Page 83 of Regrets

Everyone sat quietly and considered all that they had heard. “It is truly a miracle, all the way around, that nothing worse happened,” Mrs. Bennet said.

“Quite right, Mrs. Bennet,” her husband agreed. “But, Miss Darcy, will you truly be able to return to Netherfield and act as if all is well? Or would you prefer to stay with us for a few more days? You are very welcome here, you know.”

Georgiana smiled at him, gratefully. “I think I had best go to Netherfield.”

Mrs. Bennet immediately disagreed. “No, indeed; you are badly bruised, Miss Darcy, and someone will have to help you dress until you are entirely healed. Here at Longbourn, my girls will help you, but how would you explain those bruises to the Netherfield maids?”

Georgiana sighed. “I suppose you are right; and I am in no hurry to face my brother’s understandable wrath in private.”

Mr. Darcy shook his head. “I am too relieved to be angry, Georgiana, though we will have to talk about – well, certain things.”

Lydia put in. “You really should, you know. She has no idea of what he was trying to do to her.”

Mr. Darcy glanced at Lydia; looking quickly away in embarrassment, he said, “I understand you.”

“But do not tell her that it is as big as a horse’s, for that is an outright lie.” She stared hard at Jane, who hid her face in her hands.

“Lydia, Kitty, I am enormously proud of both of you,” Mr. Bennet announced. “You were incredibly courageous, you saved your friend, and you rid the community of a terrible menace.”

“Lydia did commit murder, Papa,” Mary murmured.

“Yes, she did; and no jury in the world would convict her. But it will not come to that, for the body is to be left in the woods until some poor soul finds it. The important thing – the most important thing in the world just now – is for none of us to breathe a word about this to anyone. To anyone, do you understand me? To do so endangers both Lydia and Georgiana.”

Everyone murmured assent, and Mr. Bennet was satisfied.

Chapter Seventy-One

When Kitty next went into the room she shared with her sister, she found Lydia huddled under the bedcovers. “Lydia?” she whispered. “Are you asleep?”

At first, there was no response, but then a small sob escaped the huddled form.

“Lydia?” Kitty pulled the covers down and found her sister curled up as tightly as possible, sobbing in almost complete silence. “Lydia!” Kitty lay down beside her sister at once and pulled her close. “What is it?”

“Kitty,” Lydia whispered. “I killed a man!”

“You did,” Kitty agreed. “You are a heroine!”

“But murder is wrong!” Lydia wailed.

“Not always,” Kitty insisted. “Wait, Lydia.” Kitty left the room and dashed downstairs. She found her mother and told her what was amiss. Mrs. Bennet ran up the stairs at once.

“Lydia, my poor girl,” she crooned, holding her youngest close. “Of course you are upset, it was a terrible thing to witness!”

“It was, Mama, it was truly terrible!”

“But you kept a cool head and did exactly what needed to be done! I have never been so proud in all my life!”

“Really?” A white face looked up. “Really, Mama?”

“Really,” she was assured. “It is completely natural to have an emotional reaction, Lydia. You saw something no young girl should have to see, and you were forced to take an action that no young girl should have to take. You did everything exactly right, and that includes the bit of weeping you are doing now. Some regret is everything natural.”

“I was very brave, was I not?” Lydia asked.

“Very, very brave,” Mrs. Bennet said. Then she put a finger to her lips. “No one but us can ever know, but we will never forget. Lydia the Bold!”

A smile ghosted across Lydia’s tear-stained face. “Lydia the Bold,” she whispered. “Yes, I like that very well indeed.”

Word of Lydia’s distress spread quickly amongst the sisters. Elizabeth ran up to Lydia’s room and told the whole story again, but made it a fairy tale about an endangered princess and a bold country girl, who was rewarded by riches untold.