Blood and Fire - Chapter Forty One

Running through the front door waving a letter that she is carrying above her head , Kitty yells “Lydia sent a letter!”

“My baby has written!” cries Mrs. Bennett grabbing the letter out of Kitty’s hand “My baby girl hasn’t forgotten me!”

“I suppose she finally decided to write.  It’s only been four weeks” practically responds Mary slightly perturbed that even in her absence Lydia has been hogging most of the family’s attention “She probably needs money.”

“Well, perhaps she does, Mary, but it’s a great comfort to know that she is okay wherever she is” remarks her Father who is anxiously hoping that a return address is included on the envelope.

“At least we know that she has been all right through friends” positively replies Jane sighing at her sister’s continual insensitivity towards the rest of the family “even if we haven’t heard directly from her.  It appears that Wickham is still with her and taking care of her.”

“Where is she, mom?” asks Liz wanting to know some details.

“It still doesn’t say.  But she says all is well and she will be back soon for us to throw a bridal party with all her friends” excitedly replies Mrs. Bennett “She has included several different places where she now has a bridal registry that we can give to her friends so she can have exactly what she wants.”

“Is she married?” frankly asks Mary “When did that happen?”

Reading a little future into the letter, Mrs. Bennett explains “She and Wickham will be here next Saturday!  No wait!  They’re coming today!  The mail took so long to get here, that she’s actually coming today!  I wonder why she didn’t use email?  It would have been much quicker. She wants me to make her room into a guest room for them while they look for a house.  Isn’t this the most wonderful thing to happen?”

“Does it mention anything else?” asks Liz a little puzzled by her sister’s silence with a lack of explanation of what has happened the last month.

“No, not really” bounces Mrs. Bennett “It just says she misses us all and looking forward to coming back as a wife, since she will be the first one to be married of all her sisters.”

Mary rolls her eyes and plops down next to her father on the sofa, bluntly stating “I don’t think that is the way I want to find a husband.”

“At least it appears Wickham is taking care of her and she seems happy in her letter” replies Jane trying to lighten the tension in the room.

“I’ll make some coffee” states Liz unable to sort-through the different emotions she is feeling all at once.

Jane follows her into the kitchen.  “Are you all right, Liz?”

“I’m fine.  I’m upset with Lydia that is all” remarks Liz trying to define how she is feeling “She somehow manages to make things difficult for everyone else but then always comes back without a scratch while everyone is left still healing their wounds.”

“Have you heard from Darcy since the day she left?” tenderly asks Jane knowing the real reason for Liz’s anger.

“No, I have not.  I don’t know what’s going on.  His office said he’s been on a business trip for a couple of weeks and then has also taken some vacation time” responds Liz but with some sorrow “I don’t know if it is the truth or if he is avoiding me, or perhaps a little of both”.

As they are making a tray of cups filled with hot steaming coffee, she can hear her younger sister’s familiar laughter permeating the other room.

In shock with a look of knowing, Jane and Liz stare at each other for a moment, Liz finally responds “They’re here. I guess it is time to go out and meet the new couple”.

“Oh it’s so good to see everyone!  I’m an old married lady now, you know!” states Lydia flashing a very expensive diamond wedding ring set so that all in the room can see “It’s been ages!  None of you look the same, I can’t believe how fast time flies.”

“It’s only been a month” frankly responds Mary “What are you talking about?  We all look the same, except for you but you’ve only added a ring or two.”

For a second Lydia sneers at her, “Yes, I have changed.  I’m now a Mrs. instead of a Miss.  I’m a grown woman now unlike all of you.”

“If you were ‘grown’ you would have to use that word to describe yourself, we would already know” sourly Mary points out the obvious “Just because you call yourself a ‘woman’ doesn’t mean you know how to be one beyond knowing how to wear high heels and makeup.”

The room is silent for a woman except a nervous giggle from Lydia, “Mary, you’re just jealous because you’re still single. You’ll know what it means to be a woman once you’re married.”

Uncomfortable with the tension between her sisters, Kitty looks down at her feet recognizing that married life hasn’t made her sister any kinder or wiser.

“Would you like some coffee?” politely asks Liz trying to find another topic of conversation and then turning to Wickham who has already made himself comfortable in her father’s favorite chair “Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you.  Your sister is wonderful.  I think we make a good couple, wouldn’t you say?” charmingly asks Wickham as Lydia takes his hand “If you had played your cards right, you might be sitting next to me instead.”

“I guess I don’t know how to play your games” responds Liz with shielded directness “I prefer to play the ones I already know and like.”

Straightening up in his borrowed recliner, Wickham mutely receives her point and shares a glance with Lydia pursing her lips who is a little upset at the mention that her sister would even be considered a replacement to her.

“Oh Liz, have you heard from Darcy?” asks Lydia following Liz into the kitchen to retrieve more coffee.

“No, I haven’t” nonchalantly answers Liz not wanting to provoke any response from her sister.

“He’s been such a dear, helping us out and everything.  I don’t know what we would have done without him.  He took care of all the details.  We really didn’t have to do anything at all” states Lydia instigating a response from Liz.

“I didn’t know that you had seen him lately” surprised answers Liz.

“He asks about you all the time.  I thought you were good friends.  He always is asking if you like this or that, what you like to do, what are your favorite things.  If I didn’t know better, I would say he had a crush on you” teases Lydia wanting to gain her sister’s confidence.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about” responds Liz still aching from the last month because his silence “How did he help you?”

“Well, he told me not to tell anyone.  But I guess because you’re my sister that doesn’t count.  Ariel Shephard use to be married to Wickham.  Lydia Russell came to the party claiming that he still was.”

Liz looks at Lydia somehow not surprised by this new revelation considering Wickham’s character, “Ok, so why did you go off with him?”

“I haven’t finished telling you everything yet.  Ariel’s father was also his dad’s lawyer.  She was jilted by Dan Clay at the altar and Wickham was getting over some other girl whose brother had broke them up because the brother thought Wickham wasn’t good enough for her” explains Lydia in a tone of sincere sympathy.

“So, how does this affect you?” asks Liz trying to put the pieces together.

“Well, they both got married to each other on the rebound.  Her father thought that Wickham still had the same fortune that he had inherited from his father and Mr. Darcy.  But Wickham spent it all on credit cards and other debt” explains Lydia in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Ok, so what does that have to do with anything?” asks Liz a little more confused.

“Just listen.  Ariel wanted his inheritance.  She thought Wickham was hiding it from her.  She also had a lot of debt that she had gained during the short time they were married.  He refused to pay her bills on the grounds that he didn’t have any money.  She didn’t believe him” continues Liz.

“So did he have money or not?” asks Liz not sure where the story is going.

“Well, not really” explains Lydia “He claims he wasn’t keeping some of it hidden away from her, but was still waiting on some of his inheritance that he would inherit at 25 from Mr. Darcy.”

“So far they are still married, what happened?” skeptically asks Liz wondering what story she will hear.

“Well, he went to divorce her because they weren’t getting along.  But she refused to divorce him with encouragement from the father about this money he was supposedly inheriting when he turned 25.  He didn’t know what to do” Excuses Lydia “So, he took off.  He’s been asking for a divorce for two years now and she has refused him every time.”

“Are you married now?” asks Liz “or are you just planning to be married?”

“Oh, yes.  We’re married.  Darcy helped us out so much!” gratefully explains Lydia “I don’t know what we would have done if Wickham didn’t have Darcy as such a good friend.”

Liz raises her eyebrows completely confused at this revelation “Friends?”

“Oh , yes … the best of friends” confirms Lydia with complete confidence “Darcy paid off all of Wickham’s debt and gave money to Ariel so she would sign the divorce papers.”

“What?  Why would he do that?” shocked asks Liz.

“I don’t know, but it certainly helped us!  Anyway, Ariel Shephard is dating Dan Clay.   Our mutual friends are saying that they are nearly engaged again and will probably be getting married in the next few months” explains Lydia and then to offer some explanation of why she was willing to run away with Wickham “Ariel has been dating Mr. Clay the entire time since Wickham left but has been waiting on his inheritance before she would divorce Wickham.  Evidently Dan Clay doesn’t have much money and it was more her father’s idea to wait than her own.”

“Darcy not only paid the debt, the allowance, and the divorce, but he also gave us quite a pretty sum to start our new life together as a wedding present” offers Lydia “I don’t think that we will ever be able to thank Darcy for everything he has done for us.  You need to be nice to him, Liz.  I think he likes you even if you don’t like him.  He’s going to be a part of our family which also includes you.”

In disbelief of how the tables have turned, Liz stares at her sister for a moment unable to think of what to say.  “I’ll try to be nice when I see him again.”

“Please don’t mention anything that I’ve told you.  It was suppose to be a secret.  He’ll be mad at me if he finds out I told you.  He’s rather prideful in that way” explains Lydia with an air of familiar intimacy beyond the actual relationship “I think he is one of the mostly kindest and thoughtful people I know though.  You shouldn’t be so prejudice against him just because he has money.  He’s able to help people with it, like Wickham and myself.”