He smiled. “All right.” He kissed her hands one at a time and asked, “Does that often happen? It arrive unexpectedly?” Darcy liked to be prepared and if they would need to always travel with his wife’s maid in future, he wanted to know.

“It is not completely unexpected. It is once a month. The exact day varies, but not by more than a few days. I thought it might begin at the end of our journey and I was hoping it wouldn’t happen until we arrived, but it was not to be.”

“Forgive my impertinence, but how long does it usually last?” He flushed as he asked and she would have laughed at his discomfort if she hadn’t been so uncomfortable herself.

“Usually four or five days.”

“At least you will be able to enjoy The Lakes right away then.”

“Yes, that is one happy turn.”

There was a rap on the door and Darcy left her to the maid’s attention. He paced back and forth in the sitting room, disgusted with his own spoilt behavior, relieved they had reconciled, disappointed that his lovely wife was unavailable for the immediate future, and feeling a tendril of hope that it would all be well once they got to The Lakes.

Chapter 25

The Bennets arrived at Margate without much trouble. The house was just as they left it and even the marmalade cat was awaiting them in the garden. All but Mrs. Bennet were subdued, thinking how they were one person less on this journey. Mrs. Bennet could speak of nothing but her daughter, Mrs. Darcy, and how well that sounded and how much pin money she would have and how many grand parties she would now attend. Her other daughters nodded and smiled and agreed where necessary, but even Lydia was quiet. Who would sneak her biscuits now that Lizzy was gone?

Mary entered the room she had shared with Elizabeth, now her room alone. She sat on Elizabeth’s bed forlornly and looked around, wondering what she would do now without her sister’s lively conversation or her assistance in practicing music or the faces she made at the table when no one was looking.

Mary was joined shortly by Jane, who sat beside her and placed her arm around her younger sister.

“I feel quite lost without Lizzy,” said Jane. “What are we to do now?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea,” Mary replied.

Kitty poked her head around the corner and knocked lightly on the frame. “May I join you?”

“Of course,” said Jane.

Mary scooted over and the three sat on Elizabeth’s bed, their absent sister’s scent and sense all around them.

“I feel like she will come in at any moment and tell us to get off her bed,” said Kitty.

“She would likely drag us outside to walk on the shore,” said Mary.