Writing with a quill was easier once you got used to it. I could get almost an entire sentence in before I had to get more ink. I blew on the letter and waited for the wet spots to dry before flipping it over and writing Mandy's address on the back. I had memorized it on the flight to Portland so I wouldn't get lost on the way there.
Some help that did.
I went through the door Jane had disappeared to and found myself in a narrow hallway with a few doors on each side. One of the last ones on the left was slightly ajar, and I heard voices coming from inside. Recognizing one of them as Lizzie's, I approached it, prepare to go inside.
"Absolutely not!" The older woman's voice rose suddenly, stopping me just before the door.
"But Mamá," Lizzie said in a much calmer tone, "did you see how she was dressed? Or how she spoke, or how she was acting? She's obviously not from here, she knows nothing about her surroundings. We can't just send her away."
"Of course we can, this is my home, isn't it?" The woman retorted.
I pressed to the side of the door and listened closer. It was obvious they were trying to decide what to do with me.
"Besides, as Lizzie pointed out, she has no idea what she's doing. Imagine what would happen if we were seen in public with her! A foreign girl with no manners or knowledge of society hanging about with our family? We will be the laughingstock of town! We must turn her out as quickly as possible, before she is seen with us."
"But Mamá, where would she go?" Jane's soft voice joined the conversation.
"Why, she can stay at the inn at Meryton until she receives a response to her letter. She can do what she pleases from there."
"Mamá," Lizzie's voice turned patient. "You don't think she will talk to others?"
Silence. She continued. "She has already ridden with Jane and I, both Charlotte and her driver were witnesses to that. Charlotte has already left for home. As soon as they get to Lucas Lodge she will be telling everyone there about it. They will be spreading news for certain. And the girl has been inside our house, received our aid, and is now sending a letter from our estate. And if the town sees our carriage taking her to the inn, especially dressed the way she is, it will only add to the gossip."
Their mother didn't seem to have a response for that. Lizzie finished her point, "Its too late to pretend we don't know her. Either we go your route and all of Meryton becomes suspicious of something strange going on. Or..."
"Or what?" The mother snapped impatiently.
"Or, we keep her here." Lizzie suggested. "We can teach her about life until we feel she is fit to come out with us. We will make excellent teachers, I promise. We will have to make up a story about her too, make her some distant relation who has come to visit. That way no one will question her staying with us, and after we teach her about life here, no one will suspect a thing."
There was a pause before the mother spoke again. "Fine," she gave up. "But she is sleeping in your room. Lydia, Kitty and Mary are already sharing one between them, so you will have to make room in yours. And she is only staying until she gets a response to her letter, that is all. No longer."
"Of course," Jane agreed.
"No longer," Lizzie repeated.
Their mother sighed. "I suppose I should go tell your father about these new plans. Lizzie, go find our guest and see if she had finished yet. And take that wax with you, she should be ready by now."
I didn't hear the rest of her instructions. The mom didn't seem to like me already, things would be worse if they found me eavesdropping. I made my way as quietly as I could back to the dining room and sat down at my place, trying to act natural. Lizzie walked in a few moments later as I pretended to be reading over my letter, her bonnet gone to reveal her dark hair in a bun with her bangs framing her face. She smiled and held out her hand for the parchment.
"We had a talk and made some plans," she said as she set down the small bowl she was holding and began carefully folding the letter. "You're welcome to stay here until your reply from your friend comes. Whatever you need we will do our best to provide you with."
"Thank you, that's very kind," I said politely, trying to act like this was new information. "I appreciate your generosity."
"I'm afraid we don't have enough space to give you your own room, so you'll have to share with Jane and I. I'm sure we have some clothes that would fit you, too if you want them." She held the letter flat on the table and carefully poured the warm wax over the fold, sealing the letter. A small stamp stood in the corner of the desk, and after pressing the rubber end into the wax she placed it in a bowl of water also on the desk. Red wax floated off the stamp to the surface as she waved the letter to dry it. She gave me a thoughtful look, and after a moment asked, "What do you call those?"
"Um..." I looked down at my pants. "Jeans?"
She nodded thoughtfully, though that perplexed look was still in her eyes. "Is this what you usually wear then?"
"More or less."
Another nod, though this one was a bit more determined. "We will have teach you then," she said. She placed the now dry letter on the writing desk and beckoned me to follow her.