Margaret turned a stern eye upon Darcy. "Well, I am disappointed in you, Fitzwilliam. You ought to exercise better control over your household." To me she said, "I wouldn't worry, child. Sir Sebastian Shivershanks could always fend for himself, I am sure he will keep your sister safe."
As if he had been called forth from the ether by the pronouncement of his formal name, Sir Sebastian entered the room wagging his nubby tail rapidly and looking rather proud of himself.
"Sir Sebastian!" cried Margaret as the dog launched himself into her lap.
"Sir Sebastian!" Lydia called as she sped into the drawing room. "Sir Seb—oh," she said, spotting the dog in Margaret's lap. Her face fell. The situation was clear to her. The dog she loved was with his rightful mistress once more. Things would never be the same between them again.
"You must be Mrs. Darcy," she said with some resentment.
"You must be the young fool who ran away with my dog."
Lydia nodded, looking down at her shoes which were caked with muck. She looked like a street urchin. Her shepherdess costume was so soiled one would never have known it had once been white and pink. All of the bows and ribbons had been torn off and the hem was shredded. Her hair, which had been in two plaits, was now mostly falling out of the braids in every direction. Her bottom lip wobbled and all my anger at her dissipated. Yes, she was a little idiot. But she was so young. Wickham was the villain of this tale.
"Oh, Lydia!" I said throwing my arms around her. I had thought earlier that Darcy smelled of the streets, but Lydia was worse, she smelled of the sewers, yet I clung to her anyway.
"It was so horrible. Sir Sebastian nipped Wickham, just a little. And Wickham threw him out of the carriage so I had to follow him. I nearly broke my leg getting out of the carriage because Wickham wouldn't stop it. And then I couldn't find him at first. And then I found him but this terrible little man had him by the scruff and said he would sell him to the pie-maker if I didn't give him a sixpence. But I didn't have any money so I hit him.
"He dropped Sir Sebastian and we ran away. I didn't know where we were so we just wandered round and round lost and no one would help me and these horrid beggar children started following us around shouting. They pulled all the bows and silk roses off my dress!
"It went like that for hours and I was so tired, but I could not stop walking because I was certain I would freeze to death if I did. Then Mr. Carter found us, he said Mr. Darcy had sent him, so I went with him and he brought us here.
"Oh Lizzy, I was so frightened. I thought it would be such a joke to run away to be married. Wickham is so dashing, I thought all my sisters would envy me. But he is an awful man if he could do that to Sir Sebastian. I hate him," said Lydia. She finished her tirade and buried her face against my shoulder.
Evening
Mr. Bingley had arrived in the afternoon to find the occupants of the house running mad. The outpouring of relief we had felt upon Lydia returning had turned into a full fledged celebration. Bingley asking for a private audience with Papa only made the celebration that much more jolly.
Jane admitted he had asked for her hand at the ball last night and his asking Papa permission today was merely for the sake of propriety. Permission was of course granted.
Dinner was informal consisting of cold cuts, cheese and other simple fare because I was sure the servants had enough to do today without the additional fuss of a formal dinner. We dined in the drawing room rather than the dining room so that everyone might sprawl out and talk to anyone they pleased.
Despite this freedom, I was sitting rather primly with my plate upon my knee, food untouched, trying not to resent my family for their easy happiness. Even Darcy was at ease, making some wry comment to Mr. Bingley and Jane, who both laughed heartily. Everyone seemed to have forgotten despite Lydia's safe return, despite Jane's engagement, we still had a gargantuan problem.
Lady Whisperton.
If she wrote about Lydia's flight with Wickham Lydia would be ruined and all my sisters with her. And I had no idea how to stop her because I still had no idea who she was. Internally I scolded myself. I should have taken the search for her more seriously.
"Do you not like Mr. Bingley?" asked Dora, jolting me out of my thoughts. I had entirely forgotten she was sitting beside me.
"I like him very much."
"Oh, I thought that you might not like him and were perhaps upset he was marrying your sister since you seem unhappy."
"I am perfectly pleased with Jane's engagement. My unhappiness is caused by my worry about what Lady Whisperton will write about my youngest sister's adventures."
"Lady Whisperton will not write about Lydia," replied Dora with much assurance.
"How can you know?"
Dora bit her lip and gave me the look Sir Sebastian wears when he has urinated onsomething expensive (Sir Sebastain the Dog that is, I doubt Sir Sebastian the Man ever feels shame).
"Because I will not tell her," she said at last. "Or not really her, it is a man who does the writing. I just bring him information, as do several other ladies."
"Why would you do such a thing to me?"
"I did not think you would mind. I told only the truth."
I gave her the Glare. Yes, the actual Darcy Glare of Doom. I have seen it enough now to replicate it admirably.
