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CHAPTER 18

Lydia just stood there with her mouth agape. Remembering herself, she crossed her arms over her bosom as if attempting to protect her modesty.

“What is the meaning of this, young lady?”

Lydia said nothing.

After commanding the servant who stood across from him to be on his way, Darcy glared at Lydia. “Step aside.” He stormed into the room and saw his friend asleep in bed. Evidence of their assignation, in the form of Lydia’s robe, was casually strewn at the foot of Bingley’s bed. “Bingley! Wake up!” Darcy’s commanding voice drew Bingley from a deep slumber and forced him upright.

His eyes half opened, Bingley said, “What in heavens? Darcy, what has got into you? Is the house on fire?”

Darcy ran his fingers through his hair. “I shall ask the questions here. What has got into you?”

Bingley’s faced twisted into a half awakened grimace.

“Miss Lydia just came from your apartment—in quite a state, I might add.” Darcy looked over his shoulder and noticed she was still standing there. He did not know whether to be angrier at his friend for taking advantage of the wild child or the young woman herself, whom he always suspected only needed the slightest bit of encouragement to find herself in such a predicament. He picked up the robe and tossed it to her. “Cover yourself, young woman.”

Bingley looked at her too—his eyes filled with questions. “Miss Lydia?”

Darcy shook his head. “Is that how it is, Charles? Do you dare pretend to be just as shocked by her being here as I am disgusted to find her here?”

“Darcy, what are you accusing me of?”

His chest tight, his fist clenched at his sides, Darcy’s voice hardened. “Is it not obvious, man?”

“I know how it must look to find the young woman here, but I fear there has been some sort of misunderstanding.” Bingley threw back the covers and hopped out of bed. He walked barefoot to Lydia and reached out to her, stopping short of touching her arm. “Miss Lydia, you must tell me why you are in my apartment?”

Lydia flung her arms around his neck. “Oh, Charles! What is the point in protesting? We have been found out. I meant to return to my room before the house began to stir, just as you told me I must do, but Darcy saw me in the hallway.”

He grabbed her arms and attempted to remove them from his person. “What are you saying?”

“Charles, how can you pretend last night did not happen? You came into my room and looked in on me. I told you that I could not sleep, for I was not accustomed to sleeping in such a great big room all alone. You offered to stay the night with me—to attend to my comfort, and after a while, you persuaded me to join you in your bed, saying that I would rest more comfortably in here.”

He shook his head. “Darcy, I have no recollection of any of that ever happening. Miss Lydia, why are you suggesting such a thing?”

“La!” Lydia crossed the room and pulled back the covers; thus revealing the evidence of their nocturnal adventure. “Does seeing this refresh your memory?”

What Darcy and Bingley saw marring Bingley’s otherwise pristine white sheet left both gentlemen’s heads reeling. Bloodstains!

Later that morning, Lydia pranced into the room, eager to share her happy news. “Oh, Kitty! You will never ever believe my good luck. Mama will be so very pleased when she finds out.”

The young ladies clasped hands with each other. “You must tell me at once, Lydia!”

Mary entered the room. “What manner of good luck do you speak of, Lydia?”

Lydia’s face twisted with vexation. “Mary, wherever did you come from? I meant for my happy news to be a secret between Kitty and me.”

Kitty said, “Oh, Lydia, do not keep me in suspense. I am sure our sister can be depended upon to keep a secret.”

“Very well, but I shall only say that soon I shall no longer be residing here at Longbourn, for I shall soon be rich and the mistress of my own home.”

Mary’s mouth fell open. “Rich and the mistress of your own home? Surely you speak in jest!”

“I speak nothing but the truth.”

“Who would have asked you to marry him?”

“Mary, how unfeeling you are. Do you mean to say that you find me incapable of landing a rich husband? After all, I am the tallest of all my sisters and the prettiest, and I have more than my share of gentlemen callers.”