Mary shook her head, Kitty looked mortified, and Lizzy snorted and said, “No thanks.”
“... and not only are you fae, but you’re a famous rockstar no less!” Mrs. Bennet said in front of me. “Lydia is going to love living such a glamorous life. I admit I’m a bit envious.”
I simply nodded, focusing on Lydia’s conversation with her sisters.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” Jane pressed.
“Do you really want to stay married to him?” Kitty asked, moving a little closer.
Lydia gazed around at their serious faces. “What is this? An intervention?” Lydia’s voice displayed her annoyance. “I’m married. That isn’t something you just undo.”
“Actually,” Mary said, followed by the crack of a book opening and pages ruffling. “You can get a marriage annulled withina certain amount of time if you think it was a mistake. I have all the information right here.”
“The only ones who think this is a mistake are my sisters. All of you? Kitty?”
“Like Jane said, I want to be positive this is what you want—”
“Yes, it’s what I want. I’m George Wickham’s wife. Who wouldn’t want that?”
Grim determination followed by relief settled inside me. Her sisters were this way because they loved her. Even they realized I ruined everything that I touched. But I had gotten the information I had come here to discover:
Lydia would have good support when I let her go.
And she’d be free of me.
The sisters continued bickering while Mrs. Bennet wiped away a tear from her eye. “I’m just so glad that she’s finally wed and happy.”
Wed and happy. A sour taste filled my mouth. “Thank you for being so welcoming despite the less than ideal circumstances of our marriage.”
“Yes, I will have to talk to Lydia about that. It was very cruel of her not to invite us to the wedding, but that doesn’t meanyou’re not welcome to stop by our place anytime. You’re part of the family now.”
Lydia continued to argue with her sisters. “Wickham has been nothing but kind to me, and I’m certain he’d never hurt me. I’m sorry he chose me over you, Lizzy, but maybe you don’t know him as well as you think.”
I should probably end things before Lydia ruined her relationship with her sisters over me. When Mrs. Bennet spoke again, I placed a hand on the booth and rose, startling her. “Forgive me, but it has been a long drive, and Lydia and I should head to my place.”
“You mean our place?” Lydia asked as she stomped over, fired up. Her eyes flashed like astorm, brilliant and fierce. She grasped my arm. “Come, Wickham. We’ll return when my sisters have learned how to be happy for me.”
She threw a glare over her shoulder at her siblings, who’d followed her to the booth. I met Lizzy’s disgusted gaze.
I grimaced and averted my eyes. I deserved that look. I gave them a small wave. “Nice seeing everyone.”
And with that, we left the Cupid’s Confections booth much quicker than expected.
Lydia stumbled over to the Tea and Tarot stand and bought two cups of steaming hot cocoa. She shoved one at me, still looking put out. “Here.”
I took the cup from her, and her eyes grew wide. “Oh sorry, do you drink hot cocoa? I wasn’t even thinking.”
I shrugged. “I like hot cocoa.”
We headed for a secluded area near a large tree and consumed our drinks.
“I’m sorry things didn’t go well with your sisters,” I said after a few minutes.
Lydia huffed. “They completely ambushed me.”
“Don’t you think they might have a point?”
She turned to me with wide eyes. “What do you mean?”
