Chapter 1: Lydia Courts Ruin
March 5, 1811
“Miss Lydia, it would be cruel to raise a gentleman’s hopes merely to disappoint him.”
Lydia batted her eyes at the officer. “Wickham, you and I both know that kissing a gentleman is an improper thing to do. I am no merchant’s daughter, sir.”
“Yet surely you were wishing for love today, or why did you send me the note? Why did you ask me to come?”
She laughed, this time with a coarse, loud guffaw. “Wicky, I was only flirting with you. I did not think you would ask for a kiss outright. Surely you realize I do not know you well enough for kisses? And besides, where would be the sport in it if I were to give in so easily? You would have gotten what you wanted, and off you would go to flirt with Maria or Mary King.”
“When will you know me well enough to permit one little kiss, my girl? You have been flirting with me for what, eight weeks?”
“It has only been five weeks, lieutenant. It pleases me to make you wait.”
Wickham stepped closer. “And what if it does not please me? What if I take that kiss from you now?”
Lydia stared at him. “You would force me?”
He sniggered. “I could, you know. What would stop me? We are well hidden here. No one would hear you scream.” He stepped closer. “I am larger and stronger than you, Miss Lydia.”
He seized her wrist and pulled her sharply toward him, so that she fell against him. She struggled and cried out. “Let me go.”
Alarmed by the entire scene, by the clandestine rendezvous unfolding before her, Elizabeth had already set aside her book and now, alert, stood hidden, watching and listening to what was taking place on the other side of the shrubbery. She judged it imperative to act immediately in order to save her sister. Moving from behind the hedge, she ran forward, laughing noisily. She was looking back over her shoulder, as though fleeing pursuit, just as she entered the small clearing where Lydia and Wickham stood, and in her haste, she collided with Lydia.
Her eyes widened as she took in her sister, and then, turning to Wickham, she met his gaze only briefly before casting another anxious look behind her.
“Forgive me, sir,” she said breathlessly, “but if Mary and Charlotte catch me, my forfeit is their mending. And, when we next meet in company, you must kindly forget you saw me running.”
She took Lydia’s hand. “Come, Liddie. Hurry. To the barn, before they see us.”
Surprised into obedience, Lydia ran behind her elder sister.
“Hurry, if they catch me, I lose the wager.”
When they reached the front gardens, hidden now from Mr. Wickham’s view, Elizabeth stopped and turned to face her sister.
“You have been meeting with Mr. Wickham.”
Lydia wrinkled her brow. “I did not meet him. He was merely walking by…”
“Do not lie to me, Liddie. I heard everything. I heard him speak of a note that you sent to him. You have been meeting with him for weeks, have you not?”
“You are not my parent. I need not answer you. It is none of your business.”
“It is my business. You have four unmarried sisters who will all be ruined if you allow Mr. Wickham to ruin you. Do you think I will stand by and permit you to bring disgrace upon our family? On me? I will not.”
Lydia planted her hands upon her hips. “And how do you propose to stop me?”
Elizabeth stared at her sister. Lydia’s brow was furrowed, her cheeks flushed. Without another word, Elizabeth turned and strode toward the front door.
“I shall speak with Papa, and we shall see what he has to say about this.”
Lydia ran to catch her. “How dare you, Lizzy. I will never speak to you again if you tell Papa.”
Elizabeth did not slow.
“I shall put a toad between your sheets,” Lydia cried.
