Page 83 of Twice Chosen

"Yes."

"That's not the same as liking me."

Elizabeth's throat tightened. "No."

Lydia looked down and worried at the edge of a ribbon. "Miss Harcourt says attention is not intention."

Elizabeth blinked. "Miss Harcourt?"

Mrs. Bennet, after much argument with Mr. Bennet and one surprisingly sensible conversation with Lady Lucas, had engaged a governess to work primarily with Kitty and Lydia. Miss Harcourt was not severe, but she was difficult to fool.

"She says if a gentleman admires me, I may enjoy it without owing him anything," Lydia continued. "And that I ought to know whether I actually like him or merely like being liked."

Elizabeth smiled. "Miss Harcourt is right."

Lydia rolled her eyes. "Everyone is becoming very wise."

"Annoying, isn't it?"

"Terribly."

Lydia went to Brighton.

Elizabeth still cried after the carriage disappeared.

Darcy held her in a quiet grove where no one could see.

But Wickham did not go to Brighton.

Colonel Forster had confronted him over gambling debts and conduct unbecoming an officer. Wickham resigned rather than submit to closer scrutiny.

By the time Lydia arrived, he was gone.

Elizabeth breathed again.

Brighton changed Lydia in smaller ways than Elizabeth expected. She returned with stories, but also with a new awareness that being the youngest and loudest person in a room could make one easy to dismiss.

Miss Harcourt noticed first.

During a lesson on household accounts, Lydia actually checked a column twice.

Kitty stared. "Are you ill?"

Lydia threw a pencil at her. "Mrs. Bell says people cheat girls who do not read figures."

Miss Harcourt lifted one brow. "Mrs. Bell is correct."

Lydia looked toward Elizabeth, who had stopped at the doorway. "Did you know that?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes."

"Why did no one tell me?"

The question was so sincere that Elizabeth did not tease.

"We should have."

Lydia returned to the page. "Then I shall know them now."