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“I-I am sorry that you had to hear about David’s death from that man, but there is something else you were not told.”
Lydia became completely still, waiting for Jane to continue. “Lizzy and I felt it would be too depressing to let you know that Papa died soon after hearing about David’s death. We planned to tell you after you had got started in the bakery.”
Tears rushed to Lydia’s eyes. “Poor, poor Papa. I … I am responsible for his death as well. Had I not eloped with—”
“Do not blame yourself,” Jane interrupted. “Papa had been in poor health for years, and hearing about David’s death made his heart give out.”
Instead of answering, Lydia pulled a handkerchief from her pocket to dab at her eyes; therefore, Jane continued, “How would Wickham know that Lizzy had discovered you? And what purpose could he have in telling you about David?”
“George has ways of finding out whatever he wishes to know. As for telling me about Lord Morgan, I believe he hoped to gain a measure of trust so that he might use me to locate Lizzy.”
“Locate Lizzy?” Catherine replied. “But why?”
“He claims to be working for a wealthy gentleman who seems determined to have Lizzy, whether she wants him or not. Apparently, George was hired to locate her … though if he knows why the gentleman wants to locate her, he is not being helpful. Meanwhile, George swears he merely wants to expose the blackguard for Lizzy’s sake and to use the situation to make a fortune by demanding a ransom.”
“And what is his plan to persuade you to help?” Jane asked.
“George dangled before me the only two things he thought would persuade me. The one that always motivates him is money. He promised to share the ransom with me, and even Lizzy, should she wish a share. He said we are also welcome to travel with him when he flees England.” Lydia huffed loudly. “As if I would fall for more of his lies.”
“And the other motivation?” Jane asked.
“He threatened to take Emma from me. I told him I would kill him before that would ever happen.”
“Wickham will never get Emma. Mr. Darcy will help us see to that,” Jane continued.
Catherine interrupted. “I understand Wickham’s motive, but what kind of blackguard would pay him to take Lizzy a virtual prisoner?”
“The only one who would have the means to discover that is another wealthy man. Mr. Darcy might be just the one, if only—” As Jane’s eyes grew wide at the mention of that man’s name, Lydia continued. “But given that you have plans to secure him as your next husband, surely it would not be feasible to include him in an intrigue involving Lizzy, would it?”
Jane swallowed with difficulty. “What do you mean?”
“Wickham brought with him a gossip sheet from a newspaper to show me. It alluded to your engagement to Mr. Darcy. Is this true?”
“David’s half-brother purports to have a newer will that takes everything away from me and Alice. The barrister we hired to combat that claim believes a judge will give more credence to the claim if it is presented by a gentleman; therefore, Mr. Darcy was kind enough to engage himself to me to stand in my stead.”
“I see. Then, you are saying the engagement is merely a ruse until after the case is settled?”
Jane raised her chin. “I happen to believe he means to see it through.”
“You would marry a man who is still in love with your sister and she with him?” Lydia asked.
“That is what I tried to tell her,” Catherine interjected. At Jane’s glare, she added, “Well, I did bring it up once.”
Miffed at Catherine’s interference, Jane declared, “Lizzy refused Mr. Darcy’s offer in Kent and is still resolute that she was right to do so! Moreover, as for his feelings for Lizzy, it is obvious whenever I mention her name that he would rather speak of any other subject.”
Lydia reached to take Jane’s hands in hers and waited until their eyes locked. “Dearest Jane, if you hear nothing else that I say, please listen to this; it will save you much heartache in the future if you do. The one brilliant fact I learned from my ordeal with George is to never blindly believe what anyone says. Instead, you must give full deliberation to what their whole being is ‘declaring to the heavens’ if you only take the time to study them.”
Though she felt certain she understood, Jane feigned ignorance. “I-I am afraid I do not follow.”
“It was obvious that George was just a charming flirt, full of empty promises and lies to further his own aspirations. Had I only taken the time to see him for what he really was, I would never have eloped with him.”
“What has that to do with Lizzy and Mr. Darcy?”
Catherine rolled her eyes so that only Lydia could see.
“Whenever I mention Mr. Darcy to Lizzy, she professes not to care one iota for the man, whilst her whole being shouts that she loves him,” Lydia explained. “I do not know why she insists on pretending otherwise, but it is plain to see … if one cares to.”
Defensively, Jane replied, “I do not intend to refuse Mr. Darcy’s offer if Lizzy cannot see his worth! Men such as he—kind, honourable and a good prospect as a father to my children—are few and far between. Besides, he has made it clear that he does not care to hear about Lizzy, so I have no reason to believe he still has feelings for her.”
