After several days of incessant rain, Lizzie finally had some crops ready for harvest. In exchange for those and her fishing and foraging spoils, Lizzie had received a good chunk of change which she invested back into her farm promptly. She expanded her assortment of crops and even knocked together a sad, drooping scarecrow after seeing a crow eating one of her potatoes. Since the rain removed the need to water her crops, Lizzie had time to explore more of Hertfordshire and meet several more villagers. Over in Kent Woods, Lizzie had the chance to meet Mrs. Lucas, who sold farm animals out of Lucas Lodge. Within five minutes of meeting her, Mrs. Lucas had opened up to Lizzie about her ex-husband, Sir Lucas (whom she had married and divorced twice), their three children (adults Charlotte and John and the younger Mariah), and her dear nephew George. After her fifth iteration of why Sir Lucas was a worthless pile of dog doo, Mariah joined them to ask for tea. Mariah seemed to be a boisterous, dark-haired child of 8 or 9. She wore a purple dress that reminded Lizzie of the old-fashioned pieces girls wore in the 1800s and her hair was pulled back into pigtails with green ribbons. This introduction moved Mrs. Lucas into a discourse on her daughter's beauty and how she would be sure to win the pageant she was enrolled in. Lizzie also met her nephew George Wickham, who according to Mrs. Lucas was poorly treated by the military and 'they don't deserve him anyway.' Lizzie felt that George could have been rather handsome if he were cleaned up and shaved. And if he weren't carrying around a beer can like a child with a favored teddy bear. He kept going on about how everything wrong in his life was someone else's fault. She wasn't sure who this Fitzwilliam was, but she was pretty sure he couldn't have forced George to join the military. At first, she thought he might have PTSD from his service and that was why he seemed so depressed, but Mrs. Lucas indicated that he hadn't left London during his time in. She hoped to find out more about him later, but didn't want to pry too much.
Charlotte Lucas was an adult, a few years younger than John and a few years older than her. She lived in Purvis Lodge, also in Kent Woods. She and Lizzie became fast friends, exchanging phone numbers and talking about their interests. Charlotte happily showed Lizzie some of her artwork and even showed her some of the best places to forage for berries or roots. She entreated Lizzie to come to the bar with them to hang out, so Lizzie was planning to go Saturday night after her work was done for the day.
In town, she had the chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Bingley and their young son, Denny. They also told her of their other son, Charles, who was in college and their daughter Caroline, who lived next door with her roommate. She met with Mrs. Phillips and her daughter Mary, who both lived in a trailer by the river. The Bingley's and Mrs. Phillips were of a different generation, but Mary seemed of an age with her. Mary had red hair and freckles, and her mother bemoaned her plain looks and the fact that she wasn't married, even though she couldn't be more than 20 years old. Lizzie was used to hearing this about herself from her own mother, so she empathized with Mary. She was a quiet girl, but at least willing to speak with Lizzie when greeted. Lizzie hoped to get to know her better. Mrs. Phillips also told her more about the blacksmith. He was a retired colonel, Col Forster, who was grumpy with everyone, not just her. He would work well enough with her if she started mining or came in to get her tools fixed up, but until then he would pretty much ignore her.
She was introduced quite properly to Mrs. Catherine Deborough, who William had mentioned, her daughter Anne, and her nephew Col Fitzwilliam. Mrs. Deborough was in a wheel-chair, and seemed quite put out over Lizzie's clothes. Apparently, she expected young girls to dress properly in dresses. She also questioned Lizzie on-end about her accomplishments with musical instruments and drawing. Mrs. Deborough was further put-out when Lizzie told her she had no musical or artistic skills and wasn't the slightest bit interested in gaining them. Anne was a sweet woman, a few years older than Lizzie, but quiet as a mouse. She welcomed Lizzie to the neighborhood in a voice that could barely be heard and spent the rest of the conversation nodding to everything her mother said. Col Fitzwilliam was more put out by the rain than by anything. He was home on medical leave, but didn't care for being stuck in the house. He kept tossing a football around, even though Mrs. Deborough scolded him each time.
She met Dr. Johnson at the clinic and found out that Georgiana also worked there after school. She seemed a little more willing to talk to her there, and they soon found out they had similar tastes in music. They also exchanged phone numbers and Georgie, as she asked to be called, promised to come visit Lizzie's farm on her day off.
As she was buying seeds from the Gardiners, she was able to meet their daughter Lydia. Lydia stood out with her purple hair and long-dangling earrings. She was wild and loud. But also, happy. Lizzie had never met someone so satisfied with just living.
The only other thing of import that happened during the days of rain, was receiving a note from Sir Lucas. He told her the landslide on the old mine road was cleared. He mentioned an abandoned mine that he thought she would be interested in. Lizzie wasn't too sure about that. She was a farmer, not a miner. Why would she want to explore an old mine?
It was with great trepidation that Lizzie walked into the Meryton Inn and Bar on Saturday night. She had already met quite a few of the town's inhabitants, but tonight, they would all be in one place. Lizzie wasn't sure if she really wanted to jump into the fray so early in her stay. However, her courage always rises, so in she walked.
As soon as she passed into the bar, Lizzie was engulfed in the hoppy smell of warm beer. Chatter from tables to her left and right converged into one giant mumble, while the twangy sound of a particular kind of music wafted over from the jukebox. Everyone became quiet once they noticed her, and it was all Lizzie could do to keep walking forward self-consciously.
"Hello dear," the woman from behind the bar broke the silence. "Are you here for a drink?"
"Yes please," Lizzie answered, sitting down on a barstool. "Just a soda for now, coke."
"Of course, not a problem." The woman filled a glass with ice and soda and handed it to her. "I'm Hill of course. Lucinda Hill, but everyone just calls me Hill. You must be Elizabeth, or is it Lizzie?"
"Just Lizzie is fine."
Lizzie looked around as she sipped her drink. The bar was mostly filled with the older generation. She saw the Darcys in one corner, Sir Lucas and Mrs. Lucas were at another table talking. She noticed the blacksmith and Mrs. Phillips each at their own table, while Mr. Bingley and Mr. Gardiner sat together playing cards. The only person her own age seemed to be George Wickham, who sat at the bar nursing a beer. She waved to him, but he looked away.
"Yes, it is rather an older crowd," said Hill, guessing her thoughts. "You should go over to the pool room, that's where the young folk hang out nowadays."
Suddenly, Hill called out loudly, "Kitty!"
A girl with blue hair came out from a door behind the bar carrying a large box. When she put the box down, Lizzie could see amber eyes set into a heart-shaped face. Her hair was cropped short and put together in one of those "fashionably-messy" styles. She didn't look old enough to drink, much less serve alcohol, but Lizzie wasn't about to question her on her age.
"Yes, Hill?" The girl replied.
"Take Lizzie here over to the pool room and introduce her to everyone. She doesn't need to hang out here with us old fogies."
"Of course, no problem," said Kitty. Then to Lizzie she said, "Hi, my name is Catherine Gardiner, but everyone calls me Kitty. I think you've met my parents and sister, they told me all about you. I was hoping to meet you soon. I'm really busy during the day. I'm designing my own clothing line. And of course, I work here at nights. I'm really glad you showed up. Did Hill get you a drink? Yes, I see that she did. Well, follow me. I'll introduce you to everyone. My sister is here tonight, and my roommate. So are the younger Lucases. Well, except for Mariah. She is too young. She stays with Anne when her mom comes here."
Kitty kept talking to Lizzie as she followed her over to a room Lizzie hadn't noticed before off to the side of the bar. She definitely liked to talk, and Lizzie could see the similarities to her sister Lydia. They both wore the same sort of clothing and jewelry and both had died hair. As they walked in the side room, Lizzie saw several couches on the sides of the room and a large pool table filling up the middle. John and Charlotte Lucas were busy playing pool. Lydia seemed to be watching them play. Another woman stood near a couple of arcade games watching Charles and another man play.
"Charlotte, John, did you guys meet Lizzie yet. I know you met her Liddie." Both the Lucases answered in the affirmative, while Lizzie confirmed having met them earlier in the day. Kitty kept speaking. "Charlotte and John have been coming here for ages. They are very good at pool. Liddie just started, she's not old enough to drink yet, but Hill lets her come as long as she doesn't get any alcohol."
Lydia gave her sister a dirty look.
"Do you want to play a game?" Charlotte asked her.
"I'd love to," Lizzie said.
"No, not yet, I have to introduce her to everyone else. Hill said so." Kitty waved Lizzie to follow her over to the arcade games.
"This is my roommate, Caroline Bingley. We all call her Caro. And that is her brother Charlie playing Stardew Valley: Monster Miner. The person beside him playing Slime Attack is Fitzwilliam Darcy. His sister is the same age as Lydia, but Darcy says she can't come because she is too young."
Caroline looked up from watching Fitzwilliam Darcy play. "How quaint. A farmer. Don't you think you should have changed before coming?"
Lizzie smiled sweetly at Caroline, "Oh but I did, these are my Saturday clothes. They only have about half as much manure on them as my work clothes do."
Caroline huffed and turned back to watching the game. At that moment, Charlie seemed to lose his game and turned around. "Sorry about that, I was on my last life. Nice to meet you. I'm impressed that you can drop everything and come out her to start a farm. I could never do that. I live in town with my parents while I'm going to college. The most we've ever had is a flower garden."
Lizzie smiled more genuinely at Charlie. He was much more amiable than his sister. His sister seemed rather stuck-up. "We never really had more than a flower garden either," she replied. "But, I did come here for a few summers with my grandpa and I've been doing a lot of reading. I hope I can make a real go of it."
"I think I remember you. You used to come out with your sister. She was very pretty. We never played much though."
"No, we mostly stayed with my grandpa who preferred to stay on the farm. I'm happy to come to town more often. I would get bored to be by myself all the time. Hopefully, I can get the place fixed up quickly and my sister will join me. I think you would like her."
"I'm sure I would, but then, I like pretty much everyone. Or at least that's what my friends say."
The whole time Lizzie chatted with Charlie, Fitzwilliam and Caroline were studiously ignoring them. Or at least Caroline did. Lizzie wasn't even sure the other guy was even aware of her. Kitty had returned to her job at the bar. Charlie offered her a go at his game, but she turned him down to instead play a game of pool with the Lucases and Lydia. The whole point of coming here was to socialize, so that was what she was going to do.
After a few games and a couple of drinks, Lizzie decided to make her way home. She still had to be up early. She did talk to several other people on the way out. She hoped to make a good impression on the townspeople. Her success or failure would depend upon their acceptance of her. Surprisingly, the night was more enjoyable than she expected, and she hoped to repeat the experience again.