Page 11 of A Different Impression

“I took a walk, as I do most mornings,” Elizabeth calmly replied.

She reached automatically for the teapot, hoping for a few quiet moments before the rest of the household appeared. Unfortunately, peace at Longbourn rarely lasted long.

Jane entered serenely, followed by Kitty and Lydia, both already chattering about the most pressing on-dit from last night. “The militia is coming to Meryton,” Lydia cried. “In a month, we will be dancing daily with the officers.”

Elizabeth’s lingering smile vanished almost immediately upon hearing this.

“The arrival of the militia in Meryton will not result in daily opportunities to dance,” Elizabeth corrected. “They will have duties to attend to.”

“Besides,” Mary said, “we have duties and responsibilities here at Longbourn that cannot be neglected.”

“La, I will dance every day when the militia comes,” Lydia proclaimed.

“Where do you think these dances will be occurring, Lydia?” their father asked as he wandered into the breakfast room to enquire about the noise therein.

“Wherever there are officers,” Lydia announced laughingly. “Maria Lucas knows where they are to be quartered, and we intend to visit the officers’ camp and befriend all the gentlemen there.”

Mr Bennet, who had looked as though he meant to make some dry remark, suddenly stilled.

“Lydia!” Elizabeth and Jane admonished, almost at the same time, as had almost become a habit with their youngest sister.

“What is so wrong about wanting to dance?” Lydia turned to ask her sisters. “Just because you two are prigs who think flirting is beneath you does not mean that I should not do it. I fully intend to be the first sister married, just as Mama has always said I ought to be.”

“The first sister married?” Papa repeated, his voice deceptively light. Elizabeth looked sharply at her father. That tone rarely boded well. “How do you think to manage that?”

“I intend to catch an officer,” Lydia told him proudly.

Papa set his hand flat upon the table. “And how exactly do you plan to ‘catch’ one?”

Oblivious to the warning in his voice, Lydia gaily retorted, “Mama told me that if a lady accepts a kiss from a gentleman, it is as good as an offer of marriage. I intend to accept a kiss from the best-looking one, and then I shall be married before all my sisters.”

The room fell silent.

Elizabeth watched the colour as it slowly rose in Papa’s face. When he answered, all trace of amusement had vanished. While she had seen her father irritated with Lydia often enough, she could not remember ever seeing him truly angry.

“You are more foolish than I could have ever dreamed, Lydia,” he thundered. “If this is the nonsense your mother spouts, you have little chance to improve here. I wonder what is best to be done…”

He trailed off, seeming to consider something. His voice was calmer when he said, “Lydia, go to your room and stay there until I call for you. I do not want to hear any more from you until you have learnt some sense.”

After ordering a servant to escort Lydia upstairs and lock her in her room, he departed to his book room, his expression unusually grave.

CHAPTER 5

Banishment

Darcy returned to Netherfield after a circuitous tour of the estate, entering the breakfast room to find it empty. He asked a footman nearby if any of the family had been down to break their fast.

“No, sir, no one has been down,” the footman replied.

Looking around, he saw nothing on the sideboard. Just as he started to ask the footman about it, a harried maid entered the room.

“Oh,” she cried. “Might I get anything from the kitchens for you, sir? Last night, before she retired, Miss Bingley said none of the family would require breakfast this morning.”

“I would be pleased with coffee and a roll or two, if it is not too much trouble,” Darcy requested. “Tell the cook that I will be happy with whatever she has available for the staff.” He stopped, then spoke again. “Could you have someone bring it to the library in a quarter of an hour?”

“Yes, sir,” the maid said, then curtsied and hurried off.

Darcy headed upstairs to quickly change into fresh clothes and met Bingley on his way down the steps.