Page 43 of Grief and Grievances
“Lydia will never be easy until she has exposed herself in some public place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present circumstances.” Mr. Bennet shrugged.
Elizabeth wanted to scream with frustration at his lackadaisical attitude. “If you were aware of the very great disadvantage to us all which must arise from the public notice of Lydia’s unguarded and imprudent manner, I am sure you would judge differently in the affair.”
“Indeed?” Mr. Bennet raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued by the gravity of his daughter’s tone. “And what disadvantages might these be? Has she frightened away some of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy! But do not be cast down. Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret. Come, let me see the list of pitiful fellows who have been kept aloof by Lydia’s folly.”
“Indeed, you are mistaken. I have no such injuries to resent. It is not of particular, but of general evils, which I am now complaining. Our importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the wild volatility, the disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia’s character. Excuse me, for I must speak plainly. If you, my dear father, will not take the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits, and of teaching her that her present pursuits are not to be the business of her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment. Her character will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever made herself or her family ridiculous. Kitty, too, is endangered by this folly. She will follow wherever Lydia leads. Vain, ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrolled! Oh! my dear father, can you suppose it possible that they will not be censured and despised wherever they are known, and that their sisters will not be often involved in the disgrace?”
Mr. Bennet stared at her vehemence, at the tears welling in her eyes, and he reached out and took her hand in his, in an attempt to comfort her. “Do not make yourself uneasy, my love. Wherever you and Jane are known you must be respected and valued; and you will not appear to less advantage for having a couple of—or I may say, three—very silly sisters. We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will keep her out of any real mischief; and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to anybody.”
“She is most certainly not,” Elizabeth said, determined to speak frankly. “There are men among that officer cohort who care nothing for a woman’s purse, only what they can find beneath her skirts.”
“Lizzy!” Mr. Bennet sat back in his chair, clearly shocked by her plain speaking. Then his brow furrowed, and he seemed to take her seriously for the first time. “Do you… is there a particular man of whom you speak? Has one of them dared to offer offence to you, or one of your sisters?”
Elizabeth wondered, a little uncharitably, what exactly her father might bestir himself to do about it if they had. She shook her head, however.
“Not I, Father, but I have knowledge that Mr. Wickham has indeed acted in such a manner. Do not press me for the name of the injured party, for I am sworn to hold it in confidence, but he is not a man to be trusted.”
“Wickham!” Mr. Bennet steepled his fingers together and tapped them against his lips, watching her closely. “I always did think he had rather too pretty a face to be trusted,” he murmured, almost to himself.
“Father, it is my belief that if Lydia were to be in the same town as such a reprobate without proper supervision, there could be disastrous consequences.” Elizabeth’s voice trembled slightly, betraying her deep concern.
Mr. Bennet studied his daughter’s face, his brow furrowed as he weighed her words. “You may be right, Lizzy,” he admitted. “But what would you suggest I do? It is not enough to simply forbid Lydia from going to Brighton based on hearsay.”
“Mr. Darcy has reason to be well acquainted with Wickham’s character,” Elizabeth explained carefully, ensuring she did not imply for a moment that these allegations were in any way connected to those regarding Wickham’s womanising. “He has informed me that Wickham is not only a gambler but also a man who takes advantage of others for his own financial gain.”
“Indeed?” Mr. Bennet leaned back in his chair, clearly surprised by this revelation. “This is certainly a different side to the charming young officer we have come to know.”
“Please, Father, might you ask around Meryton to discover if anyone else has had issues with Wickham?” Elizabeth implored him. “Especially inquire about any debts he may have with the local shopkeepers. If we can find corroboration of his wrongdoings, surely that will be sufficient reason to prevent Lydia from going.”
“Very well, Lizzy,” Mr. Bennet finally conceded, his eyes narrowing as he considered her proposal. “If I can find any corroboration of Wickham’s bad character, I will ban Lydia from going to Brighton, despite the misery it will surely cost us all when she finds out.”
“Thank you, Father,” Elizabeth replied softly, her heart filled with both gratitude and concern for the potential storm that might ensue.
“Mind you, Lizzy,” her father warned, a hint of steel in his voice, “I am doing this for the safety of our family, and not because I believe in engaging in gossip or meddling in other people’s affairs.”
“Of course, Father,” Elizabeth assured him, understanding the gravity of their conversation and the necessity of discretion.
With her father’s decree accepted, Elizabeth retreated to her bedchamber, her thoughts consumed by the day’s events. The flickering glow of the candle on the bedside table cast a warm, golden light upon the room as Elizabeth entered. She found her sister Jane sitting at the small vanity, her fingers absentmindedly twisting a lock of hair between her fingers as she gazed into the mirror, a soft smile playing upon her lips.
“Jane,” Elizabeth ventured cautiously, “you seem to be lost in thought. I presume Mr. Bingley’s return is the cause?”
Jane started, her cheeks flushing with a delicate rose hue. “Oh, Lizzy,” she stammered, “I have been trying not to dwell on it excessively, but indeed, I cannot deny that I am both excited and apprehensive about seeing Mr. Bingley again.”
Elizabeth approached her sister, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Dearest Jane, I do believe your feelings are quite natural. After all, you and Mr. Bingley shared a special connection before his departure.”
“True,” Jane replied softly, “yet I cannot help but worry about what might have changed since then.”
“What will have changed is that he will be more in love with you than ever. Have you never heard the saying, that absence makes the heart grow fonder?”
Jane laughed, blushing. “I have, and I have often thought how true it is, over the last few months.” Seeming to decide she had said too much, she turned the questioning back on Elizabeth. “And what of your heart, Lizzy? I am beginning to suspect that during your time in Kent, your feelings for a certain gentleman underwent not merely a change, but a complete reversal.”
“A complete reversal?” Elizabeth replied evasively, her cheeks warming at the suggestion. “I do not know that I would say that, precisely. He did once call me only tolerable, if you will recall! However, I must admit that I find myself liking him a great deal better than I once did. Still, we must remember that he remains far above us socially.”
“Social standing should not dictate matters of the heart,” Jane sighed wistfully, her gaze returning to the mirror. “If Mr. Darcy is truly fond of you, Lizzy, I can only hope that his love will prevail over any societal constraints.”
“Perhaps you are right,” Elizabeth agreed, her thoughts drifting back to the gentleman in question, his countenance softened by newfound understanding and genuine emotion. “I have come to see that he does not display well to strangers. His reserve and pride mask a depth of feeling he only reveals to those he trusts.”
As the sisters continued their quiet conversation, the shadows cast by the flickering flame danced upon the walls, mirroring the shifting sentiments within their hearts. The evening wore on, and soon, the weariness of the day began to take its toll. Yawning, Elizabeth drew the covers around herself, her mind still occupied with the enigmatic figure of Mr. Darcy.
