Ibthorpe Extract

Extract from chapter 29

1792: Ibthorpe

Ibthorpe House was bigger than the rectory at Deane. It was double-fronted and had two large windows on either side of a white front door. A smart row of windows on the second floor reflected clouds passing swiftly by, and there were many signs that the ladies enjoyed their ample garden; tall herbs lined the clean pathway and a pretty orange rose rambled its way upwards towards the chimney to dress the front of the house with a rich warmth.

Photo: Brockhampton Manor House, Herefordshire

Photo: Speech House, Coleford, Gloucestershire

The air was fresh and carried scents of wood smoke and pine and Jane and Cassandra took invigorating gulps to cleanse their lungs from the journey. The village was peaceful and they heard only the sound of their brother’s footsteps striding over the gravel to announce their arrival.

Mrs Lloyd opened the front door herself, and her daughters ran out from behind to clasp their old friends with joy. The first task, as always, was to sit down politely and take refreshments. They all remained dignified until a reasonable amount of time had passed for James to respectably take his leave.

Photo: Regency Tea Room, Bath.

Photo: Chawton House, Chawton, Hampshire.

Then the fun began.

Frantic footsteps ran across the landing, with the opening and closing of doors accompanied by whoops of laughter and squeals of delight. The four friends were clearly ecstatic to be once again in each other’s company.

The summer had been a busy one for Martha and Mary as their sister, Eliza Fowle, was at Kintbury for the birth of her second child and the young women had just returned from a visit to see her. Fulwar and Eliza were now proud parents of a son and a daughter.

“Edward’s wife is with child,” added Cassandra, whilst they were on the subject of babies. “A little after Christmas I believe is the anticipated date.”

Photo: Lyme Park, Stockport, Cheshire.

James’s wife Anne had also announced she was expecting but was still in the early stages of her pregnancy. As James had not chosen to share this news with Mrs Lloyd earlier at tea, Jane and Cassandra did not mention it either.

Photo: Jane Austen's House, Chawton, Hampshire.

The four girls changed for dinner when the candles were lit, and Cassandra tutted to discover a hook had come loose on her gown. She got up to fetch her sewing box, but Mary sprang into action and reached for the needle case on her dressing table instead.

“I still use the gift you gave me,” she showed Jane, quickly untying the string of a little pouch and taking out a dainty set of needles and thread.

The small white housewife bag, with its gold and black patterned border, had been Jane’s gift to Mary when she left Deane. Along with all the normal accessories, Jane had also placed a poem inside which she had written especially for her friend. She was delighted to see how fondly it was still appreciated.

The weeks spent at Ibthorpe that autumn were idyllic. Some days they ambled into the neighbouring village of Hurstbourne Tarrant and then shared a delicious meal at home with Mrs Lloyd.

Photo: Public road, Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire.

Photo: Arlington Court, Barnstaple, Devon.

On other days they tended to the garden, where the trees were a rich russet red. One afternoon they harvested some apples and their cheeks glowed and blushed like the flushed skins that they placed in their baskets.

On one grand occasion, they attended a ball at Enham. The Austen sisters were introduced to all the Lloyd’s new neighbours and friends, and Jane and Cassandra felt very daring to still be out in society after midnight with none of their brothers present to watch over them.

Photo: Assembly Rooms, Bath.

Photo: Jane Austen's House, Chawton, Hampshire.

The best times, however, were when they all sat together in Martha and Mary’s workroom with a sewing pattern between them and the conversation flowing freely wherever it went. This was how the friends had secured their close acquaintance in the first place and it was where they felt most at ease.