She leaned forward and whispered, “There is a delightful blue bonnet with exquisite lace trim that I have wanted ever so long, but Papa would not let me have the money to make the purchase.”
“That, Miss Lydia, shall be your prize.”
“And all the ribbon roses I shall choose, too?”
“On my honor.”
She peered up at him, her eyes like steel. “Do you promise?”
He bowed his head.
“Then tell me what I need to do to play this game of yours.”
Darcy could barely keep the smile from his face. “You must first promise that the challenge will be a secret between you and me. You cannot even provide a hint of our game or the prize to any of your sisters, especially Miss Elizabeth, until after the assembly. Do you agree?”
“Keep something secret from Lizzy? How delicious! I agree.”
The movement of the dance allowed him to catch Miss Elizabeth’s eye. Even from a distance, he could see her shock when her youngest sister pulled her shouldersback, smiled slightly, and quietly engaged in polite conversation.Priceless!
Elizabeth watched in stunned silence.Throughout the rest of the evening, the two youngest Bennets displayed exceptional manners with only a few hiccups.
Several times, she attempted to discover from Lydia what Mr. Darcy said to her before they started their dance. Each time, Lydia said, “I would never share a gentleman’s secrets.”
She wanted to approach Mr. Darcy, but pride kept her feet from moving in his direction. Mr. Crosgrove remained close to Mr. Darcy so she could learn nothing of the plan they concocted.
Frustrated at not knowing, she soon marveled at Lydia when she asked their mother to lower her voice when she gossiped. “It is unseemly, Mama.”
What was even more shocking was that their mother listened.
“Jane?” Elizabeth whispered. “Who are these people?”
Her sister replied, “I do not know. Mr. Darcy appears to have worked some sort of magic since this is the first time since Lydia learned to speak that her voice has been regulated and her conduct without reproach. Do try to find out his secret so we can replicate it daily at Longbourn.”
“Jane! All these years, I assumed you were blind to the follies and nonsense of others.”
The corner of her elder sister’s lips barely twitched. “Idid not say anything because I feared there was nothing that could be done to change the outcome. Now, I know differently.”
Dropping back into her chair, Elizabeth wondered, did she know anything at all?
When they enteredthe carriage later that night, Elizabeth turned to her youngest sister. “By the bye, Lydia, I must commend you on your behavior this evening. I was pleased, if somewhat surprised, to see your improved comportment.”
Lydia guffawed, completely back in character.
“Mr. Bingley’s friend, the handsome but dour Mr. Darcy, challenged me to a marvelous game, and I won! I knew I would win, but he kept telling me I would lose. In fact, he almost guaranteed that I would lose, but I won! I won! I won!” She pressed her hands to her chest, her eyes bright in the moonlight seeping through the carriage window. “I cannot wait until I receive my prize. I shall have the loveliest bonnet in Meryton.”
Anxiety rose in Elizabeth’s chest. “He bribed you?”
“Indeed! And I won!”
Slowly shaking her head, Elizabeth said, “I do not understand. What game did you play?”
Lydia’s shoulders lifted slightly. “It was really rather simple. He challenged me to act like Jane for the whole of the evening. If I won, which I did, mind you, I would have my pick of bonnets from the shops along with enough ribbon roses to embellish to my heart’s content.”
“How can this be? The rules of propriety would neverallow a single man to purchase any personal items for a female wholly unattached to him. We are not his family. You cannot accept. None of us can.” Elizabeth was horrified that her plan had gone awry.
“Now, Lizzy”—her mother inserted herself into the conversation—“Mr. Darcy promised to bring Mr. and Mrs. Crosgrove to the haberdasher on the morrow. According to an agreement he reached with Mr. Crosgrove, it will be Mrs. Crosgrove who will take the lead in purchasing the items, which makes everything proper. I insisted that their presence would not be necessary. If I, as Lydia’s mother, approve of payment for a forfeit, then who are you to balk?”
“A forfeit?”
