Page 69 of Resilience

“I have not heard from her in reply, nor do I think, has Kitty,” answered Elizabeth. “I cannot deny that it worries me, but then again, Lydia is more likely to write with bad news than good, so perhaps things are going well for her, which is just what I would hope. I owe her a letter now that I am home. I will have to remember to begin one later.”

“We have said nothing to our friends about the identity of your sister's husband,” Miss Matilda said in a hushed tone. “And Jem Heard is very discreet. He would not wish to cause you any embarrassment.”

“Oh dear, I should never like anyone to keep secrets on my account,” Elizabeth objected. “I understood when I told you that it is inevitable for word to spread through the village. I would not like anyone to think I have been intentionally deceptive, although it is not your job to spread my affairs either.”

“That would be Miss Poole’s responsibility,” Miss Jenks said with an indulgent smile.

“She reminds me and Mary very much of our Aunt Phillips from back in Meryton.” Elizabeth refilled Miss Matilda’s teacup. “I am already very fond of her.”

“She has been our friend for many years, and she means well.” Miss Jenks nodded in approval of Elizabeth’s admission.

“Perhaps I might mention my sister’s name to her,” Elizabeth said impishly.

“Perhaps in a few weeks, when the local ladies have had an opportunity to create a fair impression of you, I think,” Miss Jenks said. “I should like to see you judged by your own merits first.”

“I rely upon you to advise me. You have known our neighbours long enough to understand their ways,” Elizabeth said in gratitude as Georgiana went to the harp and began to play quietly for the appreciation of their guests. Her new sister had met two young ladies her age amongst the daughters of their neighbors, and was planning to call upon them with her companion soon.

A few moments later, she left the Misses Jenks in the company of Priscilla as she turned her own attention to her other guests.

Ten minutes later, the footman entered and offered Elizabeth a letter on a silver tray. Elizabeth opened it and with wide eyes, read the contents. Calmly, she folded it and put it in her pocket. Though her guests were eyeing her with interest, particularly Miss Poole, the matter was urgent, so Elizabeth stood and apologised to the other women in the room.

“I do beg everyone’s pardon, but I must speak with my husband. Mary, Priscilla, would you step in?”

Mary and Priscilla were quick to take over Elizabeth’s duties of pouring and serving sandwiches and cakes, though they did not endure the occupation long, for the guests understood that the letter must be a matter of importance, and took their leave, lightly prodded along by the Misses Jenks.

Fifteen minutes later, Mary, Kitty, Priscilla, and Georgiana found Elizabeth weeping in Darcy’s study.

“Lizzy, what is wrong? Is there bad news from Longbourn or Gracechurch Street?” gasped Mary. Elizabeth thrust the letter at her and Mary read it aloud.

Friday, 17 July 1812

Lizzy,

Congratulations on marrying Mr Darcy. A few months ago, I might have laughed at you for marrying such a boring man, but as Papa said, you could not be so clever for nothing. You made a sensible choice, and I cannot imagine you ever having cause to repine.

I hear from no one but you and Mama. How odd it is that you sent me a chest from Kitty’s attic, yet she has not sent me a word since George and I visited Longbourn. Is she angry with me? Tell her that whatever I did, I am sorry, and that I miss her. I thank you both for the chest, but we could not afford to keep it. George said it came at the perfect moment to save us from eviction, for we owed rent, and the linens did not fetch much, but the cloak was well made. It paid for another quarter in our rooms, and George allowed me to purchase a hot pot, so we ate well that day.

I never tell Kitty this in my letters, and you must promise me not to tell her, but it is awful to be Mrs Wickham. George’s wages barely pay for our rooms, which are always cold, and there is never any money for dinner or coal. I cannot accompany George to any invitations, for we had to sell all of my gowns, and I only have my blue muslin and my fawn walking dress now. George says my manners are an embarrassment, and I will only mortify him anyway. His colonel’s wife and a few other officer’s wives have called, but I am not allowed to answer the door on account of what a terrible housekeeper I am. I did not know that the interest from the dowry I was given by Mr Bingley would not be enough to live on, or that I would get nothing from Papa. I wish someone had explained to me about money, for now I have none and I do not know how to earn any.

Lizzy, I will not ask you for money just because you are rich now. I only ask that you not tell Kitty that I am so poor, and I wish to ask if you might persuade Mr Darcy to help George find a better situation. George says that Mr Darcy denied him a living that was meant for him, and that is why we live as we do now. George says that Mr Darcy is still angry at him because Old Mr Darcy liked him better. You were always so good at helping everyone at home mend their quarrels. Would you speak to Mr Darcy? Perhaps if you spoke to your husband and I spoke to mine, perhaps Mr Darcy might have another living? I laughed when I heard Mary married Mr Collins, but now I think I should like being married to a clergyman much better than this.

Lizzy, I do not want to tell anyone this, but last night, George came home and was angry at me for not bleeding. I never thought about it when my courses did not come, and he laughed at me for my ignorance, but Mama never told me anything. He says I will probably have a baby, and then we will really starve. His anger was terrible, but I will not say what he did. Only that I wish I had married Captain Denny, or even Mr Collins.

Lizzy, can you not ask Mr Darcy to help? I am not asking him to give George money, I understand my husband well enough now that I know how imprudent that would be, but if your husband could think of anything that might help? I am afraid to have a baby alone here without anyone to assist me.

It will be all right if you cannot do anything. If George learns that I wrote to you, he will be angry. He was furious when he learned that you married Mr Darcy. He says that if he knew that Mr Darcy fancied you, that he would have gotten more to marry me. I am sorry I ran away, Lizzy. You cannot imagine how sorry I am.

Lydia

“I knew something was wrong!” Elizabeth wept.

“Something is wrong, for Lieutenant Wickham’s income is well capable of supporting a wife modestly.” Darcy took the letter from Mary and frowned at it. “There is not much more than that, but they have enough to feed themselves, and even hire a girl to help Mrs Wickham. I do not understand what she means about rented rooms. I paid for a year’s lease on a small cottage, so that I would be certain that Wickham would not attempt to keep his wife in a tent in the soldiers’ camp. It is not a large place, but respectable and comfortable.”

“You all understand that this is Lydia and Wickham we are speaking of?” Kitty interrupted. “Lydia and Wickham. Who will steal the bonnet off of your head while they are looking at you in the eye. The two of them lie as naturally as breathing. Lizzy, you just married the wealthiest man any of us have ever met. Has it not occurred to you that this is a plan designed by Lydia and Wickham to relieve your husband of funds? Just because her letter says she is not asking for money, does not mean that she is not asking for money in her own way. She writes to me weekly, begging for an invitation to visit, but I will not allow her in my house, around my husband, or near my reticule, and neither should you.”

“Kitty!” Mary was scandalised.

“I have been telling you since we arrived in Derbyshire to her first letter that something was not right with Lydia,” Elizabeth objected.