Elizabeth winced. “I do not want to bring disgrace to his family name, Papa, nor injure Georgiana.”
“Which is why we will do our best to keep the secret of Lydia’s disappearance as long as we can,” he replied.
“Papa, I do not think she is dead,” Kitty ventured, carefully.
“And on what do you base this opinion, Kitty?” he enquired, trying – and failing – to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
It was now Kitty’s turn to wince. “I just feel it, Papa. I feel she is alive. She must be.”
“You believe that if it gives you comfort, Kitty,” he said, his voice somber now. “I only wish I could believe it as well.”
***
Kitty and Mary stayed up quite late that night, composing a letter that ostensibly came from Lydia. After a good deal of thought and discussion with Mary, Kitty wrote:
Dear Kitty,
I am finally feeling better! It has been quite dreadful here in Brighton, being sick and not getting to spend time with my friends in the camp. If I am honest, I believe I have had quite enough of Brighton.
But, Kitty, I cannot bear to go to Longbourn with Mama gone! I am certain that my spirits would never recover should I come home now and have to look at everyone’s sad faces. I wrote to Aunt Gardiner, and she invited me to stay with them at Gracechurch Street, though she says I must wear black as the whole family is in mourning. Aunt Gardiner will send a carriage for me.
I must go and pack.
Your loving and sad sister,
Lydia
“I am sorry to say that it sounds just like her,” Mary said.
Kitty just sighed as she sanded the paper.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Georgiana would have liked to go to Longbourn every day, but her brother insisted that the family was in mourning and needed some time to themselves. “I, too, would like nothing more than to see Miss Elizabeth every day,” he told her. “But I know the family is in some distress, particularly with Miss Lydia missing.”
“And likely dead,” Georgiana said, sadly.
“Exactly.”
“Very well; every other day, then?”
“Yes, every other day.”
“And on the days when we do not go?”
“Read, play the pianoforte, sew, whatever you normally do at Pemberley, Georgiana.”
She considered that for a moment before asking, “Will you take me in to Meryton today, brother?”
“Meryton? Certainly, though I suspect you will be rather disappointed in the offerings.”
“No matter; I want to buy a few things for my friends.”
***
The “few things” consisted of a good many sweets: biscuits of various flavours, meringues, chocolate drops, toffee, sugared almonds, and marzipan. Georgiana also purchased someembroidery silks and linen squares, which she intended to use to sew handkerchiefs for her new “sisters.”
“You are very generous, Georgiana,” her brother said.
