Page 97 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

A carriage drew up to Longbourn, the clatter of wheels carrying into the hall. Mrs. Bennet, hearing it, hurried to the front entrance. Recognizing the family coach, she rushed outside just as Mr. Bennet handed down a tall young lady.

“Lydia!” she cried.

The young woman, now nineteen, lifted her dark eyes to her mother. “Mamma.”

Mother and daughter embraced, tears rising in both their eyes. “I hardly recognize you, my girl. You have grown so tall.” Mrs. Bennet pulled her close again and held her fast. At last, she let her go and said, “Let us have tea. You must be famished.”

In the drawing room, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet sat across from their youngest daughter. She was a beauty, perhaps even lovelier than Jane.

“Was it very difficult leaving behind your friends? I think you wrote that Joanna will remain another year?”

“Yes, I promised to write to her. It was hard to leave my friends, but Cecilia will depart in another month, and Sophia will return to Wales in July, so it is just as well that I return home now. I would be desperately alone if I remained much longer.”

Mrs. Bennet flushed. “Do you think very badly of us for having sent you away?”

Lydia looked down at her hands. “I would like to apologize to both of you. My behavior was that of a wanton. I was too young then to know where it would lead, but I did meet some ruined young girls at the school, and I am grateful I was saved from their fate.”

Mrs. Bennet moved to sit next to her daughter.

Lydia continued. “I saw one young girl dwindle to skin and bones. She refused to eat. She had a son out of wedlock, and the child was given to an orphanage. She will never see him again, nor does she know if he is still alive. She has no money of her own and cannot search for him. Another young woman lost her virtue but did not conceive. She remained at the school until her parents found her a husband. Her father is a baron, but they married her to a tenant farmer, for no other man would take a fallen woman. I saw her leave the school with her father. She was crying, begging to be allowed to stay another year so she could serve as a governess. She did not want to marry a stranger from a lower circle, but her father took her away. I am grateful, Papa, that you intervened in time to save me from myself. When I marry and have children, they will never be permitted to speak to the officers of the militia.”

Mr. and Mrs. Bennet looked at each other. He raised his brow and shook his head.

Hill entered with the tray and curtsied. “Miss Lydia, it is good to have you home. You have grown up, and I can see you are as lovely as your sisters.”

Lydia rose and embraced the older woman. “Hill, I apologize for everything I put you through all those years. You were always too patient with me. I hope Mr. Hill is well?”

The housekeeper looked surprised and pleased. “He is healthy and strong, Missy. He is out collecting cook’s order.” With another curtsy, she withdrew.

Lydia returned to sit beside her mother. “Tell me about our neighbors, Mamma. In your last letter, you said Jane and Mr. Bingley are in Yorkshire visiting relatives. Is Jane expecting again?”

Mrs. Bennet began, “Jane is expecting their third child and hopes for a girl she can dress up. You know how she loves to shop. Mary and Mr. Collins Bennet are going on a holiday. It will be their first. They are taking their boys to the Lake District and then will visit the Darcys at Pemberley for three weeks.”

Lydia placed her hand over her mother’s. “Did you say Mr. Collins Bennet?”

“Yes. The entail stipulated that the heir must take the name Bennet, as it is tied to the estate. Mr. Collins was not obliged to change his name until he inherited, but he thought it best to do so before his first child was born. So both boys are Bennets, and the name will live on.”

Mr. Bennet turned to his daughter. “Mr. Darcy’s solicitor worked with me and Mr. Collins Bennet, and we were able to break the entail. It is a relief to know that none of my future heirs will be encumbered by it.”

Lydia’s eyes were questioning. “How was that possible? I always believed the entail was set in stone for perpetuity.”

Mr. Bennet shook his head. “The law states that by agreement of the present holder and the heir, the entail can be broken. Collins and I together petitioned to convert the estate into fee simple. That means full ownership, which may be sold or willed freely. The entail is no more.”

Lydia’s brows rose. “So Mary need never fear being turned out into the hedgerows?”

Mrs. Bennet gasped. “No indeed, for she has two sons, but even without them, the entail no longer exists. Little Christopher need never fear that his wife and children will lose their home.”

“I am glad,” Lydia said softly. “The threat of living in the hedgerows was the reason I once wished to marry young, to save the family. But I will admit, later I found I enjoyed the attentions of a handsome man.”

Mr. Bennet looked at his wife, his face pinched. Lydia giggled. “Never mind, Papa. I have learned my behavior was inappropriate, and I know how to comport myself as becomes a gentlewoman. But that does not change the fact that I like to be admired.”

“Were there any men working at your school, Lydia?” Mrs. Bennet asked anxiously.

“No, Mamma. Only the dancing master, who came to teach us figures. He never lingered, and he was older than Papa. We were not tempted, and Mrs. Lewis arranged it so. She knew what manner of young women her students were.”

Mr. Bennet said dryly, “I am glad of that. It is why I selected that school in the north, to keep you safe from the wiles of men.”

Lydia’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever became of Captain Carter? He was handsome, but I see now he meant no good by me and meant to ruin me at his leisure. We were often alone. When he began sending notes for clandestine meetings, it was no longer chance; it was planned.” She shivered.

“My life would be very different now had things gone further. My angel was watching over me.”

Her father’s brows drew together. “It appears you have learned something of the world and of worldly men, who care not whom they ruin so long as their own desires are gratified.”

“Yes, Papa. I saw tragic things at that school in Nottinghamshire. The wildest girls were sent there. Over the years, I have seen the ruin of many, but these, in particular, remain with me. My dearest friend, Melissa, went home for Christmas. I received one letter from her, an admonishment. She begged me to follow the rules and warned me against men. At the village Christmas assembly, she met the very man whose misconduct had first occasioned her removal to the school. He seduced her, and she was left with child. As he was already married, he could not make her his wife, and her father forced her into a marriage with a tradesman in the north. She is dead to her family. I have often cried for her. That changed me. I realized it was up to me to protect myself.”

Mr. Bennet nodded slowly. “Captain Carter did not ruin any of our neighbors. After I placed you in school, I thought to myself, why should Lydia be the only one to suffer? I paid a visit to Colonel Forster and informed him about the kind of man Carter was. I did not name you, but I told him of the man’s ways and intentions.

The colonel investigated and discovered that Carter had gained a reputation for trifling with girls.

He sought out the very young, fourteen and fifteen-year-old children.

The colonel dismissed him. During the course of the inquiry, he discovered that another officer, Captain Denny, was also engaging in the same practice.

He was also dismissed from the regiment. ”

Lydia shook her head and pursed her lips. “Denny was also my good friend. I am surprised he never tried to entice me. Perhaps I was too young for his tastes.” She turned the subject. “Are we invited to visit Lizzy when Jane makes her visit?”

“She did send an invitation, and I accepted with a caveat.” Mr. Bennet looked directly into Lydia’s eyes.

“I told her that I must first see how you behaved. I needed to determine if my grandchildren would be safe around you. Lizzy and Mr. Darcy take prodigious care of William and Richard, and Jane of Charles and James. All of us are careful about who may be around the children.”

Lydia returned his look. “Do I pass inspection?”

He smiled at his youngest daughter. “You do. You have matured.”

Lydia turned to her mother, laughing. “I met Mr. Darcy at the Gouldings’ picnic. His sister and I raced with ribbons, and we both ended up in the bushes. He helped us up and cheered us on, as did his handsome cousin.” She smiled slyly. “What became of him? He is married, I imagine.”

“Yes,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Richard Fitzwilliam married his cousin Anne. They live in Kent and have a son. She is expecting another soon.”

“And what of Alexander Lucas? I was shocked when Papa wrote to tell me Lizzy was marrying another. The entire neighborhood knew she would someday marry Alexander.”

Mrs. Bennet shook her head. “A sad business. He abandoned Lizzy when Mary King inherited her fortune. When Lizzy married Mr. Darcy, Alexander came to his senses, but it was too late. He had lost her. He sailed to the West Indies and worked there for years with his uncle. He returned a month ago to take over the estate. Sir William fell and broke his ankle. It seemed a small injury, but he could not walk on that leg, so they sent for Alexander to come home.”

Lydia sniffed. “I hope he has learned his lesson. He was a fool to let Lizzy slip away. I hope she never forgives him.”

Mrs. Bennet pressed Lydia’s hand. “Never mind. Lizzy is very happily married. She has two fine boys and is expecting her third. She has a fine house, and Mr. Darcy adores her. She forgave Alexander long ago.”