AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 3
“This story becomes stranger by the moment, Lyddie!” Marianne cried as the two girls sat in the carriage on the ride home. “First, you tell me that you stumbled, quite literally, into the duke you’ve adored for years, then you tell me that the first thing you discuss isdeath, of all things, and then you say he physically brushed you to the side and did not even bother to finish your conversation? I ... I am at a loss for words!” Marianne flopped dramatically against the back of the carriage, placing her hand upon her forehead as though she was feeling faint. “How could you bring all of this upon me at once? This is too much for my weak disposition!”
Lydia, on the other hand, was only feeling angry. She couldn’t believe that she had let herself be swept off her feet by this man who obviously cared nothing for her and did not actually care aboutheropinion of medicine, only her father’s.
When he had pushed her to the side, it was a rather rude awakening, but a very necessary one in Lydia’s mind. She was a very pragmatic person, and so it was easy to keep her mind focused on forgetting about a man like Percy Wentworth once she set herself to the task.
“If you have a weak disposition,” Lydia countered her, “then I am a wilting flower. We both know exactly why Percy began speaking with me, and why he so suddenly brushed me off. He had received the opinions of my father from me, and then no longer felt a need to be polite to me. I should have remembered my place in society more acutely so that I would not have had to suffer a moment’s embarrassment at his selfish behaviour.”
Marianne snapped out of her dramatic daydream and sat up straighter against the back cushion. “I suppose you are correct, even if I am loathing admitting it, my dear.” Most of Marianne’s hairstyle had come undone by now, giving her a rather haggard look. “I did not want to believe that a man like Percy could be so shockingly shallow.
Lydia let out a quiet scoff and then replied, “Neither did I. I thought that he was the generous, kind boy that I had met so many years ago ... but perhaps life was not as kind to him as it has been to me, and that has changed him.” Lydia thought back to the moment where Percy had ever so briefly mentioned his father and wondered if his death may have had anything to do with his rude behaviour.
Marianne smiled appreciatively at her. “You always have a way of seeing things in a kind light, don’t you, Lydia?”
“Just because I am saying we should take a walk in Percy’s shoes before we judge him does not mean that I excuse any of the behaviour he exhibited tonight. My kindness can only be extended so far,” Lydia replied.
“I understand,” said Marianne. “Well then, shall we put this Percy situation to bed and perhaps focus on finding you a gentleman who would be far superior to him? You deserve only the best man, and I do not believe Percy is generous enough to fill those shoes!” Lydia laughed, and the two young women spent the rest of the carriage ride discussing the possible suitors that Lydia could dance with at the next ball, which was in the not too distant future.
Meanwhile, in a much grander carriage travelling back towards the Wentworth estate, Percy had harsh words with his younger sister, Georgiana, about her behaviour that evening.
“You know full well that Arthur Middleton is not a man to be socializing with,” he scolded her. “Mama and I have had words with you many times about his reputation, and if you continue being seen with him in public …”
“You’ll do what, exactly?” Georgiana challenged him. She may have been ten years younger than her brother, but she was almost twice as bold. She had striking red hair, green eyes, and a spritely figure.
When she fixed her eyes on someone, they were never sure if she was pleased to see them or about to explode. And to be honest, Georgiana was never truly certain either. “You are not Papa, and while you may try to control my life and my relations as best as you can, you cannot stop me from being with the man that I love.”
Percy took in a deep, calming breath. Or it would have been calming if it had had any effect on him whatsoever. Instead, it only made him more furious with his sister.
]”Georgiana, you cannot say that you love Arthur, for you barely know him. If you did, you would have a better understanding of what a vile, abhorrent man he is. He is over twice your age, has had multiple romantic attachments with women of all classes over the last few years, and has ruined the reputations of many of those women. I cannot understand how he is still invited to many of these balls, and you must not associate yourself with him any further. Do you understand me?” Percy looked at his sister expectantly, but his admonishment had not seemed to have taken.
“I do not,” she said defiantly. “It is up to me to decide if Arthur is a man worthy of my affections, and I shall not allow the opinion of society to sway me. In all of the interactions that I have had with him, Arthur has been courteous, kind, and the smartest man I have ever met. I refuse to believe a word you are saying.” Georgiana turned away from her brother and looked out the window. “I think the real reason why you are upset with me is because you saw me talking with Arthur when you were speaking to that beautiful peasant girl, and if you hadn’t been charged with watching me tonight, you might have been able to begin courting her.”
Percy could physically feel himself becoming defensive of Lydia.
“Georgiana,” he practically growled, “she isnota peasant girl, she is the daughter of the doctor who saved your life, and I should hope that you would treat her with more respect than that. I am appalled that you would speak of her in such a poor manner. I thought you were better than that.”
Percy noticed that his sister’s shoulders did droop slightly, and some of the tension that had been residing in her body left it momentarily, but she still did not turn to face her brother or try to apologize.
“How was I to know that?” Georgiana countered. “I’d never seen her before in my life, and she was dressed like a peasant, and so I called her one. I believe that we should call people for what they are ... shouldn’t we?”
Georgiana finally turned around and gave Percy a prideful look. Percy could feel rage bubbling in his stomach, as Georgiana had just used one of his own quotes against him.
“Not in this way,” Percy replied gruffly. “When I said that–”
“There he goes, backpedalling as quickly as he can,” Georgiana mumbled.
Percy gripped the side of his seat in frustration but did not allow himself any sort of outburst at his sister. He was not that kind of man, and he did not want to show his younger sister that lashing out at someone was an appropriate way for a man to process anger.
And so, Percy dropped the subject. He had been furious that he had both been pulled away from his conversation with Lydia Seymour who, although they had only met that evening, he had taken quite a liking to, and that Georgiana had not heeded his warnings about Arthur. He decided to speak with his mother about what had transpired that evening to see if she had any advice on the matter. Verity Wentworth was a very wise, level-headed woman, and Percy knew that she would know exactly what to do in this situation.
Percy and Georgiana spent the rest of the ride in angry silence, and as soon as they pulled up in front of the estate, Georgiana was out of the carriage faster than Percy could even get his door open. When he finally got himself out into the crisp night air, he saw Georgiana tearing into the manor and out of sight.
He was grateful not to have to look after her anymore but did feel rather unresolved about the fight they’d had. Although it may not have seemed it in the carriage, Georgiana and Percy typically enjoyed quite an amiable relationship, and he was saddened to have had such a falling out over Arthur Middleton.
As Percy thanked the driver for his service and walked inside towards his bedroom, he went over the evening in his mind. Although he had not initially wished to attend, he had been having quite a pleasant time, right up until his sister spoiled it.
Most of all, his thoughts drifted to Lydia and the engaging, thrilling conversation that they had shared. He hoped that he had not made it seem as though it was only her father’s opinion that he cared about; upon discovering how intelligent she was, he had wanted to know her thoughts as well.
And then, Percy remembered how they had parted. He could barely recall what they had been talking about when he spotted Georgiana and remembered his promise to his mother that he would watch her that evening. Unfortunately, he had been so intent upon reaching his sister as quickly as possible before she made any more of a fool of herself that he had actually pushed Lydia to the side and muttered some sort of farewell.
You fool!Percy cursed himself as he opened the heavy wooden door leading to his bedroom.You pushed her to the side, mumbled farewell, and did not explain to her why you had to take your leave of her? She probably thinks you the worst man to have ever walked this earth! You had better hope that you run into her so that you might apologize profusely; otherwise, you might never see her again.
Percy began getting undressed in preparation for bed and did his best not to think too hard about Lydia or how their interaction had finished that evening. He promised himself that he would find a way to see Lydia again and make it up to her.
