***
The day after Lady Greenfield’s date with the Countess, Beatrice’s conversation was again full of fashion and gossip. But there was more! The Countess of Matlock had invited Lady Greenfield to join her on the board of one of her many charities!
“Serving on such a board at the express invitation of such a personage as the Countess – well! What a coup for Lady Greenfield, and thus for the entire house!” Mr. Durston intoned with enormous self-importance as the servants all gathered around the table that night.
“What difference does it make to you and me, I ask ya?” Edith whispered to Lydia.
“What was that, Edith?” Mr. Durston enquired.
“She was saying that this was indeed a great honour for Greenfield House!” Lydia said at once.
Mr. Durston, unimpressed and disbelieving, scowled at the two girls, who quickly stared down at their plates.
***
Then there was more news! The Countess had been invited by Lady Greenfield to take tea at Greenfield House, and the invitation had been accepted! The house was in an uproar over it.
Lady Greenfield had come downstairs to visit with Cook several times to consult about the treats to be served and which special tea was most likely to find favour with the special guest. It was clear that Cook tolerated these visits, but did not welcome them. “As if I doan’ know how to serve a nice tea!” she had been heard to mutter after one such visit.
***
On the day of the Countess’ visit, the three lady’s maids were in their element, tossing gowns about, pulling all the slippers out to be selected or eliminated, dragging out every ribbon for careful examination. Lydia and Edith were brought into the fray only to return the gowns, slippers and ribbons to their proper places once they had been eliminated.
The chore ripped a new hole in poor Lydia’s heart. How she missed her own ribbons and bonnets! Edith caught sight of Lydia running her hands dreamily over one wide satin ribbon; Edith poked her hard, pulling Lydia’s head out of her past and back into her present.
Lydia understood full well that she had been born into a privileged life, and she had lost it as a result of her own foolishness. She had thrown away her birthright for – what was it? Yes; a mess of pottage. She was not quite certain what a mess of pottage was – Mary would know and Lydia hoped someday she might be able to ask her – but it sounded very much like Mr. Wickham.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Caroline was delighted to finally receive a letter from Clarissa.
Dear Caroline,
Well, it has taken rather a bit of time, particularly as my maid’s brother’s writing is nearly illegible, but I have learnt that therewasa Lydia Bennet residing with the Forster’s, but she has not been seen in some time. He knew nothing of any illness, though there was some talk about her and a certain officer. He refused to name the officer, saying that his loyalty must lie with the regiment. Of all the silly notions! In any case, I hope this is helpful to your friend.
Here in London…
The rest of the letter contained a good deal of gossip and talk of fashions, which interested Caroline very little just now.
Whatdidinterest her was that Lydia had not been seen in some time, and the man knew nothing of illness. There was definitely something odd going on. She could not wait to hear what the angelic Jane Bennet had to say about that!
Caroline raised her head, distracted from her thoughts by the sound of Georgiana practicing on the pianoforte. If there really was something odd happening in Brighton, it was unlikely that the high and mighty Mr. Darcy would offer for Miss Eliza. Caroline thought that she might yet become the mistress of Pemberley.
Chapter Forty
There is going to be a ball here at the house,” Mr. Durston informed the staff at dinner. “The Season is starting up again, it being October, and her ladyship will be one of the first to entertain. It is important that the house be seen at its very best!”
“Which means a lot o’ extra work fer all of us, “ Edith muttered to Lydia.
“Miss Alice is getting dance lessons,” Letty said. “She will be allowed to dance with her father and some of Lord Greenfield’s old friends. Sort of a practice for her, you know, before her come out next year.”
“I thought she had already had dance lessons?” Nancy asked.
“The dancing master told Lady Greenfield that Miss Alice needs more practice,” Letty explained.
“Miss Emily is an excellent dancer,” Nancy said, tossing her head. “Evidently her sister has not the same grace.” There was no rivalry between the two sisters, but the same could not be said of their maids.
“What dances is she learning?” Lydia asked, eagerly.
