Elizabeth peered at the three, and then nodded. “You may be right.”
“I am proud of Georgiana – it must be exceedingly uncomfortable for her to broach such a subject, even if she must be speaking in generalities, with those who she is not on any terms of intimacy with.”
“She is splendid,” Elizabeth agreed.
“Did you... your conversation with your father proceeded well?”
Elizabeth laughed. “We talked, I cried – it must be because I am with child. Lady Ravenswood told me that tears come much easier. Maybe that is why it is called a ‘delicate situation’.”
Darcy did not laugh. He felt a start of anger. “Your father made you cry?”
She pressed her hand on his face. “My dear husband. You wish to have a dragon who you must fight for my sake, do you not?”
It was impossible to not smile at her.
“We talked about unpleasant memories. The tears were necessary, a part of such a conversation that cannot be dispensed with. I believe Iamnow reconciled with my father.”
He carefully looked at his wife to try to see if she was truly happy. She smiled warmly back at him and stroked his cheek again.
“I am glad to hear it.” He smiled. “Family is important, and I like your father.”
“And my family is as important as yours?” She had a mischievous smile which suggested this question aimed at something beyond itself.
“That is what I have learned,” Darcy replied firmly.
“I hope you mean that, because I told Papa that we would be willing to take Lydia for a time, so that we can place at least thirty miles between her and Mr. Wickham. It is almost a settled scheme.”
“She is family,” Darcy said, not feeling any hesitation at the confirmation of the plan.
Soon as they passed the first of the houses at the main street of town, Lydia rushed off to the far side of the street, leaving Kitty and Georgiana behind. Several carriages and a cart laden high with sacks of wheat rushed past.
Darcy quickly crossed the street and followed after Lydia. He found her at the street corner talking to two officers, Darcy could recognize one of them as having been Wickham’s particular friend, Mr. Denny.
Lydia handed over a folded piece of paper to him.
When he reached the group, Darcy demanded that Mr. Denny return the paper, but man had the effrontery to insist that he had received nothing of the sort, and then the three officers hurried off.
Elizabeth and Georgiana frowned deeply at Lydia when they caught up, while Kitty stared at her sister wide eyed. Jane and Bingley came up behind them. “Eh, what are you all standing around? Was that Denny and Carter just now? Odd of them to hurry off so fast.”
“They must have much business to do,” Jane said with a smile.
“We shall immediately return to Longbourn,” Darcy said, with a firm tone of voice.
“Whatever is the matter?” Bingley asked.
Darcy gave him a look, and Bingley coughed, opened his mouth, “But Darcy, why—” Then nodded. “Very good. Quite.”
Lydia had a sort of triumphant look to her, though shedid not smile, and did not resist returning. On the road back she walked a half dozen feet ahead of Kitty and Georgiana, who only occasionally spoke to each other.
Darcy whispered to Elizabeth, “Did you see her hand that letter over?”
Elizabeth did not reply immediately. She walked stiffly by his side, her lips pressed together tightly.
“What is the matter?”
His wife looked at him with a flash in her eyes.
“Tell me, Elizabeth.”
