29. Chapter 29 #2
The next afternoon, Elizabeth was sitting in the parlor, curled up on the window seat, looking out at the garden.
Her aunt and sisters were in the drawing room with Lydia, but she could not stand the sight of her youngest sister right now.
Nor could she stand Lydia's complaining about not being able to go to any balls or parties.
Elizabeth wondered if Lydia learned anything from what Aunt Madeleine had tried to impress upon her.
To put herself at such great risk all so she could come and convince her aunt to allow her out in society!
She had put all their reputations in jeopardy for something that would not even come to pass!
One thing was certain—Lydia only grew bolder by the moment.
In the last several months, her every audacious act seemed to surpass the one before. Where would it end?
Elizabeth wondered if Papa and Uncle Edward had determined what to do with Lydia.
There was a long history of their mother spoiling and indulging her while their father failed to insist she learn obedience and decorum.
Now, those chickens had come home to roost. The fact that she had defied Papa and left the school in which he had placed her proved that more would be required to bring her under control.
If Papa and Uncle Edward had come up with a course of action, they had not indicated as much.
Elizabeth turned at the sound of footsteps entering the room.
"How are you, Elizabeth?" Aunt Madeleine asked, sitting on the window seat.
"Almost certainly better than you, Jane, and Mary are, with Lydia going on and on about how ill-treated she is," Elizabeth said with a roll of her eyes.
Her aunt sighed. "When I go back in there, I will be informing her that she can either change the subject or go to her room and remain there until dinner."
"Do you know what Papa has decided to do about her?"
"I believe he has come to a decision, but has delayed the announcement of it so that he may also delay the caterwauling," she replied with an arched brow.
Elizabeth shook her head. "I see."
"What are you thinking, Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth took a deep breath, then looked at her aunt.
"Even if Lydia has not quite ruined us all yet, it is still to be determined what damage she has inflicted on our courtships.
While she was staying at an inn being cared for by a thoughtful couple, her sisters were being made to bear her shame in front of the gentlemen courting them.
Our family must appear barely respectable to all three gentlemen now. "
"I know you and your sisters must be frustrated, angry even, and you have every right to be.
You three bear the mortifications of your family on a regular basis.
But I think you can have faith in the gentlemen—in your gentleman, particularly—to be reasonable about the situation," Aunt Madeleine said, squeezing Elizabeth's hand.
Elizabeth considered her aunt's words. Was Aunt Madeleine correct? She dearly hoped so.
The housekeeper appeared in the doorway and nodded to Aunt Madeleine.
"Forgive me, Elizabeth, I need to go take care of some things. Will you be well?"
"Yes, Aunt, thank you."
Elizabeth watched her leave the room. Her aunt was correct about the mortifications they had borne.
Elizabeth had suffered embarrassment because of her family for as long as she could remember.
She had endured it again and again, knowing she could do nothing about their behavior.
She could only control her own. So, she had worked to distinguish herself from them, not only in knowledge but in manner.
Elizabeth loved her family, but they were often viewed by others as foolish and indecorous.
And yet Fitzwilliam had looked past her family's faults and pursued her.
His admiration and respect had meant so much to Elizabeth, and now they were the very things her family had likely cost her!
"Darcy! Good to see you!" Gardiner said. "Come in!"
"Good to see you as well."
"Mr. Darcy."
"Mr. Bennet."
He shook hands with the gentlemen and took a seat.
"Mr. Darcy, I have yet to thank you for the assistance you gave my girls before and after the storm in my absence. Now, I find I must thank you for your help in recovering Lydia as well," Mr. Bennet said.
"I was glad to be of assistance in both cases, sir."
"You spent a little time in the company of our family while in Hertfordshire, so I imagine you knew what you were getting yourself into to some extent when you decided to pursue my Lizzy."
Darcy nodded. "I did."
Mr. Bennet sighed. "Lydia is a foolish, hard-headed girl. There is no question about that. Still, I am surprised that she behaved this wildly."
"May I ask if you have decided on a course of action?"
"I have. I have chosen a different school."
"Indeed?" Darcy asked.
"Yes, it is the Bankhead School for Girls in Essex. The headmistress at the Ragland School gave Gardiner some interesting details about the place."
"Yes, when I met with her the morning we left Kent, she suggested this school might be a better fit for Lydia because of the layout," Gardiner said.
"Apparently, there is a twenty-foot wall that surrounds the entire property.
There is also only one way in and one way out.
They have a gatehouse at the entrance where a security guard lives and controls who enters and who exits. "
"I see," Darcy said, understanding Mr. Bennet's reasoning for choosing this school.
"I was aware of this place when I went with the Ragland School," Mr. Bennet said.
"They both came highly recommended, but the Bankhead School is more expensive, so I went with the one in Kent.
Of course, I did not know about the added security features, nor did I know they would be necessary for Lydia. "
Gardiner nodded. "The headmistress in Kent has personally visited this school, and she says it is a lovely property. The grounds supposedly have lots of mature trees and gardens for the students to enjoy within the security of the walls."
"It sounds ideal for Miss Lydia then," Darcy said.
"I believe so," Mr. Bennet replied. "We are fortunate to have it as an option. Otherwise, I would probably be forced to marry her off so she does not ruin herself and her sisters."
Mr. Bennet told Darcy that Lydia had not been informed of this decision because they would have more peace in the house if she did not know.
He had made arrangements with the school by express, and they were expecting them tomorrow.
Darcy visited with the gentlemen a bit longer then excused himself to go find Elizabeth.
Elizabeth had begun to feel guilty for abandoning her sisters to Lydia for so long, so she had gone to sit in the drawing room with them for a while.
Mary had then excused herself for her own reprieve for about an hour before returning.
Jane had done the same thing. Now that they were both back, Elizabeth left again.
She went back to the parlor and sat in the window seat.
Over the last few days, her mood had become lower and lower.
She stared out the window, lost in thoughts of Fitzwilliam, and then suddenly, he was beside her.
"Fitzwilliam!"
"Forgive me for startling you. I was about to walk to the drawing room when I saw you here. I could not resist coming in to surprise you," he said with a smile, raising her hand to his lips.
She smiled at him.
He continued. "It has been four days since I last saw you. I missed you."
"I missed you as well," she said, then lowered her eyes. "Fitzwilliam, I am so sorry you were pulled into the chaos that Lydia created."
"Think nothing of it. I wanted to help. In such a situation, it is best to have as many people looking as possible." He paused, studying her. "I am sure you are relieved that she will be unable to cause such trouble again."
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.
"Forgive me, I thought your father had informed you.
" He walked to the door and looked both ways before coming back to sit beside her.
Lowering his voice, he said, "I wanted to make sure Miss Lydia was not out there listening.
Your father told me that he has purposely not informed her of what is to take place.
Tomorrow, they will travel to Essex. There is a school for difficult girls there called the Bankhead School for Girls. "
Fitzwilliam then described the security features the school had because of its design.
Elizabeth was relieved that Lydia would be sent to a school that offered more security.
From the way he described the grounds, it sounded like she would have plenty of space to roam or seek solitude if she needed it.
After they discussed the new school, they both became quiet.
Elizabeth could feel his eyes on her, but she just could not think of anything to say to make things less awkward, so she stood and suggested they go to the drawing room. When she and Fitzwilliam walked into the room, they found her aunt and sisters and Mr. Hadley, who had just arrived.
Elizabeth had been so eager for more people to help with conversation that she had forgotten that Lydia was also in the drawing room.
But what could she do about it? She had hoped her aunt would require Lydia to remain upstairs when they had guests, but she supposed it was not to be.
This was unfortunate since there was never any telling what Lydia might say or do.
And even if she said or did nothing, her mere presence had to be a reminder to the gentlemen of the scandal she nearly brought down on all their heads!
When they went in to dinner, Aunt Madeleine had invited everyone to sit where they liked, but Lydia she had put next to herself with Jane on Lydia's other side, apparently by design. She and Aunt clearly had a plan to keep Lydia in line. Elizabeth was glad her aunt had thought ahead.
Elizabeth found she did not have much of an appetite, so she ate very little.
She listened to the discussions around her, but she did not add much to them.
She was grateful Fitzwilliam was mostly speaking with her uncle and father because she did not feel equal to making conversation.
But she did watch him. Elizabeth watched every move he made, and she listened to him as he spoke.
Oh, how she admired him! He was so handsome, so interesting, and intelligent!
She remembered how blissful her courtship was before Lydia's actions intruded on their happiness.
She had been so happy, so full of hope for the future.
Now, she just felt ashamed. She felt like a fraud.
She felt as if she no longer had the right to be in this courtship and receive his attentions.
Elizabeth had presented herself as someone worthy—and she had been, even with her family's ridiculousness and lack of propriety.
But now, there was more than ridiculousness attached to her family.
Thanks to Lydia, there was the potential for scandal.
Lady Catherine had insisted Elizabeth was not from a worthy family, and now her youngest sister had made the case for her!
What must Fitzwilliam think? He was so good, stepping in to assist them when they needed it most, but what must he truly think of her now?
Elizabeth remembered his words regarding the next mistress of Pemberley: it was important that she bring honor to the role and not reproach.
Lydia's actions most definitely could bring reproach.
When the gentlemen joined them in the drawing room after dinner, Fitzwilliam came to sit beside her.
"How is Georgiana?" she asked.
"She is well. She sends her regards."
"I am afraid we have not gone to visit her in some time, occupied as we have been with other things," Elizabeth said. I hope he does not think I would force Lydia's company on his sister.
"She knows you all have had much to deal with," he said gently. "Do you feel things are beginning to settle down now?"
"Yes, I suppose they are."
"Is Miss Lydia being difficult?" he asked.
"Yes, she is. She carries on as if she is the victim here." Is he worried that Lydia will do something before she is sent away?
He leaned towards her and lowered his voice. "Well, she will now begin to receive consistent training, discipline, and education. Perhaps after months of such a regimen, you will see significant changes in her."
"I hope so. That would be a very welcome outcome," she said, looking down to her hands in her lap, avoiding his gaze.
Elizabeth was so uncertain of where she stood with him. Would Lydia's actions drive him away?