Chapter 5

Road to London, January 3, 1812

Elizabeth reached over and tucked the carriage rug more securely around her sleeping father. It was a cold day and he did not look well.

Leaning back in her own seat, she relaxed. She was very glad to be heading back to London. It would certainly be good for Papa. The comforts of his laboratories would ease his body as well as his mind.

She winced to remember how she had contributed to his discomfort. Still, she could not regret bringing it up. Someone had to do something about Kitty and Lydia. Especially Lydia. And then there were the hedgerows.

Unfortunately, the conversation, if you could call it that, had only left Elizabeth more agitated and confused. She had started with her concerns about the younger girls.

"Papa, did you know that Lydia is already out? She is only just fifteen. Even worse, she has an unguarded and imprudent manner. I am afraid she is openly flirtatious, and her clothes." looking down with a blush, Lizzy continued. "Her necklines are scandalously low."

Father had laughed! "So, Fanny lives and breathes all over again."

"Father!"

Henry waved her away, but Lizzy did not relent.

"Father, Kitty follows where ever Lydia leads. You must somehow check them or this will end in ruin and disgrace."

To Elizabeth's dismay, she saw her father turn into the frightened rabbit that she had so often seen when they were in company. He was a painfully shy man. Even in Royal Society company, he would often flee. And women. He was terrified to be around women unless they were close family. Even then, it was chancy. But he had always been completely at ease when he and Elizabeth were alone. Until right now.

He fidgeted, looked at the door, the walls, the floor. Anywhere except Elizabeth. Then, he made a sudden, high pitched shriek and headed for the door. She heard him mumbling on his way out. "Been used." "Philips." "Gardiner."

It had been three days before Henry appeared downstairs again and another three days before he relaxed a little.

Elizabeth was anything but satisfied. However, she would not bring up again her sisters or her mother. Well, she would, but not until Papa was rested, well and relaxed. But what had he meant? Why did he say "Been used." And was he mumbling about Uncle Phillips and Uncle Gardiner? What had they to do with it?"

Elizabeth was grateful that they had talked about Longbourn's tenants before she had brought up Lydia. Elizabeth had been completely satisfied with that conversation.

It had not upset her father. In fact, he had been appalled at the condition of the tenants and the estate. "Of course they should have seed to plant, access to horses to till, and roofs that do not leak. Do what you need to. Find someone better to run it." Here he had paused, thoughtful for a moment. "If you have time, you better look at the other estates, too. Petrie is a good man, but he is in the law. Do not know if they think about tenants. We cannot have little children cold and hungry."

"Other estates?" thought Elizabeth. Never mind that for now. She could have cheered. Papa had just given her control. Petrie may grumble, but he would let her at the books. He would abide her orders, too. Finally, after all these years, she could really help their people. From what her father had just said, there were a lot more tenants to worry about than just those at Longbourn.

She had a lot more questions, but Petrie would be able to answer them. She would make him lay everything out.

Elizabeth had known that Papa would be kind. He always was kind and generous, IF you brought up someone's need and IF you explicitly asked for his help. He was not going to think of anything on his own, except for his science.

But this just made the business with her mother and sisters even more troublesome.

Elizabeth bit her lip. She had wanted to get permission to send the girls to a school, or at least to install a strict governess. And she wanted the truth of this hedgerows business.

"Cousin Will." Wills was now truly the head of this family. Surely he would help her figure this out.

Once he could tolerate her company again.

Closing her eyes, she smiled to herself. She would settle things with him. And working with the tenants and estates would be much more pleasurable than preparing for a season.

Relaxing, she began to doze off when an image appeared in her mind. Her eyes flew open. "Mr. Darcy! Whatever is he doing here?"