Page 27 of The Heir and Spare
When at last they were alone, Lizzie turned to her father. “What has happened?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Enough for me to sit in solitude for weeks on end. I fear I deserve it. Though, I deserve to be endlessly tormented. To think she is returned with so little bother or trouble to any of us; I cannot fathom how it was accomplished.”
“And her well-being? Is she…well?” She wished to ask if she’d been truly compromised, if she had been hurt?
But her father shook his head. “Only she knows the answer to that question. Wickham promises that he did nothing to her.”
Lizzie breathed out her relief and nearly fell against the wall. “Can it be so?”
“It appears to be.”
“Then perhaps, just for a moment, we might feel hope that the information is contained. The Lucases were here, and the missus is determined to defend Lydia’s name and all others. The story is that Wickham left alone.”
Her father nodded. “Then there truly is hope for us all, isn’t there?” He looked so forlorn, so without hope that she rushed to his side. “Father?”
“I am merely unhappy with my own behavior. I will indeed be more careful with you all.”
Lizzie could only nod, for she agreed that stronger care needed to be taken and she would be happy for her father to take a greater interest in all their lives.
A servant arrived with the post on a platter.
Her father lifted a small stack. “This is more than I expected.” He filed through the envelopes and stopped on one, his eyebrow raised. “To what do we owe the pleasure of a correspondence with Mr. Collins? Is your dear Charlotte Lucas well?”
“I believe so. They’ve been married but a few short months, but she’s already sequestered a room for her own particular use. They dine at Rosings Park regularly and she seems almost as enamored with their patron, the esteemed Lady Catherine De Bourgh, as is her husband.” Lizzie shrugged, thinking briefly of the man’s odious marriage proposal to her before he left to ask her best friend. “I’d never be happy there, but she seems to be so.”
“No Lizzie, you need a man you can respect, love even, who challenges you, excites your mind.”
Her father kept talking about men who read and intelligent conversation, all things Lizzie had heard before and greatly valued, but all she could think about in that moment was Mr. Darcy. He’d proven to be everything her father was describing. But the different accounts of him were quite puzzling to her. His comment about her being handsome enough, his inability to even remember her or her family from his visit to Netherfield, so many things, his interference with Jane and then with Mary… He was not at all what he seemed. She knew that to be true. But when she stood near him, when he looked into her eyes, she could only see sincerity and true caring. She didn’t know what to make of him.
And now, she regretted deeply telling him of Lydia’s scandal. Now that it might well be soon forgotten, he knew. And no matter what she thought of him, he would surely wish to havenothing more to do with her or the family. She sighed. Thoughts of Mr. Darcy reminded her that someone should be notifying Jane and Mary of the good news. She summoned a servant and wrote a quick missive to her sisters. “Please deliver this at once.” She added a suggestion that she tell Charles immediately of the good news so that perhaps he might feel even more free to associate once again with their family. Though, from the looks of things, he had never deserted them.
Her father had opened up the letter from Mr. Collins and read it with a frown. “There is a portion of this for you from Charlotte.” He took out a folded bit and handed it to her but she glanced over the page from Mr. Collins first to see what caused her father’s furrowed brow.
Mr. Collins waxed eloquently about all things Rosings Park. He discussed at length Charlotte’s good fortune in marrying him, describing their situation in great detail. Then he closed with the statement,“We were saddened to hear of the recent escapades of cousin Lydia. With any luck she is returned safely though we are saddened that things for her and your family by association can never be the same. We are distantly at your service. Charlotte still wishes to receive you and because the details are vague at best, Lady Catherine has given her approval but she will want a full accounting when you are here so that she might determine our best future course of action. As you well know, one cannot be too careful with one’s associations.”
Lizzie clenched her fists. “Of all the pompous…”
Her father held up his hand. “Look at the post script.”
She squinted. Yes, he’d written a few more faded lines.“We have just received news from Charlotte’s family that indeed Lydia was not involved with the recent Mr. Wickham’s tarnish. What a relief that must be for all of you. We are certainly relieved and renew the warmth of our invitation to come atyour earliest convenience. No mention needs to be made of the aforementioned stain.”
“Oh he’s so loathsome. I don’t know how Charlotte abides his presence.”
“Yes, it sounds like she is making the most of her experience and has time to herself. Managing a home and caring for her own life might be all she hoped for. We mustn’t challenge people’s right to joy in their own choices because they are different from ours.” Her father patted her shoulder. “I am much relieved and grateful to the Lucases for their swift response and squelching of rumors. However true the rumors may have been.” He wiped his brow. “We are greatly in their debt.”
“Mr. Bennet!!” Lizzie’s mother’s shouts could be heard all throughout their gardens.
Her father lifted the corner of his mouth. “It is good to be the deliverer of good news, is it not?”
She smiled. “It most certainly is.”
He stepped slowly toward the stairs. Never did he shout in response to her mother’s shrieks. But he plodded along to find her in the house to see what it was that she desired.
Lizzie lowered to a small sofa to read Charlotte’s letter, curious about how they had come to know of Wickham’s disappearance in the first place.
Charlotte began immediately with the problem at hand.“Oh Lizzie. The most dreadful news reached us. I have done my best to cast doubt, and Mother’s latest express that Father sent squelched the wagging tongues, but there is still a good amount of suspicion. I’m including Lydia, Kitty, and Mary in my invitation to come to call. I think it will do them good and will show without doubt that Lydia is indeed still with her family and well and untainted.”
Lizzie cringed.
