Revelations an adaption of Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 140

Today, the others were going back tothe attics to add some furniture to their rooms besides beds, andthough Elizabeth loved to be with them, trying her new horse was evenbetter. She'd join the explorers when they were ready to hunt fordecorations, hopefully turning up some boxes with old letters aswell.

It seemed like a lot of bother to puton a dress for breakfast and change afterwards, plenty of reason toinstead pick one of her riding skirts and a beautifully patternedblouse with lace decorations. It would be wise to wear a pair ofthose woollen undergarments, though they might be too warm forspring. But taking a riding lesson astride on a horse would hurt herlegs enough without chafing them as well, and her woollies werevirtually invisible beneath the flowing fabric. Her sturdy bootscompleted her outfit.

No gentleman or lady had ever seen herthus attired, and she felt slightly nervous to join the others at thetable. Of course Fitzwilliam's obvious excitement helped, he was sopleased and looked at her with such love, it reminded her of thosefirst few days together at Pemberley. He insisted on holding her handall the way down the stairs and to the breakfast parlour, and everyten steps he bent down and kissed her tenderly.

Thus they met Anne and Nick at thebottom of the stairs. Those two were all business towards each other,and parted with a mere nod on Anne's side and a polite bow on his,each to his own sphere. But not before Nick had bowed flamboyantly toElizabeth, and respectfully to Fitzwilliam, and Anne exclaimed,'Elizabeth, you look marvellous! I thought you were going to dressdown in the country, but here you've brought a whole new ensemble!'

And she meant it, she hadn't evennoticed the skirts were split. Not yet. Then when Elizabeth showedher by taking a large step, she was even more impressed.

'So these are the famous riding skirts!Well, I'll not be ashamed to be seen in one of them, although motherwould have a cat. I want a blouse like that, too, and I'd wear it intown. You could start a whole new fashion....again.'

Seeing Anne in a setting like this,amidst the riches of a gentleman's country estate, the change fromthe languid, sickly creature she had been to this vibrant, kind, andbeautiful young woman suddenly struck Elizabeth all over again, andshe just had to embrace and kiss her.

'Elizabeth? Did I say something? Darcy,you too? Did something happen?'

Even Fitzwilliam couldn't help huggingher, right there in the large hall.

'I suppose Elizabeth and I had asimilar experience, Anne. Somehow, this hall reminded us of the oldyou. Seeing you like this made me very happy. Am I right, my love?'

'You are. Anne, I remembered you sicklyand depressed, and now you're so alive! I'm so happy for you.'

They both got their hugs right back,and all three took their time composing themselves.

'I hardly ever think of that anymore.Really. I'm just too busy enjoying myself. We had such a good night,Nick and I, thank you so much for everything you did. I can't wait toride a horse myself.'

Then they entered the breakfast room,and of course Eric and Georgiana were already there. They hadprobably been practising before breakfast, despite having theirhoneymoon there was work to do.

'Good morning, everyone!,' Georgianacalled out happily, 'Elizabeth, you keep crediting others with yourfame in fashion, but I really believe you're selling yourself short.If this is your country attire, I'm glad no-one cares what ishappening in the northern countryside, or we'd be overrun withfashion reporters after all, Mme Beaution in front!'

Flattered, because Anne and Georgianadid not praise insincerely, Elizabeth observed, 'I'll ask Mrs Normanto make you several, you'll need them if you are going to rideastride. Then we can look our best together.'