Chapter Twenty Two
The weather turned dreary, and so too did Elizabeth’s mood.
The Gouldings brought the remainder of their party to the annual village horse races that afternoon, but Elizabeth was sure that nobody much enjoyed the event, except perhaps Miss Bingley, who had two gentlemen competing for her hand.
For all the lady’s self-congratulatory preening, it was evident that Mr. Willoughby simply did not wish to be bested by the older man, who appeared equally keen on prevailing over the younger and more handsome gentleman.
It seemed to Elizabeth to be a great fuss over so paltry a prize.
Lady Rebecca was uncommonly quiet. Elizabeth expected her new friend to be full of witticisms about Miss Bingley and her dismal suitors, Miss Dashwood’s erratic and desperate behavior, and Mrs. Jennings’s cheerful indiscretion.
Instead, Lady Rebecca was as sullen as Anne, who occupied herself chiefly in watching Colonel Brandon staring at Miss Dashwood.
Jane was indifferent to all of the recent drama; she was lost in her own happy reverie with Captain Wentworth and his sister, and Elizabeth felt the best thing she could do for her sister was leave her to such contentment. She was happy for Jane, but she could not rally her spirits to make merry.
Colonel Fitzwilliam attempted to divert her, and for a time he was willing to amuse Elizabeth by helping her give Anne and Colonel Brandon, and Miss Smith and Captain Benwick the little hints and nudges that Lady Blanche had asked her to cease.
Elizabeth was grateful for his efforts… until he began to hint that her sullenness might have something to do with his cousin’s absence.
The next day was no better – indeed, it was rather worse.
That morning, two letters of no little importance arrived at Richmond Cove.
The first was addressed to Sir Walter Elliot, but it concerned his daughters.
A childless relation had left them each a large sum of money upon her death, which had occurred the previous week.
Anne was devastated, having been fond of her great aunt, who always preferred her.
She received twice the sum as her eldest sister Miss Elliot, and their other sister Mrs. Musgrove received nothing at all, having displeased her aunt by not marrying to greater advantage.
While Miss Elliot tutted her false sympathy for the great aunt and preened at now being wealthier than Miss Bingley, Anne was truly aggrieved.
It pleased Elizabeth to see Colonel Brandon so attentive to Anne in her grief, but she was too distracted by a letter of her own to pay them as much heed as she had done the day before.
Elizabeth’s letter was from her sister Mary, who wrote that Lydia had been invited to Brighton as special guests of the Forsters; the regiment would travel thither at the end of the month and remained quartered there for the summer.
Elizabeth’s first thought was for Mr. Darcy – she would surely have to warn him that the man who had used him and his sister so ill would arrive in the area just days before their party broke up.
And yet, she could not like to think that this would only cause him to go away again.
She had not finished puzzling him out, and only wished for more time to make sense of the changes in his character.
Elizabeth shared the letter with her sister – and she shared her strong apprehensions.
“I agree that it is hardly fair to poor Kitty. Even the Gardiners advised against it, when they collected their children from Longbourn after leaving Richmond Cove. It seems to me that the only mark in favor of the scheme is that Lydia will be unbearable to everybody if she does not get her way! Surely no good can come of this, Jane.”
Jane considered this, her face pensive and full of doubt.
Elizabeth was sorry to have taken her sister away from the charming captain, but she could hardly discuss such a private matter in his presence.
Jane glanced his direction, and Elizabeth wondered if Jane shared her unease that Lydia, and perhaps even the brazen Mr. Wickham, might present themselves at Richmond Cove to make trouble.
“I cannot wish her to come here and spoil everything for you, Jane! She will surely get into some mischief with the officers, and we may be disgraced. Surely you have seen how Miss Elliot’s involvement in the Willoughby debacle has mortified poor Anne.”
Jane gave her a tight smile; it did not reach her eyes. “I hope you would not think so meanly of her. Papa must be correct – Mary writes that he thinks it will only teach her to understand her own insignificance among greater society.”
“Well, I cannot think she will like that very much, and we know what she is like when she is displeased! You and I have made friends here, Jane. Should you like our new friends to meet Lydia, when their opinions of us are so new, and not yet fixed?”
“Lizzy, I am surprised at you! Since when are you ashamed of Lydia? You have always laughed at her antics and indulged her anyhow. She has always been our little darling.”
Lydia had been excessively affectionate when she was a child, spending many happy nights snuggled in bed between Jane and Elizabeth, playing with their hair as she drifted off to sleep.
They had coddled and cosseted her, and delighted in doing so.
She grew bolder and even petulant at times, and showed uncommon obduracy in learning anything useful, but she was still their enchanting little whirlwind, who always won them over.
Before Elizabeth had met Mr. Darcy, she would have quarreled with anybody who looked at her sister with censure and disdain, and yet now Elizabeth had turned the same judgmental eye on the girl.
And yet, she could not shed her reservations so easily.
“Jane, if she were to call on us here, and behave toward our companions the way she behaved at the Netherfield Ball, or the assembly, or our aunt’s card party – would that not bother you? ”
“I think I see what you mean.” Jane glanced again at Captain Wentworth, and this time she subtly beckoned him to join them. He gave Elizabeth an affable nod as he took a seat across from Jane.
“You look troubled, Miss Elizabeth. Jane, is your sister unwell?”
“I am well enough, thank you.”
“We have just had a letter from Longbourn, Frederick. My youngest sister will be travelling to Brighton at the end of the month.”
“Your youngest sister – Miss Lydia, I think. Remind me, is she the sister who reads too many sermons, the one your mother scolds for coughing, or the spirited flirt?”
Jane pressed her tips together, her eyes shining with mirth. Elizabeth raised her brows. “I take it my sister has told you all about our family’s antics?”
“We have been in some competition, you see, to shock and amaze one another, Miss Elizabeth, with tales of our interesting kin. We have discussed my sister Sophie’s childhood foibles until she has threatened to beat me about the head, but we have cousins enough with folly to expose.
I am sure your sister is now convinced that your own relations are the picture of gentility, as I am sure they are.
But I should be glad to meet the famous Miss Lydia – might I have the pleasure of treating her to a new bonnet?
I am convinced a finely trimmed hat might earn me her sisterly esteem in perpetuity. ”
Elizabeth could not begrudge her sister the smug smile that spread across Jane’s face.
It was meant to show Elizabeth that she had nothing to hide, that the right man might think nothing of a few odd relations – it was not for them to be ashamed, when Longbourn was, despite the many eccentricities of the family, a house full of lively affection.
She tried to take heart from this, knowing that perhaps Mr. Darcy’s dislike of her relations was only proof that, despite his recent improvements, they were intrinsically ill-suited.
But she was still concerned about Mr. Wickham.
“But surely a young girl who is bold and used to having her own way ought not travel away from her parents, in the company of so many officers. The folly she might get up to would make our theatrical night’s festivities look like a church service! ”
Captain Wentworth chuckled and regarded Elizabeth warmly.
“Jane told me you were being quite severe upon yourself. I can assure you, Miss Elizabeth, that you possess just the sort of charming wit that will always render a little silliness more charming. It was a delight to see both you ladies enjoy yourselves – a novelty, because of course you would not always be so unguarded.”
Jane beamed at her suitor. “Lizzy is determined to be downcast, but I knew you would not allow it. I see little to trouble us, besides Mr. Wickham.”
“Who is Mr. Wickham?”
“He is an officer of the regiment,” Jane explained.
“He and Lizzy became acquainted in the autumn, sharing in many complaints about a certain gentleman present. Apparently that gentleman’s offenses against Mr. Wickham were entirely fabricated, when in fact it was he who had been most egregiously in the wrong.
But our sisters do not know the truth, and Lydia in particular is quite beguiled by Mr. Wickham. ”
Captain Wentworth turned serious, and stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I see. Well, can these Forsters be trusted?”
“Mrs. Forster is scarcely older than Lydia! The colonel is an agreeable man, but I cannot be sure that his intuition alone should make him wary of Mr. Wickham – he is not in possession of all the facts.”
“He knows that Mr. Wickham pursued Mary King when she inherited a sum,” Jane reminded Elizabeth. “Fortunately, Lydia does not possess such an inducement. You never think anybody as clever as you are, Lizzy, but I must credit the colonel with some discernment.”
Captain Wentworth steepled his fingers as he addressed Elizabeth. “You have some fear, I think, that this fellow will make trouble for Mr. Darcy, and that he will somehow hold you responsible.”