Sudden Awakenings (The Other Paths Collection)

Chapter 25

Mr. Bennet was quite amenable to the notion of leaving behind his youngest daughters at Pemberley. “My only regret is that I shall be home with only your mother for company,” he winked to Elizabeth.

With the plan in motion, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet set forth for home a few days after without their girls. Mary and Mr. Collins accompanied Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh to Kent.

Kitty and Lydia’s tutelage began. Mrs. Younge was by no means the most devoted of governesses. An hour a day was spent on lessons in history, mathematics, and Latin, which mainly consisted of her giving them a passage to read or a set of sums to work out, none of which she checked for accuracy. Another hour was given to music, for which neither Kitty nor Lydia showed any aptitude. Lydia’s screeching almost made Elizabeth yearn for Miss Bingley’s arias while Kitty lacked any sense of rhythm on the pianoforte.

The remainder of the day was spent in painting or drawing, needlework, parlor games, or cards. Georgiana devoted an additional three hours per day to the pianoforte and harp, but the rest of them were content to while away their hours in idle pursuits.

Elizabeth attempted to engage her sisters in her and Georgiana’s regular pastime of shirtmaking and visiting the poor, but such charitable notions disgusted them. Furthermore, they resisted Elizabeth’s attempts to instruct them in comportment, something Mrs. Younge spent precious little time devoting her energies towards.

“I heard from Mr. Wickham, there is to be an assembly on Wednesday evening at the hall in Kympton,” Lydia told Elizabeth one day. “Can we go?”

Since his visit on Christmas Day, Mr. Wickham was a regular caller at Pemberley, and had several times been invited to dine, usually accompanied by Mr. Kirby or Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.

“Mr. Darcy deems you are not old enough to attend such public gatherings,” Elizabeth replied, not breaking a stitch on the shirt she was sewing.

“How unfair! In Hertfordshire, we were regular participants at all the assemblies.” Lydia folded her arms across her chest, her lips pursed.

“I am aware of the liberties you are used to enjoying. However, you are not in Hertfordshire. Mr. Darcy wishes you to learn proper deportment before returning to society.”

“Whoever heard of a girl being removed from society once she is out? It is unthinkable, unless she had some secret to conceal. Suppose people think such about me or Kitty?”

“No one with any sense would conceive such of either of you,” Elizabeth argued. “And neither of you shall be away from society so long as to be possible for such a situation to occur, so you had best put that thought from your head at once,” she assured them.

Nevertheless, Elizabeth wondered if too much seclusion from society might have a negative effect on the girls. It might be prudent to widen their social circle to some degree.

Mr. Darcy agreed with Elizabeth, to her surprise. “Perhaps you might consider taking the girls to accompany you on your visits to Mrs. Wilson. She is a respectable woman, who might have a positive influence on their developing minds. And being in her society would give some variety to your daily pursuits. Perhaps she might even be successful in persuading your sisters to join you in your charitable endeavors.”

S

“It feels as though we have been cooped up in the house for ages!” Kitty said with a skip in her step as they entered the sitting room at Kenshire. A sudden heavy snowfall had kept them all housebound for the past twelve days. Even venturing forth to church had been impossible. The remaining thaw had turned to slush, necessitating they wear their thick boots and mind their skirts when descending the carriage, but at least they could venture from their home at last.

“I feel its effects as well,” Mrs. Wilson nodded. “My boys have been frightfully rambunctious. It is all Nanny can do to keep them from tearing the house apart. They have been in desperate need of a romp out of doors. Nanny has taken them for a stroll in the garden, so we have a bit of peace and quiet for the moment.”

The bell rang, announcing more visitors, and presently Mr. Wickham and Mr. Kirby were shown into the room.

“Such a gathering of beautiful ladies– we gentlemen are quite outnumbered!” Mr. Wickham said, bowing to greet them. His gallantry seemed most welcome, especially to Georgiana, whose countenance brightened at the sight of him. Mr. Kirby bowed as well before taking his seat.

“The ladies and I were just discussing the weather,” Mrs. Wilson said. “Such damp conditions have prevented us from meeting anyone, and it has been rather dull.”

“Yes,” Lydia added. “One can only study Latin and paint pictures of flowers so much. ”

“There is always music to entertain you,” Mr. Wickham suggested. “Especially when you have at your disposal such an able musician.” He smiled in Georgiana’s general direction.

“Our days are filled with her music,” Kitty said in a droll voice. “Georgiana does little other than practice her pieces, with exacting repetition.”

“Not that we mind it,” Elizabeth interjected, before Georgiana could take offense at the slight. “I could listen to Georgina’s playing endlessly.”

“As could I,” Mr. Wickham said. “I see here there is an instrument in the corner. Miss Darcy, would you play something for us?”

Georgiana looked to her hostess for approval, who readily admitted her pianoforte had long been wanting for someone to play upon it, although she was not certain how well in-tune it might be. Georgiana opened the instrument and began to play a piece she had committed to memory. The pianoforte was indeed a little out of tune, but it did not diminish her playing.

“This weather kept you all from church, I presume?” Mr. Kirby asked.

“Yes, it has been positively dreadful,” Lydia said.

“I hope with the snow clearing, we might see you all this Sunday?”

Kitty nodded. “We shall certainly endeavor to be there. Will you be preaching, Mr. Kirby, or will Mr. Wickham be doing the honors?”

“I will be standing in for him. Mr. Wickham has plans to go to West Riding.”

“Oh? Do you have family there, Mr. Wickham?” she asked, turning to him.

Mr. Wickham smiled. “No, but I have been invited to stay for a week or two with the Silverman family, in that part of the country. I was once their parish’s curate, and formed a fast friendship with them. Perhaps I may even stay longer, if they allow it. Mr. Kirby is quite capable of managing in my absence.”

“The loss of your presence will be keenly felt, Mr. Wickam,” Elizabeth said.

Mrs. Wilson spoke up. “When you return to this part of the country, I have a mind to give a little dinner here at Kenshire. You would not object to being a part of it?”

“Not at all!” Wickham replied. “Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than dining at your table, Mrs. Wilson.”

“You are all invited, of course,” Mrs. Wilson said, turning to Elizabeth. “That is, if Mr. Darcy believes it a fitting outing for the young ladies. It would only be ourselves and these two gentlemen.”

Elizabeth considered the prospect with eagerness. She too longed for a bit of society after their winter spell of confinement. “I do not think Mr. Darcy would have an objection to such a gathering. I shall bring it up to him later.”

“Excellent! I shall write to you later to confirm the details.”

Mr. Wickham rose and came over to the piano to listen to Georgiana’s playing.

“A delightful piece of music!” he commended. “May I ask what it is called?”

Without missing a beat, Georgiana answered him, “This is one of Dussek’s sonatas for piano.”

“Sublime! You play with such passion, the heart of an artist. You boast a natural talent that ought to be displayed for the world to see. It is a pity that women of your station cannot appear on stage, or surely all the concert halls of Europe would beg for your condescension.”

His remarks caused her color to change. “Music is my true love in life, but I cannot claim any greatness except what I derive through diligent practice. ”

Georgiana concluded the piece and was persuaded by them to play another, but before she could begin, their gathering was interrupted by Mrs. Wilson’s boys who, heedless of their nurse’s warnings, chose to enter the house by the sitting room doors connected to the garden. They were eager to show their mother the rocks and twigs they had collected from the garden. As soon as they saw Elizabeth, they rushed to her and begged for her to play with them.

“Now boys,” their mother said, “Mrs. Darcy is not here to be your playmate.”

“But we want to tell her all about our expedition!” Henry protested.

“An expedition, you say?” Mr. Wickham exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “By all means, you must tell us of your adventures!”

“We have been to the tip of South Aff-er-ick-a,” he said, drawing each syllable out.

“Africa,” his nurse supplied.

“That’s it! We saw penguins, and Eddie almost got ate by a killer whale!”

“Eaten,” Nanny corrected him.

“What I said,” Henry nodded.

Mr. Wickham crouched down on the boy’s level. “It sounds dreadfully dangerous, but also exciting. How many penguins did you see?”

“Hundreds! And they walk real funny, did you know?”

“No, I did not. Can you show me how they walked, Master Henry?”

“Like this.” He proceeded to waddle, to everyone’s amusement. Little Edward began copying him.

Nanny laughed too. “Very well, Master Henry, Master Edward. Now, both of you, waddle off to your rooms to change your clothes, and mind you don’t track your muddy boots on the rug. ”

Both boys slipped off their shoes and handed them to the nurse, who carried them while the boys continued their penguin imitation out the door.

“You have a generous disposition to allow your boys such freedom, Mrs. Wilson,” Kitty remarked.

“I have found I must take their playful antics in stride, or else they would surely drive me mad,” she chuckled.