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Hertfordshire

E lizabeth heard Kitty’s footsteps pounding along the corridor. “Mama! Lyddie’s taken Jane’s best dress. It’s not fair, Mama! It’s not fair!”

Elizabeth hurried to her door. “Kitty! Wait a moment.” She reached out and drew her sister into the room. “Look, let me persuade Mama to make Lyddie give it back. You must hurry and put on the dress you want to wear, or she’ll try and take it from you.”

Kitty looked up. “Oh!” She thought for a minute. “Yes, it’s a good idea. Thank you, Lizzy.” She threw her arms around her. “You’re the best sister in the world.”

Elizabeth sighed ruefully. Soon Kitty wouldn’t be saying that, she knew. Once they learned who she really was.

She shook herself; she must stop thinking this, and still pretend her life was as it had always been.

“Hahahaha!” Lydia’s taunting laugh echoed down to her.

Elizabeth shook her head. What would become of the girl? She hurried along the corridor to Mama’s room.

“Mama, did you hear Kitty?”

“Yes. What of it? Kitty is always saying things like that, but Lydia looks much better, and Kitty’s only jealous.”

Elizabeth’s lips tightened. How could Mama do this? Didn’t she see she was making Lydia into a monster who’d never attract a good husband? And have all her daughters shunned, too.

But that was not important at this moment in time. “Mama, Lydia has taken Jane’s best gown. Don’t you want Jane to look lovely and catch the attention of Mr. Bingley tonight? We know Lydia is too young right now, and it’s important Jane marries well.”

“Jane?” Mama sat up. “She’s taken Jane’s dress? Now that isn’t right.” She heaved herself to her feet, and barrelled along the corridor.

“Lydia, dear, you must give Jane’s gown back to her right this minute. Jane must catch Mr. Bingley tonight. We know that. Then, when she is married, you’ll go to important balls in town and meet wealthy gentlemen.”

Lydia scowled. “Kitty is a tale-teller. I hate her. I’ll take her dress, then she’ll learn.”

Elizabeth spoke from where she was almost hidden behind Mama’s ample form. “It was me, Lydia, not Kitty. I’m even more disgusted with you than she is.” She saw Lydia tugging at the dress. “Don’t you dare tear it, or you’ll be mending it and miss the assembly if I have anything to do with it.”

“Lizzy, don’t be like that,” Mama remonstrated. “Lydia won’t tear it, will you, dear?” She watched as her youngest daughter sullenly dropped the dress on the floor.

“There, Lizzy, you take it to Jane.” Mama turned to Lydia. “Now, dear, you wear that pretty pink gown we made together last week. Nobody’s seen you in that one.”

Lydia made a furious face. “I want Kitty’s green one! I look better in it than she does.”

“She’s already wearing it, Lydia.” Elizabeth was tired of her little sister, tired of trying to protect Kitty from her. She picked up Jane’s gown and smoothed it over her arm.

She knocked on Jane’s door. “Here’s your gown, Jane. Let me help you dress.”

“Oh, Lizzy. Thank you for helping Kitty.” Jane smiled at her. “She came in here just now to show me she has on her green dress.”

Elizabeth huffed a laugh. “I think next time, I’ll suggest she lays out a gown she’s not going to wear, and Lydia will take that one.

” She put the dress on the bed, and crossed to stand behind her sister.

“Let me help you with your hair. We have to make sure you look so beautiful that Mr. Bingley will not be able to take his eyes from you.”

“Oh, Lizzy!” Jane shook her head. “I would like to find out what he is like first.”

“And so you shall. This assembly will be the best opportunity.” She picked up a handful of hairpins. “Come on, time to be ready.”

Jane turned and took the pins from her hand. “I can manage, you must go and prepare yourself, then I will come to you and make sure you look lovely, too.” Her eyes lit up. “After all, Mr. Bingley is bringing a large party tonight.”

Elizabeth laughed. “If you say so, Jane.” She hurried along to her own room. At least she could be certain no one would have taken her gown. Not one of them could fit into her clothes. It was one advantage of being smaller than them all.

But she didn’t trust Lydia. Elizabeth had hung a gown that she wasn’t going to wear on the outside of her closet. Her dusky-pink gown was safely buried deep on the rail.

Carefully, she drew it out. It was the prettiest of her gowns here in Meryton, and a few years ago she would have delighted in it. Now she knew she had far better in town, it was not quite the same.

After five years, however, she was used to living this lie, and Aunt Gardiner was always at the end of a letter, kind and assuring her it was all for the best.

Papa knew too, now. He agreed with Aunt Gardiner, and treated her just the same.

Elizabeth smiled. But he always made space for her in his book room when the rest of the household became too much. It was more often now that she could be found curled up on his window seat with a book. Unless she was out walking, of course.

Or talking to Jane. They were still close, still talked and shared confidences much as they had always done.

But that big secret came between them. Elizabeth knew things could never be the same again.

She was sorry about it, especially as Jane had surmised that it was because of some sorrow experienced when she’d been with the Gardiners.

Elizabeth couldn’t tell her the truth. Once that secret was known at Longbourn, everyone would know.

Not that she would have minded, of course. She couldn’t believe there was danger here. How could there be? She’d lived here all her life.

Jane nudged her. “We’re here now.”

Elizabeth looked up, startled. Her reverie had seen her oblivious as they’d driven to the assembly rooms. She smiled at Jane. “I’m sorry, that was unmannerly of me.”

“You were deep in thought, Lizzy.” Jane shook her head serenely. “I wouldn’t disturb you.”

Elizabeth glanced round. Lydia was scowling at her, and she wondered what she’d missed.

As they entered the building and surrendered their coats and wraps at the door, Kitty leaned towards her.

“Lydia is furious. All her barbed comments elicited not the slightest reaction from you. It was very clever of you.”

Elizabeth turned to her. “I was thinking of other things entirely, Kitty. But I hope it means that she left you in peace.”

“Oh, yes!” Kitty beamed at her. But it didn’t stop her hurrying to Lydia’s side.

Elizabeth watched after her sadly. While Kitty was so desperate to be liked, she’d follow Lydia into bad behaviour, trying to win Mama’s regard that way.

Jane’s arm tucked into hers. “Come, let’s join Charlotte and find out more about the Netherfield party.”

“Of course. I believe she’ll know more from her father.” Elizabeth looked around, but she wasn’t tall enough to see past the closest people. “Can you see where she is?”

She closed her eyes in mortification as her mother’s voice rose from the group of matrons around the door. “Yes, sister! Five thousand a year! What a fine thing for my girls!”

Mr. Bingley would have to be a very amiable gentleman indeed to look at any of them. But she was determined to do her very best for Jane. She could not be so beautiful for nothing.

The Netherfield party was rather late to the dance, and Elizabeth had just joined Jane again after a cheerful dance with John Lucas when she saw the party enter the room, and Sir William Lucas bustled self-importantly over to greet them.

She smiled mischievously as she saw the tall gentleman scowling behind the rest of the party. Quite certainly he was someone who didn’t wish to be here.