Chapter 5: Fleeing With Lydia
The two sisters sat pressed closely together in the mail coach, sharing the narrow seat with two other passengers. They had been upon the road for nearly half an hour when Lydia spoke. “Lizzy, I believe Mr. Wickham is angry with me.”
“Indeed? What leads you to think so, Liddie?”
“He is in the habit of leaving me a note each day tucked away in the fence. There is a place where he and I leave notes for one another.”
“And he did not leave you one today?”
“No. I looked in our secret place, and there was no note. I am sorry for it. Perhaps I should not have refused his kiss. Perhaps I wounded his feelings.”
Elizabeth felt her teeth press together, though she said nothing at first, for she scarcely knew how to answer a sister too young to understand the danger she described so lightly. She glanced at the other passengers, whose eyes were closed, and wondered whether they slept. Leaning close to Lydia’s ear, she spoke in a low voice.
“Mr. Wickham assaulted the butcher’s daughter.”
“Do you mean Sadie? That cannot be true, Lizzy. Sadie is quite thin and ugly, with no conversation. There is nothing in her that could attract a handsome man like Wickham. It is a lie.”
Elizabeth pressed the girl’s hand to caution her. “Lydia, I shall tell you all, but you must keep your voice down.”
“I will be quiet, only tell me what you heard and who told you.”
“Mrs. Hill told me of it. Sadie is greatly distressed. She did not give him permission to touch her. He forced himself upon her.”
Lydia sat in silence for some moments, then said, “Do you suppose he could have done that to me?”
“I fear that he could have done so. He appears to me to be a man who takes what he wants and cares nothing for what a woman says.”
Lydia considered this. “Then I am glad that I refused him.”
They continued to speak in whispers until long after dark had fallen, and Lydia at last fell asleep against Elizabeth’s shoulder. She did not awaken again until they reached London.
Lydia stood upon the road, shivering beside her sister, while Elizabeth hired a hackney. Before long, they stood together at their uncle’s door, both chilled from the journey.
“Miss Elizabeth, come in out of the cold,” said a servant. “And who is this with you?”
“James, this is my youngest sister, Lydia. We have our trunks with us, and I have this letter for my uncle.”
She drew the letter from her reticule, and the sisters were shown into the green salon, where the family sat of an evening. Aunt Madeline rose in surprise at the sight of them.
“Lizzy. Lydia. Come in, my girls. I trust that all is well with your parents?”
“Yes, Aunt Maddie. My parents are well. Jane has fallen ill with the influenza, and Mamma fears for Lydia’s health.”
Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes traveled over her youngest niece. “Lydia, how are you feeling? Is there cause for your mamma’s concern?”
“A little girl died of the influenza three years ago,” Lydia replied. “Mamma is anxious for my sake.”
Mrs. Gardiner’s expression darkened. “Lizzy, is Jane very ill? Does your mother fear the worst?”
“No, Aunt Maddie. We have no such fears, for Jane is strong. Mamma only wished to remove Lydia from danger.”
Her Uncle Edward entered, Mrs. Bennet’s letter in his hand. Elizabeth rose and embraced him.
“Uncle, it is so good to see you.”
Lydia followed and embraced him as well, and they soon sat together while tea was brought in and they exchanged news. When Lydia began to yawn, Mrs. Gardiner took both of her nieces upstairs.
“Aunt Maddie, when you have settled Lydia, please return to my room. I should like to speak with you before I retire.”
