Page 54 of Regrets

“These drills must occur very early in the morning,” Elizabeth went on. “So as to allow you time to wander the town all afternoon.”

“Very early in the morning indeed,” Mr. Wickham agreed.

But just then, Mr. Denny joined their little group and said, laughing, “What lies are you telling these ladies, Wickham?”

Elizabeth said, “He was just telling us how much drilling you must do in order to be ready for the enemy!” She made her eyes wide, as if she had been most impressed by this.

“Drilling? Under Colonel Forster? Why, you must be joking, Wickham!” Denny slapped his friend on the back. “Everyone knows that Forster is the most easy-going commander in the entire militia. He himself does not rise before eleven!”

Mr. Wickham’s eyes narrowed and he hissed something under his breath.

“Never mind, Mr. Wickham,” Elizabeth said. “May I just tell you something?”

“Of course, Miss Elizabeth,” he said, through clenched teeth.

“My sisters have virtually no dowries,” she said. “And they are very carefully supervised. It is not worth pursuing them.”

“Lizzy!” Lydia gasped in horror.

Mr. Wickham stared at Elizabeth. “I assure you, Miss Elizabeth –“

“No, no need to assure me about anything,” she said, airily. “I just wanted you to understand the situation, so that you would not waste your…” she paused here for a long moment before concluding, with a raised brow,“…valuable time.” And with that, she curtsied, took Kitty’s and Lydia’s arms in an iron grip, and dragged them away.

Jane had been speaking with the other soldiers while keeping one eye on Elizabeth; seeing Elizabeth leave with Kitty and Lydia, she curtsied to the officers and ran off to join her sisters.

Lydia was in tears, and Jane had no trouble getting Kitty to recount what had just occurred as they headed back toward Longbourn. Jane gasped. “Lizzy, that is the boldest thing I ever heard!”

“I do not regret what I said,” Elizabeth said, grimly. “I do not want him near Kitty or Lydia.”

“I do not think his interest in them was their dowries, in any case,” Jane said, hesitantly.

“I understand you, Jane, but there is very little I can do about that except to keep him away from them!”

“Well, I do not understand!!” Lydia announced, in ringing tones, her tears drying. “What is it you think he wants from us?”

“Your virtue, you stupid girl!” Elizabeth yelled. Thankfully, they were alone on the road; there was no one to hear.

“My – my virtue?” Lydia stuttered.

“You truly do not understand?” Elizabeth demanded.

“No, and no one will explain it to us!” Lydia huffed.

Elizabeth and Jane traded long glances. Finally, Elizabeth asked, “Do you not recall Rebecca Crowley?”

“Of course,” Kitty put in. “She went to visit her aunt in Portsmouth for some months. We envied her getting away from Meryton and going to visit the sea!”

“That is what you remember? Nothing more?” Elizabeth enquired.

“Are you certain about this, Lizzy?” Jane asked, doubtfully.

“I am not, no,” Elizabeth admitted. “But I know not else how to keep them safe!”

“Whatever are you two talking about? You are treating us like children!” Lydia complained.

“You are right, Lydia,” Elizabeth said, suddenly decisive. “You have been treated like children, and now that you are both most decidedly not children, that must change. So you did not understand what happened to Rebecca?” she demanded.

Kitty and Lydia looked at one another. “We thought she went to visit her aunt,” Kitty said, in a small voice.