Page 4 of A Christmas Understanding

Her father studied Lydia with an interest Elizabeth had not seen in him before—not for Lydia, in any case.

“I see,” he said.

“I shall endeavour to suffer at every moment,” Elizabeth told her father. “Especially in the bookshops, where I may or may not attempt to purchase a gift for you.”

Lydia’s eyes widened. “She need not visit the bookshop.”

“We should also visit the milliner’s,” Jane said to Elizabeth. “For Mamma, of course.”

Lydia and Kitty gasped.

“Lizzy should not visit there,” Lydia said. “For this is supposed to be a punishment.”

“I fear that your authority does not extend so far,” Papa told her.

“I would like to see my aunt and uncle,” Jane said, “and Miss Bingley has invited me to call, should I ever be in town.”

Papa was silent for a few seconds. His amusement faded as he regarded her, for even he could not fail to notice her unhappiness. “Are you certain you wish to continue the friendship, Jane?”

“I wish to know one way or the other, Papa.”

He nodded. “I shall write to your uncle, then. If the Gardiners can receive you, you may go.”

“Tomorrow?” Lydia asked.

“Certainly not,” Elizabeth said.

“The day after, then.”

Papa removed his spectacles and tossed them on his desk. “You are remarkably eager to be rid of your sisters.”

“I only wish what is best for them.”

No one replied to this. Even Kitty appeared doubtful.

Lydia tossed her head. “Very well. I also want Lizzy to bring me something from London. She and Jane will return with Uncle and Aunt Gardiner for Christmas, and I am hoping for something fashionable from town. Kitty and I have already seen everything there is to purchase in Meryton.”

Of course Lydia would expect presents—she always did. And here was an opportunity to persuade her parents to send Jane and Elizabeth to procure them—Jane, because she would never say no to purchasing some small trifle for her sisters, and Elizabeth because she was always willing to pay just a little more for the right present.

It was also possible, Elizabeth thought as she listened to Lydia and Kitty chattering on about gifts, that Lydia would not mind having her eldest sisters out of the way where Mr. Wickham and the other officers were concerned. While the younger officers paid Lydia some attention, the older ones did not.

Elizabeth smiled. Poor Mr. Wickham.

By dinner, Papa had sent his letter. Mr. Collins had not returned from Lucas Lodge, and Mamma vacillated between wishing him to return to prevent Elizabeth from leaving and wishing Elizabeth to help Jane bring Mr. Bingley back to Netherfield.

Elizabeth doubted the soundness of either hope. She was more interested in Lydia, who had twice asked whether a reply might arrive tomorrow and once whether blue became her complexion better than yellow.

Elizabeth doubted that Lydia had insisted upon the visit merely in hopes of receiving gifts. What else her sister intended, she could not guess, though she was certain Lydia had given no thought to either Mr. Collins or Mr. Bingley. Still, Elizabeth was willing to play along. She would have a respite from Mr. Collins, Jane would be away from Longbourn, and they would both have the pleasure of seeing their aunt and uncle.

CHAPTER 2

Darcy had not even been at Netherfield two full months, and yet he was finding the visit difficult to forget.

At breakfast, he remembered Miss Elizabeth’s laugh. In the library, he remembered the arch of one dark brow. Yesterday, while half-listening to his tailor and valet discuss the cut of a new coat, Darcy had remembered the exquisite pleasure of their dance at Netherfield. That is, until Miss Elizabeth had mentioned Wickham’s name.

Though even this he had forgiven her. It was Wickham to blame, for she had no way to know his true nature.

Alas, protecting his sister’s reputation meant that Darcy had not been at liberty to explain. And Georgiana was not the only one who required his protection. Bingley, who had yet to build the protective walls around his heart that Darcy had, was in need of it too.