“Your mother is very keen to return to Norland, Elinor. I wonder how your betrothal shall affect her scheme, for she shallwish you to enjoy the short period of engagement – but you must wish to marry from Norland. Perhaps I can persuade her to host a house party to celebrate her triumphant reclamation of the manor – and I wonder if there may yet be another engagement to celebrate?”
Elinor pursed her lips, eyes twinkling with mirth at their friend’s presumption, and then she looked expectantly at Marianne.
“Mr. Bingley is planning to propose to me this evening,” Marianne said, her entire being set aflame from the unfettered joy of giving in to her feelings for him.
Elinor chortled. “How can you know that?”
“Because I told him to,” Marianne said airily.
“Ha!” Lady Rebecca took them each by the hand, beaming. “I am sure I could not have found better sisters in all of England.”
“Even though we are growing closer to your own wickedness daily?” Marianne flashed her a playful grin. “For example, we shall spend the whole evening neglecting you as we dance the night away with your brother and your brother-in-law – whatever will you do to occupy yourself?”
Lady Rebecca made a droll face. “I suppose I shall have to stand up with only the dullest officers available, so that I am not distracted from observing you both. I shall very likely be called upon to give your relations a detailed account of how you swooned over your beaux, and how they wooed you so thoroughly that they inspired the envy of everyone in the room.”
And such was exactly how they all passed the most magical evening anyone called Dashwood had experienced in generations.
Chapter Twenty-Four
London
Elizabeth’s eyes flickered open, coming into focus on her sister Jane, who was sitting in a chair at her bedside. “Lizzy, you are awake at last!”
She blinked in confusion, and as the fog of slumber cleared from her head, Elizabeth scrambled to sit up. She recalled her petulant refusal to rest, despite her aunt’s repeated suggestions, and she laughed dazedly. “How long have I been asleep?”
Jane gave her a teasing smile. “A full twenty-four hours, which means I owe our aunt a sixpence.”
“An entire day? Surely not!”
“Lizzy, Aunt Madeline says you would not eat a thing, and scarcely slept at all while I was ill.”
As her senses became more focused, realization alighted on Elizabeth, and she sat up straighter. “Jane! You are up – you look very well! How do you feel?”
“Better,” Jane said with a gentle laugh. “The physician came late in the afternoon yesterday. He suggested I venturedownstairs to see if my strength was recovered, and I felt perfectly capable of it. But I was not best pleased to hear that you had wrecked your own health over fear for mine. I have rung for the maid. When your breakfast arrives, I intend to insist upon your eating everything.”
Tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes. “Oh, Jane! I was so frightened for you!”
“As was I for you, Lizzy,” Jane said evenly. “Our poor aunt has had a very wretched time, worrying over us, and I am ashamed to say we have both been the authors of our own dilemmas.”
“Not you, Jane; you were unpardonably prevailed upon by Edward Ferrars,” Elizabeth said, pronouncing that gentleman’s name as if it were an epithet. “But I am indeed entirely to blame for neglecting myself. And now Lydia – I suppose you have heard?”
Jane’s expression turned serious. “I daresay I have heard more than you, Lizzy.”
“Have you had more news of her?” Elizabeth furrowed her brow, trying to recall with greater clarity the information in the letter her aunt had received the previous morning. “I fear Mr. Wickham is a desperate man, for he never showed Lydia any greater interest than what was polite in the face of her forwardness. He pursued Mary King for her fortune, and I might have forgiven him the necessity of it, had he not returned to Meryton ready to resume our friendship as if it never happened. And now Lydia – I worry she has exaggerated her share of what our uncle set aside for Mamma. To actually run away together – how thoughtless, how unnecessary! I am sure Mamma would have given her consent, and it would take very little for her to persuade Papa….”
“Lizzy, there is more I must tell you – more you ought to know.” Jane reached into her pocket and handed Elizabeth a small bundle of letters.
“Oh! Our letters from Marianne and Elinor. I had forgotten.”
“As did I. But I think you must read the postscript of Elinor’s first letter.”
Elizabeth did as she was bid, and after reading what her cousins had learned of Mr. Wickham’s character, a few tears spilled down her cheeks. “Good God, I had no idea he was such a villain! I ought to have, for his slander of Miss Darcy was proven false the moment I met her.”
“And his slander of Mr. Darcy.” This was the nearest Jane had ever come to saying‘I told you so,’and Elizabeth could only hang her head in shame.
“Now I fear Lydia is in terrible danger,” Elizabeth said at last.
“Lizzy.” Jane shot her a warning glance as a maid entered to bring in a breakfast tray laden with all of Elizabeth’s favorites – coddled eggs, warm muffins with strawberry preserves, sausage, honey cakes, and hot chocolate in place of tea. Elizabeth’s mouth instantly watered, and it was no great difficulty to remain silent until the maid had gone, for Elizabeth was instantly attacking her repast.
