Page 18 of Shields and Roses

Lizzy shook her head. "No. I do not want Mary to be hurt or to become afraid of going outside again."

"Good. I was hoping we could all go on a walk in Hyde Park if there is a reasonably pleasant day during your visit. I would also like to take you to Hatchard’s bookstore one day and we can find a good book for each of you."

"That would be lovely, Aunt Madeline," Lizzy said enthusiastically, accompanied by a pleased look from Mary. "Papa sent a list of books he would like and some money to pay for them in case you would be willing to send someone over to Hatchards for him. Now we can find his books as well and carry them back to Longbourn when we return."

"We will consider it a plan, then. How about another biscuit or two each?" Madeline said as she took another biscuit from the plate for herself.

~o~

"Are you sure you both have everything?" Madeline asked the two girls standing with her in the entryway as they waited for the carriage to be brought around to the front door for the return trip to Longbourn.

Lizzy looked at Mary, who nodded. "I think so, Aunt Madeline. We both checked our room carefully this morning and Papa's books are packed away in our trunk. I know we thanked Uncle Edward before he left to go to his work this morning, but please tell him again how much Mary and I appreciate that you and he invited us for this visit. It was a very special time."

"I will tell him for you. We both enjoyed having the two of you here," Madeline replied. "I am certain the invitation will be extended again, and we will find more fun activities to do as you get older."

"It was not just the activities," Lizzy said and, again, Mary nodded agreement. "Although the walk in Hyde Park, the trip to the menagerie and the stop at Hatchards were fun, they were not the best part of the visit. Most of all, it was pleasant just to be with you and to have the time to talk over the problems that worry us without fear of interruption or censure."

"Do you feel ready to go back and face those problems now?" Madeline asked.

"I think so," Lizzy replied. "You helped me see that I do not have to fight so hard against the lessons Miss Stanton is teaching just because I do not trust her or Lady Catherine. I understand now that I truly do need to learn what she has to teach me about proper deportment and all the various accomplishments of a lady if I want to become the kind of woman that will make you and my father proud. In rebelling against those lessons, I only hurt myself."

"And you can count on Mary and me to help you avoid the kind of pride she seems to have been teaching Jane, which I know is another of your worries."

Lizzy nodded. "I love Jane, but I do not want to become too much like her. Her disdain for our family frightens me sometimes. I hope that by improving my own behavior I can become closer to her and help her be more tolerant. If she sees Mary and I both behave well, maybe that will change how she thinks of us all."

"Good girl. Just remember, there is no need to fight openly with either Miss Stanton or Lady Catherine. Bide your time and remain attentive. Eventually you will discover what plans they have for you, and all the sooner if they think you are falling in line with their wishes. So far, nothing Miss Stanton has tried to teach you is harmful beyond the false pride she has instilled in Jane. If you become concerned about any of your lessons, ask your father or me and we will help guide you."

Lizzy was nodding her agreement when they heard the coachman calling the horses to a stop outside the door. The time had come for the two girls to return home.

"Thank you, Aunt Madeline," Mary said softly. "I am happy you asked me here to visit and sorry we have to go home."

"I am sorry you both have to go as well. Still, your uncle and I will see you when we visit at Christmas and I expect you both to write to me before then. Now, let us get you on your way. Jenny is already waiting in the carriage, and she has a basket of goodies for you to enjoy later in the trip. I wish you both safe travels."

Madeline accompanied them down the step despite the drizzle of rain that was once again falling. She hugged each girl before helping her into the carriage where the maid waited to accompany them back to Longbourn. Once she had closed the carriage door behind them, she quickly retreated up the stairs to the covered entry where she turned to wave them off. Lizzy and Mary's first visit to London had come to an end.

Chapter 12: Games

The room looked somehow smaller now that the belongings of the occupants were nearly packed away. Will Darcy felt an uncomfortable sense of change as he entered at his cousin's invitation. He had spent many hours in this room over the past year and more, and already it looked completely different without the marks of Richard's life in it.

"I wanted to catch you before you left. I am glad I came when I did; it looks like you are done here," Will said.

Richard put down the filled saddlebag he had just been checking and offered Will a seat on the plain wooden chair by the bare desk. "I was planning to stop by and see you before I rode off," he said with a smile. "You need not have worried I was going to disappear like a thief in the night."

Will's answering grin still held a hint of worry to it. "Are you certain you really want to do this? It is a big step, and it will be hard to change once you take it."

"I have thought about this for years, Will," Richard replied seriously as he took a seat on the neatly made bed. "I always intended that once I left this place, my formal schooling would be over. That is why I have worked so hard and added in all the extra classes. I wanted to get the most I could out of my time here, since I will not be heading on to a university. It has been both my dream and my plan to enter the cavalry as soon as I could. Now, I shall."

"I just worry about you. We are at war, Richard. You could be injured or killed. Have you considered that?"

"Of course, I have. And if I had not, my father certainly considered and expounded upon it for me. I know there are risks, especially in time of war, but this is a role I think I was born to take on."

"Fine, so you really want to do this. I am confused, though. You have spent the last several years telling me not to trust Aunt Catherine, yet you are now about to enter the military with a commission she presented to you over your father's objections. Does this not contradict all those lectures you have given me?" Will looked down at his hands as he fidgeted with the cuffs of his shirt.

"It might look like that," Richard admitted, "but looks can be deceiving. You must trust me on this one, Will. And I still do not trust Aunt Catherine. Accepting her gift does not mean accepting her beliefs or her plans for me. There is more to this than you see, and someday I will be able to tell you about it. Please do not let my apparent capitulation stop you from questioning anything she asks of you."

Will stopped fussing with his cuff and looked directly at Richard. "I will miss having you here with me, cousin," he said. "I have enjoyed this year so much more than the previous ones since I let you push me into being more involved with the other boys and less reliant on George for company."

"I am glad to hear it. I hope you will continue to be involved with rowing, fencing and the chess club next year as well. You never really needed George to help you. Or me either. You just had to make the effort to talk to other people, even if it is a frightening thing to do, instead of waiting for them to come to you."