Free Amanda Grange & Jacqueline Webb by Pride, Pyramids

while they are in town,” said Elizabeth.
    Jane hesitated.
    Elizabeth looked at her enquiringly. “There is something you are not telling me,” she said.
    â€œOnly this,” said Jane uncomfortably. “As soon as Mama realised that the Lucases would be taking Sophie to London and that the fourth seat in the carriage would be spare…”
    â€œOh dear,” said Lizzy, but she could not help laughing at the sight of Darcy’s face, which had fallen comically as he had a presentiment of what was coming.
    â€œYou mean to say that your mother is intending to come, too?” he asked.
    â€œI am very much afraid so,” said Jane.
    â€œCheer up, Darcy,” said Bingley jovially. “It is only for a few days, you know, just while you are still in London.”
    â€œIs that really all, or will she accompany us to Southampton?” Darcy asked, dismayed.
    â€œI am afraid so,” said Jane. “To see you onto the ship and to wish you all bon voyage. ”
    Lizzy could not help laughing, despite her own horror, for it was so like her mama.
    â€œDo you really mind so very much?” she said, turning to Darcy.
    He rallied himself. “No,” he said courageously. “Or, at least, no more than you! But never mind, it will not be for long and the children will be glad to see her. We are taking them away from their grandparents for months, after all.”
    â€œI think, if we are to have the Lucases and Mama to stay for a few days before we set out for the port, we should also invite Paul Inkworthy to stay. Otherwise he will be the only member of the party not to know anyone. A few days at Darcy House will give him a chance to accustom himself to the children, as well as meet Sophie, before we leave the familiarity of England,” said Elizabeth.
    â€œA good idea. I will visit him when we return to London and invite him.”
    â€œWhen are you returning to London?” asked Jane.
    â€œAt the end of June,” said Elizabeth. “That will allow us some time in town to have the final fittings for our clothes, as well as make other last-minute preparations before we set out.”
    â€œYou will not forget to write? I am longing to hear all about it,” said Jane.
    â€œI will write very regularly, and you must write to me, too,” said Elizabeth. “I want to know all about my nieces and nephews while I am away. I have an itinerary inside; I will give you a copy before you leave, and then you will know where we will be at any given time. If you send your letters to the British Consuls, they will hold the letters for us until we arrive, for we will be travelling at a leisurely pace and the post will go more quickly than we do.”
    â€œThis artist of yours, is he any good?” asked Bingley.
    â€œHe comes highly recommended,” said Darcy, “but I hope to see for myself when I invite him to stay with us before embarking on our voyage. I intend to call on him to issue the invitation.”
    â€œWould it not be better to write?” said Bingley. “You will give him more time to prepare if you do.”
    â€œWhich is exactly why I intend to call. I would like a chance to see his studio so that I can examine some of his work without him having arranged it all for me in advance.”
    â€œHis studio is, I fear, nothing more than an attic,” said Elizabeth. “The address was not in a good part of town. You must not expect too much.”
    â€œNever mind. If the young man has talent, then I mean to give him the opportunity to rise in the world. If I like his work, I am thinking of commissioning a whole set of paintings from him, so that we will have a pictorial record of our trip.”
    â€œI like that idea,” said Elizabeth, “but we will be away for months, and if he is to paint everywhere we go and everything we do, we will need a new gallery at Pemberley!”
    â€œWell, and why not? Each generation of