Fashion Plate (Promenade Dress). England, London, October 1, 1824. Rudolph Ackermann. Los Angeles County Museum of Art [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
~*~*~
“Oh, do skip over the people I know, Reginald.” She huffed. “Why must you insist on being such a trial?”
“Because I am much like you?”
“Reginald Arthur Fitzwilliam, do your duty as you should,” Lady Matlock retorted.
Westonbury chuckled. “My full name and not even five minutes have passed. That must be a record.”
“Indeed,” his mother replied dryly but with a smile for her eldest son. “Now, get on with it. And do it properly.”
[from Loving Lydia, book 3 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]
A doctor placing his hand on the head of a sick boy, outside a country cottage. Photogravure after R. Hedley, 1898. Iconographic Collections Keywords: Ralph Hedley. Wellcome Images (public domain) via Wikimedia Commons.
A/N: We are not going to meet Lady M this week. The residents of Netherfield and Longbourn are just preparing for her arrival, and this image made me think of her.
~*~*~
“It is good to see you in the drawing room,” Darcy looked up from the book he was reading as Richard entered the room with his brother standing watchfully at his side.
“I hear Mother is to arrive. I thought it best to look as fit as possible so that she would not send for every doctor in London.”
“And a few from other locales,” Westonbury quipped.
Lady Matlock had never been one to just allow her children to recuperate as the good Lord deemed, as her husband said it. As certain as her husband was about the fact that medication and doctors were not needed for every ailment, she was equally as certain that if doctors and medication were not needed then the good Lord would not have allowed them to exist. Therefore, if her children did not regain their health and vigour within a specified window of time – more or less mutually agreed upon between Lord and Lady Matlock – a physician would be sought.
[from Loving Lydia, book 3 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]
Charles Joshua Chaplin [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
~*~*~
“What are you two to doing this afternoon?” Richard asked.
“I am continuing my lessons. We have just completed the duties of the footmen and maids,” Lydia replied. “There is a lot to remember, but Miss Bingley is very patient. Surprisingly so.”
“Is that so?” Amusement had been so far from Richard for so many weeks that it was quite refreshing to feel it now.
[from Loving Lydia, book 3 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]
Frederick Morgan [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons[I think this picture is a good representation of the familial relationships which are developing in Loving Lydia. I can see Elizabeth from this story pulling Lydia to her side like this and helping her along the path of life.]
~*~*~
“Do you think he will see her?” Elizabeth whispered to Darcy. Lydia had eaten little yesterday or today. Between the worry over the damage Mary might have done by being so outspoken to Lord Westonbury and concern about the colonel, she had little appetite and wandered from room to room unable to focus on any task. To be honest, Elizabeth was more than a little anxious about the state of her youngest sister’s mind.
“We are hopeful,” Darcy replied.
[from Loving Lydia, book 3 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]
Rudolph Ackermann. August 1812. Los Angeles County Museum of Art [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
~*~*~
“My arm is not taken,” Westonbury offered.
Mary looked at the arm he offered, raised a brow while giving him a look of perturbed displeasure, and then very cautiously placed her hand on it.
“Why?” Bingley whispered to Darcy as the group began walking once again. “She obviously does not like him. Why would he subject himself to what could very likely be a lecture?”
[from Loving Lydia, book 3 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]
