Little bit more this morning but now have to rush off. Sorry.
More to come tonight. Hope you have a lovely one.
While Vince rejoiced over Nathan Wickham's departure, he found little other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their parties abroad were less varied than before; and at home he had a mother and sister whose constant repinings at the dulness of every thing around them threw a real gloom over their domestic circle. Mary had become engrossed in a new subject of study and often forgot to attend meals if not reminded and led to the table by either Vince or Jane and Jane herself was in low spirits and confided to Vince that she worried that, without the regiment and no one attending the manor house, their likelihood of forming any attachments that might lead to marriage were decidedly slim.
"I shall end up a spinster at this rate, Vince," she confided morosely. "And then you shall have two sisters to provide for."
"I would not mind at all," he smiled, pulling her close enough that she could rest her head upon his shoulder as they sat together at the window seat, gazing out at the rain.
"I would only be saddened by it because I know that you wish so greatly to be married. But do not fear. We shall find you a man who is in appearance the very image of Mr Bingley and with all of his fine features of personality, but with none of his forgetfulness of spirit."
"Do not tease me, Vince," she replied lightly. "It is not polite. If you continue I shall begin to ask you, in company, whether you ever did find Venus."
Vince chuckled but left her be.
"If you could come with the Gardiners and I to the north it would be a fine thing."
"But then who would remember to fetch Mary at meal times and instruct her to eat?"
They both laughed at that.
"I shall be fine, Vince," Jane assured him. "Some quiet will do me a great deal of good I am sure, and Mary promises to show me her books when she has made her own sense of them."
"Well, that sounds riveting."
"You are teasing again, Vince. It is not becoming."
"I am not a young lady, Jane. I do not care if my behaviour is becoming. I am not seeking to attract a young officer or rich gentleman."
"So you say."
"And now who is teasing, might I ask?"
"I am simply rehearsing for my days as a spinster ensconced in the corner of your drawing room."
They continued to watch the rain as it pounded the lawn and drummed upon the window and Vince wondered if summer would ever come, or if they were doomed to live in a world of grey and rain.
Summer did come, as summer always does, despite the inconstancy of spring, and soon enough Vince had designed and sewed himself a new wardrobe and a letter had arrived from his aunt detailing their summer excursion to the north. He began to assume his usual cheerful countenance and his father commented that it would be a shame to lose him so soon after he had recovered himself but Vince could not help but look forward to the holiday.
"You do know there is a likelihood of your seeing Mr Darcy in Yorkshire, Vince?" Jane asked as she watched him pack his clothing carefully in his trunk.
"Surely not," Vince scoffed. "Mary showed me a map of the county and it is the largest in England. We shall be miles from his estate I am sure of it and, even if we were to draw close to it, Howard... Mr Darcy, spends all of his time in London, saving the occasional visit to his aunt. We shall be quite safe."
"Do you want to be safe?" Mary asked from her position on his bed, her nose still firmly in her book.
"Do not ask such questions, Mary," Jane scolded. "It is not fair on him. Things between Vince and Mr Darcy drew to their logical conclusion and the matter was closed. They parted as acquaintances, did you not, Vince?"
"We did, and it is best to stay as such. He is preparing himself to wed Miss de Bourgh by now and I am sure I am quite forgotten."
"Find yourself a handsome poet then," Mary's voice came from behind her book. "They are more open to the possibilities of human love, I have read."
"They are also more likely to have the pox."
"What is life without risk?"
"Jane, Mary is teasing me. Tell her she must stop."
"She is rehearsing as well, for the days when we shall be your constant, spinster companions. You know that, Vince."
"Then I shall ask you to please rehearse somewhere else," Vince opened the door with mock severity and his sisters left him to pack his trunk in peace and reflect on the troubling issue of whether he should pack both pairs of black boots, or just the one pair. An hour later he decided on both.