“I am quite disappointed in him,” said Anne, affecting disapproval. “I might have thought he would possess more finesse than this.”
When Darcy told Fitzwilliam later that evening after the ladies had departed for the sitting-room, he could not contain his mirth, and the other two jesters joined him.
“When confronted with Miss Bingley’s single-mindedness,” said Fitzwilliam, “one has no choice but to exaggerate. I doubt I would get her attention if I did not.”
“Too true!” exclaimed Bingley. “Everything I said on the subject has come to naught. If you can distract her, perhaps that is the best we can hope.”
“Perhaps it is,” murmured Darcy. “Bingley, there is something about which I wished to speak to you. I informed Georgiana I would inquire about an invitation for her to join us at the first opportunity.”
Bingley affected astonishment. “Do you mean to say that you wish to subject your sister to mine?”
Hurst snorted and Fitzwilliam grinned, but Darcy took no notice of them. “Georgiana wishes to be in the country, and I suspect she would enjoy meeting certain young ladies of our acquaintance.”
“Then, of course, you may invite her whenever convenient.”
Darcy turned to Fitzwilliam. “When do you suppose Wickham will be ready for transportation?”
“As soon as a ship is available,” said Fitzwilliam. “My father plans to make inquiries while he is arranging Wickham’s disposition.”
“Then that is soon enough,” said Darcy. “When we take Wickham to London, I shall return with Georgiana.”
“You may stay as long as that takes?” asked Bingley of Fitzwilliam.
“Wickham will not leave Meryton unless I am on hand to ensure he makes it to his ship,” replied Fitzwilliam. “I have already written to my commander to inform him.”
“Very well,” said Bingley. “You are welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“Thank you, Bingley,” replied Fitzwilliam.
With a nod, Bingley drained his glass and rose. “While we might prefer to stay and exchange tales, I suspect we had best join the ladies.”
“Then we may excuse ourselves all the earlier!” exclaimed Fitzwilliam.
Four laughing men made their way to rejoin the ladies. While Darcy wished to excuse himself at once, a lifetime of good manners would not allow it.
Chapter XX
Expecting Lydia Bennet to relinquish something she wanted was a fool’s errand. Given that truth, the speed at which Lydia accepted her fate was surprising.
The girl still engaged in copious railing against her parents’ stubborn and unnatural refusal to allow her to make herself ridiculous with the officers, such that peace was a rare and treasured thing at Longbourn. By the next morning, however, she had calmed to a certain extent, her focus turning to the time remaining before the regiment departed, which was scheduled for a few days hence. In this, Kitty guided her.
“We should go to Meryton this very morning,” said Kitty to her younger sister at the breakfast table that morning. “They will depart within a few days, so there is not an instant to lose!”
“Mytime would not be so limited if Papa would be reasonable,” grumbled Lydia, shooting a censorious look at her father.
It should come as a surprise to no one that Mr. Bennet ignored her.
“But you are correct.”
“Then let us away when we finish breakfast.”
“Remember to comport yourselves as young gentlewomen, girls,” said Mr. Bennet, peering at them from his position at the head of the table. “I understand you will miss your friends when they are gone, and you wish to spend whatever time is remaining with them. But I will not tolerate lapses in propriety and will confine you to Longbourn if you cannot behave yourselves.”
The two girls offered their assurances with whatever solemnity they could summon. Then they hurried through their meal and excused themselves to their rooms with unseemlyhaste. It was interesting, Elizabeth noted, that the dynamic between them had changed. While Kitty was still a follower and likely always would be, she had been more assertive since the previous day.
“I suspect,” said Mr. Bennet, “that Kitty realized she could direct some of their activities after she forbade Lydia from entering Mr. Wickham’s coach. Lydia is still the leader betwixt them, but Kitty will not be so passive in the future.”
This was what the next days would look like, thought Elizabeth, and she was not anticipating them at all. The two girls would be at Meryton every moment they could manage, but when they were at Longbourn, they would bemoan the coming loss of the officers’ society. After those intrepid fellows quit the neighborhood, their protests would become more muted or so Elizabeth hoped. Yet the time until their departure could not come swiftly enough for Elizabeth.
