Chapter Twelve #2
Elizabeth blushed. “It is no hardship to be open with Miss Darcy and your daughter. They are delightful ladies by their own merits, without any consideration for their names or fortunes.”
“But most people never look past those considerations to appreciate their merits, and so I will praise your perspicacity.” Lord Matlock gazed across to Darcy’s box where Mr and Mrs Gardiner were conversing with the Bingleys and their guests.
“I understand that you are leaving for Hertfordshire soon.”
“Yes, my aunt and uncle visit Longbourn each year with the children for the festive season, and my sister and Mr Bingley will return to Meryton soon as well,” Elizabeth answered.
“I am looking forward to enjoying time with my young cousins, and they always anticipate their visit to the country. Christmastide is never the same without children in the house.”
“I miss the days when Prissy was just a girl,” Matlock agreed. “Though we are still merry. We will celebrate in London with our family, and then Darcy and Georgiana begin their journey north, while my wife and daughter will prepare for the Season.”
“Georgiana has told me much about the winters in Derbyshire. I know she is looking forward to going home to the countryside. She misses Pemberley dreadfully. I cannot say I blame her, for while I am refreshed from my visit to town, I long for a walk to Oakham Mount.”
“Will you return to London soon?” Lord Matlock asked curiously.
“My aunt and uncle have invited me to return after Twelfth Night, but since I will not reach my majority until March, I must ask my father for permission,” Elizabeth turned and noticed that her aunt and uncle had said their goodbyes to the Bingleys and left their box.
“I have promised to correspond with Georgie and Priscilla until we see one another again.”
“That will please Prissy to no end, but it would not surprise me if my daughter or my niece devised some pretext to see you again quite soon.” Matlock turned to Mr Gardiner pleasantly as that couple entered the box and the other visitors returned to their own parties.
Monday 27 January 1812
Pemberley
Derbyshire
Dear Lizzy,
I hear from Priscilla that London is dismal without your company. I could never call Pemberley dismal, though I second my cousin’s sentiments that your presence would improve any setting. My brother, of course, agrees wholeheartedly.
Has Mary mastered the piece I left for her? I have included another piece of music that I copied for her. Please tell her that I have my copy of the book we discussed, and I plan to begin reading it in a few days. I shall write to her about it when I have begun to form an impression.
I do wish that you might have returned to London with your aunt, for then I am sure that Fitzwilliam would have been persuaded to delay our journey.
There was no reason for us to travel north so early, Fitz is not needed here until the spring planting.
Then we might have visited the museum together, or the theatre.
Fitz is the most gallant escort, and would have seen to our enjoyment diligently.
Have I mentioned how unjust it is that you must stay in Meryton!
It is positively criminal! I do hope that you will travel later this year, as you said you might.
If you do not come north with Mr and Mrs Gardiner, I am sure that I or perhaps Prissy will extend you an invitation for the summer.
My brother and my uncle will oblige us, of course, whatever our demands.
Have Kitty and Lydia seen the latest copy of La Belle Assemblée? Did they think the flounce on the silk displayed on the cover was not simply divine? I recall your youngest sister admired one like it that we saw in another magazine just before the Netherfield Ball.
Do attain your majority soon. We miss you.
Georgiana Darcy
Somehow, Elizabeth survived the festive season, though she knew not how. No one save Mary was happy to see her, except for the fact that Mr Bennet appreciated Elizabeth being home to help Mary oversee their younger sisters.
Unbeknownst to Jane or anyone in her family, having obtained the agreement for silence regarding Mr Darcy from the Gardiners, Elizabeth and Darcy agreed to a courtship, and to send light, innocent messages through Miss Darcy–who was thrilled at the prospect of Elizabeth as a possible sister–until Elizabeth was able to return to town.
Kitty and Lydia had run quite mad in only a few short weeks without Elizabeth and Jane to supervise them.
They usually listened to Jane, because she was the eldest and their mother’s favourite.
Sometimes they listened to Elizabeth, particularly when they knew she would only involve their father if they did not.
They ignored poor Mary completely, but Mr Bennet had placed the poor girl in charge of keeping the two youngest sisters out of the soldiers’ camp, a rather impossible task if their parents would not enforce anything Mary said.
Elizabeth was grateful that she only brought one evening gown and one morning dress from the trunks waiting for her at her uncle’s house.
No one asked where they came from, and Mrs Bennet did not seem to care if the clothes came from her brother, or if Elizabeth was accepting extravagant gifts from her friends again, but if she had brought all of them, there would have been trouble.
Regardless, her mother hated seeing her go before her other sisters, in consequence or fashion.
Even if Elizabeth was now the eldest unmarried daughter, and in Jane’s absence, all of the efforts of dressing and finding husbands ought to be directed now to her, Elizabeth was not a favourite of her mother’s.
Mrs Bennet did not even like Elizabeth putting on the airs of being the eldest unmarried sister.
She did not dare to move up to take Jane’s place at the table.
Aunt and Uncle Gardiner pressed for Elizabeth to return to London with them in the New Year, but neither Mr Bennet nor Mrs Bennet would spare her.
Mr Bennet wished for Elizabeth to remain and help Mary control Kitty and Lydia.
Mrs Bennet was tired of seeing Elizabeth favoured by her brother, and insisted that Gardiner take Lydia or no one, and so the Gardiners left Meryton without a niece for company.
On an afternoon in late January, Charlotte rushed up to Elizabeth on the lane to Meryton, waving a letter. “Lizzy, where is your sister, Lydia?”
“Mama gave Lydia permission to stay with Aunt Phillips last night. She had a headache after the card party. Too much punch, I am sure. I am going there now to see if she feels well enough to walk home.” Elizabeth paused on the path and looked at her friend in perplexity.
“I fear she may not be there, Lizzy,” Charlotte gasped, out of breath. She handed the letter to Elizabeth. “I found this in Maria’s possession not a half hour ago. I forbade her to speak of it with anyone, but I fear my mother will hear of it before I return home, my friend.”
Elizabeth took the letter from Charlotte.
My dear Maria,
You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise when I am missed.
I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I love, and he is an angel.
I should never be happy without him, so I think it no harm to be off.
You need not send them a word at Longbourn of my going, if you do not like it, for it will make the surprise the greater, when I write to them and sign my name ‘Lydia Wickham.’ What a good joke it will be! I can hardly write for laughing.
I told Kitty nothing, for she would only try to persuade Papa to stop us.
Once I am married, Papa will have to give the rest of the dowry money to me, it is only fair that I receive as much as Jane.
Pray make my excuses to Pratt for not keeping my engagement, and dancing with him at the assembly.
Tell him I hope he will excuse me when he knows all; and tell him I will dance with him at the next ball that we meet, with great pleasure.
I am leaving a note for my aunt telling her that I left for home early in the morning to work on my gown for the assembly, and everyone at home shall think I am remaining with my aunt due to my headache.
What a lark! Wish me luck, my dearest friend.
I hope you will drink to our good journey.
Your affectionate friend,
Lydia Bennet
“It cannot be!” Elizabeth cried in horror as she turned around and tore away in the direction of her aunt’s house.
“Perhaps she did not go, Lizzy.” Charlotte attempted to console Elizabeth as they made haste to the home of Mr and Mrs Phillips. “We have the letter. If Lydia is with your aunt, we can burn it. I will insist the horrible thing never existed.” Elizabeth calmed herself and approached her aunt’s door.
“Morning, Miss Lizzy.” The maid bobbed a curtsey and admitted them to the house.
“Aunt, have you seen Lydia this morning?” Elizabeth asked as she entered her aunt’s parlour, attempting to hide her fear. Aunt Phillips was a worse gossip than even Mrs Bennet and would not stay silent, even for the sake of her nieces.
“Hello Lizzy! Miss Lucas, how kind of you to pay a call. Would you like tea?” Mrs Phillips disregarded Elizabeth’s query entirely, which was not unlike her.
The two young ladies declined tea or refreshment. “Aunt I was meant to walk Lydia home, but I fear I was caught up talking with Charlotte. Is she here?”
“She left quite early this morning, Lizzy. You must have missed her entirely while you were out gallivanting on Oakham Mount on your own.” Mrs Phillips gave her niece a knowing grin and tutted. “All this way for nothing, but then you never feared a long walk.”
“Are you certain, Aunt?” Elizabeth pressed.
“I most certainly am, for she left me a note saying that she must return home early to trim her gown for the assembly. The maid, Meg, has already unmade the bed and aired the guest room.” Mrs Phillips shook her head.
“I am surprised she left her dress so late, it is so unlike our Lydia, do you not agree, Lizzy?”
“Indeed!” Elizabeth stood, wild to return to Longbourn with all haste and speak to her father. “I should return home and make sure she requires no assistance.”
“And I believe that my gown ought to be checked to ensure it is just right myself, I should return to Lucas Lodge.” Charlotte rose to her feet and curtsied to the older woman. “It was pleasant to call upon you, Mrs Phillips, I will see you at the assembly tonight.”