Mr. Wilson leaned closer beside her. “Larger gatherings suit the season well, I think. A lively house is always preferable.”
Elizabeth smiled politely while imagining throttling half her siblings.
Over the next two days Longbourn descended steadily toward elegant disorder.
Mrs. Bennet adapted with admirable efficiency once it became clear the expanded guest list could not gracefully be reduced. Additional dishes were ordered. Mrs. Hill reorganized kitchen schedules. Extra candles appeared from storage cupboards. Footmen polished silver until the dining room gleamed.
Through it all Elizabeth watched her younger siblings with increasing caution.
Lydia spent far too much time disappearing into corridors with the twins. Whenever questioned, the three developed immediate and suspicious interest in unrelated subjects.
At one point Elizabeth entered the morning room unexpectedly and found Thomas perched atop a chair reaching toward the escritoire where Mrs. Bennet kept correspondence supplies. Lydia was bent over and writing something on a piece of paper.
All three froze.
“What,” Elizabeth asked slowly, “are you doing?”
“Nothing,” Toby answered instantly.
“An answer which has never once inspired confidence.”
Lydia descended upon Elizabeth, looping arms through hers. “Come, let me help you choose ribbons for Thursday.”
Before Elizabeth could protest she found herself swept halfway down the corridor while behind them Thomas hissed something triumphant at Toby.
Elizabeth stopped abruptly.
Lydia nearly collided with her.
“You are involved in something.”
Lydia widened her eyes. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and glared.
Her sister dramatically placed a hand on her heart. “I am wounded by your distrust.”
“You forged the invitations.”
Lydia gasped with theatrical offense. “Elizabeth Bennet!”
“Barnett,” Elizabeth corrected automatically.
Lydia grinned. “See? You are distracted already.” Then she darted away before Elizabeth could pursue the matter further.
The little minx.Despite herself, Elizabeth began laughing. She resolved to let her sister have her fun and inform her mother after everything was over.
Thursday arrived with rain threatening since morning and Longbourn descending steadily into elegant disorder.
Mrs. Bennet maintained outward calm through the preparation of additional seating, expanded supper arrangements, missing candles, and Lydia’s inexplicable inability to remain where instructed longer than three minutes.
Elizabeth spent most of the afternoon assisting where needed while simultaneously attempting to determine precisely what her siblings had done.
No answers emerged. Only suspicious behavior.
Thomas and Toby vanished repeatedly into corridors whenever adults approached. Lydia hummed constantly beneath her breath with the expression of someone privately delighted by her own cleverness.
Even Kitty appeared infected by excitement. She sighed dreamily. “I do hope the evening proves romantic.”
