Evening
Mr. Bingley had arrived in the afternoon to find the occupants of the house running mad. The outpouring of relief we had felt upon Lydia returning had turned into a full fledged celebration. Bingley asking for a private audience with Papa only made the celebration that much more jolly.
Jane admitted he had asked for her hand at the ball last night and his asking Papa permission today was merely for the sake of propriety. Permission was of course granted.
Dinner was informal consisting of cold cuts, cheese and other simple fare because I was sure the servants had enough to do today without the additional fuss of a formal dinner.
We dined in the drawing room rather than the dining room so that everyone might sprawl out and talk to anyone they pleased.
Despite this freedom, I was sitting rather primly with my plate upon my knee, food untouched, trying not to resent my family for their easy happiness.
Even Darcy was at ease, making some wry comment to Mr. Bingley and Jane, who both laughed heartily.
Everyone seemed to have forgotten despite Lydia's safe return, despite Jane's engagement, we still had a gargantuan problem.
Lady Whisperton.
If she wrote about Lydia's flight with Wickham Lydia would be ruined and all my sisters with her. And I had no idea how to stop her because I still had no idea who she was. Internally I scolded myself. I should have taken the search for her more seriously.
"Do you not like Mr. Bingley?" asked Dora, jolting me out of my thoughts. I had entirely forgotten she was sitting beside me.
"I like him very much."
"Oh, I thought that you might not like him and were perhaps upset he was marrying your sister since you seem unhappy."
"I am perfectly pleased with Jane's engagement. My unhappiness is caused by my worry about what Lady Whisperton will write about my youngest sister's adventures."
"Lady Whisperton will not write about Lydia," replied Dora with much assurance.
"How can you know?"
Dora bit her lip and gave me the look Sir Sebastian wears when he has urinated on something expensive (Sir Sebastain the Dog that is, I doubt Sir Sebastian the Man ever feels shame).
"Because I will not tell her," she said at last. "Or not really her, it is a man who does the writing. I just bring him information, as do several other ladies."
"Why would you do such a thing to me?"
"I did not think you would mind. I told only the truth."
I gave her the Glare. Yes, the actual Darcy Glare of Doom. I have seen it enough now to replicate it admirably.
Dora flinched. "I am sorry. Mr. Gates, that is Lady Whisperton, pays for information and I needed the money."
"Whatever for?" I do, of course, understand that money is always pleasant to have, but seeing as Margaret had paid for every need of Dora's life I did not see why she should need to betray me.
"I did not think I was suited to marriage and I knew I must have some means to support myself.
Illustrating for scientific papers and encyclopedias does not pay very much, so I supplement my income whenever there is opportunity.
But I would never say anything about Lydia. I would never wish to ruin anyone."
I nodded. I knew there was no maliciousness to her and I understood her position in life was uncertain. Also I was far too relieved and exhausted to work up much in the way of anger.
"You said you did not think you were suited for marriage, does that mean you feel differently on the subject of matrimony now?"
Dora blushed. "I do like Mr. Farthingham," she said, "He is interesting to talk to—most people are not. And I liked kissing him. I did not think I would like kissing at all, but with him it was very pleasant."
Apparently I was an even worse chaperon than I had imagined.
"I might have overlooked his unfortunate interest in ornithology if he had not been so certain it was so much more important than my interests. Although he did apologize last night. . . ."
"You know, there is still a month before he leaves on his expedition—"
"Yes, and he wants me to marry him now so I can go with him. I cannot do it, I cannot make such an important decision so quickly."
"I quite agree. I think you should use this month to get to know him better and then at the end of it, if you think you might like to marry him, tell him he may continue his courtship of you upon his return."
Dora smiled shyly. "Perhaps we might invite him to dine with us tomorrow?"
"Most certainly."