The next few days brought a flurry of activity to the Willstone residence as everyone readied themselves and the home for the arrival of Mrs. Willstone’s sister, Rosalyn. Elizabeth eagerly looked forward to meeting this young lady who was merely a year older than her. Mrs. Willstone hoped that the two young ladies would enjoy each other’s company in the weeks ahead that Rosalyn would be staying with them in London and then this summer in the country. Elizabeth was certain they would, if she found Rosalyn to be as affable as Mrs. Willstone.
Rosalyn arrived on Thursday afternoon that week. Elizabeth was sitting in a rocking chair in her room with a light coverlet over her. She had briefly dozed off with a book in her hands while Emily napped, and was awakened by the sound of the bell ringing, announcing the arrival of guests. Knowing that Rosalyn was due to arrive today, she promptly stood up, smoothed her dress, and went to the dresser mirror to readjust her hair.
She slipped into Emily’s room and gently nudged the girl. Emily slowly opened her eyes and looked at Elizabeth.
“Did I oversleep, Miss Bennet?”
“No, Emily. I am awakening you because I believe your aunt Rosalyn is here.”
The little girl fisted her hands and rubbed her eyes, yawning as she did. “Do you think she brought me a gift? She oftentimes brings me something.”
“We shall see. The sooner we get you ready and go downstairs, the sooner you shall find out.” Elizabeth leaned down and gave her a big smile. “Now, let us dress you in that pretty yellow frock you picked out earlier.”
Elizabeth helped Emily dress and then brushed out her brown curly hair, adorning it with ribbons. She then escorted her into the drawing room where the Willstones and Miss Matthews were gathered. The younger of the ladies, dressed in a fashionable gown and standing slightly taller than Elizabeth, rose and opened her arms for her niece.
“Emily! I am so delighted to see you! My how you are grown!”
“Do you have a surprise for me?”
“Watch your manners, Emily,” Elizabeth whispered.
Miss Matthews looked to Elizabeth with a friendly smile. “You must be Miss Bennet.”
Mrs. Willstone brought her hands together in delight. “Miss Bennet, may I introduce you to my sister, Rosalyn Matthews? And Rosalyn, this is Elizabeth Bennet.”
“I have heard much about you through Lorraine’s letters, Miss Bennet. She writes that you are doing a wonderful job.”
“And I have heard much about you from your sister’s very own words. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Miss Matthews.”
Rosalyn looked down at Emily with a conspiratorial look. “And if you heard anything from Emily, you know that I always bring her something.”
“Did you? Did you?” Emily squealed and jumped with excitement.
“Well, let me look in my bag here and see if there is anything you might like.” Rosalyn’s light blue eyes twinkled.
Emily clasped her hands together with a burst of anticipation as she anxiously watched her aunt look down into her handbag. “Now, let me see. Do you suppose this could be for you?” She slowly pulled out a lacy embroidered handkerchief.
“Noooo,” the little girl laughed.
Elizabeth smiled as she came to suspect that this was the manner in which this always passed between the two.
“Oh, here is something you might enjoy,” Miss Matthews whispered, glancing up at the young girl. She pulled out a small, leather-bound book. “Would this be it?”
“Noooo!” Emily cried, standing on her tiptoes trying to look into her aunt’s bag herself.
“Hmmm,” Miss Matthews continued. She began to pull something out of the bag and peered closely at it. “No, I do not think this could be it.”
“What is it?” asked Emily, barely able to control her countenance.
“Just a little doll… but no, this could not be it.” Miss Matthews looked over to her niece, a grin teasing the corners of her mouth.
“Yes! I am sure that is it!” Emily reached out her small arms, palms upright, eager to see it.
Miss Matthews slowly pulled the doll out of the bag and put it in Emily’s hands. The girl laughed with unrestrained glee. “How beautiful she is!” the young girl exclaimed. “Does she have a name?”
“I thought you might choose a name for her.”
“I shall call her… ummmm…” She tapped her fingers against her lips. “Elizabeth! I shall name her Elizabeth. May I go play with her?”
“Certainly,” Miss Matthews said, “if it is agreeable to your mother and Miss Bennet.”
The little girl looked at her mother and then at Elizabeth, who each gave her an assenting nod.
Emily proudly carried her new doll off to the corner of the room, and Elizabeth began to follow.
“No, Miss Bennet, please join us,” Miss Matthews reached out her arm. “I should like to become better acquainted with you.”
Elizabeth sat down, eager to get to know Miss Matthews a little better as well. Elizabeth liked her friendly smile and welcoming demeanour. She was a little taller than Elizabeth, fairer in complexion and hair, and fashionably graceful in her movements.
“Miss Bennet, that is quite a tribute for you to have Emily name her doll after you.”
“Indeed?”
“She has named every doll she has ever owned after someone special in her life!”
“Well, I must admit I consider
The three ladies visited as Emily entertained herself with her new doll. Elizabeth liked Rosalyn. She carried herself well but without any trace of hauteur or condescension. She appeared to be well educated and well read. The two soon found themselves in a spirited discussion comparing the merits of poets Joseph Addison and William Lisle Bowles.
At one point, Rosalyn expressed her condolences for the loss of her father. “I see you are still in mourning. Do you mind me asking what he was like?”
“He was a very good man. Intelligent and kind. Very witty. I am deeply indebted to him for passing on to me the love of reading. He spent a good deal of the day reading and encouraged me to do likewise. We would often sit in his study discussing one of his books or dissecting a favourite poem.” Elizabeth sighed as she felt her eyes tear up. “I do miss him very much.”
Rosalyn reached out, taking her hand. “He sounds like a wonderful father. What do you miss most about him?”
Elizabeth pondered this for a moment. “The way he instilled in me a desire to improve myself and learn all I could. We were without a governess, you see, but I had such a desire to learn. I am quite certain it came from my father.” She took in a shaky breath. “My favourite pastime spent with him was playing chess. Of the five daughters, I was the only one who enjoyed the strategy of the game and could best him on occasion.”
“You play chess?”
“Yes, but it has been a long time since I have played.”
“Unfortunately, none of us here play, although my brother, Simon, plays well. He tried to teach me on several occasions, but I simply could not remember how each piece moved. It would be much easier if each piece moved only one direction!”
“But then it would merely be draughts[1],” Elizabeth said with a soft chuckle.
They both laughed and went on to discuss a myriad of other things.
Elizabeth lost all sense of time as she, Mrs. Willstone, and Miss Matthews spent a good part of the afternoon conversing. Other than her visits with the Gardiners and Jane, Elizabeth could not recall having spent a more enjoyable afternoon in quite a long time.
