“Oh, I do, Papa,” Mary said, bitterly. “And to Lizzy, too, for not telling us what she knew. My chances of marriage were always slim; now they are nonexistent.”
Elizabeth blanched.
“Mary!” Mrs. Gardiner’s voice was censorious. “Ephesians 4:32 tells us that we must be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving of one another, does it not?”
Mary whirled on her aunt. “How convenient it must be to use the Holy Bible to keep me from expressing my thoughts, Aunt.”
Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes widened in shock at such an unexpected attack from Mary, but before she could respond, Elizabeth broke in. “You have certainly done exactly that to everyone in your family often enough, Mary.”
Mary reddened and turned away.
After a moment’s silence, Jane picked up the tale. “On the second of August, late at night, a messenger came from Brighton. It was from Colonel Forster, saying that Lydia had eloped to Gretna Green with Mr. Wickham, and that Colonel Forster was in pursuit of them.”
“But they did not go to Gretna Green,” Mary put in. “Colonel Forster overheard Captain Denny saying that it was Wickham’s intention to go to London rather than Scotland.”
“And Mama?” Elizabeth asked, still unable to believe that her mother was not upstairs in her room.
“After the message came from Colonel Forster, she went into her room and refused to come out. We brought her trays and took turns sitting with her. And then two days later, I went in with a tray and she –“ Jane could speak no more.
Mr. Bennet said, “Lydia was her favourite, you know. Parents are not supposed to have favourites, I suppose, but Lydia was so like her when she was young that she could not help herself. In any case, we had to act quickly. Lizzy, you know that when someone dies in the summer –“ He stopped.
“I know, Papa,” Elizabeth said. She well understood that a body could not be kept for long in the heat of the summer. “But what of Lydia?”
Mr. Bennet avoided her gaze. “What of her?”
“Do you not mean to go after her, Papa?”
“I had intended to, of course, but your mother’s passing delayed immediate action. Then I realised that going to London was a fool’s errand. There are over a million people living there; how would I find her? She could be anywhere!”
“But to do nothing to recover her?” Elizabeth could not believe this.
“She has made her choice, Lizzy.” Mr. Bennet’s voice was flat.
“Jane?” Elizabeth turned to her sister.
“I have tried to talk to him, but he will not be moved,” Jane said.
Elizabeth stared at her father. “Papa, if nothing is done for Lydia, then Mary is right. We are, all of us, ruined.”
“You need not remind me of how utterly I have failed my family,” Mr. Bennet replied, softly. “I am well aware of it.” With that, he rose and left the room, leaving his daughters to stare after him in bewilderment.
It was Jane who finally realised that her Uncle Gardiner had suffered a loss as well. “Uncle, I am so sorry; you must be grieving Mama as much as we are.”
“My dear Fanny!” he said softly, looking away. “She loved you girls dearly, you know.”
“Yes, we know,” Jane said, going to sit beside him. “And she loved you as well.”
“She was never clever, not like your father; I do not think it was a good match in that respect. But it produced five very lovely girls, so in that way it was very much a success. In any case, I must see my sister, Mrs. Philips, before I leave Meryton.”
“Oh, Uncle, must you leave us?”
“I have been away from my business for weeks; yes, Jane, I must go. I depend upon you to write to us often to tell us how you get on.”
“I shall, Uncle, I promise.”
Chapter Seven
Having waved the Bingleys and the Hursts off, Mr. Darcy was intent on leaving for London at once. In this desire, however, he was to be frustrated. Georgiana’s companion, Mrs. Annesley, was away nursing a sick sister, and Georgiana protested vehemently against being left alone at Pemberley. Could she not accompany her brother to London and visit with her aunt and uncle, the Earl and Countess of Matlock?
