When they had arrived home the previous evening, she had spent the hours before she retired talking only to Jane, relating the tales of her entrance into London’s society and enquiring after her sister’s travels. The Bingleys had since removed to Hurst House to allow her to accommodate their grandmother and Count Reimarus.
Guilt was gnawing at her conscience for not having taken the time to speak to Mary or Georgiana that morning, but the preparations before meeting the queen had been all consuming. Her regret doubled when she espied Mary’s frigid countenance and rigid stance. Georgiana’s wide eyes and nervous fiddling did nothing to appease her.
“I thought you were dead,” Mary accused her sister. Red blotches blossomed in the girl’s cheeks and tears were welling in her eyes. “You could have written tome,even if your marriage was in ruins.”
Elizabeth felt the heaviness of her failings. Running off on an impetuous errand to save Lydia had injured Mary. Her middle sister was not prone to tears, which is why the censure cut deeper than Lydia’s complaints or her mother’s constant lamentations.
“You are correct, Mary. I should have informed you about my decision to save Lydia from a most imprudent marriage. If I had conf—”
“You left your husband in ignorance and utter despair to rescue Lydia?”
“Yes. The lieutenant whose name shall never be mentioned in this house is not what I would wish for any of my sisters’ husbands.” Elizabeth shuddered at the thought.
“You reap what you sow,” Mary observed with tight lips.
“I hardly think that agreeing to a chaperoned carriage ride is reason to condemn Lydia to a life-long marriage in utter despair.”
“We both know that this incident was not the first and is most assuredly not the last reprehensible decision Lydia will make. She is the most determined flirt who ever made herself and her family look ridiculous. Without any attraction but youth and tolerable good looks to recommend her, with her ignorance and the emptiness of her mind, she is unable to ward off the universal contempt her rage for admiration excites. Lydia is vain, ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrollable!”
The shock originated not only from the vehemence with which the words were spoken but how similar they were to her own condemnation of Lydia. Especially when she had feared that her youngest sister’s antics would ruin her chance of happiness with Darcy. It was Lydia who had changed her mind, once Elizabeth had taken the time to know her better.
“Lydia may surprise you yet, Mary. Her ordeal has mellowed her exuberance and taught our youngest sister a valuable lesson. She is much changed, though not in essentials. She is much as she ever was, only wiser and more demure.”
“If she is so improved, why did she not return with you?”
“Lydia wished to remain at Ritterhof. I saw no reason to object.”
“With the young Lord Ritterhof?”
“Of course not. He moved to his lodgings in Rendsburg the day of our departure.”
Elizabeth wondered whether Mary was aware that his lordship had been quite taken with Lydia, but she soon rejected the notion. “Countess Gertrude Wedel-Jarlsberg, our grandmother’s youngest sister, is attending our sister until the count returns to Ritterhof. I can assure you there is nothing improper about Lydia’s current situation.”
Mary huffed just as Darcy entered with Lady Louise and Count Reimarus. Lady Louise addressed Mary and Georgiana.
“Dear ladies, I have a task of the utmost importance for you both.”
Mary and Georgiana adopted a serious mien and nodded sagely.
“It has come to my attention that there is an informant in this house.”
Both girls looked aghast at such a possibility.
“I implore you to vigilantly observe the servants and notify Mr Darcy ofanybehaviour that might look the slightest bit dubious. Especially if any of the servants appear to be loitering in a part of the house they have no business being in, attempt to eavesdrop on conversations, or speak to street urchins.”
“Street urchins? What do they have to do with it?” Elizabeth beseeched.
“The perpetrator cannot leave their post for long enough to run to the newspapers with their idle gossip. It might be family though. Does anyone have a brother or sister who visits frequently?”
“I do not know,” Elizabeth admitted. “I shall ask the housekeeper.”
“No. You must not notifyanyoneabout our suspicions. We could give each servant an insignificant tidbit of information and see which rumour is repeated in the newspapers.”
“You have a devious mind, Sister,” Lord Reimarus lauded.
“I quite enjoy having a mystery to unravel,” Lady Louise declared.
“Have either of you noticed anything out of the ordinary?” Darcy’s gaze shifted between Georgiana and Mary.
