Page 43 of Shields and Roses

"Early last week," Lydia replied. "After Viscount Rand visited Mary in London, he came here for a short time and I know he and Papa discussed the rumors Mr. Darcy had spread. With Miss Stanton gone, and no other spies for Lady Catherine currently in the house, that we know of, Papa decided it was time. He warned Mama, Kitty and me that he was writing to Lady Catherine and that she might send Mama a nasty letter in response. I am certain he will tell you more, but when I asked if he had warned you, he thought you would be home before any response from Lady Catherine could reach you, Jane or Mary."

"That is what he told me when we arrived yesterday," Mary added. "Of course, Viscount Rand had also discussed the possibility that Papa would write to her with Uncle Edward, Aunt Madeline and me, so I was not completely surprised by the news."

"Lady Catherine did write to Mama – an absolutely scathing letter," Kitty said. "I hate to think how she would have responded if Papa had not warned her."

"It also helped that the letter arrived just after Sir Barnaby came to ask Papa for permission to enter a courtship with Jane," Lydia explained. "Mama was too happy about that development to be as flustered over Lady Catherine's letter as she normally would have been."

Lizzy looked across the room at her mother, who was still loudly exclaiming over Jane's good luck. Honoria and Madeline saw happened to be looking Lizzy's way, and when they caught her gaze, Honoria rolled her eyes. As she turned back to her sisters, Lizzy had to stifle a laugh.

"The news does seem to have her distracted," Lizzy said.

Lydia and Kitty burst into giggles. "She was so pleased she could hardly eat her dinner that evening," Lydia said when she caught her breath. "She kept fanning herself and making comments about 'her dear, sweet Jane' and complimenting Sir Barnaby on every little thing he did or said. I think Papa must have warned him that Jane only takes after Mama in looks. I saw him look Papa's way very nervously every time Mama became too loud."

Lizzy replied, "I think Jane warned him as well. And you know there is no real harm in Mama, she is just...exuberant."

"Like me," Lydia admitted cheerfully.

"Yes, just like you," Lizzy teased. "You are certainly full of news and talk today. Well, I thank you for the warning. I will discuss the situation regarding Lady Catherine with Papa later. Now, I truly am interested in your experiences, Mary. Did you enjoy your visit in London and are you looking forward to going back with us after Christmas?"

"As I told you in my letters, it was less frightening than I thought it might be. Aunt Madeline made attending the various events easy and comfortable, just as you said she would. Her friends were very kind and understanding, so they helped me be less nervous. And, of course, all the dancing practice we have done left me well prepared for the small private balls we attended."

"Oh, how I would love to attend a ball and dance all night!" Lydia exclaimed. Her sisters laughed.

"When your time comes, I am sure you will dance all night and wear out all your partners," Lizzy said.

"I do not ever want to sit out a dance," Lydia insisted.

"I cannot promise you that, since it is up to the men to do the asking, but I am certain you will not often lack a partner," replied Lizzy.

"I am not sure I could manage to dance all night long," Kitty said. "But knowing Mary was able to be comfortable at the dances and parties makes me feel better about coming out next year."

"You will be fine, Kitty," Lizzy assured her, accompanied by nods from Mary and Lydia. "We will all look out for you." Anything else she might have said on the subject was interrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Hill with tea and cakes. She breathed a sigh of anticipation. "Ah, I have been looking forward to a cup of hot tea almost since we left the last inn where we changed the horses. Now I can warm up from within as well."

The sisters moved to join the rest of the group as the tea was poured and the cakes distributed. There would be time for more talk on all matters after a bit of refreshment.

Chapter 26: Explanations

Lizzy picked up the tweezers as she examined the placement of the pieces on the miniature chessboard. Smiling, she moved the black bishop and claimed one of her father's pawns, placing the captured piece carefully in the small bowl that already contained a few men that had been taken in the game earlier. Satisfied with the move, she returned the tweezers to their usual spot on that corner of the desk.

After a moment of thought, Bennet picked up the tweezers, made his answering move and put them back in their usual place again. He returned his daughter's smile as he said, "I have missed you, my Lizzy."

She took a seat in front of the fire. "As I have missed you, Papa," she replied.

Bennet eased himself into the other armchair facing the fireplace. To Lizzy's eyes, his physical discomfort seemed greater than usual.

"Are you well, Papa?" she asked as she reached over to help draw the heavy gray wool shawl that he kept draped on his chair up over his shoulders so he could adjust it as he wished.

"Well enough, dear girl," he replied, fussing with the shawl ends as he pulled the warming garment tighter around himself. "There is no need for you to worry. So far as I know, my death is not imminent. It is just that the cold has seemed to bite deeper than usual these last few weeks. It gets into every joint and my very bones ache with it."

Lizzy leaned forward and stirred up the fire a bit. She felt the area around the chairs warm up slightly and hoped that and the shawl would help ease her father's pain. Bennet sighed a little as the heat spread through the room.

"Now, my Lizzy, I expect you are curious about my letter to Lady Catherine?" he said, hoping to turn her thoughts away from his physical condition.

She nodded, "Yes, Papa. Lydia told me yesterday when we arrived that you had finally made a complete break."

"But between our guests and your mother's raptures over Jane's news, we have not had a moment for a quiet chat between your arrival and now," he continued her thought.

"Indeed. I am curious what you said to Lady Catherine and why you made the break now."