Page 169 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Elizabeth said dryly, “Has Mrs. Long also discovered what they intend to have for dinner on their first night?”

Jane laughed. “Lizzy, you cannot blame our neighbors for their interest. Netherfield has lain empty for the past five years.”

Elizabeth sat beside her. “He is a personable young man.”

“He is. I liked him exceedingly, Lizzy. He is just what a young man ought to be, sensible, good-humored, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! So much ease, with such perfect good breeding.”

“He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth, “which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.”

“You tease me, but I do not believe I was the only sister who found one of our visitors handsome. I saw how often you looked at Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth felt warmth rise into her face. “I cannot deny that he is a very handsome man.”

Elizabeth reached for the ribbon Jane had put away and began winding it around her fingers. “I should like to know him better.”

Jane watched her for a moment. “Much better, I think. You speak of him with remarkable certainty after only one meeting.” She took the ribbon from Elizabeth and returned it to her workbox. “That is saying something, Lizzy. You generally look askance at every unmarried man in the neighborhood and wonder whether he is worth your time.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “When one has grown up with an intelligent, well-spoken father, it is difficult to admire a man merely because he is handsome and unmarried. Papa has given us a rather high standard by which to judge them.”

“Then I think you might approve of Mr. Darcy. He spoke sensibly and seemed to have little inclination for idle conversation. I believe you would find that preferable to a gentleman who rattles on merely to hear himself speak.”

Elizabeth snatched the ribbon from the workbox and tossed it at her sister with a laugh. “Then we have both found something to look forward to when Netherfield opens.”

For the next several days, Netherfield supplied Meryton with something new to discuss almost every morning. Deliveries passed through the village. More servants were engaged. Mr. Bingley’s butler arrived to oversee the preparations, and word came through the tradesmen that the family was expected before the end of the following week.

Meanwhile, Jane and Elizabeth kept a closer watch over Lydia, making certain that one or the other of them accompanied their younger sisters whenever they went into Meryton.

Mrs. Bennet counted the days and so did Elizabeth.

* * *

As the two weeks drew to a close, Elizabeth sat at the small desk before her bedchamber window, writing to Georgiana.

She had nearly filled the page when movement below caught her attention. Lydia was crossing the lawn alone, moving quickly toward the path that led past the hermitage.

Elizabeth put down her pen.

Lydia had no reason to be going there alone.

She rose so quickly that her chair scraped against the floor as she hurried from the room. At the bottom of the stair, she nearly collided with Mary, who was carrying several sheets of music.

“Mary, put those down and come with me. Lydia is stealing away toward the hermitage, perhaps to meet an officer.”

Mary placed the music upon a table. “Perhaps to meet Mr. Wickham. I heard her going on and on about him to Kitty this morning.”

Elizabeth caught her sister's hand and hurried toward the door. “I am afraid, Mary. If she does something foolish with that man, she may bring ruin upon herself and all of us.”

They crossed the lawn as quickly as Mary's pace allowed and reached the hermitage, but there was no sign of Lydia.

“She cannot have gone far,” Elizabeth said, looking along the path.

Mary pointed beyond the trees. “There she is. She is going toward Oakham Mount.”

Elizabeth saw a flash of Lydia's gown disappearing farther up the path.

“Come, Mary.”

She began to run.