Page 41 of Miss Bennet's Dragon
Jane and I read silently, our heads side-by-side:
“The eldest male heire bound as gentry shall clame title to Longbourn, whole and indivisible, upon settling his draka in the empty draka house for a se’nnight; or if no eldest male presents, the consort of an heiress wyfe bound as gentry.”
“Who is the next male heir?” I said. “Isthere a male heir?”
“There must be. There are several branches of family.”
“But he must present himself. What if he does not? Jane, you would be heiress.”
“It says ‘anheiress wyfe.’ I think that means any daughter.”
The idea that Longbourn could be inherited by one of us sisters was astounding. “But… it could be you, Jane. Think of it. If you were married and bound.”
“Or you,” she said with her old, selfless smile.
Who else was likely to marry? Together, Jane and I said, “orLydia!” then burst into laughter at the idea.
17
LIEUTENANT DENNY
A farewellfor the officers was planned for the last Friday of January. The officers’ wives had, rain permitting, chosen a pretty meadow near Meryton bordered by elm forest and the river that meandered through Hertfordshire.
Although I had no desire to encounter Mr. Wickham, I was determined to go. I was fond of several officers and wives, and Mr. Wickham could not cause trouble at a public event. Let him hide. I would not.
Or, I had thought I would not. The day dawned clear, but windy and rimed with a white frost, so I arrived at the meadow wrapped in four petticoats, a wool skirt, a jacket, a muff, two scarves, and a woolen hat over my cap.
Lieutenant Denny somehow recognized me under my bundle, and when we spoke, I discovered that Mr. Wickham did, in fact, hide.
“Wickham is off in the woods again,” Denny told me. “Shooting, perhaps. He is obsessive about his marksmanship. He said he might arrive late, but I do not expect him.”
His tone was displeased, almost angry. Distrustful.
“You do not sound disappointed,” I said.
“Pardon me.” He gave an apologetic smile. “I am distracted. Would you excuse me?”
I watched him walk away, then be intercepted by Kitty. I was certain I had notmisunderstood.
Fires and coal braziers had been lit to warm tea and chocolate, and they became the center of huddled groups. I chatted with officers and wives, ending with Colonel Forster and his new wife, Harriet, who was only seventeen.
She was enthusiastic about their move to Brighton. “Oh, I shall so enjoy the society. Brighton is anevent. It is very exciting!”
“I am glad,” I said, amused.
“And I know Lydia will adore it!”
“I beg your pardon?” I had no idea what she meant.
“She hasn’t told you? How droll! I’ve invited her to visit. I should be quite lost without Lydia to explore the shops.”
“How droll, indeed.” That explained my sister’s smug expression over dinner. She was clever not to mention it to me. Had she asked Papa already?
“Forgive my wife,” the colonel said, glowing with the affection of a new husband, and, in the annoying manner of men, glowing with warmth although he wore only his regimental uniform. “She is determined that Brighton is a seaside adventure. I remind her that we are there because of the threat of French infiltration.”
“Is it a risk?” I asked. The last event attributed to French spies was closer to home, in Hertfordshire two months ago—the deaths of the Linfields’ draca and two mysterious men.
The colonel scratched the whiskers framing his chin. “Another spy was caught with incriminating materials. Yesterday, I ordered my men to be alert and to report anything unusual. Bonaparte remains determined to acquire draca.”
