~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Lydia met Mr. Wickham behind the stand of trees a few hundred yards from Longbourn’s rear. She had not gifted the handsome officer with her virtue yet, but she was close. As it was, she allowed the man anything except for that final step.
When they were finished having theirfun, Lydia informed Mr. Wickham that Elizabeth had been banished due to her refusal to marry Mr. Collins. Wickham did not tell Lydia, but he understood why she would refuse such a man.
Ignoring Miss Lydia’s inane chatter, he decided if he saw Miss Elizabeth, he would proposition her. He had seen the way Darcy looked at her and if he could have her and spoil her for his enemy, then so much the better.
Not long after, Lydia made her way back to the manor house while Wickham headed to his quarters. A side effect of the upheaval at Longbourn was Lydia was able to slip in and out of the house with no one the wiser.
She would boast to Kitty, of course. She could not understand why Kitty was such a prude, refusing to allow any officer more than a peck on the cheek. Had not Mama taught them to do what it took to catch a man?
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the time Darcy finally fell asleep, he had resolved he would no longer associate with Miss Bingley. He would explain his reasons to Bingley; based on some of their talks about how to deal with her pretentions and delusions, he was almost certain his friend would back him up.
Poor Giana would not have to suffer the woman’s company again. Even before Ramsgate, his sister could not abide Miss Bingley. Enough was enough. Rather than taking his hints, the woman was becoming more desperate, and seemed determined to continue chasing him.
Darcy was sure the shrew was close to attempting to compromise him. If she resorted to that, she would be the only one compromised and would be ruined in society. Darcy’s thoughts then shifted to a more pleasant topic.
He could see her petite form, her mahogany tresses, and emerald-green eyes shining with intelligence, and a womanly body with curves in the right places. His talk with his relatives took on much more importance, as the more he thought about it the more he knew he would not be able to give up Miss Elizabeth.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Bennet dipped his quill in ink and started a letter to his brother Gardiner. He had no doubt once the Gardiners read his letter and heard from Lizzy they would break with his family. Bennet tried to make himself feel less guilty by acknowledging that Lizzy would be better off with the Gardiners.
He suspected his brother Phillips, who he would see to formalise the document on the morrow, it was the Sabbath, but it could not be helped, would do the same. That would then then lead to his sister Hattie following suit as she would not gainsay her husband. If only he had the strength of character to stand up to his wife!
The information revealed about Jane was, to say the least, surprising. Even hearing her suggest to his wife that Lizzy should be banished from Longbourn, to force her to accept Mr. Collins, had not prepared him for the revelation of her wanton behaviour.
His wife was a social animal and Bennet was almost sure once word of what had occurred at Longbourn became known by the community, visits and invitations would disappear. Bennet had suspected for some time that Jane was unhappy about Lizzy’s popularity in the neighbourhood; all it would take would be for Lydia to boast about what they had done to Lizzy for that information to spread.
He was aware of how close Lizzy and Charlotte Lucas were. Lizzy would inform Charlotte, who would inform her mother, and then, even without Lydia, the whole neighbourhood would know within hours.
His wife was one of the chief gossips in the area and especially enjoyed malicious gossip at others’ expense. She was about to be hoisted on her own petard. Self-interest drove his wife and he was sure when the ostracization became unbearable she wouldallowhim to recall Elizabeth. However, he was as sure as he was breathing his Lizzy would refuse to return. The document he would send Gardiner on the morrow would ensure nothing could be done to force her to do so before her majority in March of next year.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
In the morning, before her departure with the rest of the Netherfield party, Miss Bingley dispatched a note to Miss Jane Bennet, saying goodbye and enquiring how things went with the newly betrothed Eliza.
She included her card with the Curzon Street address so Miss Bennet could write to her if she chose to. When the note was delivered to Jane, it failed to lift her spirits. Neither of her parents would talk to her.
It was all Lizzy’s fault. She should not have told them about her roll in the hay with Johnny Lucas. If she never saw her sister again, she would not regret it. Jane did not know how she could show her face in society ever again, as she suspected Charlotte Lucas would inform Lady Lucas of her true character. Then it would not be long before all of Meryton and the surrounding area became aware of it.
Even worse, the richest men who had ever visited their neighbourhood were gone—and she had lost both of them. She decided if she were to be honest, she had lost but one, Mr. Bingley, as Mr. Darcy had never been hers to lose.
At least she could take comfort in the fact that he would never be Lizzy’s. She would become the poor ward of a tradesman; even if Mr. Darcy still felt an attraction,thatwould kill Lizzy’s chances.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As Bennet watched the post carrying his Lizzy away from him, he was gratified that Mr. Wickham was being reviled by the townsfolk. Some had been close enough to hear his indecent proposal to Miss Elizabeth. As all of Meryton held his second daughter in high esteem, it had raised the ire of those who heard his vile words.
Bennet knocked on Phillips’s office door and did not miss the look of surprise on his brother’s face at seeing him in Meryton so early on the Sabbath. He told Phillips what had happened with Lizzy, then handed him the letter to notarise.
“Bennet, how could you and my sister demand she marry that idiotic man?” Phillips held up his hand. “I do not want to hear your nonsensical excuses. You, not Fanny, are the head of the household. It was yourchoicenot to assert your will. You are just too damned indolent to bestir yourself into action and now you have lost Lizzy and my friendship. I will do your legal work, but nothing more than that. You will pay full cost for anything I do for you.”
Phillips signed the document and affixed his official seal. Without a word, Bennet took the sealed document and had it sent express to his brother Gardiner, with an enclosed cover letter.
He rode back to Longbourn a much-chastened man.
