Mr. Bennet watched her go, and then turned back to the girls. “Kitty, when do you return to Darcy House?”
“I will be leaving in a quarter of an hour.”
“Safe journey, my dear.”
“Thank you, Papa.” He then kissed her cheek and said, “I will be in your uncle’s study if anybody needs me. Not to be disturbed.”
“Jane, I must check on the children in the nursery. Shall we leave at half past?”
“Of course, Aunt. I will be ready when you are.”
When the sisters were left alone, Lydia declared, “Lord, our mother... When did she become such a doddy? She has more bottom than sense.”
Lizzy fought to keep her mouth from gaping at this unexpected revelation.
“Well, she is! I used to believe her encouragement was good fun. But, why she should be angry at me for protecting the very thing which would make me desirable to a husband, I don’t know!”
“Lydia!”
“La! Mr. Wickham might have had good reason to suspect I would be a willing party to his desires, but I was not. He had told me all along that we would marry. That he did not care I had no fortune. Now I see it was all a lie. And Mama’s actions show me what I fool I have been.”
Jane put her arm around her sister’s shoulders and said, “We are very proud of you, dearest.”
“Yes, it would have been easy to succumb to the flattery of Mr. Wickham,” Kitty interjected, “or any man if you believed he truly loved you.”
“‘Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is above rubies,’ Proverbs 31:10.” Looking over her spectacles, Mary continued. “You might have disappointed your earthly parent, but your Heavenly Father is pleased with you.”
“I appreciate that. But do not expect I want you reading ‘Fordyce’s’ out to me after dinner.”
With uncharacteristic, impish verve, Mary quickly countered. “At least I know when I have read it to you and Kitty while you sleep, it has made an impression.”
* * *
“Elizabeth? Lizzy, are you awake?”
She rolled over and roused herself as the clock struck two chimes. “I am now.”
“May I come in?” Lydia opened the door, not waiting for the answer. She quickly snuggled under the blanket next to Lizzy.
“What is it? Do not wake Jane,” she whispered, indicating her eldest sister asleep in the bed across the room. “Can this not wait until morning?”
“No,” she said, tossing her plait over her shoulder. “I need to confess something to you.”
“Is it something to do with Mr. Wickham?” She bit her lip fearful of the answer.
“Yes, it is. I lied to you and my sisters.”
“You can tell me anything, dear.”
It was as if her words released a dam. “I did allow Mr. Wickham liberties. I did allow him to kiss me, more than once. His kisses left me so weak, I could barely walk home.”
“Dearest, I am not your priest. You do not need to confess these sins to me…”
Lydia continued headlong into her confession. “To be honest, I was so foolish I might have allowed him more liberties had he not...”
“Mentioned Mary King?”
“No, no. He never cared three straws for Mary King. She is such a nasty, little freckled thing…”
