Page 42 of The Engagement at Longbourn

Elizabeth looked at the letter. “What changed your mind?”

Lydia sniffed. “Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth blinked.

“He is not nice in the way Mr. Bingley is nice. He looks cross when people are silly.”

“That must be difficult for you.”

Lydia gave her a wet glare.

Elizabeth squeezed her hand. “Forgive me.”

“But he is not cruel. And he does not lie. When I asked if he hated Wickham, he said yes.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “You asked him?”

“Last week.”

“What else did you ask?”

“Whether Wickham had done something truly awful. Mr. Darcy said he could not tell me because it was not his secret. That is when I knew.”

“Knew what?”

“That Wickham had lied. If Mr. Darcy wanted to turn me against him, he could have told me anything. He did not.”

Elizabeth stared at her youngest sister.

Lydia wiped her cheeks with the back of one hand. “I am not entirely stupid, Lizzy.”

“No.” Elizabeth’s throat tightened. “No, you are not.”

They took the letter to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Richard read it once and ceased looking like the easy, laughing cousin Lydia knew.

The soldier replaced him. “How many letters?”

“Five.”

“I need all of them.”

Lydia swallowed. “Will I be in trouble?”

“Yes.”

Her face fell.

“But,” Richard added, “you may also have prevented men from being robbed, perhaps killed. Courage does not erase foolishness, Miss Lydia. Foolishness does not erase courage either.”

Lydia looked at him.

Darcy, from his chair, said quietly, “You did the right thing by coming forward.”

She nodded.

Elizabeth sat beside her.

Richard folded Wickham’s letter and tucked it into his coat. “I am going to Colonel Forster.”