Pemberley, 09 May 1832

Imogen just wanted to read Andrews letter in peace. That is why she had went straight to her bedroom after breakfast. It was the first letter Andrew had send in over a week and it looked to be delightfully long. There was nothing more she wanted to do than just sit quietly at the window and read that letter. But apparently her family had other ideas.

First, her little sister Juno had come in, demanding that Imogen would braid her and Lady Violets hair. Imogen had told her sister to go away and ask Mama, but then Juno had threatened to tell Papa that Imogen was secretly riding the new grey stallion they were supposed to keep away from. So Imogen had complied and braided first Junos and then Lady Violets hair into two thick french braids. Combing Junos hair had been so terrible work that Imogen found herself almost complimenting Lady Violet on her smooth silk locks. But Lady Violet was Junos favorite doll so she had send them both outside again, shaking her head about her own silliness.

Then Miss Weston wanted to start their normal afternoon lessons in the morning already so that Imogen had time to converse with her coming cousins later. After finally escaping her governess three hours later, Imogen had run into her Mama, who requested her help in going trough the guest rooms a final time.

With a deep and dramatic sigh Imogen had followed her mother into the West Wing, where the guest quarters were located. The servants had prepared several rooms, all with fresh linen and aired out. Everything looked so perfectly in place that Imogen really wondered why Mama needed to see into every cupboard and under every bed. She even opened and closed each window as if on a mission to find something amiss.

„Why are we doing this, Mama? Is Aunt Lydia so particular about her rooms?", Imogen asked in confusion. There better was a really good reason she had to postpone reading Andrews letter yet again.

A sad smile washed over Mamas face: „My youngest sister has never been very particular about tidiness. Not as a girl at least. But I just want to make sure everything is as good as it can be for her and your cousins."

They moved one to the second room. Two beds were standing next to each other, both adorned with the good cushions Mama normally only took out when Aunt Catherine came to visit.

„I thought your cousins Amy and Effie might want to sleep in a room together. What do you think? Will they like the room?", Mama asked, looking over the white furniture and pale pink walls. Her brows were furrowed.

„It is a pretty room. But are you sure they would like a room together? I would certainly be unhappy about sleeping in the same room as Juno."

Here Mama chuckled a bit: „That is to be expected, considering how wide the age difference between you two is and how much your father and I spoilt you. But from what I could gather from Lydias letters, her oldest daughters are very close. And they have both never slept in their own rooms, so they would probably not feel comfortable doing so in a strange new house."

Imogen could not imagine never having a room to herself. And she certainly could not imagine relatives of her living like that. Andrew and Rose over in Gingerfield certainly had enough space to host at least ten more people easily. And Aunt Kittys two daughters also had their own rooms even if they lived in a tiny personage all the way down in Cornwall.

„Why did we never visit them? We visit Aunt Jane so very often."

„We visited a few times when you were still small. But then we mostly sticked to writing letters. It is not always easy." Mama looked like she wanted to say something else, but had decided against it.

„So why are they coming now? For the good summer country air like Andrews Aunt Caroline always says when she comes?"

Imogen did not like Mrs. Blake a lot. She always came in the beginning of June and never left till late August. She always made snide comments about the food and about Imogens and Andrews time spend outside with the horses. And her daughter was one of the most unfriendly girls Imogen knew. The only good thing about Mrs. Blake was that Andrew spent most of his days and nights at Pemberley when she was in Gingerfield.

„Let us sit down for a bit, Imogen."

Imogen looked concerned at her Mama: „Are you going to get sick? Should I get you some water? Or open the window?"

„No, no Darling. Just sit down here. I need to tell you a bit about Aunt Lydia and her family. She was very young when she married, just a year older than you are now. Her husband, your Uncle George. Well, he is no gentleman. She never had it easy with him."

„Why did she marry him then?"

„Well she was young and foolish. And she was in love. That can be a dangerous combination. That is why your father and I are so strict about your education. We want you to have the best informed of minds before you go out in society. We do not want anything to happen to you."

„I know Mama. But what has that to do with Aunt Lydia and her family?"

„I am just getting there, little Miss Impatient. So your Aunt Lydias marriage was not very fortunate. But she tried to make the best of it. They moved up to Newcastle where her husbands regiment is stationed. They have a little house up there. Your cousins did not grow up like you did. They do not have a governess or went away to school. They did not have the same opportunities like you and your sisters did. And they are eleven at home, so maybe their manners are a bit more ruff then we normally practice in this house."

„If you are worried I will not share Miss Weston with them you can rest easily, Mama. I will be more than happy to not be her only student anymore."

„That is not want I wanted to tell you. Now listen. Your cousins Amy and Effie have been trough some difficult times lately and their mother, your Aunt Lydia, thought it best to remove the family from Newcastle for some time. We want to make them feel welcome here. And for that I want you to be on your best behavior."

Imogen looked piqued at her mother: „Am I not always on my best behavior?"

„You know how much I love you, Darling. But even though I am your mother I am not immune to the fact that the moment Andrew comes back from Eton you will be blind to everything else around you. And I do not want that to happen to you when we have family over for a visit."

—

The drive took longer than Effie had expected. But it was not nearly as bad as she had anticipated. The carriage her Aunt had sent was comfortable and big enough to host all ten of them. At least two of her little brothers were sitting outside with the driver all the time, excitingly looking over the changing landscape.

It was their first time so far away from home.

Now it was late in the day and Mama had fallen asleep, Katie on her lap. The boys were outside, shouting and Amy and Effie were the only ones awake in the carriage.

„What if he never comes back?"

Effie turned around to her sister. Amy looked so distraught, almost like she had been crying. Her voice had been merely a whisper, almost drowned over by the rattling of the carriage. They were driving over a bridge.

Effie grabbed her sisters hand and squeezed it hard. That was exactly the question she had been asking herself every night now: „He will come back, of course he will. He loves you."

Jack loved Amy. Everyone could see that. He loved her since Effie could remember knowing him. And he was the best man Effie knew. He was handsome and funny and smart and daring. He was everything a man ought to be. But still he was not here. And every day he did not come back home broke her sisters heart, broke her own heart.

„Look outside, Effie! Look outside now!", her little brother was suddenly banging on the window, leaning from above. Did he sit on the carriage?

Effie was quickly distracted from this alarming thought as she looked outside.

There, in front of the next row of green hills was the most beautiful house she had ever seen. She was not sure if she could even call it a house, it looked so much more majestic, bigger even than Jacks townhouse. Light was reflecting in its numerous windows and bright swans were swimming on the pond in front of it.

It looked like something straight out Katies old book of fairytales.

—

A big thanks to all the lovely people favoriting this story or following it. And especially to the ones reviewing! It always makes my day to read your thoughts or criticism.
I hope this chapter cleared up how Elizabeth feels about Lydia and her girls coming to Pemberley! I am already excited to write the next chapter, where the cousins will finally meet :) Until then I would love to hear what you think about this chapter of course :)