Madeleine
“Open the second letter, Jane,” Elizabeth urged her sister.
“I am, I am! Be patient!” Jane opened the letter that her aunt had enclosed and read it aloud.
Dear Lydia,
Lucky you, to be in London while I am stuck here in Meryton! But I suppose you are not so lucky, as your dear Mama died. I am so very sorry, Lydia. If you were here, I would hug you like anything.
Lizzy says that the elopement came to nothing, but I can hardly believe it! You were so much in love! I insist that you write and tell me everything. You know you can trust me with your secrets! I would not trust Kitty, though, asshe seems to have become very close with Mary, if you can believe such a thing.
Your very good friend,
Maria
“I suppose I am to write a response to that,” Kitty said, feeling rather insulted at the reference to herself.
“Yes, Kitty; I will send it to Aunt Gardiner and she will mail it to Maria.”
“It all seems rather muddled, does it not? No matter; I shall write it.”
***
The next day, Kitty read her letter out to Jane.
Dear Maria,
I assure you that I would much rather be in Meryton with Mama than be here in London, knowing that she is dead! I try to imagine Longbourn without her, and it seems that it must be the dullest place in the world, especially with everyone in mourning!
Aunt Gardiner insists that I must wear black as well, though it is not a good colour for me. Still, she purchased a new gown for me, so I suppose I must not complain.
As to the elopement, I found Mr. Wickham kissing a barmaid! He said that it meant nothing whatever, that I was his true love, but how could that be? I ask you, Maria, does it seem right that a man should propose to wed one young lady and then go kissing another girl? So I told Mr. Wickham that he could go to Gretna Green with the barmaid!
As to Kitty, you know how she is! She must find someone to tell her what to do. Once I return, I promise you that she will forget Mary in an instant.
I must go; Aunt Gardiner is calling me to watch the children while she goes out. They are darling, of course, but also rather demanding.
Your dear friend,
Lydia
Jane’s brows rose as she read it. “That must have been difficult to write, Kitty.”
“Oh, the part about me? Not particularly; she always made her opinion of me clear.”
“But if – when – she returns, you will not go back to being Lydia’s follower, will you?”
“Absolutely not! And, you know, Mary has become a good deal more interesting of late. We have many good discussions about when to tell the truth and when to lie. I suppose, given the family’s situation, that this subject is on everyone’s mind. In any case, is this letter good enough to send to Aunt Gardiner?”
“Very much so; I shall send it to her at once.”
***
Not four days later, Maria Lucas visited with her mother and pulled Kitty aside to tell her what Lydia had written. “You were right,” Maria hissed in Kitty’s ear. “The elopement was off!”
“I knew that!” Kitty said.
“But did you know why?” Maria asked, triumphantly, hoping to have news that no one else had.
