Page 26 of The Heir and Spare
“Have you called upon all the others, then?”
She shrugged. “One has to know how to act and who to protect, doesn’t one?”
Lizzie tipped her head to the side. “Yes, one does. I’d be so sick if he ruined the life and reputation of one of our own.”
“We won’t allow that to happen. We women must band together in situations such as these.” Her eyes burned with an intensity Lizzie was not suspecting, but she loved her for it. Even though she could not reveal why, she hugged her fiercely. “Thank you for that. Let us pray no one is involved.”
“Yes, let’s. Do give Lydia and Kitty my regards.”
“I will. I know my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner will be here shortly to take us all up on holiday to the Lake Country, but I’m certain they shall be by either before or after to discuss the events.”
“Yes, I’m certain as well.” She moved to the door. “Come, ladies.”
The Lucases hustled to the door just as the mail arrived.
Mrs. Lucas’s keen gaze caused Lizzie to gather it without glancing down at the tray and she curtseyed her farewells once again while the servants shut the door after their guests.
She fell against the wall. “Whew. That was something.”
But good had come from the interview. No one knew for certain what Wickham had done. Lydia’s name was as yet, safe. And Mrs. Lucas seemed a powerful ally.
Kitty peeked her head around the corner of the stairs. “Have they gone?”
“Oh, Kitty!” Lizzie smiled. “It was smart of you to stay hidden.”
She nodded. “I thought perhaps it would make more sense for Lydia to be gone from the house if I were absent as well.”
“You are too correct.” Lizzie hugged her sister. “Jane is as well as can be expected. We wait to hear her fever has truly dropped, but I don’t think she is in any danger.”
“Oh good.” Kitty looked to the mail in Lizzie’s hands. “Do we have any news?”
Lizzie lifted the pile, and they sifted through it quickly but saw no news from their father or uncle or anyone else.
Chapter 15
Elizabeth
The next morning, Lizzie was awakened by shouts from downstairs. She wrapped a robe about herself and hurried toward the sound. The shouts sounded more like hysterics, and she rounded the corner to see Kitty producing the surprisingly loud agitations. But Lizzie forgot all about her sister’s noise when she saw the cause.
Lydia.
Her hair was mussed, parts standing in knotted messes and parts flattened to the side of her head. The dark circles under her eyes made her expression seem even more hollow, but her eyes were dark, her face drawn, and no sound came from her mouth. In truth, she hardly looked at any of them.
Lizzie approached. “Lydia?” Her voice was quiet, gentle, but Lydia jumped.
“Hm?”
“Welcome home, sister.” Lizzie pulled her into an embrace. For a moment, she was stiff and then she relaxed into Lizzie. Her breath came out as a sigh and she rested her face into Lizzie’s shoulder. “It is good to be home.”
Lizzie held her a moment more and then their mother’s shrieks and shouts from upstairs interrupted them all. “Lydia!! Oh, my baby is home! Come here this minute. Have you brought us a handsome husband?”
Lizzie winced.
Their father stepped across the threshold. He looked tired and worn. The glance he spared Lizzie was brief but grim.
Lydia turned from them and stepped slowly up the stairs.
Kitty followed, her expression uncertain.
