Page 151 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Elizabeth stopped.

Several officers were gathered farther along the street. Two stood outside the inn, while others were making their way among the shops.

Her eyes moved from one face to another.

Mr. Denny had seen Lydia and Kitty and was approaching them with another young officer.

Elizabeth released her breath and wondered if one of those officers was Mr. Wickham.

Jane touched her hand.

“Lizzy, what is it? You have grown pale.”

Elizabeth looked at her sister and smiled. “Nothing at all. I am perfectly well.”

“Are you certain?”

Elizabeth watched her sisters. Lydia was laughing at something Mr. Denny had said, one hand resting upon his arm.

“I was thinking how readily our sisters trust gentlemen merely because they wear red coats.”

Jane followed her gaze.

Mr. Denny's companion was speaking with Kitty while Lydia continued talking to Denny. She stood close to him and touched his sleeve again when she laughed.

“They seem harmless enough,” Elizabeth said. She glanced farther along the street, where several other officers were gathered. “But some of those gentlemen must be thirty at least. What have Lydia and Kitty to do with men of their age?”

Jane's expression changed.

“I do not like how familiar Lydia is with Mr. Denny.”

“No, nor do I.”

Lydia laughed again.

“Come,” Jane said. “We should collect our sisters and finish our errands before Lydia forgets herself any further.”

They crossed the street.

“Lydia,” Jane said, “we are going to the haberdashery.”

“You go. Kitty and I shall come presently.”

“No, dear. We came together.”

Lydia looked disappointed, but after extracting a promise from Mr. Denny that he would attend the next assembly, she allowed herself to be drawn away.

The haberdashery restored her spirits.

Within minutes, Lydia and Kitty had several lengths of ribbon spread across the counter and were debating loudly over pink and green. Jane selected the embroidery thread she needed while Elizabeth found a spool of plain white thread suitable for her father's collars.

They stopped at Aunt Phillips's house before beginning the walk home. Lydia spent most of the visit talking about Mr. Denny and the other officers, with Kitty supplying whatever details her sister overlooked.

Their enthusiasm continued throughout the walk back to Longbourn.

“Mr. Denny says Captain Carter is an excellent dancer,” Lydia said. “He danced twice with Maria Lucas at the last assembly, though I cannot imagine why.”

“Lydia,” Jane said, “I wish you would be a little more careful in how you behave with the officers.”