The carriage bumped and jostled as she traveled southward. Four men and two women were bundled in the tiny cab along with Lydia and her two sons. How they managed to all fit Lydia did not know. But somehow, even with the stench of bodies, she found their present comforting, even if it was because of the heat their proximity provided.
She had bartered and sold the ring, for barely half of its real value if she guessed correctly. It was just enough to buy fare for herself and George and Henry. That very day Lydia took her sons wrapped in blankets away from their tiny hovel and waited in the snow for the passing carriage. As it was winter and right after Christmas, a seat in the post was difficult to come by. She talked to the carriage driver down as far as he would go, seeing the desperate state of affairs for the poor girl, but it still used most of the money she had received just that morning.
She had thanked the man and planned for a long journey. When Lydia and Wickham first traveled to the North Country it took them almost three days to reach their destination, but that was in the summer with a light carriage and fast horses. This time they had neither; the carriage weighed down with people, snow on the ground, and slow but steady mules. No, this time it may be five to six days before reaching Longborn. She hoped and prayed it would not be so long.
Maybe her plan was a foolish one, but there was no place left to turn, no place she and her sons could be safe. Perhaps, Lydia thought, perhaps she should have left, should have returned long ago. Maybe even before little George had been born, but the desire to prove herself, to prove to her sisters and her father that even though it may have been foolish, it had been right. That he had loved her.
She shook her head, trying to rid it of thoughts of him. Her eyes burned for a moment with tears that she desperately wanted to hide. She rubbed roughly at her eyes and decided that however it played out, however long it took, going home to Mother and Kitty… and Father was her only hope left.
She glanced down as Henry slept peacefully against her breast and little George distractedly played with a loose string connected to Lydia's dress. She did not worry too much for herself, but for the children it would be a very long journey. The distance was only a small concern, but the hunger. Lydia knew hunger and could endure it; it was the children she worried for. Even with all her efforts they had never been completely satisfied, but had never truly been hungry either, she had half a loaf of bread and if she rationed sparingly, it would only last them three days. With a sigh Lydia reached down and plucked the string from her dress giving it to George. Ruffling his curls, she pressed his cheek to her shoulder, encouraging him to sleep. Night would be upon them soon and most of the warmth would leave with the sun. Wrapping the thin blankets more snuggly around them she settled in for a long journey.
another chapter. Its been a while, I know. But Im always thinking about her and her struggles and life after the end of PP. I still have a ton of chapters I need to type up, but half the story has been written. So if you're willing to be patient- thank you.
And thank you so much for the encouragement and reviews. I really, really appreciate them. Have a good summer (but dont worry, I'll update sooner rather than latter)