Page 161 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Mr. Bennet,” his wife cried, “you cannot mean to send her!”

Elizabeth waited.

Her father looked from Mrs. Bennet to Lydia. Lydia's face had begun to crumple.

“I shall be miserable in London. Aunt Maddie will take us to museums and shops and expect me to spend every evening with old married people. Everyone here will be dancing with the officers while I am gone.”

“Then you had better stay,” Mr. Bennet said. “I would not deprive Meryton of so much happiness.”

Elizabeth stared at him.

Mrs. Bennet immediately brightened. “There, Lydia. Your papa has settled it.”

Lydia threw her arms around her mother.

Mr. Bennet reopened his newspaper.

Elizabeth looked at Jane. Her father had allowed Lydia to decide for herself.

* * *

The following days gave Elizabeth little reason to believe that Lydia's interest in Wickham would fade.

His uniform arrived, and Lydia declared that she had been correct. A red coat improved him enormously.

Mr. Wickham soon became a frequent visitor at Aunt Phillips's house, where the officers were always welcome. Lydia required very little encouragement to call upon her aunt, and Kitty was equally eager to accompany her.

Jane and Elizabeth accompanied them whenever they could.

On their third visit that week, they found Wickham and Mr. Denny already in Aunt Phillips's drawing room. Lydia immediately claimed the chair nearest Wickham.

“You promised to tell me whether you dance, Mr. Wickham.”

“I cannot imagine how I neglected so important a question.”

“I think you avoided it.”

“Then I must repair the offense. I do dance, Miss Lydia.”

Lydia looked triumphantly at Kitty. “I told you he must.”

Wickham smiled. “You had greater confidence in me than I deserved.”

Mrs. Phillips called for tea, and Jane drew Lydia into helping her distribute the cups. Elizabeth took the empty chair beside Wickham before Lydia could return to it.

Wickham greeted her with a smile. “I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak with you again, Miss Elizabeth. Our first acquaintance was rather brief.”

“Meryton rarely allows a new officer to remain a stranger for long.”

“So, I am beginning to discover. I have received more kindness since my arrival than I had any right to expect.”

“You will find our neighborhood very hospitable.”

“I already have.”

Mr. Denny joined them, and the conversation moved to the next assembly.

Wickham had not yet attended one in Hertfordshire and professed himself eager to discover whether the neighborhood deserved the praise his fellow officers had given it.