Pregnancy was a private affair. Women did not show themselves in public.

 

Lady Mary was content to stay within the grounds of Misselthwaite Manor but sometimes she would venture out into Thwaite Village, where no one spoke like the upper English class did.

 

Thwaite Village was very peaceful and many women appeared in public carrying their husband's child with in them. There was no shame in being pregnant and trying to conceal the fact that one was pregnant.

 

Lady Mary would take Martha with her to do the shopping and says, "Martha I do love Thwaite Village. People here think that is no shame in being pregnant."

 

"Aye Lady Mary, common folks think pregnancy is just a normal every day thing. We don't try to hide it or conceal the fact we ladies are pregnant." Martha said.

 

"I do detest London society. They have nothing better to do is gossip about everyone and everything. They certainly don't have much manners by doing so." Mary said.

 

"London society is full of high class women who do keep themselves in while they are pregnant and they remerge only after their child has been born." Mary said to Martha.

 

"I am most content to stay within the grounds of Misselthwaite Manor and do my shopping in Thwaite Village.' Mary said going through the village stores that were like Brazillian fiestas.  All the markets were outside on the streets. The vendors had everything any one could ever need.

 

Mary slowly made her way through the crowds and came to a bakery stand and said, " We will take two loafs of French bread, and some of your finest cheese."

 

"Milady that will be 4 penses." The market owner said.

Mary pulls out a crown and says, " Keep the change."

"Thank Milady." The owner said.

 

"Oh Martha look over their fresh flowers from  a local garden. The roses are beautiful." Mary says walking over to the florist and asks, "How much are your roses?"

"They are one crown for a dozen." The florist said.

"I will take the white, pink, and yellow ones." Mary said, handing the florist three crowns and giving them to Martha the roses to place in their basket.

 

Lady Mary notices a dry good shop and says, " There is where we need to go." Lady Mary and Martha start to walk over to the Dry Goods shop and walk in and a bell rings letting the owner know he has customers.

 

"Good day Ma'am may I help you with something?" The owner said.

"Yes I would like three yards of  your warmest material." Mary says.

"We have just gotten in some new material from America they call it cotton. It is milled down in the Southern states in America." The owner says.

"What color does this cotton come in?" Mary asked

 

"Ma'am, this material comes in many colors." The owner says pointing out the bails of cotton.

 

"Oh gracious how am I to chose between all these colors." Mary said.

 

"Ma'am how do you intend to use it?" The owner asked.

"I am going to have the dressmaker make me some new maternity dresses as I am going on three months pregnant." Mary said.

"Congratulations Ma'am, I would chose the prettiest colors for yourself." The owner said to Mary.

 

"I will take three yards of the navy blue, 2 feet of your finest white lace, and three yards of red as well." Mary said.

 

The store owner measured the exact amount and said, " That will be 5 pounds sterling."

"Here you my good man and thank you." Mary said giving the material to Martha to place in her basket.

 

"Oh dear I am ready for tea and scones how about you Martha." Mary asked.

"Yes Ma'am I would love some tea and scones." Martha said.

"I see a charming outdoor cafe on the side street let us go and get our tea and scones from there. It will be good for us to sit down for a while."  Mary said.

 

Lady Mary and Martha walked over to the corner cafe and sat down and the waiter came up and said, "May I take your order Milady?"

 

"Yes we would like two orders of tea and scones." Mary said.

"Yes Ma'am I will be back shortly with your orders." The waiter said and walked away to fill the orders.

 

Mary looked around and said, "This has been a wonderful outing Martha."

"Aye Ma'am we don't need the big city if we have Thwaite Village. You can find everything right here."

Martha said.

 

The waiter came back with their orders, and Mary paid him 2 crown and they began to drink  their tea and eat their scones before it was time for them to head back for Misselthwaite Manor.

It was for certain that Lord Collin would start to worry and come looking for Lady Mary.

 

Lord Collin couldn't bear for Lady Mary to be out of his sight. He worried about her endlessly.