Elizabeth attempted to calm her mother whilst shushing Kitty. “Eloping to Gretna Green without a thought for the scandal she shall cause the rest of us is not romantic in the least, Kitty.”
“I think it is the most romantic thing Lydia has ever done. Perhaps I should find whether Captain Denny might like to run away with me to Scotland?”
Elizabeth swatted Kitty on her arm with the newspaper Hill had brought for their father. Since he was still in Meryton, the housekeeper had left it in the parlor.
Mary held her Bible close, her eyes squeezed shut and her lips moving silently. Elizabeth was thankful for that at least.
Kitty had moved to the other side of the room, out of Elizabeth's reach, near the door. “We must plan a wedding supper for Lieutenant Wickham and Lydia! When do you think they shall return home, Lizzy?”
Just then, Mr. Darcy entered with Hill. Elizabeth's face grew pale and she gathered her sisters quickly and sent them upstairs. Mary went still clutching her Bible, but Kitty lingered. “When Mr. Darcy has gone, we must think of Lydia's wedding supper.”
This time, Elizabeth with her patience worn thin, pushed Kitty out of the parlor and shut the door. Mrs. Bennet cried ever louder and Mr. Darcy seemed most embarrassed to have come.
Elizabeth thought of offering tea but instead, she slumped onto the sofa, her head in her hands. She did not mean to dissemble but what was she to do after all? She had tried to keep her sister's shame a secret.
Mr. Darcy rushed to her for he had not expected to hear that the scoundrel Wickham had made off with her youngest sister. “Miss Elizabeth, are you well? Shall I send for Mr. Jones?”
Mrs. Bennet had stood and now wandered about the room speaking of Lydia as if she had died. Elizabeth looked at Mr. Darcy, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I must see to Mother. Will you wait for me here?”
He nodded and stood as Elizabeth went to her mother's side. The housekeeper helped her to guide the woman from the room. Once they had gained her mother's suite, Elizabeth thought she might collapse on the bed with her from the shock of the afternoon.
But Mr. Darcy waited downstairs and she must return to him. “Hill, bring tea and we shall give Mother a bit of her nerve tonic.”
The housekeeper left without delay and Elizabeth helped her mother into her nightgown.
“Lizzy, your father will know what to do. He will bring my Lydia home.”
Elizabeth did not know for certain that her father would or could, but she agreed with her mother as a means to comfort the woman.
By the time Hill returned, Mrs. Bennet had grown quieter and only sniffed here and there as she murmured over Lydia's plight.
Elizabeth had seen this lull before. Her mother could begin to shout and wail again at any moment. She took the tea tray from Hill. The housekeeper pulled the bottle of tonic from her apron pocket and handed it to Elizabeth.
Not bothering with a teaspoon, Elizabeth instead poured a generous dose into the empty teacup and then filled the remaining half of the cup with tea. "See that she drinks every drop. I must return to the parlor and our unexpected guest."
Though her voice sounded much stronger than she felt, Elizabeth straightened her skirts and looked into her mother's dressing-table mirror. By some miracle, her outsides did not appear to be in the same disarray as her insides.
She quit the room and walked downstairs as a criminal to the gallows. Speaking with Mr. Darcy of Lydia's elopement was the last thing she wished to do, but because of Kitty's foolish words she must speak with him.
When she entered the parlor, Mr. Darcy was sitting in her father's chair reading the newspaper. The sight brought a moment of amusement and Elizabeth smiled in spite of the circumstances.
He stood abruptly and folded the paper. Elizabeth stared for a moment and then began to speak. “I have thought what I must say but…”
Mr. Darcy held up a hand. “There is very little to be said of Lieutenant Wickham. He is a rake without any shame. Your sister, like other young ladies, has been duped by his charms."
Elizabeth tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow. “I knew you disliked him for he told me a tale of your cruelty, but now I realize he is a liar as well as a bounder. I must offer my apologies for believing his words against you.”
Mr. Darcy moved closer and took one of her hands. The gentle strength he displayed and the intimate nature of their meeting alone in her parlor caused the heat to rise in Elizabeth’s cheeks.
“I would not blame you for trusting his word. He is much more capable than I of gaining the trust of lovely young ladies. I am only good at giving offense to handsome young ladies and appearing aloof at dances.”
Elizabeth laughed in spite of herself and Mr. Darcy smiled. The pure joy it brought to his countenance made Elizabeth's heart skip. “It seems we must begin again, sir. But first, there is the matter of finding my sister before she becomes Lieutenant Wickham's bride.”
Mr. Darcy dropped her hand as the sound of Mr. Bennet's return echoed from the entry. He came into the parlor with Colonel Forster by his side.
When he saw the friend of Mr. Bingley attending his favorite daughter, he wondered for a moment if another elopement was imminent.
“Lizzy, why has Mr. Darcy come? I sent you to bring your mother home with your sisters. Surely you know the gossip will spread if Miss Bingley learns of Lydia’s disappearance?”
Elizabeth went to her father's side. “I did not speak of it to another, Papa, I promise. Kitty spoke of a wedding dinner for Lydia and Lieutenant Wickham when Hill brought Mr. Darcy into the parlor.”
Mr. Darcy stepped forward to defend Elizabeth. “’Tis true, Mr. Bennet. Miss Elizabeth was most upset when she came to Netherfield Park to find your wife. I wanted to help if I may. You see, I have experience with Wickham's treachery.”
Mr. Bennet sent Elizabeth to see to her mother when he found she had taken to her room. “I shall make a plan with Colonel Forster and seek to stop Wickham before he might ruin Lydia.”
He turned to Mr. Darcy. “Your assistance would be most appreciated, but why did you not warn Colonel Forster of Lieutenant Wickham’s transgressions? If you had the knowledge sir, you have done us a great disservice.”
Elizabeth slipped away though she wished to know how Mr. Darcy might answer her father.