Page 28 of Mr. Darcy's Complex Courtship

“Ah, well.” She rose to her full height and smirked. “I cannot wait to go to London with you after the wedding. Papa said he would pay for new dresses, and I fancy we shall attend many balls and parties!”

With no wish to dissemble any more than necessary, I nodded. In the entryway, Mary and Mama greeted me with quick hugs before continuing to the courtyard towards my aunt and uncle.

Kitty came towards me. She stopped and leaned against the wall in the vestibule, her mouth turned down. “Welcome home, Lizzy.” Her reception lacked even a speck of esprit.

I hugged her. “Kitty, what is wrong?” I stepped back and took her hands.

She tucked her chin. “Forgive me for being so dull, but I cannot understand why Aunt Gardiner invited Lydia to town and not me. I am older—it is not fair!”

“Ah, I see. Well, there is more to this decision than meets the eye.”

“What do you mean?”

“I cannot divulge the particulars.”

“Oh pish!” She pulled back from me and stamped her foot. “No one ever tells me anything!” She went towards the door, but I rushed forwards and caught her arm, halting her.

“Just a moment. Do you swear not to reveal what I disclose to you?”

She displayed a tentative smile. “Yes, I promise to keep whatever you tell me secret.”

I motioned for her to follow me into the empty sitting room and closed the door behind us. “First, you must understand how vital it is to heed proper decorum in London. In the past, you have often followed Lydia’s initiative to engage in rude behaviour that has reflected poorly upon us all. The effect in town for the same conduct could be ruinous.”

Her bearing shrunk. “I understand what you mean. But Lydia is far worse than I have ever been, so why is our aunt rewarding her with this invitation?”

“Lydia is unaware she will receive lessons from our aunt’s sister, Mrs. Perry, who used to be employed as a companion.”

“What about the parties and balls Lydia expects to attend?”

“Until she demonstrates proper conduct, she will not leave the house.”

Kitty’s hand flew to her mouth, stifling a giggle. “Oh my, Lydia will be furious when she learns the truth! Shehatesbeing told what to do by anyone.”

“Remember I am trusting you not to reveal this to her.”

“Rest assured, she will learn nothing from me.”

I parted from Kitty, continued to my father’s study, and knocked upon the door. “Papa, it is Lizzy.”

“Come in.”

I entered the room and walked into my father’s open arms. I took in the familiar scents of books, pipe tobacco, and the fragrance Mr. Hill applied after Papa’s shave. “I am happy to see you.”

“At long last, you are home.” He patted my back. “I missed you, my girl.” He stepped away to scrutinise me. “At least, youlooklike my daughter. However, the Lizzy who left home in MarchdespisedMr. Darcy.”

“I provided an explanation to you in my letter.”

“Yes, but I require a more convincing form of affirmation—from your own lips.” Papa ushered me to my usual seat and took his own chair.

“I trust you treated Mr. Darcy with politeness when he came to see you last week.”

He affected a look of innocence. “Do you doubt it?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Well, I should have teased him more had I been less shocked by his revelations—first, that he had proposed marriage to you, and second, that you had accepted. If not for the correspondence he brought from you and my brother Gardiner, I should have believed him to be dicked in the nob.”

I chuckled softly. “Oh, Papa. Allow me to assure you that I meant every word of my letter. I should much prefer to be married as soon as the banns can be read.”

---