“As was she,” Mrs. Gardiner informed him.
“Miss Bennet? In London?” His surprise could not be feigned.
“Indeed; she visited your sisters and they returned her call – eventually.”
Mr. Bingley’s face darkened. “They did not tell me of this.”
“We suspected that to be the case.”
Mr. Bingley shook his head. “I feel terrible, Mrs. Gardiner. Had I known she was in Town…”
A knock on the door provided a welcome interruption to the difficult conversation. Mr. Gardiner answered the knock, and returned with two letters in his hand. “For you, Lizzy, from Jane. But her handwriting looks quite odd; I hope she is not ill.”
“Will you excuse me for a minute?” Elizabeth asked the company at large. “I just want to make certain that all is well.”
She was assured that everyone understood her concern, and that she should retire to peruse her letters at once. In her room, she read:
Dear Lizzy,
Everything here is just as you left it, though I must mention that Daisy has whelped six puppies, much to Papa’s delight.
Elizabeth skimmed through the letter; she did not wish to be gone from her visitors for long, and only wanted reassurance that Jane was well. Then her eyes widened.
Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you—be assured that we are allwell. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia.
An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she had gone off to Scotland with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! Imagine our surprise. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! But I am willing to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing.
Our poor mother is sadly grieved and keeps to her room. My father bears it better. How thankful am I, that we never let them know what has been said against him; we must forget it ourselves. They were off Saturday nightabout twelve, as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at eight. The express was sent off directly. My dear Lizzy, they must have passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her of their intention. I must conclude, for I cannot be long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out, but I hardly know what I have written.”
Elizabeth’s heart was pounding. Lydia and Mr. Wickham! How was this even possible? She ripped open the other letter, and read as follows:
By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent.
Dearest Lizzy,I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express.
Though Lydia’s short letter to Mrs. Forster gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna Green, something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that Wickham never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which was repeated to Colonel Forster, who, instantly taking the alarm, set off, intending to trace their route.
It appears that they were seen to continue toward London. I know not what to think. After making every possible inquiry on that side of London, Colonel Forster came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but without any success,—no such people had been seen to pass through.
With the kindest concern he came on to Longbourn, and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart. I am sincerely grieved for him and Mrs. Forster; but no one can throw any blame on them. Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the worst, but I cannot think so ill of him. Many circumstances might make it more eligible for them to be married privately in town than to pursue their first plan; and even ifhecould form such a design against a young woman of Lydia’s connections, which is not likely, can I suppose her so lost to everything? Impossible! I grieve to find, however, that Colonel Forster is not disposed to depend upon their marriage: he shook his head when I expressed my hopes, and said he feared Wickham was not a man to be trusted.
My poor mother is really ill, and keeps to her room. Could she exert herself, it would be better, but this is not to be expected; and as to my father, I never in my life saw him so affected. Poor Kitty has received a good deal of chastisement for having concealed their attachment; but as it was a matter of confidence, one cannot wonder.
I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you have been spared something of these distressing scenes; but now, as the first shock is over, shall I own that I long for your return? I am not so selfish, however, as to press for it, if inconvenient.
Jane
P.S. I take up my pen again to do, what I have just told you I would not; but circumstances are such that I cannot help earnestly begging you all to come here as soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well that I am not afraid of requesting it, though I have still something more to ask of the former. My father plans to go to London to try to discover her. What he means to do, I am sure I know not; but his excessive distress will not allow him to pursue any measure in the best and safest way.
As Colonel Forster is obliged to be at Brighton again to-morrow evening and so cannot assist us further, my uncle’s advice and assistance would be everything in the world; he will immediately comprehend what I must feel, and I rely upon his goodness.
It was impossible for Elizabeth to conceal her distress. She ran back into the room where the Gardiners conversed with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, tears running down her cheeks.
“Good God!” Mr. Darcy exclaimed at once, leaping to his feet. “Whatever can be the matter?”
Elizabeth swayed, and Mr. Darcy was at her side in an instant, guiding her to a chair. Mrs. Gardiner immediately had an arm around her niece. “Lizzy? Is it Jane?”
Elizabeth shook her head, violently. “No – no! It is Lydia!”
