Page 22 of Suddenly Married

It had been almost three weeks since Jane had become engaged to Lawrence, and the Bennet family had moved to London to attend her wedding.

Mrs. Bennet, Jane, and Lydia stayed with the Gardiners at Cheapside.

As the Gardiners' home did not have sufficient space to accommodate the entire family, Mary and Kitty stayed with Lawrence and his mother.

Since the episode with Wickham, Lydia had changed considerably.

She had grown more attached to her mother and, for the first time, reflected upon her behaviour and desired to improve it.

Before going to bed one evening, she went to speak with Jane and happened to overhear a conversation regarding Elizabeth and her marriage.

That made her appreciate her sister's sacrifice all the more.

She lingered to listen, wishing to learn whether all was truly well with her sister in Derbyshire.

Jane, too, felt guilty over her beloved sister's fate and longed to do something to aid her.

Elizabeth had married that man to save them from ruin.

"Aunt, do you think Lizzy is well? In her letters, she always tells me that her life is much better than she had expected.

But sometimes, I believe she writes so merely to prevent me from worrying.

" "I do not know, Jane, but I believe she is sincere.

Mr. Darcy is a serious man with rigid notions, characteristic of those wealthy and powerful.

Yet I am convinced he is a good man, and I do not doubt that he loves Lizzy very much, in his own particular way.

Perhaps she has had the opportunity to know her husband better and to appreciate all his virtues.

" Mrs. Gardiner knew very well how wealthy the Darcy family was and therefore assumed that Mr. Darcy must have been deeply in love with Elizabeth to have chosen to marry a poor young woman whose chief endowment was her charm.

"Why do you think he holds such a low opinion of you if he has never even met you?

" Jane asked her aunt. "For that very reason—because he does not know us.

Mr. Darcy saw some things he disapproved of, heard others, and from that first impression formed his opinion of all of us," explained Mrs. Gardiner.

Hearing this, Lydia reflected on her past conduct, recalling, in particular, the ball at Netherfield where she had flirted with all the officers and drunk more punch than she ought.

She also remembered how Mr. Darcy had regarded her with disapproval.

Lydia felt ashamed and guilty. At last, she understood that her behaviour had affected both herself and her sisters, and she promised that the next time Elizabeth saw her, she would be proud of her younger sister.

Elizabeth did not know that Mr. Wickham had assaulted Lydia.

The sisters had agreed they would tell her only when they could speak in person.

It was not the sort of matter that could be discussed in a letter.

"Lizzy told me that Mr. Darcy treats her with affection and respect, and that Miss Darcy is a lovely girl; I believe they are already friends.

But I think she feels lonely. In fact, she spends much of her time with Dante, her new dog.

It seems there is something she believes she can only share with her pet.

I miss her dearly, and I wish she could attend my wedding.

" "She will be with us in spirit. And she will take great delight in our letters, reading all we saw and admired at your wedding.

" Mrs. Gardiner, seeing Jane melancholy, changed the subject to the new house Lawrence was purchasing, large enough to accommodate her entire family.

The beautiful mansion was situated in an exclusive neighbourhood where most of the residents were wealthy merchants.

Neither Mrs. Gardiner nor Elizabeth's sisters knew of the agreement between Elizabeth and her husband never to speak of her family.

They knew only that he had forbidden her to invite them to his estates; they had no notion of the rest. Elizabeth, unwilling to trouble them further, kept that part of the story to herself.

The following day was Jane's wedding, so Mrs. Gardiner spoke to her dear niece about the life of a married woman.

Afterwards, she urged Jane to sleep, for the coming day would be busy.

Jane felt nervous. For the past few days, she had thought of Mr. Bingley on more than one occasion, which filled her with remorse.

She feared she might never be able to love her husband, though he was one of the best men she had ever known.

But she knew it was too late to repent, and that her entire family depended upon her.

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