“Sir Norman, the barrister who argued our case, has informed him verbally before witnesses as well as presented him with a letter. If Mr. Collins brings himself to Longbourn uninvited, he will be arrested for trespassing,” Bennet shared.
“Papa, may I go into Meryton to see the militia arrive on the morrow?” Lydia asked.
“With the soldiers and officers joining our society, it is more important than ever to be well escorted when you go into the town,” Fanny warned her daughters, looking pointedly at her youngest.
Why Lydia had decided only a man in a uniform would do for her, no one in the family knew. Fanny felt it was time to lay out the reality of what life as an officer’s wife would be like for her youngest to cure her of this unreasonable infatuation. Her experience of almost being importuned by an officer many years previously precluded her remaining silent on the subject.
“No, Lydia, as you are not even out locally, you will not be in company with the militia members, even well chaperoned and guarded,” Fanny stated firmly. “Why is it you are enamoured of a man in uniform?”
“In pictures of officers I have seen they look so dashing,” Lydia responded dreamily. “It would be a great and fun adventure to be married to such a man. Life would be full of society and balls.”
“Lydia dear, you are not even fifteen yet, why would you even be thinking of men and marriage?” Fanny pushed. “You know it is two more years before you come out locally and thenanother year after that before you enter London society, do you not?”
“But surely if I meet a handsome officer and we fall in love, you will allow me to marry before I come out,” Lydia averred. Both her parents shook their heads emphatically. “What if I eloped?” Lydia asked petulantly.
“Then Lydia dear, I hope you are able to live on about two pounds a month,” Fanny said while she maintained her equanimity. “How many ball gowns, for that matter, any gowns or dresses, do you think your husband would be able to afford to purchase for you? What of servants? On such a monthly amount you would not have any. You can forget about balls and society as you would be confined to the small, dingy room your husband would be able to barely afford. You would not have a conveyance to take you where you desired to go at any rate.”
Lydia turned paler and paler as her mother spoke. “B-but I will have my fortune,” she managed weakly.
“No, you will not!” Bennet responded decisively. “Did you forget the terms attached to your dowries?” Lydia nodded her head as tears began to prick her eyes. Bennet reminded his daughter of the terms to which he was referring. “Like we did with Mary, and will for Kitty, we will not approve of even a courtship until you are nineteen. And then, unless I am convinced the man is able to support himself and you in a style you are accustomed to,withoutyour money, which would tell me he is not after you for your fortune, I would not approve of him.”
By now Lydia was sobbing. Fanny sat next to her youngest and pulled her into a hug. “Lyddie, as much as I hate to see you upset, you needed to know the reality of what life with a poor officer would be like before this infatuation you have with men in scarlet coats causes you to do something irrevocable you know you should not.”
“There is no hurry for any of the three of you who are unattached to think of a partner of your future life until you are well and truly ready for that step. You must know we would only approve of a man who will love, protect, and respect you, one who you love and respect in turn,” Bennet explained.
“You may not want to hear this Lyddie, but I know from experience that not all the men who join the militia are honourable or have good intentions. One day, when you are older, I will share what occurred with an officer in Colonel Millar’s regiment of the Sussex Militia who visited Meryton before I met and fell in love with your father,” Fanny related as she dried her youngest’s tears. “All I will tell you now is I am lucky your Uncle Edward was there to rescue me before anything untoward occurred.”
Thankfully Lydia was not an unintelligent girl and was able to assimilate what her parents had told her. The prospect of living in poverty just because of the colour of a jacket made her feelings about officers dim considerably, in fact they were well on their way to being extinguished completely.
“In that case I am happy to remain home and not meet the officers,” Lydia decided.
When she was ready, Lydia went to find Miss Jones to continue her lessons.
“One good thing has come out of Lydia’s former obsession with men in the army,” Bennet stated. “I will make sure Biggs, Johns, and their men are well aware of the militia and when any of you are out, you will have a minimum of two of the guards with you.”
“Yes, Papa,” the three daughters present chorused.
Chapter 35
Richard was able to leave Cloverdell a few days before he had expected to. He was as happy as he had ever been to arrive in Hertfordshire. He rode directly to Netherfield Park where his valet and carriage would arrive later.
Not wanting to waste any time travelling, he had elected to ride Invictus. An added advantage was he was able to use paths his coachman would not be able to negotiate so he arrived at Bingley’s leased estate without having to use the road which would have taken him through Meryton.
His friend and his aunt met Richard in the entrance hall. “Welcome back, Fitzwilliam,” Bingley stated jovially. “I take it you want to wash and then make for Longbourn and your fiancée?”
“That, Charles is a silly question,” Miss Bingley teased her nephew. “What man violently in love would not prefer his betrothed’s company to yours and mine?”
Richard coloured slightly at Bingley’s aunt’s accurate assessment of the situation. Not that he objected to their company, it was simply too many days since he had last been in company with his Mary.
“Do you object if I ride with you?” Bingley enquired.
“Not at all, allow me to wash and change,” Richard agreed. “And there will be no racing. Although I did not push my horse, after my ride here I will not go above a trot until he is well rested.”
Bingley knew Richard was serious, he took very goodcare of his horses, especially Invictus.
“So be it, a nice slow three mile ride,” Bingley accepted.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
