Page 111 of Near Pemberley

“Who told you not to speak of it?”

Lydia hesitated. “Mr. Darcy.”

That answer only increased Elizabeth’s curiosity. “Mr. Darcy instructed you not to tell me how he found you?”

“Not exactly.” Lydia looked increasingly uncomfortable. “He only said it would be better if I did not discuss certain things.”

“What things?”

Lydia shook her head. “I promised.”

Elizabeth could scarcely believe what she was hearing. “Lydia Bennet, since when do you keep promises so faithfully?”

To her surprise, Lydia did not laugh. Instead, she looked down at her hands. “He was kind to me when he had every reason not to be. If he asked me not to speak of something, I do not wish to disappoint him.”

Elizabeth found herself momentarily speechless. This, perhaps more than anything else she had witnessed that morning, revealed how greatly her time away had altered her sister. “Would it be dangerous if other people knew?” she asked more gently.

“Yes.”

“And you cannot even tell your sisters?”

Lydia bit her lip. “It is better if not. If more people know, it cannot be kept a secret.”

Elizabeth studied her. The refusal was genuine.

Whatever the explanation might be, Lydia had no intention of betraying it.

A curious uneasiness stirred within her. Why should there be any mystery at all? How had Mr. Darcy found her? And why did he wish it concealed?

***

The sisters remained together considerably longer than either had intended. By the time they finally emerged from the morning room, both appeared calmer, though the traces of recent tears had not entirely vanished.

The sound of voices guided them towards the conservatory, where Mrs. Gardiner, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley were already seated amongst the flowers and greenery.

Elizabeth scarcely had time to take in the scene before Georgiana rose with evident satisfaction. “There you are at last.”

“We feared we had been forgotten entirely,” said Mrs. Gardiner.

“I am not certain that would have been unreasonable,” Mrs. Annesley observed with a smile.

Lydia immediately noticed the table. “Oh!”

Arranged upon it stood a selection of refreshments, the centrepiece of which was an elaborate cake decorated with delicate sugar flowers.

Lydia stared. “Is that for us?”

“Of course,” said Georgiana.

Lydia looked delighted. “I shall never leave.”

“That may become inconvenient after a while,” Mrs. Gardiner observed.

“Not for me.” Georgiana laughed. “My brother had it specially made for today.” The words escaped with complete innocence.

At that precise moment, Darcy entered the conservatory.

He stopped.