Page 31 of Gentlemen of Honor (Bennet Gang Duology #2)

The Double Wedding

Lydia cried as she watched her two older sisters marry the two gentlemen they loved in a joint ceremony the Monday after Twelfth Night. Her tears were mostly of joy, for Jane and Elizabeth both looked so breathtakingly beautiful, and Mr. Bingley’s grin seemed likely to split his face right in two, and Mr. Darcy, though he did not smile, looked at Elizabeth with an intensity that made Lydia sigh with envy.

But, as she dashed at her cheeks with a handkerchief, sorrow touched her as well. Jane and Mr. Bingley would retire to Netherfield Park, where they were not to be disturbed for at least two weeks, Mama had declared. Which was why the Hursts, who had returned for the Yuletide, and Miss Bingley, who Lydia still did not care for, would depart after the wedding breakfast. Lydia didn’t mind any of that, not really, but Elizabeth was leaving. In a few hours, Mr. Darcy was taking her to Derbyshire. Colonel Fitzwilliam would travel with them, though he would leave them in Matlock, which meant Kitty would be very, very grouchy. Nor would Lydia have the solace of her brothers, for Thomas and Matthew would be leaving tomorrow, going to visit with their grandfather.

Aside from what would be a very grumpy Kitty, only Mary was staying, and only until she and Robert married in March. At least she had agreed to keep training Lydia, as had Jane. And in six weeks, Thomas and Matthew would return. Maybe Lydia could persuade them to practice with her when they returned, even though she was a girl.

Her gaze shifted to her left, and her tears turned even more to sorrow. Not only Thomas and Matthew would be going to Nottinghamshire. Nathan would as well. And what would he do there without her? He was so quiet, and serious, and unsure. He needed her. She made him laugh, and convinced him that he could do things, achieve things, he didn’t think he could. And pointed out when his hair fell forward onto his forehead, so he could push it back into place and then smile at her while she gazed into his lovely silver- green eyes.

Nathan would be a wreck without her.

She blew her nose loudly into her handkerchief.

Nathan inched closer, two fingers lightly twining with hers. From the corner of his mouth he whispered, “I will write. I am Thomas and Matthew’s cousin, and that makes me somewhat your cousin, and your mother said I may write.”

Lydia nodded, for he’d offered the assurance many times already. Letters would help, of course, but he would still be lost without her. She was rather certain of it.

The ceremonies concluded, Lydia followed the others from the church, Nathan at her side. Sighting the line of carriages, holding everyone from family to the Lucases, who had closed their shop for the occasion, to the Earl of Pillory, she tugged on Nathan’s hand and said, “We should walk.”

He nodded, their fingers untwining by mutual accord as they left the concealment of the crush waiting to ride. If anyone ever caught them holding hands, Nathan wouldn’t be permitted to write.

It was rather cold out, despite a blue sky and bright sun, but the walk to Dovemark wasn’t long. Still, many of the carriages had already deposited their passengers before Lydia and Nathan joined the celebration. Sighting them, Miss Bingley started across the room, her smile more pleasant than Lydia usually recalled it.

“Miss Lydia, Mr. Hargreaves,” she greeted, then, to Lydia’s surprise, drew her into a quick embrace. “It brings me such joy to have so many new sisters.”

Lydia blinked at her. Life was very different as the sister of a future earl. “Ah, thank you, Miss Bingley.”

“Please, call me Caroline. We are family.” Smiling pleasantly, she took a sip of the drinking chocolate she carried.

Lydia very much wanted some drinking chocolate. She should excuse herself and Nath—

“Have you heard,” Miss Bingley said, lowering her cup, her eyes bright. “But then, to be certain you have. They are your siblings, Mr. Hargreaves.”

“You mean, that Franklin and Isabella have emigrated to Canada?” he asked.

Sensing the unease in his voice, Lydia wished she dared take his hand again.

“Rumor has it that your brother left you most of the family fortune.” She leaned in as she spoke to him .

Lydia’s eyebrows shot up. Was Miss Bingley attempting to flirt with Nathan? She was at least four years older than he was. “Miss Bingley, that is, Caroline.” Lydia dimpled at the other woman as she turned to her with a flash of annoyance. “We were on our way to have some drinking chocolate. Such a treat, is it not?”

“It is delicious. Your mother has put on a lovely affair.” Miss Bingley looked about with a touch of avarice. “But then, she is a lady.” Suddenly, her nose crinkled. “Not, I have learned, that you can always judge a person by their title.”

“Would you care for us to bring you more chocolate?” Nathan asked without inflection.

Miss Bingley shook her head. “No. I believe I will go speak to Miss Kitty.” She dipped her head to them and moved away.

Lydia turned to follow the motion, spotting Colonel Fitzwilliam, as was typical, at Kitty’s side. She imagined her sister was about to learn that Miss Bingley fancied herself a good match for the colonel. Shrugging, for Kitty could certainly deal with Miss Bingley, Lydia nudged Nathan and they continued on to the chocolate.

They arrived at the table at the same moment as Thomas and Matthew did, Thomas reaching out to snatch the pot away before Lydia could grab it.

“Hey,” she cried. “I was next.”

Thomas poured chocolate into a cup. “You mean, ‘I was next, my lord.’”

“I was next, Thomas ,” Lydia said instead. “Mama said none of us have to call you ‘lord’ unless we want to. She doesn’t want you prancing around, pretending to be grand.” With a smirk, she added, “But if you ever learn to fence better than I can, I may consider it.”

“But we are grand,” Matthew said, accepting a cup of chocolate from Thomas. “Thomas is a lord and everything, and so was our papa, and Mama is a lady.”

Lydia couldn’t argue with that. “Papa Arthur never told anyone he was a lord, because lords get big heads.”

“Like my brother,” Nathan muttered.

That silenced Lydia’s younger siblings, and Thomas passed her the next cup of chocolate he poured.

It was not long until Elizabeth announced that she and Mr. Darcy were leaving, given the lengthy journey they had ahead. Lydia watched Colonel Fitzwilliam bow over Kitty’s hand, and tried to read in her sister’s face if his leaving made her as sad as Lydia was over Nathan, or if Kitty simply liked the idea of marrying the brother of an earl .

Lydia couldn’t decide.

She did know, though, as she lined up beside Charlotte Lucas, Nathan on her other side, that she would miss Elizabeth terribly. They had only hardly come to really know each other, and now Lydia’s favorite sister was leaving. She hadn’t even taught Lydia how to properly disarm someone of a rapier.

And Tuck was going too, who Lydia had finally been allowed to ride, and Robin would be at Netherfield Park, so Lydia couldn’t even practice cantering. Not unless she wanted to ride Mare Marian, which truly was not much of a challenge, except to get the round little mare to move. Mare Marian’s idea of a pleasant activity was to stand in one place munching on apples.

Mr. Darcy made his farewells first, smiling kindly at Charlotte before reaching Lydia. “Miss Lydia, you are welcome to visit Pemberley any time.”

“Am I?” She could not resist adopting a vapid expression and asking, “May I come tomorrow? Only, it is going to be so boring and lonely here once everyone leaves.”

Mr. Darcy stared at her, aghast.

Lydia laughed. “La, I am only teasing you, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps I may visit in the summer.”

His smile returned, rueful. “That would be very pleasant.” He moved past her to Nathan, offering his hand. “Write to me if you are ever in need of my assistance.”

“I will, but all will be well, Mr. Darcy.”

Lydia knew that everyone was a bit worried about Nathan living with the earl, since their families had been at odds for so long and Nathan’s kin were rumored to have murdered the earl’s elder two sons, as Franklin had attempted to do to Lydia’s brothers. But Nathan said he’d spoken with the earl, and so had Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, at length. Besides which, as his remaining relative in England, the earl was now in charge of Nathan’s lands and fortune, until he reached one and twenty, much like Uncle Phillips was for Thomas and Matthew. It would be best for Nathan to learn from the earl, and to keep an eye on him.

Thinking of her uncle, Lydia looked about while waiting to bid Elizabeth farewell. She spotted her Aunt and Uncle Phillips with the Gardiners, chatting away cheerfully. Near them stood Miss Darcy, with her companion, Mrs. Annesley. Lydia wanted to come to know Mr. Darcy’s quiet younger sister better. Maybe after Elizabeth left, she would go ask if Miss Darcy, who was bound for London with her companion, would permit her to write. If Lydia was going to spend time on letters, which she must or Nathan would miss her too desperately, she may as well write to Miss Darcy too.

Mr. Darcy being so wealthy and the two of them cousins to the Earl of Matlock, Miss Darcy might have some insight into how to deal with the way people were treating Lydia now that she was the sister of a future peer.

Elizabeth finally reached Charlotte, her farewells taking far longer than Mr. Darcy’s. She hugged their longtime friend, murmuring, “Charlotte, I will not rest until I find you a fine husband.”

Charlotte smiled sadly. “I am the daughter of a shopkeeper, not blessed with looks, and on the shelf, but I thank you for the thought, Mrs. Darcy.”

“I will find someone.” Elizabeth released her friend to smile. “You will see.”

Charlotte’s answering smile was a touch sad.

Elizabeth turned to Lydia. “I am so sorry to be leaving you. You must come visit as often as you can.”

“Mr. Darcy made a similar offer and I informed him that I will follow you tomorrow,” Lydia answered with a grin.

Elizabeth chuckled. “That was terrible of you. Did he look as if a frog had just hopped out of your mouth?”

“At least that horrified,” Lydia agreed.

Elizabeth hugged her. “But you will visit soon?”

Lydia nodded. “Maybe this summer.”

“Or maybe you can return with us when we come for Mary and Robert’s wedding.”

Happiness sped through her but Lydia tamped it down. “We will see. From the way Mr. Darcy looks at you, I believe he will want a great deal of time with you all to himself.”

“You, miss, should know nothing about the way Fitzwilliam looks at me,” Elizabeth said with another laugh. She gave Lydia another quick hug, whispering, “I left you a gift in the stable,” then turned to Nathan, wishing him well and reiterating Mr. Darcy’s offer of help should he ever require any.

As if he wouldn’t simply ask Lydia. Whatever trouble Nathan got into, she would know how to help.

Lydia watched her sister move on, making more farewells, wondering what Elizabeth had left her. Her rapier? No, she would never give up the sword Papa Arthur bought for her. Besides, Elizabeth had said the gift was in the stable, not the cavern. But then, that might simply have been in case someone overheard.

The newly married Mr. and Mrs. Darcy departed, Colonel Fitzwilliam following on his horse, both Tuck and Mr. Darcy’s mount tied to the back of the smaller carriage. The celebration continued on, with Jane and Mr. Bingley remaining far longer than Lydia ever would when she someday married. She rather thought it was longer than Jane wished to remain as well, and some of the guests left before the Bingleys did. That, Lydia decided, was what Jane got for falling in love with such a sociable gentleman.

The Hursts and Miss Bingley departed, intending to be in London by tea, and other guests trickled out. Mary and Robert went to walk in the garden. Kitty had already excused herself, following Colonel Fitzwilliam’s departure. Mama held court on her favorite sofa, surrounded by the matrons of the village, all suitably impressed to learn that she had been a lady all this time. Above the fireplace on the far side of the drawing room, Papa Arthur’s portrait had been restored to its place of honor. The earl sat below it, flanked by Thomas and Matthew, sipping a brandy and speaking of his son, his gaze often raised to the painting.

“Walk with me in the garden?” Nathan asked.

Lydia accepted the arm he offered. “Instead, let’s go see Mare Marian.” Even if Elizabeth hadn’t left her a present in the stable, but rather in the cavern that Lydia couldn’t in good conscience show Nathan, Mary and Robert were likely walking in the garden. Though Lydia could not actually imagine either doing anything even remotely scandalous, she still didn’t want to interrupt them.

They went first to the kitchen to collect some dried fruit, skirting the organized madness there, then out into the garden. It was very cold under the vast blue sky, and Lydia hurried her steps. About halfway to the stable, laughing, she released Nathan’s arm and broke into a run.

She reached the stable and flung open the door, entering the darker, only somewhat warmer interior. Nathan followed her in and she turned to watch him shut the door, blocking out the colder air. Despite the number of guests, only Mare Marian and the earl’s teams filled the stalls now, for he was staying at Dovemark and the other guests, familiar with Mrs. Oakwood’s lack of staff for her stable, had simply sent their carriages home after arriving, with orders to return later.

Lydia rubbed at her arms. It was warmer inside the stable, but not much. She should have taken the time to collect her cloak.

“Here,” Nathan said. Stripping off his jacket, he held it out.

“T-thank you,” Lydia chattered, her teeth rattling.

He helped her into the coat, his gaze going over her shoulder. “Whose horse is that?”

“Whose horse is what? ”

“In the stall next to Mare Marian.”

Lydia turned. “Robin went to Neth—” She broke off, taking in a horse in the stall on the other side of Mare Marian from where Robin used to be stabled. A lovely sorrel mare looked over the stall door, her large brown eyes regarding Lydia. A small knife protruded from the wood beside her head, securing a note.

Lydia crossed to find her name penned there in familiar bold strokes. Elizabeth’s handwriting. Pulling the knife free, she opened the note. It said, simply, Her name is Scarlet – Love, Elizabeth

Tears welled in Lydia’s eyes. Happy, sad tears, just like at the wedding.

Nathan came to her side.

Lydia dashed at her tears with the sleeves of his coat.

He put an arm about her shoulder. “That is a very generous present.”

Lydia could only nod. She tipped her head to the side, to rest on Nathan’s shoulder, and held out a hand for Scarlet to nuzzle.