“Give me the letter!” Lydia shrieked as she pulled it from Elizabeth’s hands to read for herself.
“You know his hand, I daresay—a charming one it is.”
Lydia’s already sallow complexion turned to a death-like paleness as she read, and she dropped the letter before throwing herself onto the bed in grief-stricken tears. Elizabeth suddenly regretted how heartlessly she had acted, no matter how just her motives were. She drew near without saying a word and, seating herself on the bed, took Lydia’s hand and stroked her hair. She knew that such grief, shocking as it was to witness, must take its course.
“Lizzy, does everyone know?” Lydia asked after a time, her cheeks still covered in rivers of tears.
“Only Darcy and I know of Mr Wickham’s attempted bribery, and most were unaware that you left Brighton together. But we all know the unhappy truth that you are with child and not likely to be married.”
“I cannot suppose George capable of this. Once he knows about the child, he will return to marry me, won’t he?” Lydia looked so earnest in her hope that Elizabeth almost wished she could give a falsehood.
“He is a cruel man. If he does, it will be because Darcy has repaid his debts and settled enough money on you.”
“Oh! I am miserable,” Lydia said in between sobs. “I felt myself to be engaged to him! The day I arrived in Brighton, he called on me, and not a day went by that he did not court my attentions. He is so handsome and charming, and all the ladies in Brighton fancied him, but he showedmeparticular interest. I love him. How could I not believe he felt the same for me? I know he did—he must have! I must have been dear to him in some way.”
“Do not torment yourself. We all know you expected to be married.”
“What is to become of me? I do not wish to be sent away!” Lydia became more frantic. Elizabeth advised her to lie down, and for a moment, she did so. But in restless pain of mind and body, she grew more desperate to know what was to become of her.
“Where shall I go? I want to stay at Longbourn!”
“If Mr Wickham does not marry you, you will likely be sent away until your child is born. All of our reputations are at risk.”
“I cannot tend to a child if I am not married. Wickham must marry me! Darcy will make him, won’t he?”
“Darcy must first find him. Do you have any idea where Mr Wickham might have gone? To whom he would turn?”
Lydia could think of no one. She was too restless for employment, too anxious for conversation, and walked from one window to the other or sat down by the fireplace in melancholic meditation. Elizabeth truly pitied her sister. She picked up Wickham’s letter from the bed so poor Lydia would not have to reread the proof of his villainy. She was about to find Jane to sit with Lydia when she called out for Elizabeth to wait.
“Lizzy? Last autumn, did Wickham speak the truth about Darcy cheating him?”
“No, he did not. I was too ready to believe the worst of Darcy and took Mr Wickham at his word. Darcy is a gentleman who values his privacy, and he saw no reason to lay bare his dealings with Mr Wickham. After you eloped, Darcy believed it was owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that Mr Wickham’s true nature was not known to us. That, and his love for me, I suppose, is the reason he takes all this on himself.” That he still loved her after all the trials she and then her family had made him endure spoke to a generosity that she would not have credited to him three months ago.
“Someone must care for us, and it might as well be your Darcy. I cannot imagine Papa finding Wickham to make him marry me. But Darcy is so very reserved. There is no attraction in formality. I am surprised that you could love a reserved person. I hope you will be happy with such a husband.”
Elizabeth stared at her sister for a moment in indignant silence. “I shall enjoy the absolute confidence of having an honourable husband who both respects and loves me.”
Elizabeth’s sympathy for Lydia could not yet tolerate her unfounded criticism of her future husband, her sister’s sole advocate. She decided it was best to leave Lydia to the considerate affections of one of her other sisters, and she went to tell the gentlemen that Lydia did not know of Wickham’s whereabouts.
“Bennet,do you mean to tell me you will take no action?” Mr Gardiner was nearly yelling as Darcy entered the library. Upon recognising the hopelessness of Lydia’s situation, Mr Bennet had apparently returned to all his former indolence. “You have always been detached from your girls. Why do you avoid dealing with Lydia when she and your family need you the most?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Jane never needed any correcting, and Elizabeth was clever enough that I could affect change by watchfulness and a little admonition. But the younger ones were neither agreeable nor intelligent, and severity was never effective with them. It has been more agreeable to my feelings to let my daughters have their own way and leave me to what peace and tranquillity I could find in my library.” Mr Bennet gave Darcy a bleak look before adding, “And with whatever conversation Lizzy could provide.”
Mr Gardiner shook his head sadly. “You have to act, Bennet. This is not a problem that can be ignored.”
“I hardly think that Lydia is worth much exertion, but if you can think of some solution, by all means proceed.”
“Your dislike of exertion is why we are in this situation!”
Mr Bennet’s eyes flashed. “Be careful, Gardiner. This is my house, and I shall act in the manner I see fit.”
“Darcy, can you believe this? He thinks if he keeps to his books then he need not face the very real dangers of Lydia’s exposure!” Mr Gardiner winced as though he made a mistake. “Forgive me, Mr Darcy,” he corrected himself, “my emotions have got the better of me.”
“Please call me Darcy.” Mr Gardiner invited him to call him by his last name as well, then they both turned to look at Mr Bennet.
“Well, Mr Darcy,” he said, scowling, “I am surprised you did not run off to Netherfield with your friend Bingley in the face of our little scandal.”
“Despite your hints to suggest otherwise, Elizabeth will soon be my wife, and my place is here.” Darcy attempted to hide his waning patience. “Lydia’s actions are certain to bring shame and dishonour to our families, such that no respectable man would marry your other daughters.”
