Chapter Nineteen
Upon hearing the news, Mrs. Bennet sprung out of bed.
"My Lydia married? And at fifteen too! Ring the bell, Kitty! I must put on my things and tell Lady Lucas! Oh, to see her face! And tell the servants they will have a bowl of punch!"
Eden shook her head, "We should thank our uncle, Mama."
"He should help," Mrs. Bennet dismissed. "He's much richer than us and he hasn't got any children. Oh, imagine it! Two daughters married!"
"Is that all you think about?" Lizzie questioned.
"When you have six daughters, Lizzie, four of which are not married, tell me what else will occupy your thoughts?"
"You don't know what he's like," Lizzie muttered.
But her words were ignored by all but Eden. The twins wrapped their arms around each other. Lydia might have married young, but the man she had married was not a man of fortune or good character.
Their mother continued making plans.
"Now, where will they live?" she asked. "Purvis Lodge might do. Ashworth is vacant of course, but it's too far off, I couldn't be as to have her ten miles from me." From the doorway came Mr. Bennet's voice.
"Before you take any of these houses, Mrs. Bennet, let us be clear. Into one house she will never be welcome." His voice was so severe that Mrs. Bennet quieted, eyes downcast.
Of course, Lydia was allowed to return once more. She was bright and joyous when she excited the carriage with Wickham a few weeks later. She was greeted enthusiastically by Mrs. Bennet, who kissed her effusively. Mr. Bennet, on the other hand, coldly bowed.
Lydia started telling them all about their wedding and journey, Eden listening half-heartedly.
"—and then we passed Sarah Sims in her carriage so I took off my glove and let my hand just rest on the window frame, so she might see the ring, and then bowed and smiled like anything!" Kitty shrieked with envy and Eden rolled her eyes, moving to Lizzie's side.
Her twin had found herself glued to her husband's side, the two of them watching Wickham with matching looks of contempt. Lizzie took hold of Eden's hand, squeezing it lightly as they all headed to the dining room.
The youngest Bennet, now Wickham, was seated beside Eden and kept gushing about.
"You must all go to Brighton, for that is the place to get husbands! I hope you have half my good luck!"
"Lydia, you hold your tongue," Eden whispered furiously. But her sister did not listen.
"Well, Monday morning came, and I was in such a fuss."
"I do not want to hear it."
"—there was my aunt, preaching and talking away just as if she was reading a sermon; she was horrid unpleasant."
"Can't you understand why?" Eden questioned.
"—but I didn't hear a word because I was thinking of my dear Wickham. I longed to know whether he would be married in his blue coat. Then my uncle was called away from the church on business and I thought, who is to be our best man if he doesn't come back? Lucky, he did come back, or I would have had to ask Mr. Darcy."
Her words made Eden jump back to attention.
"Mr. Darcy?" Lydia clapped a hand to her mouth as if she had spoiled a secret.
"I forgot! I shouldn't have said a word!"
"Mr. Darcy was at your wedding?"
This was a strange turn of events for Eden. Mr. Darcy was at Lydia's wedding? Why would he be a wedding of someone who could have ruined his reputation?
"He was the one who discovered us!" Lydia whispered. "He knew where to find Wickham, you see. But don't tell anyone! He told me not to tell!"
"Oh… all right, I'll keep quiet."
Lydia grinned, "I knew you were my favorite sister."
"Tell me why Mr. Darcy was there."
"Oh, Eden! He told me not to tell anyone!"
"Please, tell me."
"Fine! Because he paid for it."
"For what?"
"The wedding, Wickham's commission. Everything."
"Everything?"
Lydia nodded, "People kept saying Wickham owed them money; it was so tedious. So, Mr. Darcy settled his debts, but I don't really like him, do you?"
"Yes, I do. Mr. Darcy is a very respectable man. But why did he do it, Lydia?"
Her little sister shrugged carelessly.
"I don't know, do I? Anyway, you're not to tell because it's supposed to be our uncle who paid, and he wouldn't have minded paying either, because I'm his favorite." Lydia turned away from Eden, talking instead with their mother. Eden ducked her head, staring at her plate as she tried to figure things out.
God, she owed Mr. Darcy everything now. He saved her sisters from absolute ruin. Saved them from the very realistic prospects of never marrying. He also saved Lizzie and Colonel Fitzwilliam the shame of being related to them.
She had never thought him a terrible person. He had, of course, insulted her on multiple occasions, had treated her with distain, but she never thought him as kind as she did now. And she would probably never see him again.
And that was an awful thought indeed.
All rights belong to Universal Pictures for use of their material!
