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“Run away!” startled voices rang out in concert.

“She has left the Forsters’ protection. She has thrown herself into Mr. Wickham’s power.”

Mrs. Bennet gasped. “Oh, how could the colonel have allowed this to happen?”

Her head lowered, young Kitty slowly edged away from the others. Elizabeth noticed this and followed her sister. “Kitty, what do you know about Lydia’s disappearance?”

“Oh, Lizzy! I feel this is my fault. Lydia wrote to me that she and Wickham were to be married, but it was supposed to be a great secret. I was to say nothing until she had written to Mama and Papa.”

Mr. Bennet must have overheard his daughter. “I can assure you, Wickham has no intention of marrying Lydia—not if the reports from Colonel Forster’s men are to be believed.”

Clutching her handkerchief, Mrs. Bennet pressed her hand to her forehead. “Oh, Mr. Bennet! You must hunt them down and make him marry her. My dear, dear Lydia.”

The aggrieved patriarch clasped his hands behind his back and stared into open space. “I know what must be done.”

Days later, Elizabeth fretted over her eldest sister. Jane should have returned hours ago. Wherever can she be? Worried, Elizabeth donned her light cloak and headed outside. She saw Jane sitting idly in the garden, alone.

“Jane, I supposed you were at Netherfield. Have you been sitting here long?”

“I have just left Netherfield—I fear for the last time.”

“Whatever do you mean? Are you not to be mistress of the grand estate?”

Lowering her eyes, Jane sighed. “Miss Bingley was there.”

“What on earth is she doing at Netherfield? I thought she was in town, enjoying the Season.”

“So did I,” Jane said hopelessly. “I suspect she came solely for the purpose of saving her brother from a disadvantageous alliance. She made it abundantly clear that she was no stranger to Lydia’s situation.”

Elizabeth raised her hands to her mouth. “Heavens! How did news of Lydia’s exploits reach town already?” If Mr. Darcy has learned any of this, surely he must be congratulating himself on having avoided such an alliance.

“I do not know. Oh, Lizzy! Miss Bingley was dreadful, and she refused to allow me to see her brother until she had spoken to me in private.” Jane brushed a tear from her cheek. “It seems the news of Lydia’s disgrace is widely known in the community. Miss Bingley accused our family of such wicked things. She told me that if I cared anything at all for her brother, I would release him from our engagement.”

“I suppose Mr. Bingley has something to say in the matter.”

“Actually, he does not. Everything his sister said is true. An alliance with our family would be devastating for Mr. Bingley. I cannot allow our family’s shame to ruin his family. It would not be fair to him or his sisters. This is the reason I shall never see Netherfield again—at least, not as its mistress. I ended the engagement. I had no other choice.”

Elizabeth reached out and placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Oh, Jane.”

“Lizzy, it is so heart-breaking to know Mr. Bingley’s sister was never in favour of her brother’s acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at, since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in many respects.” Jane burst into tears.

“Jane, I am dreadfully sorry.”

She would not stop crying, giving Elizabeth to know the situation was far graver than Jane admitted. “What are you not telling me?”

“Oh, Lizzy, Mr. Bingley and I anticipated our vows, and it is entirely my fault!”

Elizabeth swallowed her disappointment over what she heard. “Jane, how can you say such a thing? Even with my limited experience, I am certain it is the man who is the ultimate decider in such matters.”

“I would tend to agree if I did not know better. It started out rather innocently, I suppose. The Hursts and Miss Bingley had returned to town, and I found myself alone with Mr. Bingley. He offered me a tour of the upstairs.”

“Why would you need a tour of the upstairs? You were confined to that part of the house for days.”

“Indeed. But Mr. Bingley insisted I had not seen it as the future mistress. Lizzy, I hesitate to recount every detail. Suffice it to say that the feelings engendered by our initial touches were such that I longed to explore. Once we made a start, we—I insisted we let nature take its course.”

Elizabeth bit her lower lip. Could the feelings of which Jane speaks so wistfully be akin to the dizzying emotions evoked the first time I found myself in Mr. Darcy’s arms, or the second, or the third? For if that is the case, I might well understand how she allowed passion to overwhelm her sensibility. She loves Mr. Bingley, and I do not even like Mr. Darcy.

“Jane, I suppose a single instance could not allow for any unintended consequences.”