“Of course,” I immediately agreed. “We can retire a little early, all of us, and even take turns reading if you like.”
“No, I think I would prefer hearing you read,” Lydia said immediately, “or maybe Jane, but definitely not Mary. I have heard you read before when our cousins are here, and at least you add the voices and other things.”
I smiled at her. “Of course,” I said again. “That is more easily done with children’s stories, but I will try to do my best to read the stories we select. We can also read some poetry and other types of books as well. Perhaps some Shakespeare? ”
Lydia grimaced. “No Fordyce though, right? I know that is one of Mary’s favourite texts, but she has quoted it often enough that I cannot imagine ever enjoying hearing something from that .”
Drawing in a breath, I attempted to be careful in my response.
“Fordyce has his place, and I know that Mary enjoys studying his essays, but I agree, it would not make for very interesting reading as a group. There are portions of it, however, that are relevant and might be worthy of discussion, even if our purpose is to explain how we disagree with his point. Perhaps you and I could take some time to choose a passage that we can discuss with our other sisters.”
Lydia turned to look at me, the confusion plainly written on her face. “You would wish to do that?”
For a moment, I closed my eyes as I considered how to answer.
“It occurred to me last night that the five of us used to spend more time together in years past. Take evenings like last night, for instance—before you and Kitty came out, we would all gather in Jane’s and my sitting room after returning from an event to tell the two of you about it.
Now that you attend such events as well, we have stopped doing that, and for the life of me, I cannot say why.
Last night was enjoyable, was it not?” I asked.
Lydia nodded. “It was fun to talk things over together,” she admitted just before the rest caught up with us. We walked into the lending library, and even Lydia appeared interested as she looked for a book to read together in the evenings.
For about an hour, we perused the shelves, discussing several different books that we might like to read together, and then each of us selected an additional book for our own reading.
Mr. Johnson, the man who ran the lending library, never minded bending the rules that allowed each customer to take one book at a time, at least not for me.
He knew that I would return the books in the same condition they left his shop.
To my surprise, Lydia had forgotten about her desire to visit any other shops.
We still walked side by side on our return, but astonishing me, Lydia actually opened the book and was reading as we returned home.
It was a novel I had read before, and I knew the characters in the story would give Lydia and me much to discuss, but, still, I was shocked at her apparent interest.
It occurred to me that I had not given my youngest sisters very much attention in the last several years, and I wondered if all they had needed was for one of us to pay them some attention.
Lydia did stop once or twice to ask a question, and a few times I had to redirect her to keep her from stumbling, but the return home was far quieter than the trip there.
When we arrived at home, we went to our rooms to put our books away. Mama had insisted that we join her in her favourite sitting room, so Jane and I gathered our sewing things and hurried down the stairs.
Again, I was surprised when both Kitty and Lydia returned not only with their sewing baskets but also the books they had selected from the library. As Mama talked, I watched the two of them take turns reading from one of the novels whilst the other sewed.
I glanced at Jane, who was concentrating on her sewing as she responded to our mother, before looking at Mary, who was sitting near Kitty and Lydia and appeared to be listening to them carefully. After a moment, I moved closer to Mary and began engaging her in conversation.
A short time later, Lady Lucas called, along with Charlotte and her younger daughter, Maria. Maria immediately joined Kitty and Lydia whilst Charlotte came to sit near me. Jane stood to give Lady Lucas her seat near Mama, and she joined Mary and me.
“Do my eyes deceive me, or are your youngest sisters reading a book?” Charlotte asked, glancing between them and me.
“They are,” I said. “Your sister mentioned a novel to Kitty last night, and when I suggested we visit the lending library today, she wanted to find the book. I believe she did, and they are now both anxious to read and discuss it together.”
Charlotte looked at me with a raised brow. “There has to be more to it than that,” she said with a knowing look. “Surely Maria has mentioned other books before last night, but they have never been so anxious to read one before.”
I shrugged. “I will admit that I suggested to Lydia that it would make her a more interesting companion if she had something to speak about beyond the weather and fashion. But in truth, it required very little prodding. I am ashamed to admit that I think that she needed only a little encouragement. We will begin reading books together, my sisters and I, and discussing them in the evenings.”
Seeing Charlotte’s brows raise even further on her forehead nearly made me laugh. “Truly?” she asked.
Mary nodded. “We used to meet in Lizzy and Jane’s sitting room after events, but once Kitty and Lydia were out, we stopped the routine.
We met again last night, and I think that our youngest sisters appreciated it.
I vaguely recall our grandmother encouraging us all to learn from each other before she died, and it occurred to me last night that we had not done a very good job.
It seems that Lizzy had a similar thought, for when I went to visit her last night after the assembly, she suggested that we start again. ”
Charlotte appeared surprised by this. “I remember your grandmother and how much time she spent with you and Jane, Lizzy,” she said after a moment.
“Your sisters, as well as mine, could benefit from more attention from their elder sisters, and I will have to implement something similar with Maria. Now, let us talk about last evening.”
She turned to look at Jane, who had not spoken since she joined us. “You did very well last night, dancing twice with Mr. Bingley. He paid you a considerable amount of attention for a new acquaintance.”
Jane nodded. “He did,” she said in a near whisper. “He seems to be a very kind man, and I did like him. ”
“Your mother is telling mine that she expects to have the two of you married before Christmas,” Charlotte said, watching Jane’s reaction. To none of our surprise, Jane smiled slightly whilst her entire face bloomed bright red.
“I wish she would not,” she admitted. “I do like Mr. Bingley, but I know practically nothing about him. I cannot say what kind of man he is, except to say that he is pleasant in company and enjoys dancing.”
Charlotte agreed with this, and then she turned to me. “I was astonished that Mr. Darcy danced with the three of us last night,” she said, making sure she was speaking quietly enough that neither of our mothers could hear. “What did you say to him when the two of you spoke together?”
I laughed. “Less than you might think. Mr. Bingley offered to introduce us, and I truly believed that Mr. Darcy was going to decline the introduction. He paused for a moment but then reminded his friend that he had told him before they arrived that he had no intention to dance, having just arrived that afternoon. However, he agreed to the introduction and asked if we could simply talk instead of dance. What changed between that first introduction and his decision to ask the three of us to dance, I am unsure. I was as surprised as you when he asked.”
Turning to Mary, I said, “I apologise that I did not suggest he dance with you as well, but I knew you had danced once or twice already, and you prefer not to dance very often, just enough so that Mama cannot complain.”
Mary waved off my apology. “It does not matter, Lizzy. You are right that I do not care to dance, and Mr. Darcy probably should not have danced with three Bennets in the same evening, at least not without dancing with several other young ladies as well.” She indicated their mother.
“She has quite enough to say about Jane dancing with both gentlemen, although I think that she ignores the fact that both you and Charlotte also danced with them. ”
“Ahh, but Mr. Bingley danced with Jane twice, setting her apart from the rest of us,” Charlotte said with a laugh.
“If either gentleman were to seek a bride in this area, I cannot imagine either would be interested in me. I think that Jane would do well to win Mr. Bingley, but from what little I know of Mr. Darcy, he will marry some titled lady and not the daughter of a mere country gentleman or even the daughter of a lowly knight despite what our mothers may think.”
I laughed at my friend’s joke, and though I suspected she was right—having entertained the very same thought myself earlier—a quiet sadness still crept into my heart at her words.