A/N: I have got the highest number of views on the last posting, but only 7 reviews. Thanks to all those to put in one. Remember I am using these reviews first to correct all the mistakes in the story, andsecond, to guide the writing of my next story. So reviews are very welcome or else the next story may never happen! Even if you think Darcy's proposal was "Blah!", still let me know! There are not too many of you who think that, right?

Chapter 37: Lydia in Trouble

When Mr. Bennet announced that Mr. Darcy and Lizzy were to be married, there were thoroughly heart-felt congratulations coming from Mrs. Bennet, Mary, and Kitty. However, Miss Bennet and Miss Lydia held back a little chagrin. Miss Bennet was disappointed that her younger sister would marry before her, and Miss Lydia's fantasy of being the first among her sisters to marry was dashed. Ever since she started noticing curves developing on her body not twelve months ago, and her stature grew to be the equal of Jane thus surpassing all her other elder sisters, she had fancied that perhaps she would be attracting gentlemen more than her sisters especially when she was, in her own opinion, also more fun and lively. Jane was so staid, Lizzy was too clever, Mary was too pedantic, and Kitty was too bland, even though she did paint very well. She herself was just right: vivacious, imaginative, pretty and altogether enticing to gentlemen. One thing she forgot was that she was still too young and therefore prone to be indecorous and thus blurted out, "Oh I wish it were I who would be the first to marry!"

Mrs. Bennet was instantly alarmed, and Mr. Bennet looked at his youngest and spoke with an unusually serious tone coming from him, "Lydia, you are five years from being allowed to marry. If you are foolhardy enough to try, you will not receive your dowry."

Lydia petulantly answered, "A man who loves me will not worry about any dowry. Lizzy is also not of age."

Mr. Bennet was loathed to reprimand his youngest daughter in front of Mr. Darcy, and said to Lydia, "Lydia, come to my study with me so that Mr. Darcy and Lizzy could celebrate properly with the rest of the family who rejoice with them at their good news."

Lydia blinked and, suddenly, realized what she had done, and looked imploringly at her mother, who was so appalled by the behaviour of her youngest that she glared back at Lydia with unsuppressed ire.

Once in the study, Mr. Bennet made Lydia stood in front of him, looked his daughter over, and asked, "Lydia, why do you think it is so important to be married first? Is it because Longbourn bores you and you want to leave home?"

Lydia, who did not frequent her father's study, was obviously intimidated by the fact that she was now being interviewed by her father in the 'holy of holies'. She timidly answered, "Papa, I am sorry that I made such an unladylike outburst in front of Mr. Darcy. I have been writing a story about a young maiden being swept off her feet by a pirate, a good pirate who raids French frigates. I often imagine myself to be the young maiden and imagine myself married."

Mr. Bennet looked at his daughter for a long moment, and asked, "You still have not answered my question of why being the first among your sisters to be married is of such utmost importance."

Lydia was genuinely surprised by this question, for she until this moment never thought about this. She lowered her head further and said even more timidly, "I do not know, Papa. I have not thought about it until you just asked me."

Mr. Bennet considered her answer and said, "Let me attempt to explain this peculiar longing of yours that you cannot explain yourself. I believe that you have been trying to come up with a way to best your sisters, being the youngest and least accomplished at your age. You may have heard your mother lament the fact that I do not allow my daughters to be married until you are of age, and feel that if you become the first to marry among your sisters, you will distinguish yourself and please your mother. Do I come close to the true cause of your wanting to be the first to marry?"

Lydia thought for a long moment, and said, "I truly do not know, Papa. What you just said makes sense. I have been trying to be as good and kind as Jane, as learned and inventive as Lizzy, and to paint as well as Kitty, but I do not seem to be able to do it. That was why I started writing stories because in the stories, I could be whatever I imagine myself to be."

Mr. Bennet continued for her daughter, "And you have begun to notice young men and how they look at you as well. My child, you are full young to realize the treachery of the world, especially that caused by young men. Most men, regardless of age and rank, enjoy looking at young ladies. Those who are gentlemen, being mindful of propriety and raised on Christian teachings, restrain themselves from being overt with their desires. Rakes and scoundrels openly display them without shame. If you feel that a particular gentleman looks at you appreciatively, you should be on your guard because a true gentleman does not do that. He will know that first, you are too young for such favours; and second, when you are of age, he will go through the proper channel to seek an introduction to you, and will court you with your father's blessings. It came to my attention that one such rake, Mr. Wickham, made eyes with you and you reciprocated. Is that correct?"

Lydia was shocked that her father was aware of this and she stuttered, "Papa, where…where did you come by this information? Oh, it must have been Lizzy. She does not miss anything." She looked at her father then who was patiently waiting for her answer. "Yes, Papa," whispered Lydia.

Mr. Bennet nodded and continued, "I was going to conceal what happened this morning, but now, I think I must tell my daughters so that you will all be on guard against future incidents like this. Let this be a painful but necessary lesson. That scoundrel Wickham tried to accost and thus compromise Lizzy this morning on Longbourn's grounds. His goal was to acquire Lizzy's dowry since she is the closest to be of age next to Jane, but Jane is always well-guarded, unlike Lizzy who likes wandering far and wide with just Buccaneer. I could not fault her this time because she was on home ground, and she had her pistol heeding the condition I impose on her for traipsing around in the wilderness without a footman when the scoundrel attempted his treachery. So, you see, Mr. Wickham probably found you to be an easier target, but your dowry is inaccessible and therefore he chose Lizzy instead."

Lydia was truly shaken by this revelation and cried with true concern, "Is Lizzy alright? Was she hurt? Was she compromised? But she is to marry Mr. Darcy…."

Mr. Bennet stopped her rambling and explained, "Wickham did not succeed with his misdeed. Buccaneer intervened and Lizzy was able to escape without any injury to her person. In fact, she accidentally shot off a part of Wickham's nose while trying to save Buccaneer from harm. Wickham will no longer be able to use his previous good looks to cause mischief to maidens. Quite a few young women have already fallen victim."

Lydia clasped her hands together at her bosom when she heard that Buc was the hero in Lizzy's rescue for even though Buc was more Lizzy's companion, he was well-loved by the whole family. "Is that why Mr. Darcy is marrying Lizzy, to prevent a scandal from spreading?" Lydia asked.

"Mr. Darcy told me at the Netherfield Ball that he intended to call on Lizzy in town after New Year. This incident perhaps urged him to act sooner."

"Oh, it is good of him to come to Lizzy's aid. Papa, I did not have any feelings for Mr. Wickham. It was just a new experience to me to be noticed by gentlemen, or in his case, a bad man. I think I have learned my lesson and will mind my own decorum when in the company of gentlemen who are strangers."

"Good! my child. I realize that it must not be easy for you to be the youngest among sisters with such outstanding qualities. I noticed that you skipped over Mary as a sister to emulate." On hearing this Lydia wrinkled her nose. "Do not disparage your sister Mary because she is in piety most like your grandparents and great-grandparents, who laid the foundation for Longbourn as you see it today. You would be hard pressed to find another young lady with such a steady resolve to study, be it the scriptures or the pianoforte. It is true that it may not be possible to learn to have Jane' meekness as it is a trait that she inherited from your Grandmamma rather than a skill she attained. However, Lizzy's power of observation can be studied and adopted to a degree. It will do you good if you emulate Mary for her steadiness of purpose to make keen observations around you. You may be able to transfer your observations to your stories to make them reflective of our times. If you do a tolerably competent job of it, I may send some manuscripts over to your Uncle Peter in America and see whether he will publish them."

"Oh, Papa! Are you in earnest? I will surely try!"

"Now run along and apologize to the family for your unseemly behaviour earlier, and send Lizzy and Mr. Darcy to see me in the study."

"Yes, Papa." Lydia curtsied and left the room, feeling quite proud of herself that she was the first in the family outside of Lizzy to know what happened in the morning. Being first was still important to her, but perhaps not being the first to marry.

When Lydia entered the morning room, all eyes were turned to her. Even after having been properly humbled, Lydia did not lack flair. She curtsied deeply, and said in a rather dramatic tone, "Mr. Darcy and Lizzy, please accept my heart-felt apology for my unseemly outburst earlier. Father has made me see my folly. I do sincerely wish you the most felicitous future in matrimony. Mother, may your mind not be troubled. I no longer wish to be the first to marry, and I will be vigilant against fortune-hunters. Mr. Darcy, I wish to welcome you as my future brother, and Father wishes to see you and Lizzy in his study."

Mr. Darcy rose and excused himself and let Lizzy precede him to go out of the room while the sisters descended upon Lydia to find out what their father had said to her in private. Lydia relished the opportunity to disclose to her sisters and mother what happened to Lizzy this morning. All were astonished and distressed, and felt deeply what a close call it had been and resolved to take up target practice themselves. Mrs. Bennet almost called for her smelling salt for the first time in years.