Page 45 of A Prudent Engagement

Lydia sat down next to them with the scattered appearance of a person who had indulged too much early in the day but now was nearly sober and found little pleasure in the change. “La, Lizzy, what kept you speaking with Dull Darcy for so long? I saw you two, walking in the garden. You were out there for at least half an hour.” She laughed. “Do you think he might be in love with you? What a joke that would be.”

“Nonsense,” their mother said. “You know that he does not find her handsome.”

“I think he likes her,” Lydia said, “but is just so shy and dull that he can never say anything. And he will be heartbroken when she marries Mr. Wickham—did I tell you, he is safe again. Miss King’s uncle took her away so that she could not marry him.”

“I would rather say,” Elizabeth sharply replied, her mind still full of what Mr. Darcy had told her about the officer and which she could not say to her sisters, “that Miss King is safe from Mr. Wickham.”

This conversation gained the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, who both knew something of the matter, and Mr. Phillips, who was suddenly quite curious.

Mr. Gardiner asked, “Did you speak with Mr. Darcy about the nature of his connection to Mr. Wickham?”

“I did, and I was fully satisfied on the point.”

“What?” Lydia asked. “Why did you ask Dull Darcy about Wickham? We all know that he hates Wickham and treated him most cruelly.”

Elizabeth found her previous nervousness had gone and that she could now easily speak.

Everyone was already staring at her, except for Mary, who pounded out an appropriately mournful tune on the pianoforte.

“I do have something to say about the gentleman,” Elizabeth said clearly. “Mama, I hope this will bring you some pleasure to hear. I have entered into an engagement of marriage with Mr. Darcy.”

Half of Elizabeth’s attention had been on Jane.

Upon hearing the announcement, her eldest sister let out a little startled sound—so she really had expected that Elizabeth would not accept Mr. Darcy!—and then frowned rather than smiling, remaining where she had been seated without approaching Elizabeth to offer any congratulations.

Her mama’s face was blank and confused, as though she did not understand Elizabeth’s words.

“No, impossible!” Lydia exclaimed. “You could not possibly plan to marry Dull Darcy. Even if he does love you.” She then turned to Kitty and said, “Lizzy wouldn’t. It must be a joke.”

“I assure you,” Elizabeth said, “I would not jest about such a serious matter.”

“But what about Wickham?”

“I beg you not to speak to him, or of him, again. We have been badly deceived in his character.”

“La, Lizzy!” Lydia giggled. “You must be half in love with Mr. Darcy as well if you are going to be as dull as he is.”

Mr. Gardiner stepped forward and offered his hand to Elizabeth. “Congratulations, my dear niece. I am happy that you will marry so well, and the little conversation I have had with your betrothed impressed me.”

Mrs. Gardiner embraced Elizabeth also, saying, “I wish you great happiness.”

This made Elizabeth smile. “I know you hoped it would happen this way.”

This shook her mama from her trance. She asked her brother, “You knew about this?”

“We knew it was a possibility from the night that Elizabeth was brought to London by the gentleman,” Mr. Gardiner replied, sitting next to his sister and putting an arm around her. “But we judged that it would be best for you not to hear of the possibility until it became certain.”

“You mean because you thought Lizzy would refuse him like she did Mr. Collins?” Lydia tittered. “And I dare say she should have, because now she will be dreadfully unhappy, and dull, and never speak to Wickham again. But at least we shall not be poor!”

And that, to Elizabeth’s surprise, set Lydia off into a hysterical set of giggles that ended in sobs.

Elizabeth moved to sit next to her youngest sister, who embraced her tightly, saying, “I miss Papa. I miss him. I miss him.”

“I do too,” Elizabeth said gently.

“And everyone talked so much about how everything would be different now that we shall be poor. There won’t be any dresses or ribbons or bonnets. But, Lizzy, you must not marry a man whom you hate on that account.”

Elizabeth had not expected Lydia to encourage her to be cautious about marrying for money.