“Is this the punishment you sought? You see how sorry Lydia is, and how she has promised to improve.”
“If I were convinced she knew how to behave, perhaps I might believe her.” Elizabeth spoke through clenched teeth. What had Lydia ever done to deserve such leniency?
Papa chuckled and patted Lydia’s head again. “You hear that? Lizzy doubts your sincerity, but I am not so stingy in my credulity. I expect you to do as you say, but I also see how you will never improve unless given the opportunity to expose yourself, and you cannot very well do that from here.”
Elizabeth groaned. That her father had used her own words against her smarted almost as much as his negligence.
Lydia blinked, her eyes lighting up as she began to understand the meaning of his words. Springing to her feet, she planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Papa.” Her pretty smile turned to an ugly smirk as she passed Elizabeth.
“She should not be allowed to go,” Elizabeth appealed once again.
“Oh, Mr. Collins! Whatever are you doing standing at Papa’s door?” Lydia exclaimed.
Mr. Collins’ flushed complexion told Elizabeth that he had heard enough of their conversation to merit a sermon on the importance of maidenly virtue.
With an evil arch of her brow, Lydia added, “If you were looking for Lizzy, there she is. And if you have found your boots, I am certain she would appreciate you walking her into Meryton to buy our shoe roses.”
Elizabeth was not given to a violent temperament, but she could have killed her sister right there.
“Close the door on your way out, Lizzy.” Papa dismissed her and shut out Mr. Collins in one fell swoop.
The hallway was too cramped, and Mr. Collins seemed content with the close proximity. He smelled of perspiration, and since he was wearing his slippers, Elizabeth surmised he had not yet recovered his missing boots. At least she would not have the burden of his company for the walk to Meryton and back.
He followed her line of vision to his feet. Clearing his throat, he said, “Mr. Hill found my boots after you had left for Meryton. I apologize for not being present. A lady of your sensibility ought not to carry the burden of correcting her younger sister’s misconduct. Her Ladyship, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, would praise your modesty and—”
Did the fool not realize how his compliment confirmed that he had been eavesdropping? The nerve!
Elizabeth raised her hand to stop him. His nearness and flattery gave her a headache. “I am sorry, Mr. Collins, but this morning’s exertions have given me a headache.”
He bowed. “Of course. I shall ask Mrs. Hill to send you some tonic. I saw she keeps a well-provisioned still room. Not like the one at Rosings, but ample enough to suit…”
If Elizabeth did not depart, he would continue elevating the residence of his esteemed patroness at the expense of her home. “Pardon me, sir. I really must retire to my room.”
He bowed again. She was at the stairs before he peeked up to see if she had observed the elegance of his gesture.
Lydia met her at the top of the landing, her eyes gleaming with her recent triumph.
Elizabeth tensed. “I will be watching over you tonight. Any hint of impropriety, and I will personally see you returned to Longbourn.”
“You tried to prevent me from attending,” Lydia hissed, her victory taking a harsh turn. “I will return the favor, Lizzy. You may count on that.”
“You wish for me to stay in from the ball? I would volunteer rather than be forced to watch over you.”
“You will be sorry for trying to spoil my fun. You will see, Lizzy, I shall get even.”
Elizabeth’s head genuinely hurt now and standing in the hallway listening to her sister’s empty threats did nothing to lessen the ache throbbing at her temples. “Do as you wish, Lydia, as you always do. I only hope the rest of us are not forced to pay the price for it.” She continued down the hall to her bedchamber. It was going to be a long, arduous night.
As tempting as it was to wallow in despair at the exhausting uphill battle ahead of her, Elizabeth did not dwell too long on the obstacles, instead turning them into challenges. She refused to allow the events of this day to dampen her excitement for the Netherfield Ball.
Lydia’s flagrantly public flirtation with Mr. Wickham? Elizabeth would stick to her youngest sister like ink on a writer’s fingers through the night.
Their father’s selfish indifference? Elizabeth had a long history of managing that deficit, providing the valuable experience she would require that evening.
Mama’s presumptuous proclamations of Jane’s engagement to Mr. Bingley? Well, nobody really took her claims seriously, did they? Elizabeth would do her best to keep her mother away from those who would think the worst of her. So long as the Netherfield party did not hear her boasts, she could not embarrass Jane too badly.
Mr. Collins’ request for Elizabeth’s first dance? Yes, that was profoundly disappointing. If she was not careful, he would make good on Mama’s threats and make Elizabeth an offer of marriage. She held out hope that his slippers might disappear as his boots had earlier.
The greater the obstacles to Elizabeth’s merriment became, the more determined she was to prove herself victorious over her less-than-ideal circumstances. Tonight was for Jane.
