“If we need to go, it would be best if we had a base of operations so to speak.”
Fitzwilliam regarded him evenly. “Might I assume you are speaking of Bingley’s estate?”
“I am,” said Darcy, reflecting he had only a few days ago rejected the notion of applying to Bingley when speaking to his sister. “Bingley has gone to the north, so it will be several days before I receive a response. But I cannot imagine he would forbid me from staying at Netherfield when we are there. If this business with Wickham drags out, we would not wish to reside at the inn the entire time. The place does not exactly cater to gentlemen, as I recall.”
“Would not his harpy of a sister take that as a sign of your undying devotion?”
Darcy grinned. “I will ask him to keep it from her. Bingley knows of my sentiments as regards his sister—he will respect my request.”
“Then go to it. I will not refuse the opportunity to live in comfort while we run Wickham to ground.
“Do not think this absolves your need to inform meexactlywhat is between you and Miss Elizabeth, Darcy,” added he, spearing Darcy with a glare. “I have not forgotten it and will not recede until you relate the whole to me.”
It struck Darcy that the support of a beloved cousin would not go amiss in this instance. While he was not eager to share everything, for some parts of the tale would not reflect well on him, surely he could make some explanation to his cousin enough to satisfy his curiosity.
Thus, Darcy gave him a curt nod and went to his desk to write out a brief note to Bingley, which he would then entrust to his butler to engage an express rider. A quick calculation informed Darcy that he could not expect an answer from his friend in less than a week. Bingley, he knew, would not object, especially with the notion Darcy had put into his head about the possibility of going to Hertfordshire in the autumn.
Chapter VI
Asullen Lydia Bennet was much more easily endured than an angry Lydia Bennet. No one in the Bennet family misunderstood this. While nothing more than the reprimand of a poorly behaved sister had been on Elizabeth’s mind when she called her to order, the benefits were welcome to them all.
Their lives continued apace, warming to summer, filling them all with all the contentment the season could bring. Except for Mrs. Bennet, of course, who detested the heat almost as much as she detested winter’s cold. The advancing season brought the time of Elizabeth’s departure for the north closer, increasing her anticipation apace. Lydia’s foot and head also healed enough that she was walking without difficulty, though still a little gingerly, her headaches no longer plaguing her and making her waspish.
Of little surprise to any of them, once Lydia was mobile again, she and Kitty resumed their almost daily walks to Meryton. Even that became a source of vexation, for there appeared to be little in Meryton to hold their attention.
“If only the regiment had not gone away!” exclaimed Lydia for perhaps the fifth day in succession. “Meryton is very dull; if there was anything else exciting in the vicinity, I dare say I would not care to see it again.”
“Perhaps you would care to take up walking with your sister,” said Mr. Bennet from behind his newspaper. “Surely the exercise would do you good, and you may even find something to amuse you.”
“A tedious business, I should say,” denounced Lydia with not even a hint of tact. “How Lizzy can walk the same paths over and over and not become bored is beyond my understanding.”
“Is it any different from how you walk to Meryton daily?” asked Elizabeth calmly.
Lydia scowled at her but did not respond. If that had been all, Elizabeth might have been well pleased that Lydia confined her ill humor to complaining about Meryton while anticipating her coming journey to the north.
In time, however, Elizabeth noticed an odd change in her sister’s demeanor. It was not something Elizabeth could put her finger on, for Lydia continued to grumble about her circumstances whenever she supposed others might listen to her. The comments about the regiment, however, became a thing of the past, surprising considering Lydia’s single-minded focus on the officers. What this might portend Elizabeth could not say, though she watched her sister, wondering what had provoked this change in her.
On a day perhaps three weeks before Elizabeth was to depart for Derbyshire, the sisters’ general boredom chased them from Longbourn to the ever-detested Meryton, in part because of a commission for spices from Longbourn’s cook, but also because Kitty and Lydia insisted on visiting the milliners. Elizabeth thought cynically that they had visited that shop every day for a fortnight, but as she was to go herself she did not care to challenge them.
“It is always the same thing,” said Lydia as they walked, gazing about her with nothing less than scorn. “How I long for a change in scene and society. The visit to Brighton would have suited me in every particular.”
It had been several days since Lydia had mentioned Brighton, but Elizabeth had no interest in provoking further discussion on that subject, so she kept her own counsel.
“Surely you wish to travel to faraway lands, Jane,” said Lydia, peering at her eldest sister. “I know Lizzy does.”
“At present,” said Jane, “I am content to remain at home. And you know Aunt and Uncle’s children will visit us for a time.”
Lydia made a face—her complaints about the coming of several lively children had not been frequent, yet she had spoken them all the same. Even Mrs. Bennet, who spoke of her nerves far more than anyone wished to hear, had no real objection to hosting her brother’s children for a time.
“Perhaps I shall leave Longbourn before they come.”
So suddenly had Lydia commented that Elizabeth almost thought she misheard. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing!” said Lydia, shaking her head in discontent. “I suppose it was a vestige of my intention to be in Brighton for the summer. Or perhaps I shall ask aunt and uncle to include me in the tour to the north.”
Elizabeth frowned at her sister. “Does the concept of touring the northern counties now appeal to you? That is a surprise, for you have referred to it as a tedious business more than once.”
Again, Lydia shook her head, distracted. “Anything must be better than this monotony.”
