My dearest sister and friend Jane,
First, my darling sister, I apologise if any of what I am about to say pains you, but I cannot hide the truth from you, nor do I believe that you would want me to.
Mr Bingley is unaware that you are in London. As we suspected, neither Caroline Bingley nor Louisa Hurst are friends of yours. Friends do not lie to you. What Caroline wrote to you about Miss Darcy is a fabrication, and I have it from Mr Darcy’s own mouth.
This is the part that may give you pain, sister dearest, but I believe it is for the best that I am honest with you above all others. Mr Darcy, Miss Bingley, and Mrs Hurst separated Mr Bingley from you. Mr Darcy told Mr Bingley that you were not in love with him, and would be forced to accept him for his fortune given his lack of information regarding our situation. I have corrected his misconceptions.
I digress. Rather than return to you and ascertain the truth of your attachment for himself, Mr Bingley was easily persuaded that he should give you up. This shows a very weak character; at best a lack of resolution, at worst a capriciousness. Ask yourself this, dearest Jane. If you truly loved someone, would you allow anyone, even me, to persuade you otherwise without finding out the truth for yourself?
We both know, my cherished sister, that the answer is no. You would not, nor would I, or anyone that was truly in love. I hate to occasion you pain, but I am sure that when your tears have dried and you think about my words logically, you will agree with me. I pray it is so and I have not hurt you without offering you some small solace.
There is but one other topic I will touch on for this express as it is truly as important, in some ways more so. Like you warned, Lieutenant Wickham is not as he seems. I have written to my father and asked him to take steps to mitigate his harm. I will tell you all soon.
Please ask Uncle Edward to send my carriage tomorrow; I cannot bear another day under our anything but benevolent cousin’s roof, even for Charlotte.
I hope to see you on the morrow.
Love your devoted sister,
Lizzy
After writing the direction and sealing the letter, Lizzy collected her reticule, slipped out of the back of the house to avoid her cousin, and walked into Hunsford where she found two express riders, not wanting to delay her missives by using one. She paid them double the amount that they would receive upon delivery to make all haste to deliver her missives.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At the same time that the missive was on its way to Longbourn, one George Wickham was happily making his plans to ruin the youngest Bennet. ‘I would prefer to have the delectable Miss Elizabeth, but she has rebuffed any attempt that I have made to intimate more than friendship. She thinks she is so clever, but I will not push her; I have seen how she is respected by the residents here, which has helped my cause to blacken that prig Darcy’s name and make sure that she hates him. Thank you, high and mighty Darcy, for insulting her and leaving her open to believe my tale of woe.
‘I will get my revenge on him at last. I have seen how he looks at Miss Elizabeth so I will get Miss Lydia to lie with me. What an empty-headed flirt that she is. Then I will write to him and threaten to ruin the family if the prig does not pay me the thirty thousand that is my due. I came so close to getting that mouse of a sister of his to give herself to me. One more day, but the prig arrived early.’He remonstrated at his bad luck that Darcy had spoiled the seemingly infallible plan that he and Mrs Younge were executing flawlessly. ‘How can what I do be wrong? I am following what Mama taught me, to take what is my due and not let others get in my way. There is one line I will not cross, I have never, nor will I ever force myself on a maiden. Lying and manipulation are fair game, but never that, even I have standards!
“Here comes the silly flirt now. Perhaps today will be the day.’
“Hello Wicky,” Lydia Bennet called out to the man in regimentals that had started to pay attention to her, “why did you want to meet here where no one can see how lucky I am to have such a future husband?”
“For now, my dear, I want you all to myself and not to share you with others.” He gave her one of his winning smiles that made her weak at the knees.
“I love you, George. When can we elope?” She asked very excitedly.
“There is some business that I must conclude, but soon my Lydia,” he felt like she was ripe for the seduction. “You said that you love me do you not Lydia?”
“I have told you that many times, George; do you doubt me?” She asked with a childish petulant look on her face.
“It is just, that you say you do…”
“What are you saying George?” the worried girl asked as tear started to fall from her eyes.
“You refuse to anticipate our vows, my love, and if you truly loved me, you would.” He shot the most effective arrow in the quiver of his manipulation.
“I will George, I will prove my love to you, in two days,” she got all embarrassed and added, “I am indisposed at the moment, but I will be well again in two days.”
He almost cast up his accounts as he thought about having relations with a lady while having her courses so he readily agreed to wait two days so they could ‘consummate their love.’ After some kissing and touching of her breasts, she left for Longbourn and he returned to Meryton. From that afternoon on, he could not understand why neither of the younger Bennet chits were seen in Meryton on their own again.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When she returned to the parsonage, Mr Collins, was once again about to lecture her but she had had enough.
“I apologise, Charlotte, if what I am about to say pains you, but there are some things that need to be made clear.” Elizabeth looked at Charlotte with honest regret.
“Say what you must, Eliza. I am his wife, and so I must obey him. However, you have long held my warmest regard as my best friend,” Charlotte shocked both Maria and Collins as she sat in her chair and smiled gently at her friend.
