An Impossible Task by Rosie Crowley

Author:Rosie Crowley [Crowley, Rosie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Lizzy’s mind raced as she worked to understand this new development. It was her nature to try and think up solutions when there appeared to be none, but on this matter she was stumped.

“You are sure?”

Mrs. Gardiner nodded. “I am afraid so. It is not oft spoken about, being rather of a personal nature and I am sure you are too young to remember the time of your younger sisters’ births, but it is a common malady. It is too early to tell for sure.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “But if the smell and the sight of that pot is anything to go by, she is suffering from the side-effects of being with child.”

“Perhaps that is in our favour,” Lizzy murmured.

“Alas, no, my dear,” Mrs. Gardiner said, tears shining in her eyes. “What are we to do? It will become obvious in a matter of weeks. Perhaps it is better if she remains in London with me, but…”

“No, Aunt,” Lizzy said, shaking her head. “It would be extremely selfish to burden you with that. I feel bad enough already that I have caused you to come with me to places like this.”

“I don’t see why you should have to condescend to come here. That is the most terrible thing that I can see. But I suppose you would not have backed down no matter who suggested it.”

Elizabeth smiled for what felt like the first time in an age. “No, indeed,” she admitted. “Well, then. There is only one solution that I can think of. If we can no longer take her back to Longbourn, we must find Wickham and prevail on him to marry her at once.”

She opened the door and marched back inside. Lydia was a pitiful sight, packing her belongings into a tattered bag that appeared as if it belonged in a poorhouse.

“George took my trunk; said he needed to exchange it for food. He had a bad week this week but he promised he would make it up to me soon.”

“Where is he?” Lizzy tried to keep the pure hatred she felt for the man from her voice, but it was difficult.

Lydia’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell him I told you that.”

It was heart-breaking to see her spirited sister so broken down like this. Lizzy dwelt on all of the things she would like to do to Wickham, chief among them to have him dragged to the courthouse to atone for all his crimes. But that would hardly help her sister’s situation—or hers.

“I promise I won’t breathe a word of it. I simply want to speak to him.”

“His favourite gambling house is on the corner. He won’t be happy you’ve come, though.”

Well, I’m not happy that he tricked my sister into debasing herself, Lizzy thought. She said nothing as she left the room again, promising to return soon.

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