Page 86 of The Engagement at Longbourn

"Me too."

Silence fell between them.

Then Lydia said, "I nearly helped him."

Georgiana looked at her.

"Not because I knew about the money at first. He said he wanted to escape because everyone had treated him badly. He said he would send for me. I thought it romantic."

She twisted a ribbon at her wrist.

"Then he wanted me to make a distraction. I finally understood."

Georgiana said very softly, "I nearly ran away with him."

Lydia's mouth fell open. Georgiana's eyes filled with tears.

"I thought he loved me."

For once Lydia had no exclamation. She reached for Georgiana's hand.

"Then he is even worse than I knew."

Georgiana laughed shakily. "Yes."

"Did Mr. Darcy attempt to kill him?"

"Lydia!"

"I only mean, before the soldiers did. He looks as though he wanted to."

Georgiana's laugh became real.

"No."

"Good. Lizzy would dislike visiting him in prison."

Georgiana covered her mouth.

Lydia squeezed her hand.

"I am glad you told me."

"Why?"

"Because I thought I was the stupidest girl in England."

Georgiana's face changed.

"I thought I was."

They stared at each other. Then Lydia said, "Perhaps there were two of us." Georgiana laughed so hard she bent over the keyboard. A discordant cluster of notes sounded beneath her elbow. Darcy entered at that precise moment.

He stopped. Lydia and Georgiana looked up guiltily.

"What happened?"

"Nothing," Georgiana said.