Beginning, Previous Section, Section XI, Next Section

Chapter 34. Home is Where the Heart is.

Posted on 2010-12-29

August 1818

Two days after the Earl of Matlock's party, Mr. Bennet and his three daughters settled into one of Mr. Darcy's most comfortable carriages and prepared for the drive home to Hertfordshire. It was clear that the day was likely to be extremely warm, so Darcy and Bingley both chose to ride along side the coach.

The interior became stuffy within a few miles even though they let down the windows, but Mr. Bennet could not help but enjoy the time alone with his daughters. Two were to be married in just a month and, though he would readily admit that he approved of and even liked both Jane and Elizabeth's fiancés, there was no changing the fact that they were still absconding with his girls.

To take his mind off that discomfort, Thomas turned his attention on Lydia. The best that could be said of his youngest was that she seemed to be showing a greater consciousness of her behavior, though frequently her native liveliness simply overran whatever manners she had learned. As a result, she too would be leaving Longbourn; his head full of advice from Mr. Darcy, the Gardiners, various Fitzwilliams, and even the Davenports, Mr. Bennet had decided that Lydia would be sent to a school in the north of England, close enough to Pemberley that his youngest could easily join family for holidays, but far enough from any significant society that there was little possibility for her to embarrass herself in public.

Or at least, Mr. Bennet believed that he had made the final decision. It was entirely possible that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy had considered the matter between them selves and then gently guided him to the conclusion that they had deemed best. He smiled to himself. He was not unaccustomed to such subtle management from Lizzy, but his favorite had lately displayed a new self-confidence in her opinions that left her father alternately proud and befuddled.

Catching sight of Mr. Darcy riding along side the carriage, Mr. Bennet gave a mental shrug and turned his attention back to his daughters' conversation

The travelers broke their trip half way, pausing at a coaching inn that was well known to the Bennets. As the servants rushed to see to the horses, Elizabeth stepped away from the tumult of the stable yard and found a bit of shade under a great old oak. She discretely wiped sweat from her brow with a handkerchief while watching a squirrel perched on a branch above her.

She smiled when it chattered at her. "I would be happy to help you take off that fur coat, Sir Squirrel, for I imagine that you are terribly warm. But you will need to come down here and show me where the fastenings are if you wish my assistance…"

The squirrel and the lady carried on their conversation for several minutes until Elizabeth heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw that Mr. Darcy had left his horse with a stable boy and followed her to the green. He had seemed rather quiet that morning, but in the confusion of saying goodbye to all the Gardiners and settling into the carriage, there had been no time to speak privately. Once they were underway, she had become distracted by her father and sisters and temporarily forgotten her concern.

Darcy's tight expression quickly reminded her, however.

"The others have gone inside for tea. Do you wish to join them?" The stiff, stone-faced figure reminded Lizzy far more of the unpleasant gentleman who had offended most of Meryton the previous fall than the considerate lover who had been courting her these last months.

Elizabeth forced herself to smile, hoping it would encourage him to be easier. "Thank you; perhaps in a moment. For now, it is nice to get a bit of fresh air."

Darcy nodded but said nothing, seemingly focused on fiddling with the signet ring he habitually wore on his little finger.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth's own worries caused her to misjudge the cause of his mood. She sighed and said, "My mother shall be eager to see you and Mr. Bingley, but the two of you can escape to Netherfield soon enough after we arrive." Her tone was sharper than she had intended and left William blinking in confusion.

"I had not… that is… I…" He stopped for a moment, shut his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, Elizabeth was watching him carefully. "I apologize. My mind was elsewhere." Suddenly recalling her words, he spoke more fervently, unconsciously reaching out a hand. "No--no…. it is nothing to do with your mother or Longbourn… though I will admit to being slightly homesick for Derbyshire… this heat is disagreeable, don't you think?"

Elizabeth considered him for a moment before placing her hand in his. He kissed the back of it gallantly and did not let it go, even when she pulled slightly to take it back. Instead, he stood, studying their two hands with the same distant look that he had addressed to his ring earlier.

"William? What is it? Is something wrong with Georgiana?" asked Lizzy more gently. Miss Darcy had remained in London for her music lessons and would be traveling to Hertfordshire in a week with the Hursts.

Elizabeth's fiancé only shook his head, but neither spoke nor let go of her hand.

She rolled her eyes. If he would not tell her, then she would continue guessing. "Not Georgiana… then perhaps it is Colonel Fitzwilliam? Or Miss de Bourgh?"

Each of these names drew similar headshakes but she caught a ghost of a smile and considered it to be progress. "Perhaps your Cousin Edward and Lady Almida have announced their intention to travel to darkest Africa and work as missionaries?"

Darcy could only break into a small chuckle at this, the very idea beyond even his ability to imagine. Even though they were standing on a public green, he pulled Elizabeth to him for just a second, kissing her forehead and then tucking her hand around his arm and guiding them to stroll along the grassy verge.

"You have a rare talent for teasing me out of my doldrums," he said softly.

"Hmmmm…. It would be easier to do if you would confide in me about what weighs upon you so. I am sorry for leaping to the conclusion that you are dreading our return to Longbourn. It likely reflects more of my own anxieties than I wish to admit."

Darcy shrugged, his eyes looking out across the fields, though Lizzy suspected he saw little. "As Richard very wisely pointed out to me, I am not so accustomed to large families as you. I always wished for more siblings when I was younger; I was jealous of my Fitzwilliam cousins--it seemed as if they always had someone to play with." He trailed off and was silent for a few minutes before returning to his point. "It is not that I do not like your mother, only that her liveliness is so… so very… lively… I have to step away to recover my own balance, sometimes."

He looked at her, suddenly fearing that his candidness would offend her, but Lizzy only laughed and assured him that she often felt the same. After several more minutes of amiable discussion over what antics they might expect from Mrs. Bennet over the next four weeks leading up to the wedding, Elizabeth returned to her original point.

"But you shall not divert me, sir. What had you so gloomy and distracted? I noticed it this morning at the Gardiners but there was no time to speak with you."

Darcy was about to brush off her enquiry as he was accustomed to do with his sister, but stopped himself just in time. For a moment, he felt as if he were standing at crossroads. Never in his life had he a confidant with whom he was comfortable sharing his innermost concerns. Elizabeth's rare combination of gentle teasing and stubbornness had begun to change that habit. However, to date, his openness had only dealt with revealing his feelings for her (no small fete in itself given his natural reticence) and general details about his past life and hopes for the future. Never something so deeply rooted as his ambiguous feelings toward George Wickham.

And yet, William could feel it eating away at him. Richard had attempted to tease him into talking about the Earl's story on the previous evening, but Darcy had been in more of a mind to brood than converse.

After a few minutes, he sighed slightly and looked at Elizabeth's hand where it rested on his arm. "I am not accustomed to sharing my worries." They had come to a small river and stepped away from the road to stand on the bank.

When Elizabeth started to remove her hand, he held it more tightly and looked down to see a hurt look in her eyes. "And now I've misspoken again and hurt you, again. Do you see why it is better sometimes for me to keep silent? Words come out of my mouth not at all how I mean them."

The melancholy in his voice caused Lizzy to stop trying to free her hand, but she still had a tight look about the eyes. "Try," she said quietly, plucking a leaf from an overhanging branch and twirling it in her fingers by the stem before flinging it out into the water. She continued to watch the leaf, bobbing and swirling as the current carried it down the stream, even as William began to talk quietly.

"It is good to talk about things with you, and I appreciate that you make the effort to tease me back to the light whenever I fall into a funk. Or pry it out of me, when need be." He tried a smile but she did not respond.

Sighing, William forced himself to explain, though his gruff voice hinted at the strain he felt. "George Wickham's ship sailed this morning for Australia. Perhaps it was stupid, but I got up early enough to see it off. It is hard to imagine that he is really gone. For so long, I thought… I believed that…"

Now Elizabeth turned to him, surprised at his actions but primarily concerned by the suffering and confusion evident in his voice. Without a thought, she raised a hand and touched his cheek, pleased when he met her eyes and some of the worry smoothed from his brow.

William looked deep into her eyes for a moment, and then, making a decision, kissed her forehead and proceeded to tell her a condensed version of the story which his Uncle Henry had related to him.

Elizabeth remained silent for some minutes when he was done summarizing the unhappy history of Mr. Wickham's origins. Finally she looked up at him, understanding in her eyes. "You believed, all this time, that he might be your half-brother…"

"I did, yes. Particularly as we spent so much of our childhood together, sharing lessons and such. And it was no secret that my parents hoped for another child, and my father particularly for another son. I suppose I absorbed that wish and translated it to the desire for a brother. And Wickham was right there…"

Lizzy absorbed what he said. It explained a great deal of Darcy's ambiguous behavior toward Wickham, always cleaning up after the man, paying his debts, and generally getting him out of trouble; disapproving of his morals and activities but never denouncing him publically for his crimes. It was just how she would expect an honorable gentleman with a strong sense of family loyalty would deal with a rogue relative.

Suddenly horror bloomed in her eyes. "And when he tried to elope with Georgiana, you thought…"

"I feared that he was trying to seduce his half-sister, yes."

They shared a long look; Elizabeth finally understanding the extent of the distress that Wickham had caused him. William watched her process the information and felt freer than he had in years. Not for the first time since she had entered his life, Darcy realized that the simple act of sharing a fear made it far less overwhelming than trying to lock it away in a dark corner of his mind where it invariably festered.

There was no time to speak further as they both heard Mr. Bingley calling for them.

Thinking quickly, Elizabeth said softly, "That is quite a lot to take in at once. I can well understand your disposition now. Perhaps we might take a walk tomorrow in the morning? I have been longing to return to the countryside, so no one will think it odd for me to be up and out of doors with the dawn."

It was quickly agreed upon and soon Lizzy was climbing back into the stuffy carriage. She attempted to cover her preoccupation but luckily the others seemed to have exhausted their need for conversation; Mr. Bennet took out a book, Jane picked up her embroidery, and Lydia folded a shawl so that it pillowed her head as she napped. Relieved, Elizabeth took out a book she had packed but it was not many minutes before she gave up reading and stared out at the passing countryside, deep in thought.

She was so engrossed in her contemplations that the sound of the carriage wheels on the gravel of Longbourn's drive came as a complete surprise. As the coach pulled up to the house, Kitty, Mary, and their mother emerged from the front door to welcome them home. Elizabeth moved to wave, but immediately noted that all three showed an oddly subdued manner.

Mrs. Bennet displayed a combination of anxiety and relief when Charles and William pulled their horses to a halt and dismounted. "Oh, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley… I am so glad to see you both… it is so good of you to see my daughters and Mr. Bennet home. Mary, Kitty--greet the gentlemen."

The girls curtseyed obediently but continued to stand closely at their mother's side. William quickly noted that both seemed more muted than usual and turned worried eyes back to the carriage after making their courtesies.

"Mama!" Lydia's natural exuberance had been cooped up for long hours and she burst from the carriage the instant that the footman opened the door.

Mrs. Bennet stood stiffly for an instant when her youngest hugged her, then wrapped her own arms around the girl. "Oh Lydia, my dear… my dear, dear baby." Mother and daughter stood silently for some moments, tears leaking from their eyes.

However, after a minute, Mrs. Bennet's eyes snapped open to see that her husband and eldest daughters had emerged from the carriage. She stiffened and stepped back, snapping, "Go to your room, Lydia."

"But Mama…"

"Now!"

It said something about Lydia's recent improvement that she obeyed her mother with a hurt look but no further protest.

While the others looked on, Mrs. Bennet turned to her two eldest, giving each a short but tight hug. "Jane, Lizzy, it is so good to see you. You both look very well." She pinched Jane's cheek. "My beautiful girls."

Mr. Bennet was so startled by his wife's behavior that he could not even produce one of his usual sarcastic comments.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennet turned to the two gentlemen. "Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley; would you care to come inside for refreshments?"

Sensing that something was off and guessing that the family needed some time alone, William spoke before Charles could accept. "Thank you for your kind invitation, Mrs. Bennet, but I believe we should carry on to Netherfield and get ourselves settled." Seeing the woman's concern, he added quickly, "Perhaps another time?"

Mrs. Bennet smiled, clearly relieved at this evidence that her daughters' fiancés were not fleeing Longbourn forever. "Oh yes! Perhaps tomorrow, after church? We shall have a fine Sunday dinner."

The plan was quickly agreed upon and in short order the two gentlemen had re-mounted their horses. Darcy gave Elizabeth a long look and received a confused smile in return. He sensed that something was wrong and it was his nature to wish to fix it for her, but he also guessed that the Bennets would prefer some privacy. William had to believe that their understanding was strong enough that Elizabeth would send him a note if there was a crisis and she required his assistance immediately.

Once the riders disappeared around the corner of the drive, Mrs. Bennet turned worried eyes on her husband, wringing her hands. "Will they stand by us? Will they will still marry our girls?"

Mr. Bennet was becoming truly concerned. "Whatever are you speaking of, Fanny? Of course the weddings shall proceed as planned! Did we not just spend two weeks in London buying out all the shops and warehouses for their trousseaus?"

"But what of Lydia? Is she ruined? I have heard nothing from you since the express you sent saying that Lydia was joining you on the trip to London! And now all anyone can talk about is Lieutenant Wickham being arrested and court marshaled, and that Colonel Forster has accused his wife of infidelity and is demanding a divorce…"

Mrs. Bennet gulped a breath, tears flowing freely now. "Oh Thomas, I am not so silly that I would fail to notice that Lydia went missing the very day of Mr. Wickham's disappearance… Did she run away with him?"

Surprise and guilt locked Mr. Bennet's throat, for honestly he had given little thought to how the news might have affected his wife. He had received several letters from her but, not wishing to diminish his pleasant mood while at the Gardiners', he had put off opening them, using them as bookmarks instead.

"Oh, Mama…" Jane gripped her mother's hand tightly. Elizabeth could tell from her expression that her elder sister was already blaming herself, though she had done no less than Lizzy, and certainly more than their father. Both girls had sent long, chatty letters from London, relating their shopping progress and the success of the Gardiners' party. Jane had described her future home on Waverley Street and the various plans for its renovation, while Elizabeth had provided some details of Derwent House and Darcy's Fitzwilliam relations, knowing how her mother would enjoy the news that her daughter had been invited to call the Countess of Matlock, 'Aunt'.

But now, she was awash with guilt at seeing how her mother and younger sisters had worried. Giving Mary and Kitty a small smile that she hoped rather than knew was reassuring, Elizabeth stepped forward and took her mother's other hand. "Don't be uneasy, Mama. It has all turned out quite well. Come into the drawing room; we shall have some tea and explain it all."

"Oh Lizzy, you are a good girl. We are not ruined--you are certain?"

With little trouble, the sisters were able to guide Mrs. Bennet inside, where Elizabeth rang for tea while Jane settled their mother in her favorite chair.

Once Mrs. Hill had set out the tea things and all were served, Elizabeth shut the door and turned to survey the room. Kitty and Mary were seated close together on the sofa, quiet and concerned, while Jane had knelt at their mother's feet rather than break that lady's tight grip on her hand.

Elizabeth looked to her father to begin, but it quickly became apparent that Mr. Bennet was too befuddled by the unexpected situation to speak. Lizzy sighed, but after receiving a silent nod from her elder sister, she took a deep breath and did her best.

"We were not half way to London when the carriage wheel cracked. No one was hurt as we were traveling at a slow pace, but it was clear that repairs were needed before we could continue. While we were waiting, Lydia arrived in a curricle with Lieutenant Wickham."

Kitty and Mary gasped. Both had hoped that their mother's nerves had driven her to exaggerate the situation, as was her want.

Elizabeth thought quickly about what to tell and what details were better forgot. "Lydia believed that they were eloping to Gretna Green. She did not know of Mr. Wickham's nefarious nature. Luckily, we discovered her before anything… scandalous could happen." She stressed the word and looked carefully at her mother to make sure that lady understood.

At Mrs. Bennet's small nod, Elizabeth continued. "It turned out that he had absented himself from his regiment without leave. He was arrested and, during the investigation that followed, a great many other crimes were discovered. In addition to leaving behind a great many unpaid debts in Brighton, Derbyshire, and elsewhere, there was evidence that Mr. Wickham had been blackmailing various people for some years. In some instances, he would seduce a lady and then force her family to pay him to keep the secret."

Her mother and sisters all gasped in horror. "And to think… we all thought him so charming," said Kitty, her eyes wide. Even Mary was too shocked to think of an appropriately pious quote.

Lizzy nodded, reminded for a moment of her own mistaken acceptance of Wickham's lies before bringing herself back to the present. "He is a very practiced deceiver. However, the volume of evidence brought against him in the court martial left him no way to wriggle out. He was quickly found guilty and sentenced to be transported to the penal colonies in Australia. Mr. Darcy saw his ship off this very morning; we do not need to worry about Mr. Wickham ever again."

Jane and Mr. Bennet both gave Elizabeth a sharp look at this last bit of information but remained silent.

Mrs. Bennet reached out a hand to her second daughter and Lizzy stepped forward to take it, perching on the arm of the sofa beside her mother. "Oh, thank God… I was so afraid…." She looked up with teary eyes at the daughter she understood least of all and showed a level of intuition not expected by her family. "It was Mr. Darcy, wasn't it? Dear Lizzy, he arranged it all, didn't he? How can we ever thank him enough…"

It vaguely worried Elizabeth that her mother never even considered that Mr. Bennet might have been the one to settle the matter, but she answered as best she could. "Mr. Darcy helped, but I do not think he would like to be fussed over. Once Mr. Wickham was turned over to the military authorities, the adjutant general was in charge of gathering evidence and bringing the charges; apparently he was very thorough."

All were quiet for some moments before Elizabeth cleared her voice once more. She leaned over to wrap one arm around her mother's shoulders, feeling more affection for the woman than she had in years. She looked over to Mary and Kitty to make sure she had their attention as well before speaking.

"Mama, Mary, Kitty… though Lydia was saved, her reputation, and by connection our family's, could still be hurt badly if some of these details were to get out. That is why we did not speak of it in our letters from London." She glanced at Jane, who managed a wan smile.

"Ask whatever questions you have now, but for anyone outside of this room, we must all adhere to the story that Lydia accompanied us to London."

Kitty managed a small question. "What if someone saw her get into the curricle with Wickham?"

"If they had, I believe that we would have heard of it by now. Has anyone mentioned such a thing to you?" Despite her seeming assurance, Elizabeth was relieved when both of her sisters shook their heads.

"Well then, if it were to happen, I would not recommend that you lie, but suggest that you try to give as little information as possible. Lydia was upset to be left behind while Jane and I were to go shopping in London, so she convinced an officer to take her in a curricle and catch up to us on the road, far enough along that she could not be sent back. Does that not sound like Lydia?"

Kitty exchanged a look with Mary and both nodded soberly; Lizzy was left with the distinct impression that the pair had bonded while dealing with Mrs. Bennet's nerves over the past fortnight.

Mr. Bennet cleared his voice and his family looked in surprise to where he stood, having largely forgotten his presence. Elizabeth was swept with a fresh wave of guilt--it was not her place to speak to her family so--but that emotion was quickly followed by a sort of tired exasperation--she would not have taken charge had her father done his duty as head of the family.

Mr. Bennet spoke gruffly and wouldn't meet his daughter's eyes. "Well, so now you know the story. Girls, why don't you run along and see to your unpacking. Mary, Kitty--I am sure that your sisters could use your assistance."

As the sisters stood obediently, Mr. Bennet offered his arm to their mother. "Mrs. Bennet, please join me in my study."

Mrs. Bennet allowed him to help her from the chair and followed him silently out of the room. Their daughters would never know what exactly was said during the hour that the couple spent together, but when the family sat down that evening for dinner, Mrs. Bennet was calmer than even Jane could ever remember, and Mr. Bennet treated his wife and daughters with a sort of sheepish consideration.

Lydia nearly dissolved into tears several times over the course of the meal, as her mother treated her with a sort of cool disapproval to which the youngest Miss Bennet was completely unaccustomed. The entire family retired early and Elizabeth was unsurprised when Jane tapped on her bed chamber door, seeking entrance.

"Oh Lizzy, I feel terrible… Mama was so worried!" Jane sat atop the quilt and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees and rocking slightly in her agitation.

Elizabeth sighed and set her brush down on the vanity. "I as well, Janey. It never even occurred to me that…" she trailed off.

"That Papa would not assure her that all was well?"

The sisters shared a long look and Elizabeth turned to lean her chin in her hand. "I should have known better… he is a poor correspondent at best."

Jane's compassion for her sister overcame her own feelings of guilt. "Lizzy, it is not your fault."

Elizabeth moved to sit by her sister, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Nor is it yours, dear Jane. Though I think that even agreeing on that, we will both still feel we should have done more." The sisters sat for some minutes, comforting and being comforted.

When Jane next spoke, she kept her face pressed against her knees and her soft voice was muffled. "I still feel that I am a terrible daughter. So self-centered; I didn't want to think about Longbourn--I was so angry with Lydia for nearly ruining everything… all I wanted to think about was my future with Charles. I've spent hours considering what colour to redecorate the Waverley House drawing room, and even more time on Madame Lavoisier's designs for my wedding dress. I should have known that Mama would be upset, but I didn't want to be bothered with it."

Somehow, Jane's anguish helped Elizabeth re-equilibrate her own feelings. "Jane, listen to me; let us consider it logically. We may be the eldest, but we are still the daughters. Would we consider it to be Maria Lucas' fault if Sir William neglected to inform his wife of some matter related to Charlotte's situation at Hunsford? That is a poor example--too vague for an analogy, but you see what I mean?"

Jane's head tilted so that her tear-streaked cheeks were visible and she nodded slightly. "You mean to say that it was Papa's responsibility, as head of the family." Her dark blue eyes studied her younger sister for some moments. "You are worried about what will happen at Longbourn when we leave."

Now it was Elizabeth who tucked her chin. "I have been doing the accounts for nearly eight years now… Neither Mary nor Kitty have any aptitude for it, and Lydia shall be away at school. I feel I should offer to continue… but I shall be in Derbyshire, and…" She trailed off.

"And your duty is to your husband and Pemberley," finished Jane. "Just as mine is to Charles and our own household."

Elizabeth looked at her elder sister gratefully. "William offered to hire a steward, or even a secretary, to assist at Longbourn. The salary wouldn't be a problem, but I refused because I feared it would hurt Papa's pride too much."

The pair sat for some minutes, contemplating their situation. Finally, Jane leaned back against the headboard, crossing her arms before her. "I remember, just before I came out… feeling very confused… on one hand I felt very grown up but on the other still very, very young."

Elizabeth nodded with a crooked smile. "I was still growing… 'twas difficult to feel comfortable when I was half a head taller than all the boys my age."

Jane gave her a sympathetic look but was still focused on making her point. "What I meant was that it was a transition in our lives… much like we are going through now. We are still expected to respect and obey our parents, yet in not so many days we shall be required to take responsibility for our own households… our own families.

Jane eyed her sister contemplatively. "And in many ways, you have been doing this for some time."

When Elizabeth stirred, Jane shushed her. "No, listen to me, Lizzy. I suppose I knew how much responsibility you have taken upon yourself over the years, but I am just now realizing what an ambiguous position it put you in. On one hand, you have practically run the estate…"

"Jane, you are exaggerating…"

"No Lizzy; I may not be as intelligent as you are, but give me credit for knowing how this household functions. Papa may sign all the checks and whatnot, but it is you who spend hours each day going over the ledgers or checking on the tenants and such."

Elizabeth shrugged uncomfortably. "I only did what was needed, Jane. You know that… Just as you spend so much time with Mama, soothing her fears and keeping her from spending us all into penury."

To her surprise, Jane nodded decisively. "Yes, we have both done more than most would expect of a gentleman's daughters… yet we have kept up the pretense."

Jane squared her shoulders and did her best to quell her innate repellence at speaking ill of her parents. "Lizzy, the fact is that you and I shall be marrying in four weeks. We shall be leaving Longbourn, and we must see that the responsibilities we have taken here are passed on before we leave. Papa's pride does not appear to have been hurt by having his daughter tend to his estate, so he shall have to deal with whatever solution we come up with for when we leave."

Elizabeth stared at her sister wide-eyed. "Jane, that is the most… unforgiving statement I believe I have ever heard from you."

Miss Bennet's lips tightened. "I am upset, I admit. Our mother and sisters were in pain, and it would have taken very little for Papa to reassure them. It was his duty, but I doubt that it ever even occurred to him."

The pair sat for some moments thinking about their parents' relationship before Jane spoke softly. "I am so worried that I will not be a good wife to Charles--that I will fail at running his household and he will regret marrying me."

"Oh Jane, no!"

Jane shushed her younger sister. "I love him, and shall do everything in my power to succeed and make him happy. I suppose that is why I am not so willing to ignore this issue now. I am trying to think of how I would handle it if I were mistress of my own home."

"And if we have learned anything from Papa, it is that ignoring a problem does not make it go away," muttered Lizzy. She was surprised when Jane, instead of reprimanding her for the unkind comment, only laughed weakly.

When Elizabeth looked at her with concern, Jane shrugged. "Charles and I were talking--it was that day that we took our little cousins to the park. He has been having problems with Caroline and wished me to know that he was doing his best to stand up to her. It was a most revealing conversation; we realized that we have a very similar fault--a deep, abiding desire to avoid any and all conflict, regardless of the pain it causes for ourselves."

Elizabeth blinked, suddenly remembering Mr. Bingley's exchange with Darcy when Jane was sick at Netherfield. While she and William had enjoyed the spirited argument, it had obviously made Charles so uncomfortable that he wished to leave the room.

"I had not realized…" Lizzy smiled at her sister. "The two of you truly are a perfect match… you shall never quarrel!"

Jane smiled weakly. "But that is just the problem, Lizzy. We are each of us so very complying that I fear any and all will take advantage of us. Charles and I have made a pact. Caroline shall be living with us at least until her twenty-fifth birthday, and we are both determined not to… not to…"

"Let her walk all over you?" finished Elizabeth. She gave her sister a tight hug. "Good for you, Jane. While I adore your goodness, I admit I have worried that you trust too easily."

"After what Charles has told me about Caroline, I shall be much more careful, Lizzy."

"Oh Jane, I am so sorry… I wish that I could have protected you from that pain," said Elizabeth.

To her surprise, Jane shook her head decisively. "It was a hard lesson at first, but a most important one. One that both Charles and I needed to learn."

After a few minutes of contemplation, Miss Bennet turned a sharp eye on her sister. "So, what are we to do about Longbourn. We have four weeks, and I am afraid that there are far more important tasks to accomplish than packing up our clothes and deciding which childhood trinkets to give away."

Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. "You are perfectly correct. I cannot simply leave Longbourn and assume that Papa will magically begin seeing to all the ledgers and correspondence… or that Mama will begin checking the housekeeping accounts." The sisters shared a knowing look that strengthened both their resolves.

After a moment, Lizzy spoke more firmly. "I shall discuss it again with William tomorrow. He knows more about what sort of people might be hired, and I can tell him about the volume and content of the work Longbourn generates so that he will understand the requirements."

Jane nodded. "Perhaps we could also speak with Charles? I believe he would wish to pay for part of the man's salary… and as Netherfield is so much closer than Pemberley, he might be of some help in supervising the work, although he has less experience in managing an estate than Mr. Darcy, of course."

Elizabeth hugged her sister. "I am sure that Charles would be a great help, but the entire point of this enterprise is to allow us to focus on our own responsibilities, not on the running of Longbourn. After all, what is the use of marrying such rich men if not to free our feeble minds of such worries?"

This last jest garnered an eye roll from Jane and the pair dissolved into giggles. Before they had recovered, a tap on the door revealed Mary and Kitty. The four sisters gathered together on Elizabeth's bed and talked late into the night, sharing fears and hopes, worries and plans.

Despite her late night, Elizabeth woke the next morning when the sunrise was little more than a hint of colour in the eastern sky. Dressing quickly, it was not until she was lacing up her boots that it occurred to her that she had automatically put on one of her most comfortable old dresses--supremely practical but not at all what most would expect to see on the fiancé of one of the foremost gentlemen in England. She sighed and hesitated for just an instant before squaring her shoulders and giving her laces a last tug to be sure the knots would hold.

She was, at heart, a country girl. Her time in London had given her confidence that she could hold her own and even enjoy High Society, but she was resolved not to allow her success in town affect her demeanor here at home.

Lizzy's worry proved quite unnecessary when she stepped through the small gate at the back of Longbourn's gardens and turned onto the path. For there was Mr. Darcy, dressed not in crisp black superfine as was his custom in London, but in wool tweel flecked with browns and greens, patched on the cuffs and one elbow. Suddenly she remembered that she had often seen him thus at Pemberley, when he was riding out.

Elizabeth burst into a bright smile. This was the gentleman she wished to marry; a man who was perfectly comfortable (and, to be honest, much happier) discarding all the fripperies and pretenses deemed important by fashionable society. Like her, his attire was comfortable and practical to go for a stomp in the country.

They stopped, looking at one another for a moment before Elizabeth, laughing, ran the last few steps into his arms.

"You had an odd look on your face, for a moment there," noted William when they eventually turned and headed along the path, arm in arm.

Elizabeth grinned up at him. "I was just thinking how much I like your coat."

William's eyebrows rose. "Perhaps you would do me the great favour of informing my valet, for he is constantly trying to convince me to get rid of it."

After some teasing about how well Derbyshire's poor would be dressed next season if Mr. Hawkins had his way, Darcy's expression became more serious and he inquired as to the disturbance he'd noted at Longbourn the previous day.

Elizabeth sighed, still feeling guilty. "Papa did not inform our mother of anything other than what he put in the express the night we discovered Lydia with Wickham. News of the Lieutenant's departure and court martial have been much gossiped about and Mama quickly realized that he had fled to London the same day as Lydia's disappearance. She has spent the last two weeks terrified that Lydia ran off with Wickham, ruining herself and, by association, all of our family."

"Oh," said Darcy, blinking hard. "Good Lord."

"Yes, quite," agreed Lizzy. "Jane and I both wrote to her and our sisters from London, but only about our shopping and what events we thought she would enjoy… Oh William, I feel dreadful; Kitty and Mary came to us last night. They were so anxious and have worked so hard to keep Mama from telling of her worries to the entire neighborhood…"

"I'm sorry--I should have thought to send news of the court martial," said William.

Elizabeth's agitation eased a bit and she rolled her eyes. "No sir, you cannot take this upon yourself." She sighed again and they walked silently for some minutes.

Eventually, she kicked a rock off the path with so much force that it flew into the brush and frightened a flock of blackbirds into the air. "It is not your fault, nor is it Jane's fault, though both of you are eager to blame yourselves." She sighed before continuing. "Nor is it mine, though I can't help but feel guilty."

William started to say something but then shut his mouth.

Elizabeth glanced up and smiled crookedly. "Jane and I had a long talk last night. We have agreed that it was our father's duty, and though we should have realized he would not think of Mama's concerns, the fact still remains that it is not our fault."

Elizabeth stopped and placed her hands on William's lapels, waiting until all his attention was focused upon her. "Let this be a lesson to us; let us promise to share our troubles, even when we think we have solved them on our own." Lizzy sighed softly and rested her forehead against his chest for a moment. "For I think that there are few things I fear more than to be like my parents."

William wrapped his arms around her so that her head was tucked below his chin. "Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. All I can say is that I will do my best. As I confessed yesterday, I am not accustomed to sharing my worries with anyone… I can only beg you to be patient with me as I break the habit."

Lizzy looked up into his earnest eyes. "I love you as well, and I shall do my best. If my conversation with Jane showed me anything, it is that I too have a tendency to try to solve problems on my own, so I rather think that this openness we both want will need be a mutual effort."

When William questioned her, Elizabeth sighed but summarized the sisters' discussion, spending some time on their decision to ask Darcy and Bingley for assistance. William answered her questions and posed his own, impressing her once again with his knowledge and experience. As they talked, they climbed Oakham Mount, reaching the peak when the sun was bursting with orange and pink streaks across the eastern sky.

The view was so spectacular that they lapsed into silence, William standing behind Elizabeth with his arms wrapped around her waist. After several minutes, she sighed and leaned her head back against his chest. "I shall miss this… Pemberley is beautiful and I love the wildness of the Peaks… but this…"

"This is home," said Darcy sympathetically. He was reminded of his plan to have an artist paint this very vista as a gift for Elizabeth. He himself kept an oil landscape of Pemberley at Derwent House which had comforted him any number of times over the years when he became homesick for Derbyshire but was forced to remain in town.

Elizabeth turned in his arms and, running her hands up his lapels, gave him a look so warm with love that he felt it in his very toes. "It is my childhood home, yes. Hertfordshire shall always have a place in my heart… but in truth, I shall not mourn it over much. My place is with you, William, and the home we shall make together."

Such a statement must be rewarded, and Darcy responded as a man violently in love could be expected.

When Elizabeth slipped into Longbourn through the kitchen entrance (barely in time to sit down to breakfast with her family), her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes were not entirely due to the success of her discussions with Mr. Darcy.

That afternoon, after attending church and then enjoying a superb Sunday dinner, Mr. Bennet attempted to retire to his study alone. However, before he was even able to select a book, Elizabeth and her fiancé came tapping on his door. Thomas allowed them entry, believing that they desired a quiet sanctuary as much as he.

It was with some surprise, therefore, that Mr. Bennet found himself required to participate in a lengthy discussion of the Longbourn's accounts and planning. Or rather, Elizabeth and Darcy discussed it, occasionally posing questions to the estate's master. Their manner was perfectly respectful, but also so decisive that he found he could not laugh at them.

By the end of the afternoon, Thomas Bennet found himself agreeing that his two sons-in-law would hire a young man to "assist" him in managing Longbourn. Mr. Bingley was brought in and happily agreed to the arrangement, particularly when Darcy suggested that they approach a certain Mr. Mason who had spent the last four years as assistant to Pemberley's steward and was ready to take on an independent situation.

The details were quickly worked out and then Darcy sat down and wrote several letters so that he might have then sent by express that very day. Although he did not say it aloud out of respect for Mr. Bennet's feelings, William had every intention of summoning young Mr. Mason as soon as possible so that Elizabeth could bring him up to speed before the wedding.

That night, the Bennet sisters gathered in Elizabeth's bedchamber again, but the prevailing mood was entirely different. The two eldest explained their plans and, remarkably, none of the younger Miss Bennets expressed boredom at the subject.

Elizabeth found herself answering any number of questions regarding the distribution of Longbourn's incomes and outlays. She felt guilty that she had previously avoided discussing any particulars of the family's finances with her younger sisters, assuming that they were only concerned with their allowances. When she said as much, Kitty and Mary shared a look before Kitty responded for all of them.

"No Lizzy, you were quite correct; I, for one, would not have paid you any heed. It is only now that you and Jane are leaving that I realize how much I don't know… and how much I trusted that you would see to such things. We all know that Mama and Papa aren't particularly…"

"Diligent?" suggested Mary, with a flash of humor that startled the others.

She was rewarded with a great, affectionate smile from Kitty who resumed, "Yes, that is just the right word. We know that they aren't terribly diligent with regards to their responsibilities." She paused a moment and was somewhat relieved when Jane squeezed her hand with understanding.

Mary nodded and spoke quietly. "I am not much good with the accounts, but if you could help me understand what other duties I might take on… I should like to learn." She couldn't help but blush at the approving looks she received from Jane and Elizabeth.

When the Bennet sisters finally returned to their respective rooms, the moon was well along its course, but the abbreviated sleep held little weight when compared with the bonds of sisterly affection that had been forged that night.

That same night, another young woman was fueling very different emotions toward her current and future siblings. Miss Caroline Bingley sat in her girlhood room in the Bingley's house on Waverley Street and considered her situation. Her father had called her "princess" and named her after a Queen. She could not remember ever before having her wishes denied and did not like it at all.

Caroline had always considered herself to be far more intelligent than her brother and sister, and certainly more socially adept. To have both Charles and Louisa openly refuse her was intolerable--they had even laughed at her demands on several occasions! She refused to think on the stern lectures that she had had to sit through when her elder siblings had discovered her web of lies with regard to detaching Charles and Mr. Darcy from those despicable Bennets.

Caroline fell back on the petal pink bedspread and stared up at the dusky rose canopy. Her mother had let her pick all the colours and decorations for the room herself, and that choice had been for pink and lace, from the walls to the linens to the rug on the floor.

If Charles thought for one minute that she was going to let prim little Jane Bennet dismantle her beautiful room, then she would show him. A frontal assault had not been successful, so now it was time for cunning. With a mean smile, Caroline Bingley settled back into her pillows, determined to retain her place in her brother's household (and pocketbook) and completely ignorant that the sibling affections which she so casually dismissed might be of any value.

Chapter 35. Counting the Days.

Posted on 2011-01-06

August 1818

"Lizzy?"

At the sound of her youngest sister's voice, Elizabeth glanced back down the hall. "Yes Lydia?"

"Are you going for a walk? Can I… May I come with you?"

To be honest, Elizabeth had been looking forward to a bit of quiet before the rest of the family woke and the dizzying business of preparing for the wedding started up again. However, the plaintive tone of Lydia's request reminded her that she had seen little of the youngest Miss Bennet in the days since they had returned to Longbourn.

"Yes, of course. Are you dressed?"

Lydia opened her bedchamber door wider so that her sister could see that she was all ready except for the boots in her hand.

Lizzy nodded with approval. "Well, come along then. Keep quiet until we get outside; everyone else is still asleep."

Lydia was somewhat confused when her sister moved quietly through the house toward the servants' quarters instead of going straight out the front door. Her incertitude was answered, however, when she followed Elizabeth into the bright, busy kitchen.

Lydia had never really considered how her food was arrived at the table; she simply relied on the fact that she could sit down for meals or ring for tea and it appeared. She had generally blamed her mother or elder sisters when her desires were refused. However, here the bustle told her that the servants had been up and at work for some hours, at a time when normally she would still be lolling about in bed.

The smiles and greetings that were directed at Elizabeth made it instantly clear that her appearance was not unexpected. "Good morning, Miss Lizzy! Looks to be a beautiful day, it does."

"Good morning, Mrs. Hill. It does look to be lovely, doesn't it? Hopefully not too warm, though. Are you baking this afternoon, Mrs. Jones?"

The cook gave her a fond look. "Yes indeed, Miss Lizzy. Rain or shine, hot or cold, Thursday is for baking. Now then, I don't suppose you would like to sample a few of these popovers that just came out of the oven?"

Elizabeth grinned. "What shall my sweet tooth and I do without you, Mrs. Jones?" Remembering her sister, she stepped to the side so that Lydia was no longer hidden in the doorway. "My sister is coming on a walk with me this morning; would you happen to have an extra popover for her, as well?"

Lydia could tell that the servants were surprised to see her, but she was immediately greeted and soon she and her sister were slipping out the kitchen door into the cool, early morning air with warm muffins tucked in their pockets.

After confirming that her sister had no preference, Elizabeth chose their direction. She led the way, walking briskly along a path that paralleled the hedgerows. The sun had not yet burnt through the mist and the damp, grey landscape suited her mood; William had left for Pemberley on the previous day and would be gone for close to a fortnight.

Mr. Darcy had received an express from his secretary on a matter that was complex enough to require his personal attention. After discussing it with Elizabeth, they had agreed that it would be better for him to deal with the problem now so that he would not have to worry about it during their wedding trip. Travelling to Pemberley immediately would also allow him to arrange for his steward's assistant to move to Longbourn.

Elizabeth sighed. It had almost been a relief to know he would be away; she had told herself that the time would allow her to focus on packing up and saying goodbye to her friends and family in Hertfordshire without worrying that William was bored or made to feel uncomfortable. However, he had been gone barely a day and she already missed him dreadfully.

"Lizzy?"

Elizabeth turned to her sister with a smile. "I apologize, Lydia… I'm afraid that my head is as foggy as the morning."

"It's alright. I thought that you would probably be missing Mr. Darcy."

Surprised at her perception, Lizzy coloured slightly. "Yes, I admit that I do miss him a great deal." She breathed deeply and squared her shoulders. "However, that does not mean that I do not appreciate the present company!"

When her tease drew only a tentative smile from her younger sister, Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow. "How are you, Lydia? You have been very quiet these last few days."

"I… Oh Lizzy, everyone hates me," wailed Lydia. "Kitty won't speak to me, and Mary looks at me with such scorn… And Mama… Mama…" She burst into tears.

Elizabeth led her sobbing sister to convenient log where they might sit and then wrapped her arms around the girl's shoulders. "Oh Lydia, they don't hate you. Our bonds of sisterly affection are stronger than that."

"But Mama keeps looking at me as though I've disappointed her… and nothing I do seems to make it better."

"Oh, dear. Here, use my handkerchief." Elizabeth patted her sister's back to sooth her. As the youngest Miss Bennet mopped her eyes, Lizzy contemplated the situation.

When Lydia seemed somewhat calmer, Elizabeth spoke. "First, know that we all love you; your sisters, Mama, and Papa."

She laughed out loud at the other girl's slightly doubtful look. "Truly, we do, and that will never change." Her tone became more serious. "You must understand, though, that your behavior has hurt us and we worry about you."

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "Do you remember when Mrs. Forster invited you to accompany her to Brighton as her companion?"

Lydia beamed, "Oh yes! You're right--she called me her particular friend!" Then the girl's grin dissolved as she recalled, "But Mrs. Forster is disgraced… Why would you bring that up to make me feel better, Lizzy?"

Her older sister smiled sadly. "Though I am very sorry for Mrs. Forster, I actually meant to remind you of your own behavior. Do you remember how you treated Kitty when you believed that you were going to Brighton and she had not been invited?"

Lydia shrugged uncomfortably and fiddled with her damp handkerchief. "I suppose I teased her a little."

Elizabeth made a sound suspiciously like a snort before standing. "Come, let's keep walking."

When Lydia joined her, Lizzy managed a more balanced response than that which had first occurred to her. "Yes, you did tease Kitty. Mercilessly. You taunted her until she was quite miserable. Now, Mr. Darcy and I are planning to invite her to spend a few months with us at Pemberley. How would you like it if she treated you the same as you treated her over the Brighton trip?"

Lydia had opened her mouth to complain about the opportunity being offered to Kitty, but snapped it shut. Finally, she mumbled, "But she said nothing…"

"About Pemberley? Perhaps she did not want to make you any more unhappy."

Lydia's pout gradually diminished but she still remained silent.

Elizabeth sighed. "Lydia, usually I leave the bible verses to Mary, but perhaps you might consider Luke 6:31, 'Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.'"

The sisters walked for some way in silence until they reached a small knoll where Elizabeth often paused. Perching on an old stonewall and nibbling on her popover, she forgot Lydia's problems for a moment and simply enjoyed the morning. She cocked her head when a mocking bird began to sing and worked to memorize every detail of the scene so that she would have it to recall when she was in Derbyshire.

"Lizzy," whined her sister, kicking her heals on the stonewall where she was trying to find a comfortable spot to sit.

Elizabeth sighed slightly before turning. "Yes, Lydia?"

"If I promise to be very, very good, do you think Papa would let me stay at Longbourn?" She watched at her sister from the corner of her eye.

This time Elizabeth sighed loudly. "No, Lydia. You are going to school. The letters have been sent and your place is reserved for fall term. We shall take you with us when we travel north in October."

"But I shan't know anyone…"

Elizabeth smiled at her younger sister, beginning to understand that her bluster was hiding a bout of nerves. "And since when has that ever concerned you? Lydia, you have a great talent for making new acquaintances. I would be very surprised if you don't have a gaggle of best friends before the first week is complete."

The younger Miss Bennet cocked her head for a moment and then admitted that to be true. "But there shan't be any boys there, Lizzy! And no dances! What on Earth will we have to talk about?"

Elizabeth couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up; she wrapped one arm around her sister's shoulders to take the sting out of it. "Oh Lydia… you shall have plenty to talk about; you are going to school… two years to do nothing but study music and art, languages and geography, mathematics and history, reading and writing and all sorts of wondrous subjects. I am quite jealous, do you know?"

Lydia's expression indicated that she considered her sister quite insane.

Elizabeth sighed. "Lydia, you are but fifteen. You do not need to think about getting married for some years yet. Consider the next two years as a time for yourself, before you must take on the responsibilities of managing a household and a family and everything that comes along with a husband."

"I hadn't really thought of it that way," murmured Lydia more thoughtfully.

Elizabeth shrugged. "That's not surprising, really. Mama is so caught up in her fears of being thrown to the hedgerows when our father dies that she has pushed us all to marry so that we will be safe. Of course, Uncle Gardiner would never have allowed anything to happen but, well, that is Mama."

The two girls shared a giggle but Elizabeth soon became serious again. "Jane and I were lucky enough to spend time with our Aunt and Uncle Gardiner as we were growing up. With them, we saw a marriage that combines romance and friendship. They love each other, but it is so much more… there is trust and companionship and mutual esteem. After seeing that such a marriage was possible, Jane and I swore to each other that we would settle for nothing less."

Lydia spoke slowly, obviously working her way through new thoughts. "Mama always goes on and on about that lord that wrote poetry to Jane when she was but fifteen."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Yet she never mentions that he was not a day under fifty; he was enthralled by Jane's youth and beauty… he cared nothing for her heart or soul. Do you understand why she refused him?"

Once Lydia had recovered from her disgust that such an ancient man might wish to marry, she cocked her head in such a way that would have reminded Darcy of her elder sister. "You are saying that he would have treated her like a doll, to dress up and show off to his friends, but he would not have cared for Jane herself."

Elizabeth nodded, pleased. "And for similar reasons, I refused Mr. Collins."

Lydia giggled. "Oh Lizzy--he was such a odious creature--you need not explain that to me."

Elizabeth grinned back but pushed herself to make Lydia understand the point. "But Mama was quite serious in her desire for me to accept his offer, and if I had, it would have gone a long way in securing my mother and sisters' situation."

Elizabeth could no longer sit still so she jumped down from the stone wall, brushed out her skirts, and was soon striding along the trail again with her sister following suit. Lydia looked at her carefully. "Do you feel guilty for refusing Mr. Collins, Lizzy? I thought it was all such a joke."

"What would you have done if his eye had fallen upon you, Lydia? He might not be handsome, but he is respectable and his wife will become the next mistress of Longbourn."

Lydia matched her sister's pace for some ways before speaking. "I still would have refused him. I… I could barely stand to be in the same room with him--and meals! The way he stuffed his mouth while talking made me positively ill!"

Elizabeth was unable to keep from smiling, however hard she attempted to maintain a serious demeanor. "I quite agree, but let us consider your reasons a little more carefully. Mr. Collins' behavior at the table is not what we prefer, but perhaps he was not taught proper manners growing up. Is he the sort of man that a wife could encourage to change his ways?"

Lydia's eyes became round. "Yes, I suppose. It would take a bit of cunning; you couldn't go at him head on--he'd get all stuffy and hurt--but if you made him think it was for Lady Catherine or something…"

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, and when I visited Kent in March, I was amazed to see that Charlotte had managed just such a transformation."

Lydia's giggles joined her own for several minutes, but even before Elizabeth could bring herself back to the point, her younger sister became serious again. "But Lizzy, even if his manners could be improved, I do not think I could stand to be married to him."

Her elder sister nodded. "The two of you have nothing in common. Though I was dismayed when Charlotte accepted his offer, I can comprehend her better now. She desired a respectable husband and her own household so that she would not remain dependent on her father and brother. Mr. Collins might not be handsome or intelligent, but he is respectable."

Lydia scrunched up her face. "I suppose I can understand that… it would be better than being an old spinster like Miss Carter." Miss Carter was an elderly aunt of Mrs. Goulding who seemed perennially fearful. She lived entirely on the goodwill of her brother-in-law and seemed to tiptoe through her days, doing her best to oblige everyone and, as a result, annoying all.

After a moment of thought, Elizabeth continued.

"The point I am trying to make is that you should consider what will make you happy, Lydia. I would have been miserable married to Mr. Collins because I could not respect him… but then, I was not pressed into a corner like Charlotte. What I am trying to say is that you would do better not to think of merely the wedding as your life's goal, but rather consider what comes after that. Are you prepared to spend the next fifty years with such a man? Do the two of you want the same things? Does he prefer town over the country? Does he want to travel or stay at home? What shall you talk about on Sunday afternoons when there is no one but the two of you?"

Elizabeth was somewhat amused to see Lydia looking rather wide-eyed. The sisters walked on for some ways, talking occasionally but also simply enjoying the company. Even as Lydia was appreciating her elder sister's greater experience and understanding, Elizabeth was reminded that the youngest Miss Bennet was not at all the silly miss that her father had labeled her.

When the pair had circled around and were nearing Longbourn again, Lydia returned to her primary anxiety. "But Lizzy, I still don't understand why I must be sent away to school. Surely you could convince Papa that I have learned my lesson and shall behave better?"

"It will be easier for you to change your ways if you are in a new situation, Lydia."

"But why must I be locked away in some awful school!?! Why can't I go with Jane, or come with you?"

Elizabeth stopped and looked her sister in the eye, finally understanding. "Lydia, you are going to school, not a prison. You shall be the first of our family to gain a formal education--that is not a punishment, but an opportunity! You shall be with other girls your age from all across England and Scotland, and have masters to teach you on every subject!"

Lydia stared at her sister. "You really do wish you could go! I thought you were just trying to make me feel better!"

Elizabeth shrugged. "The more of Mr. Darcy's family and friends that I meet, the more it seems that all of the ladies attended a school of some sort, or at least had the benefit of a governess or masters… what effort Papa made to educate me was so that he might have an intellectual companion for his own interests. That does not necessarily translate into a well-rounded education. I studied what he directed me to and what subjects I was interested in, but when in the company of such ladies who spent years at seminary… well, to be quite honest, I keep waiting to embarrass myself by showing some great gaping hole in my education. I feel as though they must know something that I do not, simply because they took the classes."

Lydia had never thought that her sister might doubt herself. "Oh Lizzy, you have such a way about you. None of them would ever think you less."

Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow. "I fear that Miss Bingley would disagree."

The two sisters burst into laughter, particularly when Lydia attempted to mimic the lady's way of walking, nose in the air and sour expression. By the time the pair returned to the house, Lydia was somewhat more resigned to the prospect of school, particularly as Lizzy had promised to write Darcy's cousin Lucy and ask about what she could expect, and particularly what she might do to prepare.

That very afternoon, Elizabeth discovered a letter on her father's desk from the school master containing a list of clothes and various other materials that new students were required to bring. Lydia's spirits were buoyed when Mrs. Bennet began to take an interest in making sure she had all the right things. With Elizabeth and Jane's encouragement, their mother soon began to treat her favorite as if Lydia were embarking on some great adventure.

Mrs. Bennet knew nothing about school, but quickly came to understand that it was quite common among higher circles of society. After all, if Miss Darcy and Miss Bingley had gone to school, then certainly her dear Lydia must! A great deal of time was spent considering what gowns were acceptable and what must be bought anew.

Though Lydia was not particularly enthusiastic about the prim muslin frocks and practical boots that resulted, she was tremendously pleased with the cherry red wool cloak that Lizzy had ordered for her in London.

Within the week, Elizabeth received a long, enthusiastic response from Lucy Wallace detailing all sorts of details about what Lydia should expect, from classes to roommates to teachers. Even better was the news that Lucy had convinced her sister Ellen to travel to Hertfordshire earlier than planned.

"We were visiting with Georgiana and decided that London is perfectly horrible right now. 'Tis hot and smelly and there is no good reason for us to stay. So, my dear future cousin, the three of us shall be arriving next Monday. Ellen's husband is writing to Mr. Bingley. I do hope the poor man is prepared for a houseful of Fitzwilliams! I look forward to meeting your sister. In fact, I find I am quite looking forward to telling her all my tales--as the youngest, I never had the chance to play older sister and now I can!"

Elizabeth read this section of the letter to Lydia and was happy to see her sister's relief. Mrs. Bennet was certainly enthusiastic in preparing her favorite for school, but Lydia was smart enough to comprehend that a woman with no experience might not be the best to give for advice.

Jane and Elizabeth worked their way through their rooms, packing what clothes and trinkets they wished to take with them and giving away those which they did not. Not a few tears were shed, though the younger Miss Bennets gained a great many dresses, bonnets, slippers and hair combs.

Each of the Bennets handled the tumult in a different way. Mary was diligent in learning what her elder sisters had done to manage the household and with only a little help was soon happily visiting the tenants and making up charity baskets for the needy. Kitty helped, but also spend a great deal of her time on a portrait of the Bennet family that she hoped to give to her elder sisters as a wedding present. She had talent and determination, if not experience and instruction, and the results were good enough that her parents requested she attempt a copy for them selves.

Mrs. Bennet fluttered about, alternately giving orders, calling for her smelling salts, or bursting into tears. One moment, she was eager to have Jane and Elizabeth clean out their bedrooms so that she could redecorate them as new guest chambers.

"For then we shall have rooms for Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to stay at Longbourn when they come to visit. Oh, how well that sounds!"

Just as frequently, however, some small bauble would turn her enthusiasm to weeping when she was reminded that her baby girls were leaving home.

Mr. Bingley was most diligent in visiting Jane and her family. Elizabeth would often accompany the couple on a walk in the garden. They called each other by their Christian names and Charles often commented on how much more comfortable he was with Elizabeth than with his own sister.

The Hursts arrived in a great train of carriages filled with servants and trunks. When Charles later related the story to the two eldest Miss Bennets, they could not help but giggle at the picture he described. Caroline had descended from the carriage dressed to impress and appeared disappointed when there was none but her brother to observe. Mr. Hurst had barely grunted a greeting, saying only, "brandy!" And Mrs. Hurst seemed little more inclined to spend any more time in her sister's presence.

Miss Bingley watched them depart with disapproval, but turned back to her brother. "Oh, dear Charles… How are you holding up? I imagine that you have been dragged around to all sorts of little country teas and suppers."

Her syrupy sweet concern immediately made Charles suspicious, but he chose to bide his time. "I have attended various dinners with my neighbors, and of course I call at Longbourn nearly every day. It is no great burden as I am quite happy with the society here."

He waited to see if his sister would take the bait.

However, though Caroline was unhappy with her brother's engagement, she was determined to make the best of it. As a result, her expression might have soured but she continued to speak as she thought a supportive sibling would. "Oh, well, that is lovely. Well. I'll get settled in and then deal with the menus and such with Mrs. Nichols."

"Actually, I asked Louisa to act as mistress here until my wedding, given that I was unclear if you would be coming." This last was said in such a sarcastic tone that even Caroline coloured slightly.

Realizing that her brother was unlikely to be immediately won over by her newly sweetened demeanor, Miss Bingley thought quickly and altered her plan. "Oh, very well. I'll just check with her and see if there is anything I can do to help, shall I? So good to see you, Charles--I'll just be off to my rooms."

Even as she bustled up the stairs, Caroline Bingley was planning. Her brother might be determined to marry silly little Jane Bennet, but they were both so sweet and complying that she would have the household wrapped around her finger in no time. Perhaps it would not be so easy as she had hoped, but she had no doubt that with a little effort she could nudge Louisa aside and take control of Netherfield. After the wedding, she would move into Waverly House while Charles and his silly little wife were away on their wedding trip. When she considered it, the situation would probably be even better than when they had lived with the Hursts, for there she still had to at least pretend to obey her sister's idiotic husband.

Unfortunately for Miss Bingley, Miss Darcy and several of her female Fitzwilliam cousins arrived the following day. Lucy and Ellen made it perfectly clear that they considered Mrs. Hurst to be their hostess and there was little that Caroline could do about it without offending them. However little she liked the sisters, Miss Bingley was not stupid enough to purposely irk the Earl of Matlock's daughters.

As a result, Georgiana was forced to sit through a lengthy monologue from Miss Bingley during the hour she had hoped to practice the pianoforte. When she mentioned her plight to Elizabeth, and after some giggling it was quickly arranged that Miss Darcy would come to Longbourn to practice.

"I cannot promise that you shall not be interrupted here," admitted Lizzy, "but at least none of us shall take offence if you tell us to go away."

When she noticed that the younger lady's eyes were quite wide, Elizabeth remembered that the girl was quite unaccustomed to having sisters. "Dear Georgiana--we are a big, busy family here at Longbourn… always getting in each others' way. Stockings and slippers and ribbons get misplaced or borrowed. As a result, it is easier to find someone to talk to than to be alone."

Lucy and Ellen had arrived in time to hear this last part of the conversation and happily assured Georgiana that it was excellent advice. As a result, Miss Darcy happily excused herself to play the pianoforte while her older cousins accompanied Elizabeth and Jane to their rooms so that they might admire the gowns that their modista had just sent from London.

Tracing the intricately embroidered neckline of a plum-coloured silk ball gown, Ellen was perfectly open with her admiration. "This is divine, Lizzy! When your Madame Lavoisier is finished making you and your sister's wedding clothes, I am determined to pay her a call. I cannot believe she was considering going to work for Madame Claudette! That woman would have worked her to death and taken all of the credit!"

Elizabeth and Jane had shared the story of their first and only visit to the famous dressmaker amid much laughter and Lucy admitted that the treatment they had received was not unique.

"Though Madame Claudette was certainly happy to assist me, she treated several of my friends very poorly."

When her sister looked at her curiously, Lucy explained further. "Some of the other officers' wives. There was a grand military ball and I offered to take them to my modista to get new gowns. I suppose I was young and naïve; it did not occur to me that I received so much attention and deference because I was the daughter of an Earl. Madame Claudette practically ignored them the entire time we were there; I left the shop and never went back."

The conversation turned to what Jane and Elizabeth might expect during the Season. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were planning to spend two weeks in London for the little Season before travelling to Derbyshire for the winter. She was pleased to hear that most of the Fitzwilliam clan were following a similar schedule.

"You have worked quite a miracle on our cousin, Elizabeth," commented Lady Ellen with a twinkle in her eye. "Usually William would use any excuse at all to avoid London in the fall."

"I think he wants to show off his new bride," whispered Lucy, who then burst into laughter when Elizabeth blushed. "Oh, we shall have such fun! Mother is already planning a ball to celebrate your marriage--it shall be perfectly grand!"

Though Elizabeth enjoyed the ladies company a great deal and looked forward to knowing them better in the future, it was something of a relief when she could settle into her own bed that night and whisper quietly with Jane. More often than not, the sisters were sleeping together, trying to wring out every last minute.

Elizabeth missed Mr. Darcy keenly; his letters helped but did not make up for his absence. She poured her energy into completing her tasks so that when he returned to Hertfordshire, she could spend as much of her time with him as possible.

This determination, coupled with her natural organization and efficiency, meant that she soon had her closets cleaned and trunks packed, even with the various teas and dinners that Mrs. Bennet was determined to hold. In truth, Elizabeth did enjoy seeing the various denizens of the neighborhood where she had grown up.

In the midst of all the preparation for departure, Longbourn welcomed several new arrivals, thanks to Mr. Bingley. During the months he had spent in Yorkshire the past spring, he had talked to his aunts and cousins a great deal. As a result, they were all excessively pleased to hear that he was to be married to the lady that he had spoken so often.

As an engagement present, the Yorkshire Bingleys sent Charles a gift from the heart: four large airdale terriers, a breed that generations of the family had raised and trained. Charles in turn presented a pair to his future father in law, suggesting that both estates might benefit from both the existing dogs' abilities, but also any future income from the sale of their offspring.

However, though Mr. Bennet had ordered Davey to prepare the kennels for its new inhabitants, the two young terriors satisfied their seemingly insatiable curiosity exploring Longbourn and its denizens. It was not long before his daughters had fallen in love with the pups, and even Mrs. Bennet had been observed to scratch their tummies and laugh at their antics when she thought no one was watching.

The afternoon before Mr. Darcy was expected to return, Elizabeth joined her father in his book room after tea. Though not a rare occurrence, his invitation was unusual enough to make her curious. As a result, she remained relatively quiet as they settled themselves into comfortable chairs and set up the chessboard between them. Her patience was soon rewarded.

"Lizzy," said her father. "I saw a most peculiar sight this morning."

"Really, Papa? Did the pigs get into the kitchen garden again?" replied his daughter as she moved out a pawn.

His pawn mirrored hers. "No, the pigs are quite content in their pen, particularly as I believe that Davey has been sneaking them treats again."

Elizabeth nudged forward another pawn. "Then have the dahlias begun blooming? I haven't checked the cutting garden for a day or two, and I'd so hoped that they would be ready in time to decorate the church."

"I fear I have not been a flower picking." He advanced another pawn and smiled at her raised eyebrow.

"Hmmm…" She considered the chessboard for a moment before taking his pawn with her own, then looked up at her father with a glint in her eye. "Has Sir William been climbing the cherry tree?" Mr. Bennet rolled his eyes and both chuckled amiably. It was well known that, when Sir William Lucas had been a boy, his great fondness for cherries had led him to climb higher than he knew how to descend. As a result, his father had often received notes from local landowners that his eldest son was "roosting" in their cherry tree again.

"No, no, and no… and given that you have not guessed yet, I suppose that I shall have to tell you." He moved his knight to take her rook. "This morning, I was out by the stables talking to Davey. We were going to check how the grass in the far horse pasture is holding up to this drought, when we noticed Bingley's terriers bounding through the hay field. Humph."

This last syllable was directed at the chessboard where his daughter had just put his queen in jeopardy.

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at her father's befuddlement. Her recent matches with Mr. Darcy had taught her some new gambits that she was currently using to great advantage. In truth, she had found William to be similar in many ways to her father; once differences in education an experience were taken in consideration, both men preferring a careful, contemplative style of play. One evening in London, she and Colonel Fitzwilliam had played each other and, with their rapid styles of play so similar, had finished the match before Darcy and Mr. Bennet had done more than move out their pawns.

However, she knew better than to allow her attention to wander while playing her father, so she returned to his previous comment. "They are certainly energetic dogs. I know that in the past, I have tended toward befriending the feline contingent, but there is something about these terriers… the way they cock their heads and look up at you with those deep brown eyes; quite as if they were trying to read your thoughts."

Mr. Bennet chuckled at her flight of fancy. "Perhaps I should be thankful that you are soon leaving for Derbyshire; while your various stray kittens were easy enough to hide beneath your blankets, I cannot imagine what your mother would say if she discovered four terriers attempting the same."

Moving his queen so that she protected his king, Mr. Bennet returned to his original point. "However, as I watched, I noted that there were not four heads but five, and in short order I realized that the four dogs were accompanied by my youngest daughter." He arched his eyebrows and peered over his spectacles, clearly looking for an explanation.

Elizabeth smiled a private smile, pleased to hear that her sister had taken her advice. Deciding that their conversation was more important than the chess match, she gave her father her full attention. "Papa, do you remember you took me for walks when I was little? Mama was so frustrated that I would not sit still like Jane, but I just couldn't… it felt as though I much explode. So you took me out on a walk in the morning, and encouraged me to run until I had exhausted myself. Mama was amazed at how much better behaved I was after that."

Mr. Bennet smiled at the memory; he could well remember how proud he had been of himself for finding a solution to a seemingly insurmountable parenting problem.

Elizabeth continued. "I've continued the practice of walking out, with or without you. Such exercise may not be what many consider to be ladylike behavior, but it has certainly made me happier and, I suspect, healthier as well."

She looked out the window at the familiar landscape while speaking in a softer tone, "Lydia has that same energy, and I believe that is some of the cause of her poor behavior. She has come out walking with me on several occasions."

"And now she is out running with the hounds?" inquired Mr. Bennet, not quite certain that this was an improvement.

Elizabeth smiled confidently. "'Tis a far better way for her to burn through her energy than chasing officers in a ballroom."

Mr. Bennet could not disagree with her observations but still felt that something was not quite right. Rather than delve into it, he merely grunted and turned his attention back to the chess match. Had he been more inclined toward self-analysis, he might have realized that his residual discomfort had less to do with Lydia's activities than with Elizabeth's success in diagnosing the problem and arriving at a solution.

"Perhaps you might come for a walk with us tomorrow morning, Papa?" Seeing that her father was about to refuse, Elizabeth spoke quickly. "Lydia is well aware of everyone's disapproval, Papa. A little of your attention would mean a great deal to her right now."

Having come as close as she dared to a rebuke, Elizabeth focused on the chessboard. As a result, she missed her father's raised eyebrow. While he was considering when his favorite daughter had become so wise, she castled kingside and he suddenly realized that she would soon have him checkmated.

"Very well, my dear; you have convinced me. I shall accompany you, and we shall see what comes of it."