“Papa does not want her to think that what she did was acceptable,” Mary put in.
“Quite right, though being in mourning and without entertainment until July will be trying enough for her,” Kitty said.
“I have a thought. Papa, you know you always said that she was dreadfully ignorant and had been let out of the schoolroom too soon?” Elizabeth said.
“He said that about me as well,” Kitty added.
“Well, what if Lydia was made to learn? To study?” Elizabeth suggested.
“Hmm. Mathematics? French?” Mr. Bennet asked.
“Yes; all the things she should have learnt, had she ever put her mind to it or been put in a proper school. She would feel that to be a harsh punishment, I warrant, but she might at least be less ignorant at the end of it.”
“It is a passably good notion, I think,” Mr. Bennet said.
“There is but one difficulty,” Elizabeth cautioned him.
“Which is?”
“You would have to work with her, Papa. Unless you can afford to hire a governess?”
“A governess? At her age? That would set the neighbours a-twitter, Lizzy! No, I will teach her myself. It will be a punishment for me as well as for her, I suspect, but we both deserve it.”
“And you will both be the better for it, I think,” said Jane. “You will be a better father, and she will be better suited for whatever life has in store for her.”
“I notice you speak very carefully, Jane,” Mary said. “You suspect she will not marry?”
Jane shifted in her chair, clearly uncomfortable. “We do not doubt that she has lost her virtue, do we?”
Mr. Bennet coughed. “Must this be discussed?”
“Not discussed, but certainly acknowledged,” Jane insisted.
“Does that make her unmarriageable? I do not doubt that there are many girls in England who lost their virtue to one man and then married another!” Kitty insisted.
“Lydia’s future is not my immediate concern,” Mr. Bennet said. “Just knowing that the Deception can end is enough!”
“It hasnotended, nor can it,” Mary said. “We must always remember the false history we have created for her; we cannot refer to her time in service in any way, other than to those who already know of the deception.
Jane sighed and closed her eyes. “You are right, Mary; it will never end.”
Kitty reminded them, “And she needs black gloves at once; her hands may not be seen until they are quite healed.”
***
When Lydia came downstairs for dinner, she looked far better; her rest had done her much good.
“Aunt Gardiner gave me fabric for mourning clothes,” she said, after greeting her family. “I would prefer just to dye a few of my own gowns and give the fabric to my sisters.”
“She gave us a good deal of fabric already,” Jane said. “You must keep what she gave you for your own use.”
“I will help you sew new gowns, if you like,” Kitty offered.
“Thank you both,” Lydia said. “Very well; I will use the material. Kitty, you have the best eye for fashion out of all of us, so I would be grateful for your help.”
Mr. Bennet joined the girls, and everyone sat down to eat.
“What was the food like where you were?” Elizabeth asked.
