Chapter 21 ~ Particularly Unfortunate

There had been a good deal of conversation as they drove, George, managing most of the conversation, was easy and pleasant. Because his young companion did very much wish to please him and because she was equally fearful of being discovered, Lydia listened to him better than she had ever troubled herself to listen to anyone before. Even when he might have been accused of sermonising. George asked 'Laddie' about 'his' family, but fearful she would accidentally disclose her identity she merely shook her head. Believing he understood the cause he wished to commiserate with a boy whose home may not be a happy one. Thus he shared a little of his own childhood – his mother's unkindness, his father sending him away. To encourage the boy that life does have a way of bringing sunshine after rain, he spoke of the people who had cared for him. He described his Aunt Susan who loves games of every sort, sturdy baskets, and poetry. This sort of tale would – at any other time in her fifteen years of experience – have seemed very dull indeed, but Lydia had been more than charmed by George Wickham. His general goodness made her question her own behaviour and so even when her idol recalled his Grandfather's trout stream and the wisdom he learned about fish and life on its banks, she listened intently.

This deception had taught the overly indulged young woman some valuable life lessons. She learned fortitude: stableboys do not complain of rough bench seats, dirty clothes or the weather. She learned gratitude: stableboys are pleased to eat stale bread and eggs without salt. She learned solidarity: her companion depended on her to do her part and she was determined to make him proud. With all these lessons learned she realised this had been a very foolish trick – and quite a rotten one too when she let herself think it. She was trapping this good man into marriage and though she did wish to marry him she knew he preferred her sister. It was only meant to be a lark. After deliberately passing the very carriages he meant to pursue she was troubled – exceedingly so. Her rather weak little conscience now pestered her that she was giving him no choice in the matter and it was a terrible thing to do to a person. He must admire Lizzy the way she herself admired him; it was a most unpleasant thought.

The note she left for Kitty to find meant that she must return married. She did not say who she was marrying because no one could have guessed it. She had laughed as she wrote it, knowing they would assume it was one of the officers. She had never liked the curate before and coming back married to him would be a great joke. Imagining her sister's envy when they saw how handsome he was when he smiled and how charming he could be when he made an effort delighted her. In the kitchens at Longbourn, when she heard him talk of finding a wife knowing Lizzy was his choice, she was wildly jealous.

If she had learned to be selfless she might have formed a design to convince Lizzy to marry him. Her character, however, had not undergone so material a change as that. Besides, her own reputation would be ruined and she would be sent away somewhere. He wanted a wife and she was loads more fun than Lizzy – who did not want him at all whilst she wanted him desperately. He needed someone who would make him put away his serious thoughts and have a laugh; she was exactly the person to do it. He needed her, only he did not know it.

They were in Yorkshire when George, confident that the Bingleys could not be far ahead of them, moved slowly asking for information at every inn. After continuing to the third market town without discovering that they had passed through, George decided they must have passed them up somewhere along the road. There was nothing more to be done and because it was still early in the day he and the boy strolled through the village. George scanned the roads for familiar carriages while his companion looked in the windows of every shop. During their stroll they canvassed new subjects, subjects he hoped would encourage the boy to talk a little more. It worked a charm and Laddie laughed aloud and spoke eagerly about cricket matches with his neighbors and his eyes grew large when he described his favourite tree for climbing.

Lydia having actually enjoyed all of those activities as a child was finding that pretending to be a boy was not, after all, so very difficult. Just as she was feeling immensely proud of herself she saw 'the most charming bonnet in the world' in the window of the milliner's shop. Examining the marvel and wondering which of her own she could make up like it, her attention was called by a puzzled Mr. Wickham. Thinking quickly she explained in husky tones,

"Just saw a quizz of a hat-"

That answer would have sufficed if Lydia had not looked back to make sure she had every detail memorised. When she did she lost her balance and took a tumble releasing the pins that had loosened over the past three days. The cap fell from her head and George stared at her in horrified silence at last recovering himself as he thanked his Heavenly Father that no one had noticed them. Standing conspicuously in front of the strange child he commanded in a forceful whisper that the hat be put firmly back in its place.

Lydia was trembling; the look on Geor- Mr. Wickham's face when he saw her made her at last aware of what she had done. In the time it took her to repair her disguise her sins flashed through her mind to accuse her of being a blind and selfish fool. Standing guard her companion was sifting through the last few days wondering how she successfully evaded all suspicion. instantly George discerned the truth. He had been so focused on trying to save the woman he idealised that he never wondered when an acolescent stableboy ate so little, knew nothing about horses, or used a lacy handkerchief to dab his lips. All thoughts of Miss Elizabeth, Darcy, and Bingley now vanished. How he could present an appearance of propriety in their current circumstances and preserve both their reputations now occupied his thoughts. At last her shaking fingers accomplished their task and they walked briskly back to the inn.

He requested a private dining room causing the proprietor to raise his brows, but Mr. Wickham – dirty and poorly attired – proved he could afford the luxury. Once the door was closed Lydia, through her sobs, explained it all: her petty jealousy, her foolish determination to be wed before her other sisters, her sudden infatuation and last of all the ridiculous scheme she concocted to trap him into marriage. The most unbelievable part for her audience was that it had worked and realising that – noble as he considered his own intentions – he too was planning to impose himself where he was not invited. Whoever Miss Elizabeth married it would not be him and she must make her own choice in the matter. This awful situation was his own fault and this young girl had more excuse for her behaviour than he did for his.

As they waited for their meal he told her everything would all be made right. If he had said this gently, guilt would have quite overcome her, but it was said firmly and resolutely and she began to dry her tears confident that all would soon be well. Giving himself entirely to the business of how to go about making 'everything all right' he spoke aloud.

"I must return you to your father - on that I think I can be resolved. It is only a matter of how best to do it to preserve our reputations? Do you stay in your disguise? If not how shall we properlerly – well –" In place of speaking of ladies garments he waved his hand uncertainly in her direction and suddenly asked, "What made you think of doing such a thing? Shakespeare?"

"Shakespeare? Oh no! Chamberlayne wore one of my aunts dresses and no one suspected until I laughed so I thought if he could do it well-"

"Yes, I see. Well- It is not at all proper. If we do manage to find something more appropriate you will need a chaperone. We will need one in any case for no matter how you are dressed you are a young lady. Very young – too young for a common license or we could be married even tomorrow. In truth every option seems shockingly improper because every option is shockingly improper. Finding any living after a scandal such as this will be impossible - - "

Those last simple, factual, statements honestly expressed struck Lydia's heartstrings rather forcefully and quite overcome, she wailed loudly.

The door to their room was opened and assuming it was a servant Mr. Wickham said firmly, "Leave us."

The door closed noisily and turning round he saw a lady and gentleman. The next moment Mr. Wickham found himself accosted. Female murmurs reassured him of Miss Lydia's immediate safety as he was pulled from his chair and held firmly against the wall.

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I have been taking my time uploading because I had not written the last big chapter. I finished it yesterday. I will be working on the wrap up chapter (24) today and re-reading and adjusting chapters 22 and 23. I will upload as soon as they are done.

Katriane I responded to your comment in a private message. I do not want you to feel ignored.

Colleen Thank you for rereading from the beginning tell me if you think this second story works. I do but I may have missed some stuff and may need to soften some scenes.