Page 60 of To Love And To Cherish (Pride And Prejudice Variation #3)

Elizabeth nestled against Mr. Darcy before the fire at Darcy House, the warmth of his arm around her matched only by the beauty of Georgiana's music as she played the pianoforte.

After a moment, Elizabeth turned to him and said softly, "William, I will visit my sister Lydia tomorrow. I have not seen her since she was eleven years old. She desperately needed to be separated from my mother, who was beginning to shape her into a siren, a savior for the family. Lydia is fair, with blond curls and sapphire eyes. A beauty and strong-willed. That combination, in my mother’s hands, would have led to ruin. "

He said nothing, only pressed her hand with quiet tenderness, his eyes fixed on hers.

"When I returned from London years ago," Elizabeth continued, "I saw her for only a week before she was sent away. I don’t know what sort of young woman she has become.

I hope she has changed. I have written to her every week since she left, and Liddy seems to have grown into a reasonable girl.

But I must see for myself. If she is respectable, I wish for her to reside with us. "

Darcy looked at her. "Do you wish me to accompany you?"

"No. I must speak to her alone. If there is anything in her character that might harm Georgiana, I will not bring her into this house. I will only tell her that you are now her guardian. That alone will ease her mind. Her greatest fear is that Papa will die and she will be left to Mamma’s devices."

"If you need me, send the groom. I will come."

She kissed his mouth. "Thank you."

The next morning, the Darcy coach drew up before the Women’s Finishing Academy situated in a respectable neighborhood. Elizabeth descended and asked to see Miss Lydia Bennet. She was shown into a small private parlor reserved for family visits. A few moments later, Lydia entered.

Elizabeth stood at once. Lydia was at least three inches taller than herself, with golden curls streaked with lighter threads. Elizabeth was momentarily startled by how much she resembled both Jane and their mother.

Lydia stopped at the threshold and stared. "Lizzy? You are beautiful and so grown-up!"

Elizabeth laughed and opened her arms. Lydia flew across the room and embraced her. Tears sprang to Elizabeth’s eyes. "Little sister, you’re all grown up!"

Lydia laughed. "Yes, but don’t tell Mamma. She’ll come and try to marry me off to some horrid old man."

"Come, sit with me," Elizabeth said, taking her hand and guiding her to the couch.

Outside the French window, the garden was brightened by the autumn sun.

"Lydia, I came to tell you that Papa has given guardianship to my husband. Mr. Darcy is now your guardian. You are safe from Mamma’s schemes."

Lydia stared. "Papa is no longer my guardian?"

Elizabeth nodded solemnly. "That’s right. You are free of mamma."

Lydia covered her face with her hands and began to weep. Elizabeth reached for her handkerchief.

"Dearest, I did this to protect you. I could not bear to leave your future in Mamma’s hands."

Lydia accepted the handkerchief and wiped her eyes.

"I’m crying from relief, Lizzy. You’ve removed my greatest fear.

Mamma has written for years, telling me to learn every accomplishment so she can marry me off to a rich man.

She says it won’t matter if he’s old, so long as I give him an heir.

I have lived in dread since her first letter. "

Elizabeth held her sister close. "You need not fear her anymore. She cannot harm you. Mr. Darcy and I would like to invite you to live with us. His sister Georgiana is your age, and I think you would suit one another well. You need not decide today."

Lydia smiled. "I would love to live with you. My best friend left last month, and my next dearest is leaving soon. I have no wish to return to Longbourn into mamma’s clutches."

"Then it is settled. There is also to be a ball given by Mr. Darcy's aunt, the Countess of Matlock, in our honor.

Kitty and Georgiana will attend, and you are invited too, with the same dancing restrictions as they.

If you wish to come, you must be fitted for a ball gown.

We will begin shopping in two days. And be warned, the four of us will continue lessons in etiquette, though you may already be well-versed in that subject. "

"A ball? Yes! Please, Lizzy. I want to dance at a ball."

Elizabeth smiled. "Then I shall return for you tomorrow. Would you like to visit Aunt Gardiner with me this afternoon?"

"Oh yes!"

Lydia dashed upstairs to collect her pelisse, gloves, and bonnet.

At Gracechurch Street, Elizabeth informed her aunt of Lydia’s new living arrangements.

Madeline Gardiner hugged Lydia warmly. "It all came out well in the end, my dear. You’re safe at last."

When Uncle Gardiner entered, Lydia embraced him and shared her news. The rest of the visit passed in happy conversation and tea before Elizabeth took her sister back to the academy and returned home.

That evening, in the drawing room, Elizabeth turned to Georgiana as they waited for dinner.

"Georgiana, I wanted you to know that my sister Lydia will be moving in with us. If you ever feel the arrangement is not to your comfort, please tell me. This is your home."

Georgiana looked thoughtful. "What is she like?"

Elizabeth laughed. "Taller than I am by about three inches. Golden-haired, very like Jane. I barely know her since she has been away at school since she was eleven. We were not permitted to correspond, but we did so in secret."

Georgianna was curious but was too polite to ask about the secrecy and said instead, "We shall see what comes. If your sister is like you and Kitty, I shall be happy. I’ve missed Kitty so."

Darcy arched a brow, feigning dismay. “Is my company so dull, little sister? Must I up my efforts? I could learn to juggle or recite poetry, to liven things up a bit.”

Georgiana turned to him in dismay, then caught the glint in his eye and giggled.

Later, as Elizabeth lay in bed, Darcy drew her close. "From your tone at dinner, it seems it went well with your sister?"

"It did. She seems thoughtful, even reasonable, and is not the spoiled child I remember. The school did her a world of good. I barely recognized the polite, polished girl who greeted me."

He chuckled. "She sounds like her sister Elizabeth."

She kissed him, and he drew her into his chest, their conversation dissolving into kisses and a loving embrace.

The following day, Elizabeth and Georgiana returned to the academy to collect Lydia.

The girls were introduced, and Georgiana offered to help carry Lydia’s bird, in its little cage, to the coach.

Upon arriving at Darcy House, Georgiana led the quiet girl to her new chambers and helped her settle in.

Darcy emerged from his study in search of Elizabeth. Finding her in the corridor, he smiled.

"How did it go with your sister?"

"She had precious little to bring. Liddy says she grew an inch and a half in the past three months and had to give away most of her gowns as they were indecently short."

He laughed. "It seems you must outfit yet another Bennet sister."

Elizabeth leaned in, her voice low and teasing . “The wife of the formidable Fitzwilliam Darcy can afford a great many things, though none so dear as the attentions of her very masculine, very handsome husband."

He grinned and drew her into his arms. “Bewitching, teasing woman.”

His lips brushed a lingering path along the curve of her neck, descending to her shoulder, when a faint sound at the door stilled them both. He drew back at once, schooling his expression, just as the butler entered bearing the morning post.

"Your sisters are now my sisters," he said, smiling into her eyes. "You and Georgiana shall have a fine time taking her shopping. How old is Miss Lydia?"

"Fifteen. She and Georgiana are the same age."

He nodded. "Good. At least I shall be spared husband-shopping for a few years yet."

Elizabeth grinned. "One can only hope."