Page 46 of The Engagement at Longbourn

By four in the afternoon Meryton knew the regiment’s pay had arrived. Wagons had been seen. Men moved between quarters. A sentry was posted outside the storehouse.

Nothing appeared unusual. At Longbourn, everything felt unusual. Lydia was forbidden to leave the house. This had required explanation to Mrs. Bennet, who reacted to the truth in stages.

First disbelief. “Our Lydia? Writing secretly to Wickham? Oh!”

Then fury. “He asked my daughter to help steal money?” Then a rapid inventory of blame. “Colonel Forster should have known. Mrs. Forster should never have encouraged so much familiarity. Lydia, you should be ashamed. Mr. Bennet, I told you officers were dangerous—”

“You invited half the regiment to supper last month,” Mr. Bennet observed.

“That was before I knew they were thieves!”

Then, finally, fear.

Mrs. Bennet sat beside Lydia on the sofa and took both her hands. “You are not to see him again.”

“I know, Mama.”

“Not ever.”

“I know.”

“And if any man asks you to keep secrets from your family, you come to me.”

Lydia blinked. “You?”

Mrs. Bennet drew back. “Yes, me! I was a girl once, though you all behave as if I emerged from the womb with five daughters and a headache.”

Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.

Mr. Bennet did not smile. He stood by the fireplace, looking older than usual. “I gave her too much liberty,” he said.

Mrs. Bennet looked at him.

“I made a joke of what required attention.”

Lydia’s face crumpled. “Papa—”

He crossed the room and kissed her forehead. “You were foolish. I was negligent. We may both improve.”

Lydia clung to him.

Darcy witnessed the scene from his chair near the window. He looked away after a moment, granting the family what privacy the crowded room allowed.

The hours passed.

At nine, Richard arrived briefly to tell them the trap was in place. “At eleven, Mrs. Forster will send a servant to the Red Lion claiming someone has overturned a cart outside the inn. Enough activity to explain the noise Wickham expects Lydia to create. He will believe she has done her part.”

Lydia shivered. “What if he comes here?”

“He cannot. Two men are watching the road.”

“Will you be there?”

“Yes.”

Elizabeth frowned. “Richard—”

He smiled. “I have done this professionally, cousin-to-be.”