a/n: Thank you so much for all the reviews. Nothing brightens by day like hearing that people are enjoying this story. Originally, I never planned for this story to last more than a few chapters, but you all inspire me to write, so thank you. Enjoy this chapter. Quick refresher: in the last chapter, Lydia and Lizzy stayed behind in the music room to have a private conversation.
"What is it you wish to speak of?" Elizabeth asked sitting on the piano bench, her back to the exquisite instrument.
"It is Miss. Caroline Bingley!"
"I have noticed your growing intimacy. What is it about Miss. Bingley?"
"It is just that I like her very much and am enjoying her friendship greatly. I only fear she will discover the kind of woman I really am."
Elizabeth's face contorted into something like sadness, "You worry about your reputation? Lydia, I had no idea."
"Well, I never worried before, but now I see how it could potentially ruin a friendship for me."
"Well," she began, "I am not sure that there is much that can be done now. Do you suspect that Miss. Bingley has figured out the truth of your marriage?"
"I know not," she said sitting down beside her sister on the piano bench, "but I fear what could happen if it were exposed. Do you ever feel as though your secrets will be exposed?"
"Exposed? Hmm, although I harbor no dark secrets, I do sometimes fear that people will discover that I sometimes feel I am only playing a childhood game, playing mistress of this home. I fear that everyone will figure out that I have no business managing this home. But it is no matter; any real friend will stick with you through thick and thin. If Miss. Bingley is the friend you think her to be, she will not care if you were living in sin with your husband before your marriage."
Lydia, surprisingly, appreciated the kind words, "If it helps you feel better Lizzy, I think you are an excellent mistress of Pemberley. Everything about this house is marvelous," she bit in a smile at her newfound rapport with her sister and decided to be bold, "but surely you have no idea what it feels like to have been compromised before your wedding." She held her breath in hopes that the grand Mrs. Darcy would refute her statement and reveal the truth.
"I cannot relate Lydia, but surely you do not believe my marriage to be loveless. I am no stranger to breaches of propriety."
Yes! Yes! La! This was exactly what Lydia was looking for. "What exactly do you mean by breaches of propriety?"
Elizabeth sighed, "Oh Lydia, it is nowhere near as scandalous as you are surely thinking."
Lydia huffed, "If it is no so scandalous then why do you not tell me?"
"Because some things are meant to be kept between a husband and a wife."
"Such as being compromised, perhaps?" Lydia said as she stood up to face Elizabeth.
"Is that an accusation?" Elizabeth asked as she shot out of her seat.
"Yes," Lydia said raising her nose to Lizzy. She was taller than her sister by a few inches and plumper, despite Lizzy's condition, "it is an accusation."
"And what exactly are you accusing me of?" she said, her face contorting to an angry expression, her arms crossing just beneath her bosom.
"I think you know exactly what I am accusing you of."
"No, no, please enlighten me. I haven't the foggiest," her face red with anger. Her condition had made her emotions very volatile.
"Well. It has become clear to me that your husband compromised you while you were visiting him last summer. That is how he knew my dear Wickham and I had run off and that he is why he felt obligated to pay for our wedding. You disliked Mr. Darcy until you saw Pemberley. Once you saw such a grand estate, you knew you had to deduce the man and force him to marry you."
"How dare you!" Elizabeth shrieked as she moved closer to Lydia. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing. You are a guest in my home – an uninvited one in fact. Just because you were as wanton as a whore before you wed, wed only because my husband paid your husband a great deal, does not mean I as wanton as you. Let me assure you that I was not compromised. Mr. Darcy paid for your wedding out of guilt and a misplaced sense of responsibility for knowing Wickham's character and doing northing. I was a maiden until by wedding night and if you once again suggest anything otherwise, I shall throw you from my home and ban you for good."
"No. How dare you! First you compare me to a whore and then threaten to keep me from your home. I am your sister and you are so much richer than me. You know I do not have the same resources as you. You owe me visits to your home and financial assistance."
"We may be sisters by blood, but I owe you nothing. Please do not raise your voice either, not in my home."
"I shall do whatever I want, including expose how you were compromised."
"You will not do such a thing! If you speak a false word against me, all assistance will be cut off."
"La! You would never do such a thing."
"Oh, I would. If you are to treat me this way, I want you out of my house," Elizabeth took another step closer, "go pack your bag and be on your way!"
"You cannot do that, I will not go!" she said showing her sister harder than she intended and sending her tumbling backwards.
It happened so suddenly. Lizzy was lying on the floor, her head bleeding. She had hit the piano stool on the way down and had done nothing to break her fall. Both her arms were wrapped protectively around her stomach.
Lydia screamed.
The door opened and Caroline Bingley entered the music room. "What on earth have you done?" her eyes went wide as she took in the scene.
