“You cannot simply –“
“Oh, I can, Caroline. And I will. If you choose not to pack, then you will travel with the clothes on your back. I tell you again, I do not care in the slightest.”
***
“I have never been so embarrassed in my life,” Mr. Bingley said to his friend, as they sat together after dinner. “My own sister! To do such a thing! Honestly, it is beyond my comprehension.”
“You have allowed her a good deal of latitude for a very long time, Bingley,” Mr. Darcy said, severely. “I would say that it is none of my business, but she has made it my business! First, to write to the Bennets that you were to be engaged to Georgiana, and then to enact such an elaborate scheme in a deliberateattempt to discredit the family! Truly, I have never heard of such a thing – it is positively Gothic!”
“She is leaving tomorrow, Darcy.”
“And going where?” His voice was skeptical.
“To our Aunt Beatrice in Scarborough.”
“For how long?”
“Indefinitely.”
“Are you committed to this course of action, Bingley?”
“Entirely so. You will never set eyes on her again.”
***
The next morning saw the Bingley carriage depart with Caroline and her maid inside it. The Hursts and Mr. Bingley watched it leave. Louisa looked deeply confused, but Mr. Hurst murmured, “I did not think you had it in you, Charles.”
“Nor I,” said a voice behind them. It was Mr. Darcy. “I congratulate you, Charles. I suspect I need not add that it is long overdue.”
***
Dear Aunt and Uncle Gardiner,
We are now telling everyone that Lydia was unable to bear the thought of Longbourn without Mama, and she is now staying with you, at your invitation. We will maintain this fiction as long as is possible or necessary!
Kitty wrote a letter in Lydia’s hand, announcing this change of residence, and it was well that she did so, as Miss Bingley actually had her maid write to her brother in Brighton, and had learnt that Lydia was not there at all! She announced this while visiting us at Longbourn! Haveyou ever heard of such underhanded tactics? We then produced the letter Kitty had crafted and read it aloud, and Miss Bingley left the house quite abashed.
Mr. Bingley says he wishes to marry me, and I had hoped that his sisters and I could learn to like one another, but I cannot live in the same house with Miss Bingley. I hope Mr. Bingley realises now that she must be sent to live elsewhere if he is to marry me.
Mr. Darcy and Lizzy continue their awkward courtship. Lizzy is very much concerned that her reputation will be sullied if Lydia does not return, and does not wish to have the Darcy name tarnished as a result; but she and Mr. Darcy are entirely miserable to have things so unsettled between them.
Papa continues to do good for us, saving money for our dowries and exercising his responsibilities as master of the estate with a previously unseen vigour.
I thank you again, on behalf of all my sisters, for the lovely gift of fabric. I wish you could see the dresses we made; perhaps I can have Kitty draw a picture!
You are ever in my thoughts and prayers!
Your always affectionate niece,
Jane
Chapter Forty-Two
The Bennet girls were quite delighted with their success at overthrowing Miss Bingley’s plans. “Will you ever forget the look on her face?” Elizabeth laughed. “You saved the day, Kitty.”
“We need more letters,” Mary said. “Kitty should write a few more, and we can show them around to the neighbours. If we are to continue to maintain the fiction of Lydia being with the Gardiners, we will need more proof of it.”
Kitty bent her artistic energies toward perfecting Lydia’s handwriting, as well as her manner of writing. Her efforts would have to fool Maria Lucas, and Maria knew Lydia’s style fairly well.
