Mr. Darcy noticed. Opening the door, he requested two full buckets of cool water and two empty ones. When the first one arrived, he said to Miss Elizabeth, “Perhaps you might test the water with your fingers while we wait for Parker to work his magic?”
“Magic?” Lydia spun to see what the valet was doing, her expression hopeful. On seeing the combs and scissors, her face fell. “There isn’t enough magic in the world to help me.”
Parker responded drolly, “We shall see, miss.”
Barely containing a sigh of relief when the water cooled her fingertips, Elizabeth nodded her thanks to Mr. Darcy, who stood quietly watching her.What was he about being so kind to Lydia of all people?Ashamed that he was doing what her parentsshould have done, Elizabeth felt much better about the man for treating Lydia with tenderness after her foolishness.
Turning her full attention to her sister, she listened as Mr. Darcy’s valet kept up a constant chatter of his actions.
“Miss, you might find it interesting to know that hair rarely burns. Instead, it singes. However, what we put on our hair can indeed catch fire. Once I remove your pins, we will wash your hair clean of whatever you used, and then we can decide on a flattering style.”
“Flattering?” Lydia asked.
“Oh, yes, miss. Very flattering.”
With cosmetics smearing her face and clumps of damp, shriveled hair draped down her back, Lydia looked even more pitiful once her tresses were finally freed. It would take a miracle to please her sister.
“Let us clean you up.”
Before adding soap to her hair, Parker wet a cloth to clean Lydia’s face until her skin shone. Leaning over one of the empty buckets, the cleansing soap was gently massaged into her hair. Parker was being extraordinarily cautious in the tender spots where Lydia’s scalp blistered from the flames. The bubbles were rinsed until the shine returned to some of her sister’s hair.
“Very good. We do not have an impossible situation here.” Parker studied Lydia’s face before he began pulling strands of hair away from her scalp. “I do believe that all the young ladies will want a shorter style after seeing you.”
“You do?” Lydia looked at him directly, her chin trembling. “I have always had the loveliest hair of all my sisters, well, except for Lizzy.” She sighed. “You really think others will want to copy my style?”
“I do.”
“Well, then, proceed if you will, for I cannot pass up the opportunity to make other ladies envy me.”
Elizabeth admired Lydia’s spirit. There she sat, as regal as a queen. Tears streamed down her cheeks with every snip. When Parker handed her a small mirror, Lydia turned this way and that before declaring, “I am stunned, sir. You have given me an appearance that is more grown. I am certain to catch an officer now.”
Only Lydia! Elizabeth sighed, grateful that the damage had not been more severe. Once the officer’s coat was removed and a few stitches added to the back of her gown, her sister was modestly covered—at least from that angle.
“What do you think, Mr. Darcy? How do I look now?” Lydia boldly asked.
Hesitating briefly, he replied, “In absolute truth, Miss Lydia, you appear to be a lovely sprite with far grander prospects than a poverty-stricken officer. Should you choose to emulate your two eldest sisters and wait a few years, I believe the Prince Regent himself could not resist you.”
Lydia clasped her hands under her chin as she grinned from ear to ear from his compliment.
Thanking Mr. Darcy’s valet for his valiant efforts, Elizabeth considered his master’s comment. She was stunned by each word coming from Mr. Darcy’s mouth. Not that she would ever want the Prince, who was rumored to be a reprobate, looking at her younger sister. Nonetheless, until this point in time, she would have insisted that Mr. Darcy considered her family to be offensive, far below his notice, with Lydia topping his list. Yet, again, he was…charming?
Catching his eye, she smiled, grateful he was in the room and not anyone else.
CHAPTER 16
Darcy led Miss Lydia back to her mother where she could dry her hair and gown close enough to feel the heat but far enough away not to catch fire again. Miss Elizabeth sat with her right hand cradled in the palm of her left. Fortunately, the blisters on her fingertips were small. Nevertheless, he knew from experience how long she would feel the throbbing sting. Yet, not once did she complain. Nor did she call attention to herself. Instead, she tended her sister, who was being extraordinarily cautious with the flames.
He studied Miss Lydia closely. Her shorn locks and washed face revealed her youthfulness, reminding Darcy how inexperienced she was. He suspected that her parents spent little time with her training. Her mother appeared to use her as a tool to gain security. Her father ignored her. Under those circumstances, where she was left on her own and driven by ignorant desires, other than observing her elder sisters, how would she know how to comport herself?
She was a pretty girl, though not as lovely as Miss Elizabeth, with a liveliness that could bring delight to a household. Except she was unschooled. At this revelation, he saw Lydia Bennet in a new light. She had potential, if she could master a measure ofself-control, to become attractive. Was this what Miss Elizabeth saw when she looked at her sister? The possibility of something better? Is that why she kept trying to restrain Miss Lydia’s impulses? Although he had no way of knowing for certain, he suspected he was correct. Miss Elizabeth’s love and wisdom would have her see the best of what her sisters could be. She would make a wonderful mother.
What?Good heavens! Why would his mind go in that direction? Better he should think of something or someone else.
Completely undermining his intent, Miss Elizabeth began to sing:
Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
