Lizzy was comforted when Georgiana arrived and cossetted her. “I will stay with you and take care of you, Lizzy.” Georgiana sweetly consoled her friend. “I am only ten but mama told me all about it and how it gets better as one becomes used to it. It means that you are ready to be a woman, Lizzy. I hope you will be all well when Richard arrives. He is returning home after being gone for three long years and we will have a grand party.”
“Yes, I’ll be all better by then, Georgie,” Lizzy smiled. “I’m looking forward to seeing Major... I mean Colonel Fitzwilliam and hearing of the heroic battles he fought. It is a great honour to know him already and I’m eager to know if we are closer to ending this terrible war. Too many lives have been lost already and I hope Napoleon gets his due soon.”
“I hope Richard will come back and marry someone soon. Do you think he might fall in love with Jane? Jane is so beautiful and has the sweetest temperament. I think Richard would be a good husband for her.” Georgiana daydreamed.
Lizzy giggled, “That would be fantastic, wouldn’t it? But I have a secret to tell you, Georgie.” She spoke in a whisper when Georgiana leaned in. “I think my sister is in love with Mr. Bingley. Remember Charles Bingley, your brother’s friend? Although Caroline Bingley is a shrew, Jane would not stop speaking of how handsome Mr. Bingley was and how much she enjoyed his company. I hope they reunite soon. Without Will here, it will not be easy to do, unless we took Jane to Rosings Park somehow and they were to meet there and fall madly in love, but I hope they see each other again soon.”
The girls giggled together and gossiped and Lizzy soon forgot about her discomfort. She, being an active young lady, recovered quickly from her pains and was able to continue her holiday in London with the Darcys with many outings and happy memories.
~*~
April 1808
The next months flew by, with Lizzy receiving regular posts from William, filled with his adventures and the sights he visited, and Lizzy wrote back, regaling him with her own exciting experiences of seeing the ocean, riding her horse Ghost, and her book, which was about half completed. Lizzy wrote of the new Gardiner baby, a little boy named Gabriel, and how fast Grace Gardiner was growing up.
Lizzy was always thrilled to hear from William and was touched that he never forgot her birthday. For her fourteenth, he had sent her a beautiful Connemara Marble necklace, which he wrote, was a replica of what the Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley of Mayo wore. And this year, he had a silver sgian-dubh, a small, single-edged knife, that was exquisitely decorated on the handle, which was usually worn with the popular Scottish Highland dress, along with a woollen kilt, sent to her.
Knowing that it took much longer to have the gifts sent and how much earlier he must have planned to send it off, she was impressed with his considerations and she did all she could to care for his family in his absence. There was about a year until his return was planned and she prayed daily for his health and safe return.
“Are you ready to go, Lizzy?” Jane opened the door and asked her sister.
“As soon as I am done sealing this letter, I am.” Lizzy happily responded. “I hope Will receives this without any problems. The letters are so delayed from Scotland and he said he received two at the same time at the last delivery.”
Jane smiled softly, “You have been so diligent about writing to him, Lizzy, and I am certain he must be very happy to receive them. Mr. Darcy said he writes to you more often than to his own family.”
Lizzy grinned, “He and I have so much more to talk about, you know. He still sends me Latin words to translate and he writes four or five pages in his letters since he has to write to me what he does nearly daily so I can use it for my stories, but I enjoy it heartily and I am most eager to write him in return.”
“Well, let us go to Bond Street now. Lady Anne is gathering our gloves and bonnets and is excited to purchase yards and yards of fabric for my coming out. She told me I am good practice for when Georgiana comes out and is excited to pamper me with the finest of dresses. She is so kind. I know she is planning to purchase half a dozen dresses for you as well.” Jane laughed as Lizzy frowned. “You are now fifteen and you did tell mama that you wanted to be out as early as possible in order to attend the theatre and some parties.”
Lizzy groaned, “I went to one dinner party and it was so dull that I have changed my mind. I do wish to go to the theatre again but no more dinner parties until next year. I only need a dress or
