Page 121 of Regrets

I wish I knew what words might give you comfort, but I suppose there are no words. Speak with Lizzy about it; she is quite clever, you know.

Please do write again soon and tell me how you are.

With love,

Lydia

After some thought, Lydia wrote another letter.

Dear Lizzy,

I hope I am not betraying a confidence, but Georgiana is still quite upset about…well, you know what. I advised her to speak with you, but then I thought that I might come and visit. Might that help her, do you think?

Oh, and do you know, Mama and Papa get along quite well now! He visits her in her bedchamber at night, and she seems happy enough about it!

Your loving sister,

Lydia the Bold

***

Mr. Bennet watched in some alarm as his wife rose from the breakfast table with an odd look on her face. “Fanny?” he asked, rising as well.

She motioned him to sit back down and then ran from the room as fast as she could go.

He followed her into the kitchen, where she had grabbed the nearest bucket and cast up her accounts with some violence. Mrs. Hill was beside her at once, holding the bucket for her and patting her back. Cook and the kitchen maid watched with sympathy. When it was done, Cook proffered a damp cloth to Mrs. Hill, who thanked her with a nod, and used it to wipe Mrs. Bennet’s face. “There, there,” she whispered, soothingly. “Likely it is over for now.”

Mrs. Bennet nodded and straightened up. Seeing Mr. Bennet standing in the doorway, mouth agape, she said, “You need not look so surprised, Thomas. It is not as if you had nothing whatever to do with this.”

He went to her, then, and took her hands in his. “Fanny? Is it possible?”

“It certainly seems to be,” she said, her tone a mixture of pride and annoyance.

He caught her up in his arms, heedless of the amusement of the watching servants.

Chapter One Hundred and Twelve

Mr. Bennet was usually delighted to receive letters from Lizzy, but this one did not make him at all happy. He scowled as he read it again, wondering if there was a polite way to say, “Absolutely not!”

Dearest Papa,

I write to ask a favour. I wondered if you might spare Lydia for a month or so, to visit us here at Pemberley. Georgiana has been rather – well, rather blue of late, and I thought a visit from irrepressible Lydia might cheer her.

I know Lydia is your pupil now, and I am sorry to deprive you of her company, but you would be doing us a very great favour.

If you believe Kitty would feel slighted at being excluded, please do let her know that she is welcome as well. I do not wish to cause any ill feelings between the two of them.

Please do write and let me know. We will send a carriage for her, of course.

With all my affection,

Lizzy

Mr. Bennet growled under his breath. First, Mr. Darcy lured away his Lizzy, and now Lizzy wanted to take Lydia! It was beyond unreasonable.

He went to find his wife. “Look here, Fanny,” he told her. “Lizzy wants to take Lydia away from us!”

Mrs. Bennet took the letter and read it. She looked at her husband and raised her brows. “It is only for a month, Thomas.”