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“I will.”

With nothing more to say, both set off for the park a short distance from the charity.

The Morgans’ Townhouse

A dressing room

Since Jane was not expecting to see Mr. Darcy that day, she dressed in one of her old day-gowns that better accommodated her expanding girth. As her maid was buttoning the garment, Mrs. Harris appeared in the doorway with a strange expression on her face.

“My lady, the oddest thing has happened. A widow carrying a child in a basket is at the door, asking to speak to you. She insists you will want to see her, and whilst I do not usually admit people whom I do not know unless you have said to expect visitors, I felt led to show her to the front drawing room. I dare not leave her alone for long, though, for she may be just a beggar using the child to gain your sympathy.”

“A widow with a child? I know of no such person. Did you ask her name?”

“Yes. She refused to give it.”

When Sally had finished, Jane thanked her before standing and addressing the housekeeper. “Well, there is only one way to find out who she is and what she wants.”

When Jane exited the room, she encountered her sister in the hallway. After Jane quickly apprised her of the visitor waiting below-stairs, Catherine decided to accompany her to see just who this visitor was. As they descended the grand staircase, the housekeeper followed.

A drawing room

Approaching the drawing room, the sisters exchanged glances after hearing the visitor speaking to a child. Immediately, Jane recognised Lydia’s voice. Rushing into the room ahead of Catherine, she cried, “Lydia? Is that you?”

Dumbfounded, Jane and Catherine watched as their youngest sister turned around. Suddenly, recalling that the clothes she wore hid her identity, Lydia whipped off the over-sized bonnet and tossed it aside, saying, “Am I recognisable now?”

Stunned to see the scar, for a moment her sisters stood frozen in place. Accustomed to seeing this reaction in those seeing her scar for the first time, Lydia forced a smile. “Come now,” she quipped. “I am not so much changed as to be unrecognisable, am I, Jane? Kitty? And just think, my scar assures that I will never again be the determined flirt I once was.”

Without replying, both sisters rushed to embrace Lydia. First, she hugged Jane, who said, “I thought I might never see you again!”

Then she embraced Catherine, who wailed, “So did I!”

“I-I was not in any condition to see my family for a time, and I wished to establish myself in some kind of work before confronting Mama. Lizzy was helping me do that.”

All of them had begun sniffling when Jane addressed her sister. “Lizzy told me that she had found—” Realising that she was not supposed to know that Elizabeth had found Lydia, Jane abruptly stopped speaking.

Deducing the reason for her silence, Lydia said, “Do not fret, Jane. Once Lizzy told me that Lord Morgan had offered to sell her jewellery so we might buy the bakery, I felt certain that you, and he, knew everything.”

“No one told me!” Catherine declared, a pout settling on her face.

Ignoring Catherine, Jane declared, “Lizzy tried to honour your desire for secrecy, but she needed David’s help to sell the jewellery.”

“I came to that realisation, however …” Suddenly, Lydia became sombre, and taking a deep breath, she stood taller, lifting her chin. “That is not my purpose in being here. I am on my way to Lambton to find Lizzy, and I have questions that need to be answered before I leave.”

“Is that why you are dressed as you are … you plan to travel to Lambton?”

“Yes. This disguise will keep me from needing to explain my scar to everyone I meet whilst also keeping men from approaching me. Besides, I hope it will throw George Wickham off my trail should he try to follow me.”

Jane looked shocked. “Lizzy said that Wickham left you at the charity and never returned.”

“Until recently, George had not so much as darkened the door of Lady Clara’s charity. Nonetheless, a day ago he showed up bursting at the seams to tell me that Lord Morgan is dead. Is that true?”

Tears sprang to Jane’s eyes, and she retrieved a handkerchief from her pocket to dab at the few that spilled over. “Yes. David was killed two months ago during a robbery in Derbyshire.”

Lydia reached to gently pat her sister’s arm. “I am very sorry that he was killed. Considering everything he did for our family and how he aided Lizzy and me, he must have been a good man. I only wish Lizzy had confided in me about his death.”

“David was everything I could have wished for in a husband and a father for Alice.” Taking a deep breath to regain her composure, she continued, “As for not telling you, Lizzy only meant to be secretive until she could discover another way to purchase the bakery. She could not bear to see your disappointment upon learning David was dead and her jewellery was stolen during the robbery.”

“I understand. Even so, Wickham managed to take me completely unaware when he mentioned Lord Morgan’s death, and I am certain that, in his twisted mind, that made him appear more trustworthy than my own sister.”