Lydia's behavior in Brighton was not going unnoticed by the officers. With their increased training schedule the soldiers did not have as much time to get some female companionship. She was just a slip of a girl that did not seem to have much sense and while she might be amusing for a while she didn't seem to be important enough to gather any true concern or consequences if any officer decided to give her a try. Of course that would be a little more difficult since it seemed that Lt. Wickham was circling the insolent little chit and probably would not be willing to give her up until she had ceased to be amusing to him.
The wives were also taking notice of her behavior but unlike the officers they were not amused. They did not enjoy their husbands looking at the insolent child as a possible afternoon distraction and several of them had sent messages to Colonel Forster through his wife that if he did not take immediate action to curtail the child's deplorable behavior that they would. This of course would have been hugely embarrassing for the Colonel. If he were not capable of choosing a proper companion for his wife while they were at camp then his training skills would also be called into question. After all it would not do for his majesties forces to be full of ruffians and cutthroats, even if it was mostly true since they were drawing their forces from poor families or second sons of rich influential families. Fortunately the ones who could afford better commissions kept themselves out of the tainted ranks of the unworthy soldiers who did the majority of the dying in the campaigns.
Mrs. Forster heard these reports and started to curtail Lydia's wanderings. The two women spent more and more time sea bathing out of the watchful eyes of the soldiers and when the soldiers were around Lydia was not allowed to leave the company of Mrs. Forster. This outraged the young girl enormously because it was the first time someone started to limit what she could do, everyone in Meryton could testify that Lydia did what she wanted to do when she wanted to do it.
To add insult to injury Mrs. Forster started to instruct Lydia how she should act when even the wives were around to give the impression that Mrs. Forster could manage her own household like her husband could successfully manage his troops. Lydia started to sneak out of the watchful eye of her host when coincidentally Lt. Wickham started to look for some female companionship for his long journey to town where he could hide until he came up with his next plan to find a rich heiress, marry her, and then spend the rest of his life gambling and having affairs with little girls who didn't know any better. It was the life of kings and by now he had definitely earned it with all of his past dealings with men like Fitzwilliam Darcy.
This chapter is quite short but it sets the scene for the next part which should be coming in a few days. Meanwhile I am back in the nest for a week or so to help with some renovations while I am between jobs … god I hate sawdust, hardwood floors, and I'm sure in a few days I'll hate grout as well.
Also I had quite the experience today while I was laying hardwood floors, the guy who was installing the cabinets and countertops asked my dad why I wasn't in school today… I graduated from high school six years ago and just got my Bachelor's degree in June. A bad haircut is the gift that keeps on giving … Please review.