Page 27 of Mr. Darcy and the Mysterious "Miss B"
“Perfectly suited or not, Jane feels she has no choice.”
“But she does have a choice!” Lydia turned to face Elizabeth with blazing eyes. “Anyone with eyes can see that Mr Bingley is besotted with her. The way he hovers about, bringing her tea and books—he is clearly moon-eyed over her.”
Elizabeth sank into a chair. “Even if that were true, it changes nothing. The estate’s debts must be paid.”
Lydia stopped pacing. “What if we told Mr Bingley the truth? What if we explained about the debts and Uncle Morton and James’s horrible proposal? Perhaps he would help us with the debt.”
“Lydia!” Elizabeth looked scandalised. “Jane would never permit such a thing.”
“Why not? He has money in abundance, and if he cares for Jane—”
“Because it would be grasping. Jane will not have him think she sees him as a solution to our financial troubles.”
Lydia resumed her pacing with renewed agitation. “But if Mr Bingley knew what Jane faces, he would want to help. Surely, he would If she has to marry James, it means that they can never be together.”
To say Elizabeth was conflicted was an understatement. Part of her agreed with Lydia’s logic, but she understood Jane’s position as well. “Jane does not wish him to know, Lydia. Unless she changes her mind, we cannot tell Mr Bingley what is happening.”
“But it is madness!” Lydia’s voice rose. “Jane will throw away her chance at happiness to marry that calculating worm, all for the sake of pride!”
“It is not pride. It is principle.”
“What if he wants to help because he loves her?” Lydia demanded. “What if he would choose to rescue her?”
Elizabeth’s throat tightened. “Whatever feelings might exist between them are too new, too uncertain. Jane will not risk trapping him into feeling obligated.”
Lydia stared at Elizabeth with disbelief. “Can you not see how wrong this is? Jane will sacrifice herself whilst we all stand by and watch.”
“Unless Jane changes her mind about telling Mr Bingley, there is nothing we can do. It must be her choice.”
“Her choice?” Lydia’s eyes blazed. “What choice does she have? What choice do any of us have? We are trapped by Papa’s debts and Uncle Morton’s weakness and James’s manipulations, and you call it choice?”
“Lydia—” Elizabeth reached for her sister, but Lydia jerked away.
“No! I am sick of pretending this is acceptable. I am sick of being noble and understanding and grateful for James’s generous offer.” Lydia’s voice cracked with emotion. “Why should Jane sacrifice herself? Why should any of us pay the price for Papa’s failures?”
“Lydia, please—”
“Papa left us with nothing!” The words exploded from Lydia with all the force of months of suppressed grief and anger. “Nothing but debts and shame and dependency on relatives who see us as burdens to be managed. He knew the estate was entailed. He knew we would be left defenceless. But did he save a single guinea? Did he make any provision for our futures? Why did he not speak to Uncle Morton about breaking the entailment? He is willing to do it for James, surely he would have done it for Papa. But he never tried!”
Tears pricked at Elizabeth’s eyes. “Papa loved us—”
“Did he? Because it seems to me that a man who loved his daughters would have thought beyond his books and his jokes to what would happen to them when he was gone.”
“You must not speak so—”
“Why not? Because it is disrespectful? Because good daughters do not criticise their dead fathers?” Lydia’s face was flushed with fury and pain. “Well, perhaps good daughters would have had fathers who cared enough to secure their futures! Fathers who did not die all of a sudden without a word of warning!”
Elizabeth moved towards her sister. “Lydia, you are grieving—”
“Yes, I am grieving!” Lydia whirled to face her. “I am grieving the father I thought I had and the security I thought we possessed and the future I thought was mine. I am grieving the illusion that being loved was the same as being protected.”
“You were protected. Papa did love you—”
“Love that left me orphaned and destitute and watching my sister prepare to marry a man she despises to save us all from ruin.” Lydia’s tears came in earnest now. “What use is such love, Lizzy? What comfort is it when the creditors come calling?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I know you are angry—”
“I am furious!” Lydia sobbed. “I am furious with Papa for leaving us like this.”
