Chapter Eighteen
Lowering the letter from her eyes, Eden blinked furiously, trying to hold back the tears.
"Whatever is the matter?" Mr. Darcy asked. He sat down across from her, his brown eyes tender with concern.
"It is the most dreadful news," she whispered, clutching the letter tightly in her fist. "Lydia has run away—with Mr. Wickham. They are gone together from Brighton to Lord knows where. She has no money, no connection; I fear she is lost forever."
The color on Mr. Darcy's face paled slightly.
"This is my fault," he muttered to himself.
"No, it is not," she was quick to correct. "Lizzie and I might have prevented all of it merely by being open with our sisters with what Lizzie had learned from Colonel Fitzwilliam."
Mrs. Gardiner reached forward, taking Eden's hand in her own.
"Has anything been done to recover her?"
"Father and Colonels Forster and Fitzwilliam have gone to London. But I know very well that nothing can be done. We have not the smallest hope."
Hope. The very thing that Eden never thought could be destroyed. She had always been a hopeful child, always looking for that one ray of sunshine on a rainy day. Mrs. Gardiner knew this. She also knew that if Eden had given up, then it was truly bleak.
"Would I that I could help you," Mr. Darcy said softly.
"Sir, I think it is too late."
Mr. Gardiner stood from his chair.
"I am afraid we must go at once. I will join the others and find Lydia before she ruins the family forever." Mr. Darcy stood as well.
"This is grave indeed. I will leave you. Goodbye."
He met Eden's eyes before he left. And once more, Eden saw the stern man she had met all those months ago. He thought her ruined now, she could tell and there was nothing she could say that would change that. Lydia had not only ruined herself but had ruined the prospects of all her sisters and their family.
The carriage made good time and before the week was done, Eden found herself at her mother's bedside. The woman was moaning and sobbing over the loss off her youngest daughter.
"Why did the Forsters let her out of their sight? I always said they were unfit to have charge of her."
"And now she is ruined," Mary said.
"You are all ruined," Mrs. Bennet corrected loudly. "Who will take you now with a fallen sister? Poor Mr. Bennet will now have to fight the perfidious Wickham and then be killed!"
"He hasn't found him yet, Mama," Lizzie counseled.
Their mother continued to whine, and Lizzie stood, pulling Eden out of the room.
"She has been like this since the news," Lizzie said. Eden sat on a wooden chair, fiddling with her hands.
"I warned them," she whispered harshly. "I warned them both. I knew this would happen." Lizzie dropped to her knees beside her twin.
"I know, Eden. I know you did." Eden gave her a watery smile.
"At least you managed to marry before all this." Lizzie nodded, tears building her eyes.
"I had hoped you would marry soon as well… I see that my dreams are broken."
"Both of our dreams, Lizzie."
A few days later, Eden paced outside the house, trying to collect herself. It had been emotional for the past few days. If she wasn't consoling Mrs. Bennet, she was busy helping Jane take care of the house or she was making sure Kitty and Mary were all right.
She heard the sound of footsteps and her head shot up, seeing Mr. Bennet coming up the path.
"Papa!" she cried, rushing to his side. He threw his arms around her, hugging him tightly. He was exhausted and she helped him into the library.
The rest of the Bennet sisters crowded him, Kitty asking questions before he could sit down.
"Who is to fight Wickham and make him marry Lydia, now you've come home?" Kitty asked.
"For God's sake, let me be!" he snapped at her. "Eden, help me with my boots."
His daughter was quickly to do as he asked, pulling off his boots while he drank from a glass of water.
"You suppose them to be still in London?" Jane questioned.
"Where else could they be so well concealed?" Mr. Bennet asked.
"Oh father, I'm so sorry," Lizzie murmured.
"It's been my own doing."
"You mustn't be too severe on yourself," Eden admonished.
"No, Eden. Let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame… I am not afraid of being overpowered by the experience. It will pass away soon enough." Eden laid her head on his knee as if she was a young child once more and his hand tiredly moved to stroke her head.
This mere experience had aged them all. Mr. Bennet did not seem as lively as he usually was, and the normally smiling Eden had yet to smile since arriving at Longbourn. In fact, she had not smiled since getting Lizzie's letter weeks ago in Lambton. It worried Lizzie and the others, but Eden refused to speak about it. This was no laughing matter after all and despite the fact she wanted to murder her youngest sister, she also wanted to hug the foolish girl, relishing in the knowledge that she was safe.
The entire household was somber, hardly anyone speaking except in whispers until a letter came for Mr. Bennet. Eden took it from Kitty, handing it to Mr. Bennet.
"It's Uncle's writing," she told him.
Mr. Bennet tore the envelope open, squinting as he read through the letter.
"He's found him," he said after a few minutes.
"Are they married?" Kitty asked.
Mr. Bennet frowned, "Just wait, I cannot make out his script." He handed it to Eden, who scanned it quickly.
"Are they married?" Kitty repeated. Eden shook her head.
"No, but they will be if father will settle a hundred pounds a year on her. That is Wickham's condition."
"A hundred pounds?" Kitty gasped.
"You will agree to this, father?" Lizzie asked as Jane snatched the letter from Eden's hands.
Their father nodded his head.
"Of course, I will agree. But how much your uncle has laid on this wretched man already is anybody's guess."
"What do you mean, father?" Mary asked.
"No man in his senses would marry Lydia on so slight a temptation as a hundred a year."
"Ah, I see," Eden murmured.
"See what?" Jane questioned.
"Your uncle is very generous," Mr. Bennet muttered.
"Do you think it a large sum?" Lizzie asked.
"Wickham's a fool if he takes her for less than ten thousand pounds."
"Ten thousand?" Jane gasped."Oh, Heaven forbid!"
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