Wretched Beginnings 1814 – Chapter 6
June 10
Today Catherine wanted to appear as pretty and fresh as possible for John. Her simple, pink linen day gown would be perfect for the christening and a lawn party. The simple puff and banded sleeves, and rounded neckline were excellent for spring and summer wear, and modest for church attendance. She knew Mama would declare the gown too plain, with cording to embellish instead of lace. Catherine had an identical day gown in wine which she would not wear until she left Pemberley.
Catherine selected one of the necklaces from Anne. The gold chain ended in a pendant just below her collarbone. Pink topaz and gold looked well with her gown. Her gold earbobs were smaller copies of the pendant. She dressed carefully, aware Papa would announce John and her engagement and impending marriage today. She carried the pink silk parasol from Anne. She wore short pink silk gloves, and the thin, flowered wrap.
~X~
Mr. Collins closed the christening with a prayer for the safety and long healthy life for Bennet Charles Darcy and for Charles William Bingley. Darcy and Bingley escorted Lizzy and Ben and Jane and Charlie to a barouche waiting to convey them back to the manor. "We have space for you to ride with us, Mama," Jane offered.
Amused at the speed and fervor with which Mrs. Bennet accepted Darcy's hand into the barouche, he had a suggestion. "Mary, you and George should take the available seat. What a pretty picture you make…Grandmother Bennet and her three grandsons." He effectively blocked Lydia from traveling with her sisters. Grandmother Bennet was amazingly quiet during the journey back to the manor.
~X~
Darcy escorted Elizabeth and Ben, and Bingley escorted Jane and Charlie with everyone following behind them. Lady Matlock created the seating arrangements. She seated the Darcys, Bingleys, Collinses and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet at one table. Constance wanted grandchildren and could not understand how Franny Bennet could be so dismissive of her grandsons.
Catherine sat, sketch paper and pencils in hand, to sketch the boys in their christening gowns. She presented completed sketches to the proud parents. "I want to frame ours for our private sitting room," Darcy held Ben while Lizzy held the sketch.
"Excellent idea!" Jane and Bingley agreed.
"I should like the picture of George for my bookroom," Collins looked to Mary for approval.
"Before you go, I want permission to visit the nursery a few mornings. I want to draw George, while he attempts to eat toast or a biscuit," Catherine asked Mary for permission.
"Please," Mary happily gave permission. "I would like the picture for my sitting room."
"I should like a sketch of the three boys for my library," Mr. Bennet requested. Catherine agreed to draw the sketch. She would put George in the center of the drawing with Ben to the left and Charlie to the right. She would date the sketch for Papa also.
Christening gifts opened, and thanks expressed, the trio of boys were handed off to nursery maids. A set of footmen gathered presents to take to the nursery. Another set of footmen served an al fresco lunch to the house party. Lizzy's kitchen staff prepared cold lobster mayonnaise, cold poached salmon with lemon mayonnaise, cold chicken medallions, Mary's cucumber and tomato salad, chilled asparagus, French baguettes, cheeses, fresh strawberries, mint ices with chocolate biscuits, and cold lemonade for the christening party. A trio of musicians from Derbyshire played lap harp, violin and flute, providing music for the lawn party. Two footmen attended the buffet table and two circulated with pitchers of cold lemonade.
"I like this pavilion very much Lizzy. Under the trees, surrounded by flowering hedges, it's lovely. I think I will ask Bingley for one." Jane sighed. "We're building a gazebo on viewpoint hill."
"We could not have a lovelier prospect. I always loved this pavilion, Elizabeth. I remember Aunt Anne sitting here, reading to Darcy and me, or stitching while we played." Anne sighed.
"After we had a picnic on the pavilion, we laid down on blankets with pillows and listened to Aunt Anne read to us," Robert reminisced. "I was ten…Richard and William were eight…and Anne was five."
"While the prospect is lovely…the pavilion is a little breezy don't you think?" Mrs. Bennet asked. "Perhaps we should retire to your lovely large drawing room, Lizzy."
"The servants brought plenty of rugs or shawls if you fancy yourself cool, Mama. We will return to the drawing room after our celebratory meal. I'm thrilled to be outside; the gardens are blooming and quite fine. I walk out daily before breakfast. I enjoy the gardens and woods of Pemberley." Lizzy leaned back in her chair.
Catherine talked with Mr. Hamilton, the only single man at the house party. They were seated near the Gardiners and Phillips. Mrs. Bennet vowed to discuss Lizzy's inattention to detail. 'Three single women, ONE single man. Plus, Miss Darcy's sizeable dowry put Kitty and Lydia at a disadvantage. Lizzy should have invited a dozen single friends of Darcy to the house party, so her sisters met a large group of acquaintances. Otherwise, why have a house party in this country setting? Lydia did not sit near Miss Darcy either. Unless Lydia remained in Miss Darcy's company, how could an invitation to join her for the Season be offered?'
Once the celebration meal ended, Mr. Bennet stood and quietly tapped on his glass for attention. "Congratulations to Bingley and Jane, and to Darcy and Lizzy. I have enjoyed meeting my new grandsons. A trio of grandsons, who would have believed it?" Everyone drank to the toast, but Mr. Bennet remained standing. "I have one other announcement. Please express joy to my daughter, Catherine, and her betrothed, John Hamilton. Hamilton asked for my blessing last Sunday. They will be married by special license, here in the Pemberley Chapel on Friday, a fortnight from today."
"I won't have it!" Mrs. Bennet threw her napkin on the table. "You will marry from Longbourn. I need at least one month in London to create your trousseau, arrange the wedding, and select your wedding breakfast menu."
"I think this is a Bennet family issue. Ladies," Georgiana indicated Constance, Augusta and Anne should come with her. She included Mrs. Stafford, Mrs. Hurst and Mrs. Roberts in the look. "Ladies, I'm sure you will want to check your rooms to ensure nothing was inadvertently left behind." She cast an eye at the Fitzwilliam men; nodding in the direction of Mr. Hurst and Mr. Roberts.
Catherine waited for the pavilion to empty of guests before she spoke. "I'm marrying Mr. Hamilton in a fortnight, in the Pemberley Chapel, with a special license. We will have a wedding breakfast in the ballroom. Lizzy offered deep pink damask roses from the rose garden for my bouquet and for decorating the ballroom. I brought my wedding clothes with me. I arranged my wedding tour clothes and my trousseau."
"If you do not marry from Longbourn, everyone will think something is wrong because you married with a special license away from home." Mrs. Bennet argued, seeking out Mrs. Phillips to agree with her. "You haven't been home since Jane and Lizzy's wedding!"
"Mr. Hamilton and I don't want a large wedding. We will marry in the Pemberley Chapel in a fortnight. We will have our wedding tour before Mr. Hamilton's work at Oxford University begins after Michaelmas. We will not wait until fall to marry from Longbourn. We sent express invitations this morning to his guests. After the anniversary ball, we depart on our wedding tour to the Lake District. After spending July in the Lake District, we will return to our home in Oxford."
"I am your mother. I will do something other than arranging the wedding breakfast." Mrs. Bennet argued.
"All the plans are well in hand. Lizzy and her staff made arrangements to suit our choices. You may review the menu and suggest additions; but you will not change my plans. The date is set; the time is set; the menu is set; the musicians have been hired."
"Lydia will stand up for you," Mrs. Bennet ordered. "Darcy will stand up for Hamilton."
"I believe it is customary for the groom to select who stands up with him. The vicar from Kympton will conduct the service because Mr. Collins is standing up for his particular friend, Mr. Hamilton," Catherine replied. "Lydia may stand up for me. However, she's wearing her dark wine silk gown. I will not visit the modiste in Lambton so either of you can order another gown made. I will not endure travel to London to visit the modiste, milliner, warehouses, etc." She looked to Mr. Bennet who nodded his agreement.
"You must take Lydia with you on your wedding trip." Mrs. Bennet felt determined to put Lydia forward. Lydia had been ignored by her sisters and their husbands for too long. Since Mr. Hamilton and Kitty were betrothed, there were no single men for Lydia at this house party. How could Lizzy be so vexing and intractable!
"No," Hamilton stood with Catherine to address her mother. "Darcy is loaning us his hunting lodge after the wedding breakfast. We will return to Pemberley's manor house on the thirtieth for the anniversary ball. We are leaving the morning of July first for the Lake District where we will spend a month at the Fitzwilliam House. Then we are home in Oxford. When Catherine is comfortably settled; we will send invitation letters to visit."
"Everyone knows you should take company on the wedding tour," Mrs. Bennet argued. "Lizzy and Jane had each other. Mrs. Fitzwilliam had Kitty and Miss Georgiana."
"I will have Catherine and she will have me," Hamilton announced. "Miss Lydia will be bored to vapors, as we will spend our time drawing, reading and walking…not shopping, dining and dancing. Miss Bennet, would you accompany me for a stroll in the rose garden? Please show me the pink damask roses you will carry at our wedding." He effectively ended Mrs. Bennet's interference by offering Catherine his arm. The newly betrothed couple turned their backs on the group and began their stroll.
"Nanny's waving at us," Jane noticed. "Bingley must be ready to depart for Landers End. Have you noticed how George sits up by himself in the baby chair?"
"Have you noticed how George holds his biscuit and drools all over it? I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to watch him," Lizzy helped change the subject. "Darcy and I expect George might crawl before Mary and Mr. Collins leave us at the end of the month."
"Come, Mrs. Bennet," Mr. Bennet offered her a hand up. "Time to bid the Bingley family goodbye until Catherine's wedding." He deliberately ignored the frown on Mrs. Bennet's face. He offered an arm to Lydia, cancelling her attempt to follow Catherine and Hamilton.
~X~
Catherine's sigh alerted her sisters that she wanted to talk.
"Catherine, something on your mind?" Mary's ease bolstered Catherine's need to converse.
"Have you noticed none of us married or are marrying men who have living mothers?" Catherine commented. "I feel guilty. I would not want to displace John's mother if she were alive. However, I must limit the visits Mama pays to Oxford. I don't want her help redecorating Hamilton House. Until I see it; I do not know what I might change."
"Papa will help. How do you think we avoided furniture or paint warehouses while shopping for our wedding clothes? Jane and I viewed the Bingley House and Darcy House without Mama. The Bingley House sold before Mama saw it. She has never been in the Darcy House in London. Darcy and I have been married almost a year before Mama visited Pemberley. Before your wedding, Papa will take Mama and Lydia to Landers End to vex the Bingley sisters. You have Papa's approval to marry Mr. Hamilton; that is all that matters." Lizzy enjoyed the grown up Catherine. She would not allow Mama or Lydia to overwhelm Catherine or Mr. Hamilton.
"What I need, dear sisters, is advice. Housekeeping, good receipts, etc. I also need help, dearest Mary, with information on the orchards and gardens, herbs and stillroom." Catherine appeared discomposed.
"Tell us what you like best about Mr. Hamilton," Lizzy teased her little sister.
"I think he has lovely green eyes. However, that is not what drew me to him. He is like Bingley, at ease with everyone and gives no offense…well, except for Mama and Lydia. He encourages my pursuit of art and literature. He asks for my opinion. I'm not just accoutrement to hang on his arm and charm his colleagues."
"Well, I'm sure your housekeeper is a wonderful woman and well trained. However, I recommend Mrs. Rundell's Domestic Cookery, which has been in print since before 1810. Mrs. Rundell's book is full of domestic tips, receipts, domestic economy, menus, dealing with servants, and education of daughters." Mary explained. "You might find a copy at the bookstore in Lambton."
"John is an early riser. What can I do between eight and ten?" Catherine looked to her wise sisters for advice.
"After I walk, I look over the day's menus, review household accounts, meet with my housekeeper, discuss staff issues, etc. Then I breakfast with William and Georgiana." Lizzy replied. "Jane sews and mends every morning before breakfast, just like at Longbourn."
"I check on George. I check on the bees and the livestock. I garden or I work in the stillroom. Except for Saturdays and Sundays, I have a breakfast tray in my office. Then I meet with my housekeeper. I handle my correspondence, or my accounts. I sew for the family or the benefice society. I usually have a tray for midday in my sitting room. After midday I move to the drawing room for callers or I make calls until three. Mr. Collins and I meet for tea in my sitting room at four. We enjoy reading or playing with George for about an hour. Then I have a rest until dinner. After dinner, I hold lessons for Mr. Collins or my staff until time to retire."
Catherine's sisters agreed to write out things which she needed to know. She gave them the direction in Oxford, so they could mail information to her as they remembered.
"Our meals are determined by what we have and what needs to be used. I have inventory slates of food from Rosings or my gardens which need to be used or donated to the needy." Mary explained menus to Catherine. While Mary didn't have tenants, she had parishioners who needed her help. She urged Catherine to be on good terms with her staff. Mary asserted she could not accomplish as much as she did if she did not have good staff. In order to have good staff…you had to be good to your staff. She agreed to write lists of things she did and how she did some things. Lizzy advised Catherine to be on excellent terms with the wife of Mr. Hamilton's steward and his tenant families.
Mary explained the importance of pin money…it was not spent only on clothes or accessories. Mary tithed, paid wages for her personal maid and the laundry maid, kept coins at hand to thank servants for extra tasks or celebrations, purchased clothes and accessories along with personal needs, purchased her sewing projects, purchased her books and entertainments, and then purchased new poultry to increase her flock, purchased new beehives, purchased seeds and plants for her herb and flower gardens, and purchased personal items for the stillroom to make her floral waters, medicinal sherry, and her writing papers, everyday books and ledgers.
Lizzy opined Catherine would had two different sets of demands on her as the wife of a landowner and as the wife of an academic. "What you need is the wedding night conversation," Lizzy smiled. "Mama's talk lacks…completeness. I recommend an honest conversation with Mary and Aunt Gardiner. I can only tell you to let your feelings for Mr. Hamilton guide you."
~X~
"I blame you for this!" Mrs. Bennet whinged at Mary. For the first time since they arrived at Pemberley; Mrs. Bennet appreciated the sitting room stationed between Mr. Bennet and her sleeping quarters. "You kept George a secret from me! You robbed me of a chance to be with you at Rosings…"
"Exactly…because we DO NOT LIVE at Rosings! We live at HUNSFORD PARSONAGE." Mary snapped. "You were not told about George because I did not want you to put yourself forward and assume you would be a welcome guest at Rosings! You were impossible at Christmas. Staying at the parsonage was too low for you once you knew Catherine, Elizabeth and Jane were at Rosings!" She set the tray with the cordial of medicinal sherry on the console table. 'Mother didn't need this…she just wanted me alone to whinge at me!'
"Then Jane and Lizzy do the exact same thing; not notifying me until Charlie and Ben were born. Denying me of the opportunity to be with them during their confinement." Mrs. Bennet scowled.
"Robbing you of a chance to attend Miss Anne's wedding in London; representing Lizzy because she couldn't attend. Robbing you of the opportunity to insist Lydia accompany you to the wedding. Robbing you of the opportunity to spend a month in London, shopping for wedding clothes and visiting the modiste! Robbing you of a chance to insist the lively Lydia would be a better choice to take on the Fitzwilliams' wedding tour," Mary vented with honesty, not malice. "I'm sorry I did not have time to nurse my sisters, birth my nephews and deal with your nerves."
"Then Kitty agrees to marry, and she's made all the decisions with Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet fretted. "She's marrying a friend of Mr. Collins…when Mr. Fitzwilliam or Darcy or Bingley could have introduced her to…"
"If you intend to say someone better…I will be offended for my husband and his friend. Mr. Hamilton is educated and is landed gentry. His property in Oxford has been in his family for four generations. I'm pleased Catherine's time with Mrs. Fitzwilliam taught her manners and gave her the ability to know what she wants for her life. I am pleased she does not bow to Lydia or your expectations!" Mary felt old resentments of Mother's attitudes flame with indignation.
"I still think Miss Anne should have chosen Lydia as a companion. She's a much prettier and a livelier companion than Kitty!" Mrs. Bennet wailed and sobbed into her ever present handkerchief. As much as her white handkerchiefs waved and fluttered…they never signaled a surrender of her overbearing beliefs.
"Pretty is as pretty does…Lydia's actions aren't lively…she's positively hoyden." Mary snapped and then regretted her temper. "Mother…there is no sense in beating a dead horse. The past cannot be changed, no matter how loudly or ignorantly you comment about it. You insulted, ignored, or embarrassed me, Lizzy or Catherine on a daily basis. Catherine has grown into a lovely, well-mannered, young lady. Her time with Mrs. Fitzwilliam taught her to think for herself and not blindly follow those whose opinions and behaviors are an embarrassment."
Mrs. Bennet gasped. "You've always been jealous of Lydia!"
"I never felt jealous of Lydia while growing up. I'm married, with a good home and a wonderful son. I am particular friends with the Honorable Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam, who is my husband's patroness. I don't rely on the entail of Longbourn to raise my family in society." 'Mother didn't care about Lydia stealing her sisters' things when we were all at Longbourn. Why would Mother care Lydia tried to steal from me when they came to Hunsford Parsonage at Christmas?'
"What am I to say to Mrs. Long, or Lady Lucas? Surprise! I'm a grandmother again. Surprise! Kitty got married. Surprise! I know almost nothing about Mr. Hamilton or his living! What am I supposed to tell them?" Mrs. Bennet wept.
"This is exactly why I didn't tell you about George. I had too much to do for my husband, my staff, my church, and my community to nurse you through imaginary illnesses and vaporous headaches. I believe my sensible sisters felt the same way." Mary fought her inner demons to control herself.
"Those who never complain; never get sympathy," Mrs. Bennet crushed her handkerchief and mopped at her tears. "None of you have any compassion for my nerves!"
"You are quite wrong," Mr. Bennet entered the room. "I have a high regard for your nerves. They have been my constant companion for over twenty years."
"You weren't supposed to have a son until after Jane had a son!" Mrs. Bennet wailed. "They were supposed to remain at Netherfield, so I could remain at Longbourn to visit my grandson!"
"You have had little time for your grandsons since you arrived. The truth is you want to remain at Longbourn. You want to continue the society to which you are accustomed. You need to learn God's plans always have precedence. I thank God Mr. Collins burst into my room that night. Otherwise, I would be just a drudge at Longbourn – gardening, cooking, cleaning, or nursing you. Providing free entertainment at your dinners or Mrs. Phillips' card parties. Calling on the tenants since you feel the task is such a burden. Creating tonics and medicinal sherries for your nerves and vapors. Mr. Collins has given me a full life – marriage, a home, a future, and a son." Mary shrugged.
Mrs. Bennet glared at Mary while weeping theatrically and blotting her tears. "A son…how could Jane leave her Mama for the north country and then have a child without telling me? Now she will never come home, except for a short visit! You are all so proud of yourselves…begetting sons…ignoring your Mama!"
"Charlie will inherit Landers End. Ben will inherit Pemberley. Catherine's son will inherit the Hamilton property in Oxford. George Bennet Collins, will ensure a Bennet continues at Longbourn." Mr. Bennet observed.
"Be prepared, Mother, for when Papa passes, you will give way to me as the new Mistress of Longbourn. Papa repaired the Steward's House on the main farm. I expect the Steward's House will be your Dower House, unless you live with Aunt Phillips or Uncle Gardiner. By the way, unless Lydia grows up and learns to behave herself; Longbourn will never offer her a home." Mary left the room; resisting the urge to slam the door. She listed the Latin names of plants in her head…which seemed more effective than counting to one hundred in French. Then she almost laughed…counting to ten in French stopped before she turned six and ten.
"I am decided," Mr. Bennet explained to Mrs. Bennet. "Monday, we will visit Landers End with Lydia, the Phillips and the Gardiners. I will tell Jane, so she can notify her staff. Mary, Mr. Collins, Mr. Hamilton and Catherine have an invitation to spend three days at the Matlock Estate."
"We're not invited to the Matlock Estate?" Mrs. Bennet's shock halted the tears and vapors for a moment.
"Did you truly expect an invitation? You don't realize lively Lydia does not suit everyone's taste. Let me be firm about this…you will not demand Lizzy provide Lydia with a Season in London. None of the other girls had a Season in London, and all have married well. I will not leave you and Lydia in London at the Whitfords. I have endured your headaches, vapors and bad manners long enough. You will not ruin my enjoyment of this house party." Mr. Bennet quit the sitting room and took himself off to the quiet of Pemberley's library.
~X~
"Papa, now that Ben and Charlie have been christened, Darcy and I desire a conversation with you," Lizzy spoke about the heir and a spare payment.
Mr. Bennet knew of the practice. He tried to protest when Lizzy gave him the banknote and requested he enlarge the living at Longbourn. An hour passed, with neither party giving way to the other. Lizzy announced since women could not purchase property, she had to depend on Papa or Darcy to follow her wishes. Another hour passed, and Lizzy rang for a tea tray. Before they consumed the refreshments, Mr. Bennet agreed to take the funds. "Lizzy…you and Darcy are sworn to secrecy. You cannot reveal the details of the entail; the details of the funds you gave me; and you must agree to help Mary when I pass. I don't believe Mr. Collins will act in a Christianly manner when he learns the entail bypassed him in favor of his son. Especially when he learns his brothers-by-marriage; you and Bingley, became trustees of the legacy for George."
"We agree to your terms…but you must agree not to tell Mama you have these funds. She will expect to spends Seasons in London." Lizzy insisted.
Mr. Bennet sighed. "Your Mama argued with Mary this afternoon. I am decided…when we leave Pemberley after the birthday/anniversary ball…Mary and Mr. Collins will travel with Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam. The Gardiners plan to ask the Phillips to travel back to London with them for a short visit. They will transport the Phillips to Meryton. I am sending an express to a retreat in Scotland who provide care for ladies with fragile nerves. I am sending an express to a seminary in Scotland who take intractable young ladies. They concentrate on education and accomplishments. Mrs. Gardiner had her modiste prepare the plain, serviceable gowns your Mama and Lydia need. I will take their finery back to Longbourn. Perhaps…if your Mama and Lydia experience a year in Scotland…they might return to Longbourn as changed, agreeable women."
"How do you plan to take them to Scotland?" Darcy frowned.
"They don't pay attention to the scenery as we travel. Mayhap I will prevaricate about our destination." Mr. Bennet shrugged. "They both hate traveling…mayhap Mary will provide a bottle of medicinal sherry to calm their nerves. I believe I must deliver Mrs. Bennet first, as she would attempt to gainsay me to keep Lydia from the seminary. Mayhap I will ask Catherine to allow us to follow to Windermere. The Monday after the ball…we could leave for Scotland."
"This requires a little more planning." Lizzy sighed.
June 13
"I'm taking Ben out to the private garden after breakfast. We both need some fresh air. I think I'll take a book with me and read to him." Elizabeth responded to Darcy's question about her plans for the morning.
"I will be engrossed in ribbon lessons most mornings this week. I have a new set of matched bays for my phaeton. When I finish ribbon lessons, I have a new stallion, Pell, who needs put to the bit before I ride him during a hunting party. He's the new chestnut with sable mane and tail." Georgiana explained why she wore her riding habit to Elizabeth.
"Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet addressed her. "Surely there are better distractions planned for this house party than enduring garden tours every morning."
"Pray remember, Mrs. Bennet, we are at Landers End today through Friday morning. Jane has new gardens where you may exhibit your indifference. Bingley and Jane are expecting us, the Phillips and the Gardiners." Mr. Bennet smiled at Lizzy and Darcy. "Lydia travels with us. We will return before dusk on Friday."
"We are taking the Collinses to Matlock Estate until Thursday," Aunt Constance reminded Darcy. Reginald wanted Mary to view his holdings and perhaps suggest how to enhance their gardens and orchards. "Mary has agreed to talk to my staff about gardens, orchards and bees. We asked Mr. Hamilton and Miss Bennet, and Anne's masters, to join us."
"You may ride with Augusta, Catherine and me," Anne offered Mary. "We plan to ride each day between breakfast and midday. Fitzwilliam promised riding lessons. He feels we are adept enough to leave the trails and tracks to ride cross country."
"I would be grateful for a reason to improve my horseback riding," Mary agreed. "We can view the gardens before breakfast and discuss ways to improve your harvest with the Matlock gardeners."
"Lydia should go with you," Mrs. Phillips commented. "Mr. Bennet intends to teach her how to call on tenants. She needs ribbon lessons."
"We are going to Landers End. If Lydia wants ribbon lessons, I have a groom who is adept at teaching." Jane asserted, looking at no one, her gaze fixed on her tea cup.
"We will be a quiet home this week. I will be happy to begin my days walking in the garden with you, Mrs. Darcy." Darcy smiled at his wife.
"I look forward to it, Mr. Darcy," Lizzy smiled at him. Lizzy planned many diversions for this house party: picnics, lawn parties, tea parties, and lectures with al fresco dinners. She planned card parties, musical interludes, and of course, the ball. Secretly, she sighed because everyone departed this week. She needed a rest.
~X~
Lizzy felt unsettled, because Mrs. Reynolds acted unsettled. Lydia examined every porcelain in each room. Lydia moved the porcelains she really liked to her room. The upstairs maids gathered a basketful of porcelains from Lydia's and Mrs. Bennet's rooms after they left for Landers End. They gave the porcelains to Mrs. Reynolds to return to the proper rooms after the ball. Since the décor of the house had been pared down a year ago, Lizzy could not understand how Mama and Lydia could acquire four and twenty porcelains to fill side tables and the mantles in their rooms.
The master craftsman of Pemberley repaired a broken lock on a linen press located on the second floor by the servants' staircase. Mrs. Bennet required another blanket on her bed…claiming Pemberley felt cold despite the sunny midsummer days. Instead of ringing for a maid to bring a blanket…she destroyed the lock on the linen press. Lizzy was quite vexed because the linen press was not locked, only securely shut. The lock and the door needed the services of a master craftsman.
The maids spent an hour sorting the jumble of the linen press instead of cleaning. They informed Mrs. Reynolds the lavender sachets for the linen press disappeared. When Harriette packed Mrs. Bennet for Landers End, Harriette located the missing sachets in the drawers and closet of Mrs. Bennet's room. Harriette placed them in a basket in Mrs. Reynold's office. Mrs. Reynolds agreed Harriette should go to Landers End to keep her ladies in good order. Once all the guests departed after the ball, the sachets would be returned to their proper home in the repaired linen press.
Lizzy sent an express to Landers End, warning Jane and her housekeeper about Mama and Lydia…and the porcelains, sachets and the linen closet.
~X~
Meanwhile at Landers End, Caroline lamented the lack of dearest Georgiana as a riding companion in the mornings.
"You can ride with your dearest sister, or your brother Hurst or your husband. Jane and I have plenty of diversions planned for us. The Bennets, Gardiners and Phillips will join us at Landers End today. They will return to Pemberley on Friday afternoon. We will rejoin the Darcys the morning of sister Catherine's wedding. We return to Landers End that afternoon, for quarter day. My steward will work with tenants while I am gone. Then we return to Pemberley on the morning of the birthday/anniversary ball." Bingley interrupted Caroline's moan.
"How will we know the day's events?" Louisa frowned at her brother.
"When you arrive in the dining room for breakfast each morning, we will cover the day's activities. No one has breakfast trays or lingers in bed until noon." Bingley noticed the slight smile on Roberts's face at the announcement.
~X~
Mrs. Bennet counted Jane's servants. Five and ten female servants and eight male servants. Her servants didn't wear livery like Lizzy's. Men wore dark blue pants and light blue shirts. The women wore dark blue gowns with light blue aprons and mob caps. Mrs. Bennet paid attention to the steward, house-steward/butler and housekeeper who all wore black and white. Lizzy sent Harriette from Pemberley to Landers End to care for Mrs. Bennet, Mrs. Phillips and Lydia. Jane asked Flora to help Harriette keep an eye on the three ladies. Louisa and Caroline were discomposed as they felt Jane's French maid should do their bidding. She deliberately pretended not to understand English when someone other than her mistress gave her orders.
~X~
Caroline and Louisa talked quietly in Caroline's room. "If it were possible to die from embarrassment, I would expire now," Louisa muttered. Hurst ordered Louisa to affect a reconciliation with Charles. Hurst did not care if Charles required a handwritten apology…Louisa would use the best paper, the best black ink, and a perfect quill while using her best penmanship. If Jane wanted a bolt of the finest French lace…Louisa would find and purchase it. If the Bingleys wanted a set of silver candlesticks…Louisa would procure the best available. Whatever the Bingleys wanted…Louisa had been ordered to apologize appropriately. Hurst greatly missed living with Bingley.
"Other than Pemberley is too far removed from the ton, the Pemberley Chapel would be a pretty place to get married. I think the white rose garden around the chapel helps with its prospect," Caroline opined. "Lady Anne Darcy knew to design a garden to enhance the natural beauty of the buildings at Pemberley."
"I can't believe we have to watch Catherine Bennet marry John Hamilton. How were they introduced?" Louisa fingered the paper in the writing desk of Caroline's room. Eliza provided better at Pemberley. Louisa exchanged the common paper in her writing slope for the excellent paper Eliza left for her guests. She filled her inkwell with the best black ink which Eliza provided and took the excellent quills from the writing desk in their suite. Louisa could not put pen to paper. Louisa just needed time to work on Charles…and then Jane…and then enjoy the birthday/anniversary ball at Pemberley. She looked forward to announcing their presence at the Pemberley house party when they returned to London for Little Season.
"They met last December at Hunsford Parsonage in Kent when they were godparents to George Collins. Three of the Bennet chits married and one will wed while we are here. Are we expected to wish them joy along with everyone else?" Caroline examined her gowns to determine what to wear for the wedding. Louisa nodded when Caroline selected a blue silk gown.
"This has been a costly house party. I hope Mr. Hurst drinks the wine cellars dry. We purchased silver rattles for the boys, silk fans for birthdays and silvered vases for anniversaries. Now we have to shop for a wedding gift for the Hamiltons." Louisa sighed.
"Aunt Cordelia purchased silver drinking cups for Charlie and Ben, fine glass flower bowls as anniversary gifts, and white silk shawls for Jane and Eliza for their birthdays. I bought silver spoons for the boys, silk gloves for the birthdays, and fine glass candlesticks for anniversaries." Caroline laid out the accessories for her blue gown. She coveted the Darcy sapphires. They would enhance the gown and look quite arresting with her hair. She wondered if Jane would let her borrow the Bingley sapphires to wear to the ball?
"How did you afford the new gowns for the house party?" Louisa examined Caroline's wardrobe. "You claimed you have been having problems receiving your pin money from Mr. Roberts."
"At Lady Day, I worked my list of needs for two hours. I only bought things I thought Mary Bennet Collins would wear for visiting tenants. I bought cotton gowns in various creams and browns. You would be amazed at how cheap a gown can be with no trims, flounces or lace. I have plain brown walking boots, brown cotton gloves and a brown bonnet with cream ribbons for visiting the tenants."
Louisa pulled a face.
"Roberts won't let me wear silk at home. He says I'm not sitting in a London drawing room all day and silk isn't appropriate for a farmer's wife. Roberts hated all my silk and satin turbans, so I ordered mob caps in plain cream cotton with cotton ribbons, and no lace. He truly hates the mob caps." Caroline gloated. "I can't bear to not have my hair dressed. I've learned to fix my own hair, and wear one of those hideous mob caps until he leaves. I remove the mob cap when I'm alone in my sitting area."
"What about your night clothes?" Louisa asked. Hurst insisted Louisa wear silk and satin nightrails and wrappers. Hurst liked pale green, lavender, rose and peach nightclothes. She would have been bored with plain white nightclothes.
"When I wore my silk nightclothes threadbare…I purchased white cotton. No lace. No ruffles. I think I could wear them at a convent, they are so plain." Caroline gloated. "I sold every gown and accessory which Roberts hated and would not let me wear. I used those funds to increase my pin moneys for purchasing what I needed. I have two day gowns made of the best linen, with matching cream silk accessories which I wear to church. My clothes may be plain, but my materials are better than what Sister Cecily wears."
Caroline let out a gleeful, malicious laugh. "I sold my jewelry which matched those gowns. I used those funds for a sennight of new silk gowns before I learned we were invited to a house party at Pemberley. Roberts hates my preferred colors, so I had to commission gowns in creams, blues, and greens. I selected the newest fashion plates possible at a French modiste in Bath. My peach and apricot ballgown is from the Netherfield Ball. Although two years old, the ballgown is made of better materials than any I could commission in Bath! I kept the matching accessories for it."
"So did Roberts complain about the new clothes for the house party?" Louisa thought Hurst a bore, but Caroline's husband seemed positively medieval.
"Roberts was shocked speechless when he learned I sold jewels to buy new silk gowns. I gave him a list of how much I received…and how much I spent. I only packed the best for this trip. I would not spend a week in a carriage with cotton underthings to chafe me in this heat! I also brought the remainder of the bolt of lace which you promised to buy." Caroline took the lace from her travel trunk. "I'm sorry I used a quantity for the new gowns. The laces and trims at Cecily's modiste aren't fit to trim the gown of a drudge. I used the lace I had rather than purchase new, lesser quality lace."
Louisa gave Caroline the agreed blunt for the lace. "Perhaps Aunt Cordelia will join with us to purchase one gift for Miss Bennet and Mr. Hamilton. However, the chances of decent selections in the market town near Landers End are dire. However, I do not believe an Oxford academic is in need of silver plate."
"Aunt Cordelia expects us in Scarborough for two weeks after this house party is over. This whole situation infuriates me. I hoped to be at Pemberley this entire trip. We were not invited for the first week of the house party. Charles' country estate is finer than Netherfield, but nothing to Pemberley." Caroline complained.
"Hurst and I plan to stay with Aunt Cordelia in Scarborough until time for Little Season. We will stay in London from Little Season through the Season at the Hurst House. Save every pence you can, for we will have a busy two weeks with the modiste when you get to London," Louisa promised.
"I can't believe Charles sold the Bingley House in London. We had just redecorated, and Bingley House had such an excellent prospect," Caroline sighed.
"Charles doesn't need it," Louisa complained. "He and Jane will always have the Darcy House for accommodations when they go to London. This is so vexing. Being male and having authority over funds and houses is wasted on him. How could he marry Jane instead of waiting for Georgiana?"
"What is vexing is I will miss Little Season in London. The house will be finished by Michaelmas and we will move before harvest. Roberts has been sketching rooms and décor he likes at Pemberley. He likes what Jane has done to Landers End also. I will never again have décor which every woman of the ton wants to copy for her drawing room and dining room. I will have plain furniture and boring colors. I cannot wait to have my own sitting room. I want to decorate my sitting room in coral and emerald, or maybe peach and lemon," Caroline almost wept. "I will have no society during harvest! Please, please invite us to London for Christmas!"
"I promise to send the invitation to Aunt Cordelia, Charles, and you to attend us from a fortnight before Christmas to a fortnight after. I will ensure we attend concerts and theatre. I will organize a dinner and invite the Fitzwilliams and Darcys. Perhaps we will be invited to the Twelfth Night Ball which Lady Matlock mentioned." Louisa hoped.
June 15
"Can you believe Georgiana refused her coming out Season to travel with the Fitzwilliams on their wedding tour?" Caroline shook her head.
"Where did you hear that? Louisa demanded.
"Mrs. Bennet is an insipid woman, but she does create interesting scenes or shares the best gossip. I heard her asking Jane about Miss Bennet marrying at Pemberley. She wanted to know when Miss Bennet and Mr. Hamilton came to an understanding. Did they reach an understanding before Mr. Hamilton returned to Oxford after the christening for George Collins? Did they reach an understanding at the Twelfth Night engagement ball for the Fitzwilliams? Did they reach an understanding when Hamilton attended the Fitzwilliams' wedding?" Caroline reveled in the gossip. "Mrs. Bennet was incensed because Miss Bennet brought her wedding clothes and trousseau with her. She whinged because there would be no opportunity to visit warehouses and modistes in London."
"I'm sure the Fitzwilliams don't want Miss Bennet's company now that they are married. Hamilton must have a decent portion. Society in Oxford is certainly not the level Miss Bennet had with the Fitzwilliams, but Oxford is better than Hertfordshire and Mrs. Bennet. However, since we were whisked away before we could observe them together, who knows what is the truth?" Louisa sneered contemptuously. "Marry in haste…"
"Mrs. Bennet complained because Mr. Bennet spends time and funds increasing the living for Longbourn. She complained to Mrs. Phillips about Lydia being brought home instead of staying with her friend which I met in Bath." Caroline pulled a face.
"I overheard Collins and Bennet discuss Longbourn," Louisa replied. "Bennet repaired and rented the Steward's House at Longbourn. They discussed other improvements for Longbourn. Netherfield has a new owner, an older man from trade with two widowed sisters who have children. Mr. Benson is pleased to move his family out of London, yet still be close enough to work on his investments. Well, Charles and Jane painted us out of Netherfield Park. I'm sure I do not want to know what a tradesman has done to the place."
"Mrs. Bennet is furious Mr. Bennet is building a savings fund if something goes wrong with the harvests or if they have a disaster. The cold winter and spring seems to have affected landowners." Louisa laughed. "I think they already have a disaster and her name is Lydia."
"Mrs. Bennet says since Mary, Eliza, Jane and Kitty have marriage settlements, their dowries, and percents should be given to Lydia, but Mr. Bennet refused. Mrs. Bennet snapped at Mr. Bennet because he would not reveal Mr. Hamilton's exact portion and social standing. Mr. Bennet declared she would not lord Mr. Hamilton's portion over her friends in Meryton like she tried with Bingley and Darcy." Caroline gossiped.
"Did you eventually learn Hamilton's portion?" Louisa inquired.
"I overheard Kitty…Catherine tell her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner. Mr. Hamilton has an estate outside Oxford, a living from his percents, various investments and academic position." Caroline revealed. "His living garners more than Mr. Bennet and less than Charles."
"Did Mrs. Bennet ever reveal what Darcy settled on Eliza or what Charles settled on Jane? I just wonder because Charles cut us off financially since that stupid scheme incident and cut you off since your wedding." Louisa frowned.
"Mr. Bennet would not tell Mrs. Bennet the marriage settlement for any of her daughters. Mr. Bennet knows Mrs. Bennet is the most indiscreet woman! Speaking of indiscreet…I heard Lady Fitzwilliam gossiping with Lady Matlock a few days after we arrived. Richard Fitzwilliam spent his legacy and funds to establish a recovery house for injured military men. Lady Fitzwilliam is upset because they are using the main house at Rosings Park for the recovery home. The Richard Fitzwilliams will move into the Dower House at Rosings Park which they had repainted and decorated for them. Anne Fitzwilliam shared her £50,000 dowry. They placed their halves in the percents as their pocket/pin moneys. Darcy and Fitzwilliam developed a plan to expand the holdings of Rosings Park to earn £10,000 a year like Pemberley. Matlock Estate is making some changes also to increase their per annum earnings." Caroline threw herself on the chaise in her room in a fit of pique. Darcy's name, position and funds were out of her reach now! So few people made £10,000 per year…and now here were three estates all centered around Darcy…which could provide such largess.
"Everyone knows Darcy didn't marry Miss de Bourgh because of her illness and inability to bear a child. Also, everyone knows Fitzwilliam had to marry an heiress because he had no money. Did he make £20,000 in the war?" Louisa understood how navy men were awarded war prizes for kidnapping enemy ships, but she didn't know if army men were awarded war prizes.
"No, Lady Matlock gave him a legacy from her parents. Until the Fitzwilliams' marriage settlement, Lady Matlock divided the percents on the legacy between Viscount Fitzwilliam and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Lady Fitzwilliam is unsettled. She believed the legacy from Lady Matlock's parents would be given to the Viscount's first son. Instead Lady Matlock settled the legacy on Colonel Fitzwilliam. So not only is the Viscount a few hundred pounds poorer per annum…Lady Fitzwilliam feels they have been done out of the legacy also." Caroline revealed. "However, Darcy and Lord Matlock witnessed the marriage settlement and wills…so Lady Fitzwilliam may speculate about the marriage settlement. Heaven knows the truth of the matter."
"We also don't know how much Darcy and Charles settled on the Bennet chits for their heirs. How much does an heir go for these days?" Louisa wondered. "I would become enceinte if I were guaranteed £10,000 for an heir and £5,000 for a spare!"
"We really must find a way to get some answers from Jane," Caroline muttered. "I would probably never receive £10,000 for an heir and £5,000 for a spare, but I must have something to consider after we move into the new house."
"With our luck, we'd have five daughters who require a dowry and don't earn us a farthing!" Louisa grumbled. "I'm finally comfortable with my living. I don't know how I could share my per annum with a daughter, let alone five daughters like Mrs. Bennet."
"I would bet Darcy and Charles gave Mr. Bennet the money to fix the Steward's House at Longbourn. Such largess now would ensure they don't have Mrs. Bennet's insipid company when Mr. Bennet departs this life." Caroline tittered.
"I don't begrudge a single pound or pence they spent on that scheme." Louisa laughed with her sister.
~X~
"Thank you for understanding, Louisa and Caroline, but I do not need help managing Landers End, the staff, or the tenants. After the anniversary ball, we are visiting Aunt Cordelia in Scarborough for a few weeks. She plans for all of us to visit her." Jane commented. "My household staff is experienced and knowledgeable about the house and the community. We have a head groundskeeper for the two fish ponds and the deer and game park. We have gardeners to manage the orangery, the orchard, large kitchen garden, and a serviceable herb garden. We have staff who are skilled in the stillroom, distillery, brewery, dairy and beekeeping. We were exceptionally lucky to find Landers End. Charles appreciates owning his own estate and both of us are thrilled to be close to the Darcys."
"Are you planning to make future changes to the manor house? I understand changes were made when you first arrived." Caroline wanted all the financial information Jane would offer.
"Yes, we reconfigured some rooms before painting and decorating. The initial layout of the first floor did not suit," Jane admitted. "Charles had rooms in the cellar rearranged also. We increased the size of the silver pantry and the wine cellar. We created a bathing room to ease the burden on the staff. We don't want a fatigued servant burning themselves carrying hot water up the stairs. We redesigned the flower gardens and cleaned the park. They aren't the quality of Pemberley's gardens and park, however they are much better than when spring began. This year we are enlarging the ice house, replacing some plantings, and redecorating the conservatory."
"I imagine £5,000 a year would purchase a great deal of paint, furniture and décor," Louisa simpered.
"Yes, especially when spent properly to improve our estate instead of spent foolishly on travel, wines, gowns and entertainment. Shall we discuss something else…for it is the height of social impropriety to discuss money." Jane observed a lack of penitence in her sisters-by-marriage, who asked questions which did not concern them. Charles and Jane discussed the sisters before the house party and were determined to sidestep their inquiries.
~X~
"We are off to tour Buxton today; which is a spa town like Bath. Darcy and Elizabeth have taken weekends there. She likes to sit in the hot bath and rest her bones." Anne informed Richard of her plan to abandon Robert and Augusta for a few hours alone with her new husband.
"I think I would like to take a soak," Richard told Anne.
"I believe I'll take the waters there…and swoon…needing an afternoon in an elegant hotel room to recover." She crinkled her nose at Richard…and he understood her suggestion.
June 17
"I cannot take you shopping, Lydia. I call on tenants on Friday." Jane explained to her guests at Landers End.
"I would think, since you are having a house party, your staff would be capable of handling the tasks which take you away from your guests." Mrs. Bennet sniped to the undisguised glee of Louisa and Caroline.
"They could, but I enjoy calling on our tenants," Jane accepted a fresh cup of tea from her footman. "There is more to being the mistress of an estate than simply arranging house parties, determining menus, hosting dinners, and ensuring there is enough good tea and refreshments for callers. The tenants do so much for us…we owe them loyalty and protection."
"I brought a bolt of soft white wool, a bolt of soft white flannel, and a bolt of fine white cotton which you wanted for making baby blankets and layettes for your tenants." Mrs. Gardiner added to the conversation. "We also brought bolts of dark blue and light blue cotton and dark blue light wool for replacing clothing for your staff. We brought buttons and threads also. Your housekeeper put them in your sitting room."
"Wool? Flannel? Cotton?" Lydia hoped no silks in the Gardiners' shipment meant Jane would shop for gowns.
Jane ignored her sister.
"We brought a new shipment of baskets from London for you," Mr. Gardiner explained. "Your housekeeper sorted them into different sizes and put them in storage. We brought a quarterly shipment of tea, coffee and chocolate from Ballard's Best. We also brought the list of stillroom supplies you need. When you have time, we have an invoice for you."
"Thank you," Jane appreciated the help. "Louisa and Caroline, feel free to use today to catch up on your correspondence, reading, practicing pianoforte, riding, etc. My Bennet, Phillips and Gardiner families are returning to Pemberley after breakfast. Our steward's wife and I will be back for midday which will be a cold collation. We will gather more items at that time to visit the remainder of our tenants."
"Surely you could let the steward's wife call on the tenants. I have hardly had any time with you at Pemberley or here this week," Mrs. Bennet argued. "When I've wanted to visit with you…you are either with staff, or the steward's wife, or in the nursery with Charlie. You are continually busy. I hoped to discuss your décor…gowns…amusements…"
"With a new son in the house, I could not dedicate my time to sitting with you, Lydia and the aunts except at tea time. Currently we are preparing for Midsummer. We will be at Pemberley for Catherine's wedding that morning and will return here after the wedding breakfast. We're hosting a lawn party on Saturday for our staff and tenants." Jane explained.
"I have hoped for dancing during this house party!" Lydia complained.
"I believe you will get all the dancing you desire at Catherine's wedding breakfast and the birthday/anniversary ball," Mr. Bennet commented.
Lydia thought Lizzy and Jane would arrange dancing parties after their dinners. Disappointed, a lack of dancing was not her only complaint about this house party. There had been no single men to impress, and she struggled to discuss the Season with Miss Darcy.
Saturday, June 18
"To welcome all of you back to Pemberley, I set today's activities. Today's activity is the hedge maze," Darcy announced. "We will break into four groups, and each group will enter the maze at one o'clock. Each group will be assigned an opening – north, south, east and west. I thought each group should be led by someone who has traversed the maze – Uncle Reginald, Robert, Richard and myself. Uncle – you choose someone for your team, followed by Robert, Richard and then me. Round two, you pick two people."
Not surprisingly, all the men picked their wives on the first round. The second round awarded the Gardiners to Reginald, the Phillips to Robert, the Collinses to Richard, and the Bennets to Darcy. Round three Reginald picked the future Hamiltons. Robert picked Georgiana. Richard picked Mrs. Annesley, which left Darcy with Lydia.
"As I know some of you ladies are not great walkers, we have landaus at the ready to transport you to the maze and back to the manor. We will have a tea on the terrace afterwards." The ladies retrieved gloves, bonnets or parasols and made their way to the front steps. Once everyone arrived at the maze, entrances were assigned.
"Everyone, follow the hedge on your right side. The hedge will lead you to the center and you will not get lost." Darcy instructed his group.
"Is there a prize for the first group?" Lydia's mercenary heart hoped for a large cash prize. She had been desperate to shop…and needed funds and the opportunity.
"There is a gold champion's cup. If our team wins, I display the cup for a year. Same with the other teams. Winning the maze competition is a matter of pride." Darcy grinned. "My parents held a maze competition every year at the summer house party. We are practicing before Midsummer. The maze is a fun diversion for our staff and tenants."
The center of the maze held marble statues and benches. As the cup still sat on a marble column, Darcy bid his team to take a comfortable seat. "Did I tell you there is champagne and ices for our al fresco tea?" He grinned impishly. "Elizabeth arranged a decadent amount of confections and French pastries also."
~X~
As dusk settled, Lady Matlock led everyone not to the dining room, but to the music room. Footmen served an al fresco dinner on the terrace. Lighting came from large, standing outdoor candelabra. Tables were decorated with bowls of roses and green foliage. Mary recommended green foliage of rosemary, lemon balm, peppermint and feverfew to keep insects and bugs from bothering their meal. Two sideboards stood at either end of the terrace with food stationed on one and libations stationed on the other. Georgiana and Mrs. Reynolds helped Lizzy with tonight's menu of cold roasted salmon with lemon mayonnaise; cold lobster and prawn salad, cold ham and cold roasted green goose, sliced cheeses, various garden stuff salads, chilled asparagus, radish and strawberry roses, chilled berries and melon, cheesecakes and lemon biscuits served with lemonade or champagne punch.
Elizabeth organized a musical night for the Pemberley guests. The white and gold music room was lovely. Chairs were set about in a crescent, so everyone could watch the Italian opera singer, and the string quartet which would entertain them tonight. The four arched alcoves in the room held either gold and cream striped settees or mahogany sideboards. One sideboard presented fruits, cheeses, pastries and desserts, and trays of confections. The other sideboard held iced white Italian wine in the Darcy silver punchbowl. Undertrays holding family silver punch cups were proudly displayed also. The terrace doors were open, allowing a fragranced breeze from the Pemberley gardens to cool the room. Tall gold candelabra decorated every corner. The candelabra held six-hour candles. Low arrangements of white roses were displayed on the mantle of the white stone fireplace and on the top of the pianoforte.
"When you said music…I thought you meant dancing!" Lydia wore her white and crimson evening gown from Bath.
"I will appreciate an evening of Italian love songs, and music provided by a quartet." Catherine beamed at John. She wore a simple rose pink silk gown. Her gauze silk wrap matched her gown. She wore simple pearl earbobs and the pearl bracelet given her by Darcy. Compared to the confection of laces, ribbons and flounces Lydia wore, Catherine appeared to be a fresh summer rose.
"Did I tell you there are regular musical evenings at Oxford University," John escorted Catherine to two chairs set apart the end of the seating. "Sundays, everyone takes a blanket and a picnic to the university commons. The musically inclined provide an afternoon's entertainment. A hat is passed at the beginning and end of the musical entertainment. Everyone puts a coin or two in the hat. The funds are divided among the performers. Sometimes there are cricket matches to watch. Also, the Midsummer and Michaelmas assemblies take place out of doors, under the stars on the university commons. There are picnics on the river to watch the punting."
"Mama, Aunt, Lydia…I think the three of you would enjoy the alcove and settee. You may talk during the performance and not bother anyone." Lizzy indicated a secluded area for the troublesome trio. "There will be refreshments offered during the break in the music. We have small almond biscuits, small lemon biscuits, chilled grapes and strawberries with iced white wine." She ordered the footmen not to bring any refreshments into the music room until the break in the music. Once the break ended, they were to clear all food and drink immediately. Mama and Lydia might get two cups of iced wine…but they would not be foxed!