'Is my daughter in here? Mrs Wickham?' he asked the maid who opened the door. She was wearing a Pemberley livery, and she looked familiar.
'Yes, Mr Bennet, she has been choosing new dresses but the seamstress is just finished. Do you mind waiting here while I ask your daughter whether you can come in? She is decent.'
Dear Lizzy, so kind of her to make sure Lydia would not leave without some new dresses with which to make the best possible impression on the new officers' wives.
'I will wait, my dear girl. You are not Lydia's maid, are you?'
'No, sir, I'm Mrs Darcy's personal maid, but I've come to know Mrs Wickham a little in Newcastle and she asked me to help her choose proper dresses.'
With a curtsey, the maid was gone, and returned almost instantly.
'She says you could have just come in since you are her father and you always used to. She is very pleased with her new dresses, sir, she is in an excellent humour.'
As if he'd ever barged in on any of his daughters, even before they became
young women. But saying things like that was just what Lydia did, especially in an excited mood. This was a very discreet maid to let him know so subtly she didn't believe he'd ever do such a terrible thing, trust Lizzy to come up with a smart girl who wasn't overly humble.
'Thank you! I'm sorry, I feel like I should know your name but I don't remember.'
'Fanny, sir. Thank you, sir.'
The seamstress was still gathering some curious books and putting them into a sturdy bag, and it was obvious she had done well for Lydia since Mr Bennet's flighty youngest daughter ran at him and fell onto his neck, something she usually knew better than to do. As Fanny had warned him, she was very excited with the prospect of her new dresses.
'Papa, Lizzy has been so kind to me, she said I might choose four new dresses and stay here until they are all ready. And a new summer coat! You know she even thought of having them made a bit larger for when my baby really starts to grow. Fanny saw the dresses that Lizzy bought for Charlotte in London and she explained to Mrs Miller here how they could be made so they wouldn't look too large now and still fit when I'm much bigger. Fanny knows everything about fashion, papa, she got Lizzy in the society pages of the newspaper again and again.'
Until the seamstress and Fanny had left the room, Mr Bennet let his youngest rave on about her new dresses, but as soon as they were by themselves he invited her to sit down together to catch up. A lot had happened in Lydia's life that Mr Bennet had read about in Lizzy's letters but never heard from Lydia herself or through her mother, for some reason she seemed to have told only Lizzy about her loss. Of course he knew from Wickham what the young couple's future would bring, but now he wanted to know Lydia's own thoughts on her life.
Which was why he took her hand and asked her, 'How have you been, my dear Lydia?'
The flightiest of his daughters suddenly looked very serious, her pretty face reminding him much less of a very young Mrs Bennet and much more of his beloved elder two daughters.
'I didn't think you cared, papa. It was always as if only Jane and especially Lizzy mattered to you, and Kitty and I were mama's daughters.'
Poor Mary, she must often have felt as if no-one cared about her. Hopefully she enjoyed her new status as only child, and the trip to Brighton with her
mother.
'I'm sorry, Lydia. I have not been the father to you that I might have been, and now you are suffering for it.'
'Papa, you couldn't help that I lost my baby! You always went to church and gave thanks before dinner and read the bible. And anyway, Mr Blaze said I didn't lose my baby because I thought going to church was boring, not even because I lived in sin with my dear Wickham. Mr Blaze said bad things happened to everyone, and Mr Collins said that if my poor baby wasn't right he would have had a miserable life, he was better off with the Lord in Heaven.'
Mr Bennet meant being married to Wickham as Lydia's misfortune, but of course Lydia loved the fellow, she had been suffering from the loss of her baby, not from being dependent on a worthless man. And Lydia had listened to Mr Collins? Let herself be comforted by his words? What was going on?
'But I should have taken better care of you, Lydia, made sure you learned something, read books, knew some history, I should have hired a governess.'
Did Lydia actually agree with him here? She had never wanted to broaden her mind, had always hidden behind her mother's conviction they would marry well and thus be provided for.
'You know what I would have liked to have learned? How to handle money and keep accounts. It would be such a relief for Wickham if he didn't have to worry about money when he comes home after a long day of working with his men. And I'd like to be as good at sewing and fitting as Jane and Lizzy, so I could wear nice clothes that don't cost so much. They offered to teach me, papa, but I just wanted to have fun, I never thought about the future, I just thought I'd get married and my husband would take care of everything. Like you do for mama. But that isn't what a good wife and mother does, all my friends in Newcastle did important things in their household. Of course I didn't realise not everybody has a housekeeper and a cook and maids and a steward.
I only had Abbey, but we had a good time together and we taught each other a lot. And now I may never see her again, it was so hard to say goodbye to her, and Wickham will be away from home all the time in Kent and then he will be sent to France and I will have nobody. No Wickham, no friends, no Abbey, just my baby, but I don't know how to care for a baby. Abbey does, she has loads of little brothers and sisters. Wickham promised me he'd get us a nursemaid, but what if don't like her? Abbey said maids are terribly stuck
up in the south, so close to London.'
'Well, I believe your sister's maid is from London, do you think she is stuck up? But I agree that you should have one person you can trust, Lydia. You know you have always made new friends easily, but when you are with child you need to have someone you can complain to, or cry to, or confess your fears to.'
'I am still so afraid, papa, that something will go wrong with this baby as well.'
'Your fear is to be expected, my dear, but as I have told Lizzy several times, your mother never had much trouble carrying or bearing you lot, so I guess you will be just fine, all of you.'
'Lizzy is with child as well? Really? That is such a relief, then we'll have our children together and I can ask her for advice. She is so smart, and if Mr Darcy has his own baby he will take pity on me if something happens to Wickham, I won't end up in the poorhouse. I've heard that happens sometimes when a soldier dies.'
'Lydia, I did not say Lizzy is with child, I merely talked with her about carrying and bearing children. And Wickham is an excellent officer and a good soldier, he has every chance of making it back to England unscathed.
But you know you will always have a home with your mother and me, and if that is not possible, either Jane, Lizzy or Kitty will certainly help you. You will not end up in the poorhouse, my dear. Why are you so afraid of what is to come, you used to be so free of care?'
'I suppose I started to grow up when I lost my baby, papa. I never used to see any problems, but now I know there is danger everywhere I cannot help being afraid. I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of a baby, Wickham promised to hire that nanny to help me but what if he doesn't? Nannies cost money. And what if Wickham doesn't love me anymore when I'm getting really big? I love him so much but sometimes it is as if he doesn't really care about me, I try to get his attention but he is very distracted.'
Poor Lydia, she was so right, Wickham had taken her solely for the relief of his debts, and maybe in the hopes of wringing more from Darcy than he'd actually succeeded in. Shackled to her mother for more of his life now than he had been free, Mr Bennet understood Wickham better than he liked, but still he hoped Lydia would never find out how little the man she adored actually cared for her. Her father certainly wasn't going to spoil her last remnant of a carefree girlhood.
'I'm certain he'll love you jus
t as much as ever, my dear. He is probably very busy, and I suppose he has his share of cares to occupy his thoughts. He is going to bear the responsibility for a lot of men, Lydia, in a very dangerous situation. And then he will have to leave you behind when you need him most. I can imagine him being distracted. Just be patient, give him some time to accept all that. But I do think you need a little help with that fear of yours.
Would it help you if I were to talk to Wickham? Maybe tomorrow?'
'Oh, yes, papa! I was hoping Lizzy would talk to him, he has such respect for her. But I'm sure he will listen to you as well. If I know I will really have someone to help with the baby, someone nice, I will feel much more comfortable.'
That was the last thing Mr Bennet wanted, Lizzy meeting with Wickham in private. After what had happened he didn't want his daughter anywhere near the man, Wickham was a superbly trained soldier, if he got it into his head to try again Lizzy didn't stand a chance. It was bad enough that he might be allowed in the family once again if he turned out to be Darcy's half-brother.
'Then I will seek out Wickham, my dear, please try to stop worrying so much.
Now tell me everything that happened after you left for Newcastle, we have an hour before we need to dress for dinner, let us spend that together.'
Chapter 32
Elizabeth was not going to worry about dinner, she had used a bit of creativity placing each of her guests at the table in company suited to make them appear to their advantage. Frederick was always very accommodating entertaining Mr Collins, but this time she needed a highly ranked gentleman to keep Lady Catherine and Prince George from clashing. Fortunately, Georgiana seemed to feel some responsibility towards Mr Collins, and she didn't care at all for rank, she'd just as gladly sit lower at the table. Elizabeth had considered placing her father close to Lydia but had decided against it, that might just as easily end up having the opposite effect. Instead, she'd chosen to place him on Lady Catherine's lower side, with Fitzwilliam and herself between his aunt and the prince. By now, her beloved could handle any outrageous compliments Prince George might make her, and if not, Frederick would be on the prince's other side to help contain Fitzwilliam's
reaction.
Or maybe Eric could keep Mr Collins occupied talking about music, then Georgiana could entertain Lydia. And Elizabeth had high hopes for Anne with regards to keeping Lydia out of trouble. Of course Anne should really be seated much higher at the table than Elizabeth herself, but Elizabeth knew she wouldn't want to sit so close to her mother, better keep her with Prince George and Frederick on her one side, and Lydia and Georgiana on the other.
Hopefully this way dinner would be quiet and free of embarrassments.
And after dinner she dared conclude her arrangements had worked out.
'I will miss Mrs Brewer's creations almost as much as I will miss you and Mrs Manners, Mrs Darcy.'
And strangely, Elizabeth believed the prince's lamentation, he would indeed miss the easy friendship and the simplicity of their company, there were no intrigues here, and little flattery towards him, but the people here were honest. Even those who cared little for the prince, most notably Fitzwilliam but to a certain extent Frederick as well, he distrusted Prince George's keen interest in his private affairs and rightfully so. But Frederick did not hide those feelings behind sycophancy and flattery, he just took care to only talk about generalities, politics, music, sports, and the prince seemed to respect that.
At this moment, the future king of the British Isles was mostly still enjoying the memory of those flaky pastries with a glazed top and a sweet, fluffy filling.
'I don't know how to start instructing my own staff to do some experimenting on their own. They are so traditional, I don't even know whether they are capable of change. But I suppose I am going to find out in a few days, and if they are not I'll find someone who is.'
Soon after the ladies' retreat to the drawing-room, Anne and Lydia were engaged in a lively conversation which Elizabeth suspected might be Anne's way to keep a distance from her mother whilst annoying her by behaving like a young girl instead of the sedate married woman her mother wanted her to be. Georgiana, meanwhile, proved her growth from shy girl to self-assured woman by talking to her aunt, as far as Elizabeth could hear about her mother, whom she had found out today had not always been a sweet, motherly woman with health issues plaguing her. Once she had been a ravishing beauty like her sister, less blooming and a little shy, but nonetheless eager to enjoy her youth, and with plenty of admirers.
After the servants had brought in the coffee, with some beautiful sweets in honour of Prince George's last evening, the gentlemen filed in as a tight group, spreading out naturally towards this lady or the other. Frederick sought out Anne, Eric his own beloved, accompanied by the two men who were least alike in this entire company, except for their shared love for music.
Mr Collins was more Will than ever as he walked side by side with Prince George on their way to the piano. They would have to make do with the Clementi for a few hours, maybe the prince would get up early tomorrow to hear just one more original Fielding composition on the Zumpe, or maybe they'd make a late night of it at headquarters.
Fitzwilliam was heading her way but so was papa, and as her beloved saw his father-in-law looking for a talk with his favourite daughter, he blew a kiss at Elizabeth and instead accompanied his aunt to a seat at the table, where they could play cards with Lydia. But where was Lydia, was she still with Anne?
'Don't worry, Lizzy,' her father said, 'your sister is still with Mrs Manners, and even if she isn't, I think she will behave beautifully in her current company. She seems to have learned a lot during her time in Newcastle, she told me her friends there were just like you and Jane except she actually listened to them?'
Elizabeth couldn't help laughing, Lydia had told her that as well and very likely it was true. Poor Lydia had grown up a little, though probably not voluntarily. And Elizabeth was not convinced she couldn't still make a spectacle of herself, but maybe it was time for Elizabeth to grow up a little as well and let people be themselves, even Lydia.
'Lizzy, please tell me, I was going to ask Darcy but there was no opportunity just now, we were talking as a group, you know how that goes sometimes.
What did those letters say, is it true?'
He didn't know yet?
'Didn't Mrs Annesley tell you? She said she was going to seek you out immediately to tell you the good news. Wickham is not Fitzwilliam's half-brother, papa. The letter proved his mother got with child when Mr Richard Darcy was in London.'
'Mrs Annesley? You talked to her about this? When? And why? I didn't see her after she left the library to find you and Darcy, the butler told me Lydia was in the house and I needed to spend some time with her, ask her about what happened, she never breathed a single word about it to me or even her mother.'
'Mrs Annesley asked to have a private word while the others were discussing her art and the paintings of the late Mrs Darcy. She said Wickham had written to you about what happened between him and me in Newcastle, and that you were planning to tell Fitzwilliam if he was considering letting Wickham back into the family. She did not agree, was afraid it would have devastating results and I agree. Papa, you know I love Fitzwilliam more than life itself but he must never know, I took care of it and now we must forget it ever happened. Why would Wickham write to you about such a thing? You're my father, what could it gain him?'
'I think he needed to confess to someone, Lizzy, and though I am your father I wasn't likely to expose him or challenge him. He isn't that bad a man as long as he has something to keep him occupied in a sensible manner. But still I'd rather not have you near him except in company.'
'I'm a grown woman, papa, and I can handle George Wickham. I would prefer to keep away from him but I need to see him about Lydia, she needs her maid, Abbey. They left her in Newcastle, but I'm very certain she would not mind living in Kent, she is from a very large, very poor family. A position will make all t
he difference to her.'
'Lizzy, I talked to Lydia for over an hour and I totally agree with you, someone has to convince Wickham to let her have this maid as help and companion. But do not see him by yourself, he is a danger to you and to Darcy. I don't think he would hurt you but why take the risk? Let me go, I will handle this, let me finally do something for my daughter, if I had done that years ago this would all have been unnecessary.'
His heart was really in this, and frankly, Elizabeth didn't relish the thought of seeing Wickham again in private. But did papa know exactly what Lydia needed? He didn't know Abbey, hadn't been there when Lydia's grief had still been fresh, hadn't seen her friends and how she fit in with the Newcastle people.
'I suppose we'll have to go together then. I do need to be there, I've talked to her friends, to Mr Blaze, the camp's minister, I know Abbey. And papa, I will pay Abbey if Wickham cannot afford her, I'm very certain he won't admit that to you but he will to me. He has no reason to keep up appearances towards me, I've seen him at his worst, to me he will be honest.'
Good, papa saw the reason in that.
'Lizzy, you make me very proud with your wisdom and your bravery, and your commitment to your sister, who never did anything to deserve it. We
will go together, and if he refuses to be honest towards me you can even see him in private. Except I will be on hand to help out if he cannot control himself.'
Papa was so sweet, and though he could never beat Wickham in a fight she would feel safer with him close. And maybe, just maybe, Wickham would be resigned to his father-in-law knowing exactly how difficult his financial situation was. He had told him about his misdeed towards Elizabeth after all, and in writing. She could prosecute him with that letter as evidence, maybe that was what he had in mind when he sent it, as a guarantee for his future good behaviour.
'What about Mrs Annesley, my dear Lizzy, do you think I can just ignore what she told you and wait until she addresses the subject?'
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