Chapter XIII #3
Lydia appeared to realize her situation at once, for her gaze fell to the ground and she attempted to hide behind Jane as she might have as a little girl. Jane, having no patience for this, took her sister’s arm and propelled her forward to stand by her side.
“Perhaps this is not the time,” said Mr. Bennet, directing a stern look at his daughter, one Elizabeth readily identified as half-hearted, “but I wish to hear of your connection with that bounder. Have you been in contact with him since the regiment departed?”
Though Lydia squirmed and attempted to evade her father, he cleared his throat, proving his disinclination to allow her escape. When all her efforts failed, Lydia heaved a great sigh.
“Mr. Wickham proposed an elopement before the regiment departed.”
“That is useful information, but not what I asked,” said Mr. Bennet. “Let us deal with that first, then. Why did you not simply leave from Meryton if you wished to elope?”
“Mr. Wickham proposed to go to Brighton long enough to put off suspicion and then depart for Gretna.”
“I see. But your mishap on the date of your departure foiled those plans. How did you know to meet him here?”
“The blacksmith’s daughter,” replied Lydia. “Mr. Wickham spoke to her and asked her to pass letters from him to me. She thought it was romantic and agreed.”
Mr. Bennet arched an eyebrow at the other gentlemen.
“Mr. Harker is a widower, so it would be no trouble for his daughter to hide such correspondence from him. It appears I must speak with him and inform him of his daughter’s impropriety.
” Mr. Bennet paused and considered, then added: “Though gently, for it would not do for it to become common knowledge when it was nothing more than foolishness on her part.”
Then Mr. Bennet turned a hard eye on Lydia, and this time there was greater displeasure in his gaze. “Even after all Mr. Darcy and his sister’s testimony of Wickham’s worthlessness, you still meant to go away with him?”
Lydia finally looked up at her father, her face filled with panic, and blurted: “No, Papa, I did not!”
“When we came on her,” said Elizabeth, coming to her sister’s aid, little though she deserved it, “she was arguing with him.”
A vigorous nod from Lydia accompanied her averred: “I wished to confront him and provoke him to confirm what Mr. Darcy said. I left my reticule at home of a purpose, as Mr. Wickham had specifically instructed me to bring it along.”
“That is Wickham, all right,” growled Colonel Fitzwilliam. “He not only has the audacity to seduce young girls and spirit them away, but he uses their funds to contribute to their ruin.”
While Lydia stared at the colonel aghast, soon her gaze dropped, and she nodded miserably. Mr. Bennet looked on, seeming to see some measure of diversion in what was taking place. When he spoke, however, there was no hint of it.
“That was no less than foolish, Lydia, perhaps as reckless as agreeing to run off with him in the first place. Did you not suppose that he might not be inclined to allow you to refuse him?”
Lydia opened her mouth to speak, but whatever she meant to say remained unsaid, for she thought better of it. Instead, she looked down again, shaking her head in denial.
“Yet, I must admire your pluck.”
This time Lydia looked up and catching the sight of her father’s crooked grin, she smiled at him, though hesitantly. It did not last long, for soon Mr. Bennet’s mien became stern, though this time Lydia did not look away.
“My fearless little Lydia,” said he, accepting her into his embrace.
“You must learn, my daughter, that a little fear, when confronted by a man such as this Wickham, is a healthy emotion. That you were to provoke him is no small matter, yet I cannot agree with you putting yourself in peril, regardless. Please take care of your Papa, for I am becoming too old to withstand the suspense. We would not wish to make your mother’s fears a reality, now would we? ”
“No, Papa,” said Lydia from the circle of his arms.
“Ah, well,” said Mr. Bennet, ending the embrace, “it appears it has all ended well. But remember that Colonel Fitzwilliam has given you a plausible excuse for your behavior. Let us keep to that story, for it will appease our neighbors. Anything else we will deal with when we return to Longbourn.”
“We shall all support her, Papa,” said Jane.
“Thank you, Jane,” said Mr. Bennet. “I must also own to some of the culpability myself, for I have not been blameless in this matter. I commend you, Elizabeth for it appears you saw more clearly than I did myself.
“Not at all, Papa,” said Elizabeth. “Mr. Wickham misled us all.”
Mr. Bennet nodded, then turned to the gentlemen and scowled. “It appears we must still deal with this Wickham fellow.”
“That is no trial at all, Mr. Bennet,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, flashing an evil grin. “I have been waiting for this for a long time.”
“Then let us be about it. Girls, please return home and wait for us there. No more adventures—I beg of you.”
“We shall, Papa,” said Elizabeth.
Together with Jane, Elizabeth took her younger sister in hand and led her out of the alley.
The moment they emerged, they were the subject of the scrutiny of the town.
It was a relief to see that their neighbors and acquaintances looked at them with awe and admiration, rather than condemnation.
They did not wait to speak to anyone, instead guiding Lydia away to the lane that led to Longbourn in the distance.
Their neighbors would speak of this event for many months, but at least the Bennet name would not live on in infamy.