Author's Note: Another chapter for you. It's a little short, but I was trying to wrap up a few different things, including a bit more about the younger girls.

As always, thank you, thank you, thank you for your feedback. Please continue to message me or comment about questions, issues, or anything else you see. I am enjoying this story, and I hope you are as well.

Chapter 30

That same afternoon, Kitty and Lydia arrived at Netherfield Park, where they were introduced to Georgiana and her governess. That lady was charged to include the two new girls in all lessons and let Lady Anne know if additional help was required.

Kitty welcomed this change, relishing the newfound attention and her opportunity to learn. She could not help but feel a hint of jealousy when Elizabeth had mentioned that Mary had a drawing master, especially because she would have embraced the opportunity, while Mary merely seemed to tolerate it. In time, she hoped she would benefit from a master's in that area as well but intended to ask Miss Darcy's governess if she might teach her what she could.

Miss Darcy's governess, Miss Fairchild, was kind yet strict and quick to inform her new charges of her expectations and rules. Their schedule was relaxed while visiting Netherfield, and the girls would have lessons each morning. Once in Derbyshire, Lady Anne would take them to the modiste to obtain more suitable clothing for wards of the Darcy family and for young girls who were not out. Despite their ages, they were not dressed as young girls ought to be.

Lydia was less happy with these changes. She was used to doing as she wished, and while she looked forward to shopping for finer things, she did not like the idea of lessons and someone monitoring her actions.

One surprising revelation, which startled the governess, as well as Lady Anne and Elizabeth once they were informed, was that both girls, particularly Lydia, were nearly illiterate. The reason they had not wanted to write to Elizabeth stemmed more from a lack of ability as much as a lack of desire to do so. They did know their letters and could read and write basic words, though little beyond what one would expect of a small child. It was a startling realisation for Elizabeth, who recalled that her grandmother had attempted to teach the girls when they were younger, but apparently, no one had continued that instruction when she became sick and later died.

Elizabeth had spent the months that followed mourning her loss, spending more and more time outside and with the tenants than in Longbourn. Her lack of welcome at home had kept her away, and she had been determined to find ways to be useful. She had frequently invited all her sisters to join her as she visited the tenants, but only Mary had ever come along. Elizabeth had not spent time with her younger sisters since they preferred indoor pursuits. She had often passed them over as young and silly instead of trying to befriend and help them.

As soon as Lady Anne realised her daughter was blaming herself for her sister's lack, she immediately pulled her aside to speak to her. "I know what you are thinking, my dear, but you should not. Your sisters' lack is not your fault; it is the fault of your parents for not ensuring they received the proper instruction."

"I should have realised," Elizabeth began, but Lady Anne stopped her.

"How?" she asked. "Why was it your responsibility at all? As I understand it, you spent little time at Longbourn. Your parents were responsible for ensuring your sisters were given a good education and, as they have in so many other ways, have failed their children even in this."

Elizabeth reflected for a moment. "Once Papa realised my desire to learn, he often invited me into his bookroom. He encouraged me to read, and as I grew older, he often engaged me in discussions about what I was reading. At the same time, I had my grandmother to encourage and instruct me. My sisters only rarely visited my grandmother, and they were never invited into Papa's sacred chambers," she said pensively. "I benefited from the attention of both individuals. My mother mostly influenced my sisters. I know that grandmother attempted to encourage the others to seek her out, but they stayed with Mama."

"You were doing your best for your situation," Lady Anne tried to reassure her. "You were the unwanted daughter, and spending time away from your mother's influence was in your best interest. How many times have you told me that during those years, when you did encounter your mother, she would berate and mock you?"

Sighing heavily, Elizabeth nodded. "Well, whatever my parents' faults, perhaps that exile to Scotland will help them, but if not, at least my younger sisters will no longer be influenced by them. Kitty and Lydia will learn and will become proper ladies or at least be encouraged to do so. Whether or not they choose to become so will be up to them, and I worry that Miss Fairchild will find herself with much more than she bargained for. Perhaps Fitzwilliam and I should send out inquiries for a second governess for Lydia? Then Lydia could stay with us and be separated from Kitty for a time."

Lady Anne laughed lightly. "Leave your sisters to me. Miss Fairchild is capable of a firm hand, and I daresay that we will have Miss Lydia under control a fortnight after we arrive at Pemberley."

After the last confrontation at Longbourn, the guards initially hired to protect Elizabeth from Wickham's plot were reassigned to safeguard Longbourn, ensuring no further attempts at sneaking out occurred. While there was little expectation that Mr or Mrs Bennet would attempt to escape, there was a slim chance Jane might make another endeavour, although her silence during the discussion at Longbourn had surprised everyone. Elizabeth hoped this silence meant that Jane might finally have realised her errors and perhaps even repented of them somewhat. The gentlemen believed she was simply so mortified at being caught that she could think of nothing to say in her defence.

The truth was somewhere in the middle. While she had been completely mortified at being caught sneaking into Netherfield, she had finally heard what others were saying. She still struggled to believe what her mother taught her had been wrong, and she still thought herself the prettiest of her sisters However, she did recognise that Elizabeth was far more interesting than she. Gentlemen and ladies were always intrigued by Elizabeth, and she seemed to know what to say in every situation. Jane had always just smiled and had little to contribute to a conversation. More often, she asked gentlemen questions about themselves, but when those questions were returned, Jane found she had little to say. She certainly did not read as Elizabeth had, largely because her mother had disdained the practice.

As she prepared to depart with her parents for Scotland for the first time in her life, she began to think about someone other than herself.

Mrs Bennet's reflections were far less sanguine. She was still amazed that her least ladylike daughter had managed to find a match and was frankly annoyed that her brother had chosen to introduce the wealthy Mr Darcy to that daughter instead of Jane. Jane should have married first. She was the beautiful daughter. And now, because her brother had chosen to introduce the wrong daughter to a suitor, she and her daughter were banished to Scotland. It was unfair.

In the adjoining room, Mr Bennet reflected on what this move would mean for him. The most upsetting fact was that his books would have to be left behind. A number he had purchased would not technically belong to the estate; in fact, he had identified a significant number to someday leave to Elizabeth. He would have to figure out how to pack as many as he would be allowed, and perhaps he could find a way to pack some in crates that could be shipped later. He did not have an address for where they would go and wondered if he could convince the postman to store several crates for him that he could send when Mr Bennet wrote him with an address for shipping them. Surely he would need something to do when alone in a cottage with just Mrs Bennet and Jane for company …

This prospect was something he had never considered before. Since his daughters came, he spent more and more time in his bookroom and less time with his family. Even his estate was neglected— for the last several years, he had left its management entirely to the steward and his daughter. Without a doubt, Elizabeth knew far more about Longbourn than he did. Like his eldest daughter, this thought made him reflect on the choices he had made in recent years, and he began to think about why he had acted the way he had.

While the residents of Longbourn were contemplating the circumstances that led them to this point, Richard and George were planning their travel to Scotland. A ship was hired to convey them from London to Kirkwall, and a former soldier and his wife would travel with them. The Darcy family would pay these to ensure their loyalty to that family. They were charged with writing monthly letters about the family, keeping them apprised of the comings and goings of the Bennets. The Bennets could hire another servant or two, but that decision would be up to them based on their available funds. A week after the Darcys walked out of Longbourn, the remaining Bennet family left it for the last time and began their journey to Scotland.

Author's Note: So, the situation from Lydia stems from a post on FB I read recently that asked something similar. As indifferent Iincompenet) the Bennet patriarch and matriarch seem to be, this seems like it could be a real issue for both girls. I imagine them more as "functionally illiterate" than truly illiterate - they could likely read a little, but not much. They have received little education before now, and it will take effort to overcome Lydia's dislike for learning, but getting her away from the influence of her mother will help significantly.

Now, we need to get Charlotte married - she has been waiting long enough as we have crammed all manner of things into this brief stay in Meryton.