“Why Mr. Wickham saw anything in you is beyond my comprehension.
“You are not so smart as you think.
“I shall undo all the damage you have done to Mr. Wickham’s reputation.”
By the time Lydia uttered this last, Elizabeth had had enough of the girl’s continued biting comments. Though Lydia tried to escape as she had every other time she had opened her mouth, Elizabeth caught the girl’s arm and led her to a quiet corner of the room, ignoring her indignant squawks and the glances of others. Mr. Wickham, she noted, watched it all with an unreadable expression. When they reached the corner, Elizabeth turned and glared at her sister, tapping her foot with impatience. Lydia’s mulish scowl told Elizabeth that she would not listen easily, but Elizabeth did not care for her feelings. She was theelder sibling, and Lydia would listen to her whether or not she wanted to.
“What do you have to say for yourself?”
“You are not Mama!” retorted Lydia. “I do not need—”
“Yes, you do!” rejoined Elizabeth, her gaze impaling her foolish younger sister. “I am your elder, Lydia, and you will listen to me and do as I say.”
Knowing as she did that Lydia had little respect for authority—a result of her father’s lackadaisical parenting style and her mother’s silliness—Elizabeth might have thought Lydia would try to leave. The girl seemed to sense that Elizabeth was not willing to accept further insolence, and the sense of wariness she had often felt for Elizabeth when she was angry appeared. Though presenting outward defiance, Lydia scowled and looked down, her rigid posture was evidence of her continued anger, though she did not challenge Elizabeth further.
“Let me make a few things clear to you, Lydia,” said Elizabeth, now keeping her voice a little lower. “First, you areneverto behave that way to me, for I will not endure it. I am not impressed by your show of temper, nor am I moved by your convictions. Respect, Lydia, is due to those who earn it—I will not accept disrespect from a foolish girl who should not even be out of the schoolroom.”
Anger flashed again in Lydia’s eyes, but she seemed to sense that argument would accomplish nothing. “Lizzy,” said she, a pleading note in her voice, “you are humiliating me in front of the officers.”
“And you deserve it, given your behavior. Shall you show me the deference due to your elder sibling, or shall I have Uncle Philips confine you to a bedchamber upstairs until it is time to return home?”
Lydia blanched and shook her head, which Elizabeth took as agreement enough.
“Good. Now, let me remind you about Mr. Wickham, Lydia.” This Elizabeth said in a softer tone, not wishing the entire room to overhear. “We know nothing of the officer that he has not told us himself. Discount all Mr. Darcy said about him if you wish, but that does not change the fact that Mr. Wickham fixed on a young woman possessing a newly acquired fortune and followed her to Liverpool when her uncles disapproved of him. However you look at it, that was the work of an opportunist.
“Mr. Wickham is a man of whom we should be wary for that reason alone. I dislike the way he has looked at us all night. For the rest of the evening, you will stay away from Mr. Wickham, and you will cease these objectionable comments to me. If you do not, I shall tell Papa about your behavior tonight.”
Temper returning, Lydia rejoined: “Papa will do nothing.”
“Continue this, and we shall see,” replied Elizabeth. “Papa does not use his authority often, but you know he does not tolerate disrespect. IfIinform him of your insolence, what do you think he will do?”
Though she squirmed, Lydia knew the answer to that question. “Papa favors you.”
“Whether that is true is not the issue,” replied Elizabeth, deciding that now she had been firm, it was time to soften a little. “Papa would not allow disrespect for Jane, any more than he allows it for me. Moderate your words, Lydia, and we will have no reason for acrimony.”
With evident sullenness, Lydia nodded, and Elizabeth allowed her to walk away, her head hanging with mortification. Elizabeth watched her go, noting that Kitty made her way to Lydia’s side at once, speaking to her sister in low tones. They did not approach the officers, many of whom were watching with undisguised interest, and for that, Elizabeth was grateful.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Belatedly, Elizabeth realized she had not seen Mr. Wickham in the room, and when she turned, she understood why, for the officer had approached her while she was distracted. Elizabeth could not say if he had overheard her reprimand, but he did not look at all amused. The confrontation she had been avoiding all evening had come.
MARY BENNET WATCHEDher sister rebuke Lydia with pleasure. Then again, perhaps not, for she took no enjoyment in Elizabeth calling Lydia to order. No, it was more a sense of satisfaction, pride in her elder sister’s unwillingness to tolerate any further misbehavior from their youngest sibling. Lydia had been unbearable all night—had Elizabeth not taken her to task, Mary might have done so herself.
Not that Mary reprimanding Lydia would have done anything other than provoke her to further misbehavior. Mary had no illusions about the girl’s lack of respect for her—Lydia had never made a secret of her feelings, and Mary had never hesitated to respond in kind. That Lydia was a spoiled child who should not be out in society was nothing less than the truth. Perhaps this episode would prompt their father to govern her as he ought.
“Mary,” came Jane’s voice from behind her, “what do you know about Mr. Wickham?”
“Just what our sister has told us,” said Mary, as Jane stepped beside her. “Much the same as she told you, I would imagine.”
Jane sighed. “Elizabeth has always told me everything, but in this instance, I suspect she has not been forthright.”
It was several moments before Mary spoke, as she reflected on recent events while Elizabeth continued to berate their sister. The notion that Elizabeth had not shared everything she knew with them did not pain Mary as it did Jane, as Mary had neverbeen Elizabeth’s close confidante. If shehadkept matters to herself, Mary suspected there was a good reason for it.
“Perhaps she has,” said Mary at length. “Some of what Mr. Darcy told Elizabeth might have been in confidence that Elizabeth cannot break.”
Jane considered this, sighed, and allowed Mary’s comment to have merit. “As Elizabeth suggested. Then what is your assessment of Mr. Wickham?”
Again, Mary considered the question. “Before tonight, I had not paid enough attention to him to form an opinion. His behavior since we arrived has... unsettled me, particularly the manner in which he regards Elizabeth. If we were not in company, I might fear for her safety.”
