Page 4 of Saving Jane
The sisters sat in silence for a time as Elizabeth returned to the desk to quickly write the two business letters for her father. As she finished the last one, she looked up and noticed that Jane had stopped sewing to watch Kitty and Lydia who were conducting a silent conversation across the table mouthing their words and snickering at each other.
Setting the letters to the side to dry, Elizabeth returned the ink, pens and unused paper to their proper locations in the desk. Rising from her chair, she watched as Jane dropped the gown she had been hemming on top of the bonnet in front of Lydia.
“I do not think I shall finish this hem for you Lydia. If you wish to wear a new gown, you can finish the hem yourself.”
Turning to Elizabeth, Jane asked, “Shall we take a turn through the gardens? The sun is out, and the ground is dry.”
“But I hate to sew!” Lydia whined. “Your stitches are the best!”
“I shall save my stitches for Mary’s new gown.”
“Kitty, finish my hem for me,” Lydia pleaded.
Glancing at Jane and Elizabeth, Kitty stood up from the table. “I believe I shall walk with Jane and Lizzy. If I am not good enough for your company at a party, you do not need my stitching in the parlour.”
“But Lizzy! Jane! Kitty! I cannot do it myself!”
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“Lydia, whatever did you do to this gown?” Mrs Bennet fussed that evening. “These last stitches are horrible!”
As she worked to pull out the uneven stitches, Mrs Bennet noticed that her older daughters were quiet as Lydia smirked.
“I knew I could get someone to finish the hem for me,” Lydia whispered to Kitty.
Setting her mouth in a firm line, Mrs Bennet called her youngest child to her side. “This is not suitable stitching; it would pull out and drag across the floor at the next assembly. As soon as I have pulled this out, you can redo it.”
“But Mamma, I don’t want to sew! Make Jane or Mary do it. They are the best seamstresses! Make them sew my gown!”
“Tell Mamma what you are good at Lydia,” Kitty teased. “She would be very interested to know.”
“Hush Kitty!” Lydia scowled. Mrs Bennet looked up and saw that her three oldest daughters focused on the fashion magazine, as though selecting the pattern for Mary’s new gown while Kitty and Lydia exchanged frowns and mouthed words. Kitty made kissing noises, and Lydia threw a ball of yarn at her next sister.
“Of what are you girls fussing?”
“Nothing Mamma,” Lydia said though the look she threatened Kitty made her sister look away and grow silent.
To capture her youngest daughter’s attention, Mrs Bennet said, “Lydia.”
“Yes Mamma,” her youngest daughter replied as though nothing had passed between her and her next sister.
“What are you hiding?”
Looking offended, she replied, “I am hiding nothing! I have done nothing wrong.”
Now all four of her sisters stared at the youngest and Mrs Bennet frowned at her favourite child–not something that Lydia was used to seeing.
“Jane, tell me what Lydia is hiding,”Mrs Bennet commanded.
“No! Jane! Say nothing!” Lydia shouted. “I shall never forgive you if you say anything!”
Mrs Bennet rose from her chair and took Lydia by the arm. “Be silent!”
“I shall not!” Lydia cried. “They hate me! They tell lies about me all the time!”
“Child what is wrong with you?” Mrs Bennet asked.
“My sisters are jealous of me! They know I am the prettiest girl and men like me best.”
