Mary shook her head in consternation. “So, our disadvantageous position in the marriage market is due entirely to indolence and wasteful foolishness?”
“Yes, and do not even start on newer farming methods that could have raised our income with hardly any effort on our part, or the almost trifling amount that would have been needed for a governess and a few masters. I tried the farming methods with Papa several times, but he used the weak excuse that the current methods have worked for centuries, the new methods areunproven, and it would all be for the heir’s benefit anyway; as if he did not have decades to enjoy increased rents or income from the home farm.”
Mary sighed; she knew something of the dispute, mainly because Elizabeth’s battles with either parent were rarely subtle or silent.
“A first-rate governess earns £30-40 along with board, and £20 will secure a more than adequate one. All told, far less than £60 per annum. The interest on Mama’s portion alone wouldpay for both, with well over £100 to spare. And please, please, please—make not the slightest mention of the minimal effort required to make Kitty and Lydia more like ladies and less like savages.”
Mary shook her head in consternation, and they walked on for a few moments.
Finally, Mary said, “Lizzy, once I am married, you must visit. I will need your help to make sure all is as it should be. Perhaps you could come at Easter?”
Elizabeth laughed gaily, her humour restored, as it usually was when she stopped talking about disagreeable things.
“You really expect me to wait until Easter to experience the glorious condescension of the noble Lady Catherine de Bourgh?”
“You need to give me a few months to begin her education. I will expect your help after that. Lady Catherine will not run my household, but I expect a few contests of wills before her inevitable surrender.”
Elizabeth grinned wickedly. “I can hardly wait.”
~~~
The sisters continued arm in arm, chatting happily about the future and the near certainty that Lady Catherine would be almost identical to their mother. Mary expected to feel right at home, aside from the fact that she could escape Lady Catherine by going home, while nobody was ever easy at Longbourn.
They joined the road into Meryton and walked carefully between puddles.
A whip cracked, and a carriage approached atfartoo fast a pace.
Elizabeth caught Mary’s arm, and they leapt aside just before it rounded the corner and hurtled past, the horses nearly at adead run. The driver paid them not the slightest attention—if he even saw them.
The wheels struck a puddle, covering both ladies in mud from bonnets to boots as the carriage rumbled down the road towards London.
Whoooaaahhh!
Mary and Elizabeth spent several minutes doing their best to clean their faces, focused chiefly on keeping mud from their eyes and mouths with their handkerchiefs and wraps. The wraps were already drenched in front, but the backs remained barely clean enough to serve as towels until they resorted to their petticoats.
The mud differed from what they knew, for not a single coachman in Hertfordshire would operate so carelessly—or at least, he would not do so twice. They received a double portion. The wheels went through a large puddle at great speed, drenching them with muddy water, and throwing mud and small pebbles directly into their faces.
They could only have been more disagreeably muddy had the horses run them down and stamped them into the road: their likely fate absent Elizabeth’s quick action.
When they could speak again without eating mud, Mary asked, “Lizzy, did you see inside that coach?”
“I fear not.”
“There are two things of note,” Mary declared vehemently. “I only had a moment to see, but that sufficed.”
“Do tell!”
“The first is that the coach heldMiss Bingleyand the Hursts. I suspect they decided to escape this savage society the moment their brother turned his back for 5 minutes.”
Elizabeth sighed for at least the dozenth time. “That seems a reasonable surmise.”
“The second iseven more disturbing. When I had to close my eyes, Miss Bingley was looking straight at us andlaughing!”
Elizabeth sputtered. “I never!Well… I… I… knew she was a disagreeable hoyden, but this… this—”
Propriety paralysed them. They had to balance the conflicting desires to say what they truly thought, against the habit of acting like ladies who didnotsay such things.
They both tried to work out the proper response when a loud call settled the matter.
