“But when you get your money…?”
“Yes, then things will be quite a bit better.” He seemed to be growing impatient, so Lydia made no further protest.
Upon entering the inn, she was given to understand that there would be only one room, and she began to feel some alarm. “We must be married first,” she informed him.
“We will be married, of course,” he said. “And in my mind, we are already married, my darling Lydia! Can you possibly doubt me? Couples who are engaged often sleep together, you know.”
She knew not how to respond to that, and so the inevitable took place that night.
***
The next morning, the inevitable took place again, despite Lydia being rather sore from the previous night. “You will get used to it,” her almost-husband assured her. “This morning I must go to get that money I am owed.”
“I will come with you!” she said. “For I long to see London!”
“No, indeed, this is a matter for men and men only,” he told her. “You must wait here.”
It was only after he left the room that she realised there had been no mention of breakfast. She dressed, tidied her hair, and made her way downstairs.
“I would like a tray in my room,” she informed the innkeeper.
“This ain’t Mayfair,” he informed her, brusquely. “There are no trays! You can eat in the common room.”
“But I am alone!” she protested. “I cannot eat in the common room at an inn.” She was shocked at the suggestion.
“Then you will be hungry,” he said, shrugging and turning away.
Lydia started up the stairs to return to her room, but she had not eaten since getting into the carriage with George yesterday;the smell of food was too tempting to resist. She turned back to the common room and bore the stares and leers of the men as she quickly ate her eggs and toast. She was shaking by the time she finished her meal, and she scurried upstairs as fast as she could. Those terrible men! What could George mean by leaving her here alone?
Chapter Four
August 7, 1812
The Gardiners and Elizabeth went out for a quick drive in the morning, but made certain to be back at the inn by early afternoon. No one wished to miss Mr. Darcy’s visit, and the Gardiners understood full well that Elizabeth very much hoped that Mr. Bingley would be with him.
“Jane is still not over him, Aunt,” she whispered to Mrs. Gardiner.
“Poor Jane! I fear she is someone who loves very deeply,” Mrs. Gardiner sighed.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“It is a very good thing if one’s love is returned, but…”
“But not such a good thing if it is not,” Elizabeth concluded.
“Yes; be careful, Lizzy. I suspect you are much like Jane.” Mrs. Gardiner eyed her niece carefully. “And on that subject, I still say that Mr. Darcy is much taken with you.”
Elizabeth blushed and looked away.
“There is quite evidently something you are not telling me,” Mrs. Gardiner observed. “That is your prerogative, of course, but you know I am always ready to listen.”
“Thank you, Aunt.” Elizabeth’s tone was final. She was not ready to talk about Mr. Darcy’s proposal while she had visited Charlotte in Kent, her immediate and unkind rejection of hisproposal, and the letter he had given her that had changed everything. How little she had known him, and how incredibly foolish she had been to reject the best man she would ever meet.
Shortly after their return to the inn, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley appeared. Mr. Darcy had brought flowers for both the ladies, and explained that the blossoms had come from Pemberley’s gardens. The two bouquets were much the same, though Elizabeth saw immediately that hers contained a single red rose, while her aunt’s did not.
Mr. Bingley was clearly delighted to see Elizabeth, and he asked immediately after Jane’s health. Elizabeth replied that Jane had not been in the best of spirits of late, and Mrs. Gardiner immediately added, “She was sorry not to see you this past January, Mr. Bingley.”
“I was in London, Mrs. Gardiner,” Mr. Bingley said, rather uncomfortably.
