Wicked Wickham: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Jane Austen Tribute Series Book 1) by Anne Harlowe

Author:Anne Harlowe [Harlowe, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pre-Canon, Interquel, Others POV, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Goodreads: 45302195
Publisher: Ekp
Published: 2019-04-27T05:00:00+00:00

Your loving daughter,

Lydia

Letter from Lydia Bennet to Kitty Bennet

Sunday 24th May

Dear Kitty,

The beach this morning was thronged with ladies, all anxious to for a dip. The machines, of course, were in very great request, though none could be run into the ocean in consequence of the heavy swell, but remained stationary at the water’s edge, from which Martha Gunn and her robust female assistants took their fair charges, closely enveloped in their party-coloured dresses, and gently held them to the breakers, which not quite so gently passed over them. The greatest novelty, however, was in a Gentleman undressing himself on the beach, for the purpose of a ducking, in front of the town, attended by his lady, who without diffidence, supplied him with napkins, and even assisted him in wiping the humid effects of his exercise from his brawny limbs, as he returned from the water to dress.

I was watching this scene with fascination – as you can imagine – when Harriet said we must get ready for the ball. I said, “What! It is only eleven o’clock!” She said, “Of course! We must go shopping. Our gowns might be well enough for Meryton – but they will not do here! Of course, we must do what we can for tonight, and perhaps we can get our best gowns trimmed up and altered in time, but we must order something in the very latest ton for next Thursday’s ball. There is a rumour that the Prince himself will be there!”

The Prince! You can imagine my ecstasy. I was all eagerness to get ready. I put on my cream morning dress, and with Harriet’s help, selected my sprigged muslin as the most promising gown to be made over, and we were soon off down the Steyne. I have never seen so many wonderful shops! There was China, tea, lace, muslins, millinery ribbons, and so much more it makes me breathless to think of it. Harriet eventually found a modiste that had been recommended to her, and she told Betty, her maid, who had been carrying our gowns, to lay them out for inspection by the modiste and her assistant. We spent a long time discussing possibilities and examining various kinds of lace and ribbons with which the gowns could be adorned, before finally reaching a decision. A seamstress was consulted, and it was agreed that the gowns could be ready for collection later that day. After that we spent a pleasant hour looking at fashion plates and chusing materials for new gowns which were promised to be ready by the following Thursday.

At about six o’clock, after our refurbished gowns had been collected, tried on, admired, and put away for later, Colonel Forster accompanied us on a promenade on the Steyne. This is the place to see and be seen, and how I wished that I had a fashionable new bonnet and pelisse so that I could look my best! You can be sure that I earmarked these for my next purchase! People of all classes may be seen promenading on the Steyne from Prince to pig-merchant.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.