Disclaimer: Not mine, everything belongs to Jane Austen, etc.

Summary: See Previous Chapters

Chapter Four

Brighton was everything that Lydia could have hoped for a seaside town to be.

Most of her day was spent with Mrs Forster, who was the furthest thing from idle. It seemed that there was far more to being an officer's wife than Lydia had known. Was that why Mama had chosen Papa? A gentleman's wife was a pillar of the community, but a Gentleman's estate was far more secure than an officer's career, where his wife could be his greatest asset or his downfall.

Mrs Forster spent her time soothing tensions between the militia and the merchants, between new recruits who felt they were getting the short end of the stick, and between the wives of Colonel Forster's senior officers. Apparently, now that they had all been displaced by Harriet as the ranking lady of the regiment, they felt the distinction of their ranks rather more keenly. Actual ambassadors could probably take lessons in the diplomacy required to keep things running smoothly!

Lydia was reminded of the quiet cold war that sometimes existed between Mama and Lady Lucas, whenever one gained much of an advantage over the other. For all that a Knight outranked a Gentleman, most of Meryton remembered when the Lucas family had been shopkeepers, while the Bennets had been at Longbourn for over two hundred years.

When Mrs Forster wasn't mending frayed tempers, she was inviting the wives of the local merchants and office holders to tea. The reason behind that took a little longer for Lydia to grasp: much like Colonel Forster refusing to leave behind debts when the regiment moved, Mrs Forster was courting the good opinion of the locals, in the hopes of being able to cultivate a good report to take when negotiating the location of their next encampment.

On evenings when the Forsters were not entertaining, or had Militia business to discuss, Lydia would take the opportunity to visit her sisters. The Forsters were often invited to those evenings, but one could not always be socialising, and as soon as they were assured that no offence would be taken by their deferment, the Forsters often declined to attend. That left Lydia to be conveyed across town by Colonel Fitzwilliam and whichever sister accompanied him for propriety's sake.

Wickham was both increasingly flirtatious away from watchful eyes, and increasingly tight-lipped. Mrs Forster might opine that no news was at least not bad news, but the lack of reliable information made Lydia nervous. Lack of information meant an inability to properly plan, and lack of planning was like Blind Man's Bluff among strangers, flailing about aimlessly while the one you meant to catch laughed from just out of reach.

It was not as though Lydia had little opportunity to observe him. The seaside town of Brighton provided the perfect setting for their blossoming romance, as it teemed with an atmosphere of freedom and adventure. Amidst the glistening sea, vibrant promenades, and bustling streets, Lydia and Wickham were inseparable whenever the man was not on duty, and yet nothing!

Denny was on guard duty this afternoon, so Chamberlain and Lamb, a newcomer to the regiment, joined Lydia and Wickham on the afternoon's promenade. Lamb had stopped to talk to a group of young ladies, one of whom had dropped a fan and was apparently incapable of picking it up again. Lydia kept her focus where it needed to be, and took advantage of the relative privacy. "How go the business ventures you spoke of, Mr Wickham? My Uncle Gardiner says that the war drives up prices for some things, and makes getting hold of others all but impossible."

Wickham offered her a charming smile, "Oh, quite well. As your uncle says, war makes some things very profitable indeed, if you are clever and know what to invest in."

Wickham was good with words, and even better at saying nothing of substance while appearing to confide in her. It was most frustrating, and they were running out of time before Lydia and Kitty were expected home, and the Darcys and Bingleys would be needed at their own estates.

Perhaps it was time to stop being so cautious and delicate.

Lydia expressed the sentiment to her sisters, who needed to know if they were to mitigate any fallout. "I know it is a risk, but if we are to get him to drop his guard, it will not be in tea-rooms or public walkways. There have been moments where he wants to boast, but looks around and thinks better of it."

The gentlemen had not separated from the ladies after dinner, and exchanged glances. Mr Bingley set down his brandy glass, which he apparently preferred to port. "It's an odd adjustment to the normal way of thinking, isn't it? Every part of a gentleman urges him to protect his ladies, yet we would insult you with the implication that you were not entirely capable yourselves."

Jane smiled warmly at him, leaning her head on his shoulder in unspoken thanks and support. Mr Darcy toasted him with his own glass. "Jasper and I were schoolboys when we gained powers, and it was still quite an adjustment. But whatever powers chose us, we were chosen for a reason, and the bodies we were born in matter less than our willingness to do what is needed."

Georgiana raised a pointed eyebrow at her brother, from her seat beside Kitty. "If only the rest of society were so forward-thinking. Still, I think it worth the risk. Wickham has been a problem for a long time, and there is no better opportunity to deal with him than while he is constrained by his service."

Mary agreed, "You must take care to be discreet, of course, but you have been seen to be escorted about by an officer for some weeks now, and the rest of us can mobilise to your aid quite quickly at need."

Mr Darcy nodded, "Then the only questions that remain are when and how. Cousin, you have the most experience in Intelligence, what are your thoughts?"

Colonel Fitzwilliam made a sound somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. "A significant portion of the Resistance on the Continent is made up of women, including several of my informants. A youngest sibling jealous of her recently married older sisters, or wanting to join their ranks, is the most believable ruse, or an impressionable child wanting an adventure."

In another life, one where Lydia had been idle and bored, or the sisters more separated by age and interest, that may have described Lydia quite well. As Papa had reasoned when Lydia wanted one of the sheepdog's litter as a pet, a clever mind without direction and use was a recipe for disaster. "The former, I think. We've had too many adventures for me to convincingly play ignorant of what's involved, and Wickham knows my flirtatious facade, more than I have spoken of any desire for adventure."

Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded, "I'll shadow you; you've spent weeks in the company of one officer or another, it should not draw notice. If one of your sisters can scry at the appointed time, you won't get far before we can catch up."

Lydia had battled monsters before, alone and with her sisters. Hopefully, monsters who wore the face of men would be no different.

.

.

.

.

A/N: I'm currently working on the next chapter, but I make no promises about when it will be posted.

In the meantime, you can check out my other work through the links in my profile.

As always, comments, questions and critiques are much appreciated.