“There are several books I still have with pages you ripped out.”
“Oh, my.” Elizabeth giggled. “No wonder the shelves are all locked in the library at Pemberley.”
“Not enough, I assure you, for a really determined child.”
“Upon which subject… What is your view of visiting Pemberley come September? A special event is likely to occur, and I would like you and Mama to be near.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Darcy did not in fact find it difficult to ignore the murderous glare bestowed upon him by the petulant young woman.
During the course of Elizabeth’s long closeting with her father, Miss Lydia exited her self-imposed exile.
The young woman snagged several tarts from a tray on one of the tables to the side, and then she plopped herself on a chair near Darcy and glared at him. She viciously took bites from her snack and munched on it with an expression that seemed to say that she wanted to be shredding Darcy’s flesh instead.
Seeing her youngest daughter present, Mrs. Bennet approached her, and said, “Lydia, my pet! You wish to apologize to Mr. Darcy, do you not?”
“Never.”
Mrs. Bennet flapped her hands worriedly. “Lord, what a joke! You are diverted, Mr. Darcy, are you not?”
Darcy did not reply, as he could not quickly think of anything he might say to that which Elizabeth would agree had shown consideration to the feelings of all involved.
By the time he had determined to simply mouth a meaningless pleasantry, Lydia stepped into the conversational gap. “I shall never forget mytruefriend, even though you and Papa only give notice to filthy lucre.”
Darcy looked at Lydia, and raised his eyebrow, slightly impressed by the correct pronunciation oflucre.
She bared her teeth at him.
Darcy returned his attention to the piano where Georgiana and Miss Mary sat, playing together, though there was something in both their expressions that was not whollyhappy with the situation.
“Lord, Lydia,” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “If you’ve nothing nice to say, don’t you know that you ought to say nothing at all?”
Lydia raised her nose at that.
Shortly after, Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet returned to the room, and at his worried look, she smiled warmly at him.
Darcy stood and suggested that the group take a walk, hoping to find some privacy to ask Elizabeth more directly about her conversation with her father.
The eagerness with which Lydia leapt at the opportunity to walk to town concerned Darcy, and it seemed her father as well.
“Nowhere but the millinery and your aunt’s house,” he ordered her. “Also no leaving the presence of your sisters.”
Lydia pouted and wheedled, “Don’t you trust me?”
“Not to any great extent, no,” Mr. Bennet replied. “Your promise that you will stay near your sisters, before I let you out of this house.”
Lydia twisted a curl of hair around her finger, clearly considering seriously, and then she nodded.
Darcy felt a spasm of anxiety. He glanced at Elizabeth to see that she was frowning at Lydia as well.
Once they headed out, the party divided into three bands, with Georgiana, Lydia, and Kitty walking ahead, talking in a manner that suggested they were politely arguing, while Jane and Bingley trailed behind.
Darcy was determined not to lose sight of Lydia while in the town. His earlier expectation that he would constantly worry aboutGeorgianahad been wholly overthrown both by Georgiana’s calmness when mention of Wickham was made, and due to his much greater concern for Lydia.
Elizabeth took Darcy’s arm as they strolled down behind the three younger girls, and she said, “I hope they all can becomefriends.”
“I think,” Darcy said, “that Georgiana is trying to warn them about Wickham.”
