What A Lark: The Adventures of Lydia Bennet (Leaving Longbourne Behind Book 5) by A. L. Ward

Author:A. L. Ward [Ward, A. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Sequels, Not in Amazon Library, Others POV, Alternate Universe
Amazon: B0BS8K8TDP
Goodreads: 120491468
Published: 2023-02-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Thornwood sat impotently on the rear-facing bench, watching his fiancé use all her skills as she attempted to draw his mother from her doldrums. Mrs. Landsdowne had spent years under her husband’s sadistic rule and was finding it difficult to go against his edicts, no matter how many times she had dreamed of doing exactly that.

“I have not left Thornwood Hall since my marriage.” Mrs. Landsdowne sobbed, shaking and anxious. “Harold did not a—a— allow me to leave or to receive visitors. He will be so very angry.”

“You are going to be just fine,” Lydia assured her, rubbing her back lightly, as she might have Georgiana. “Daniel will protect you, and my family as well. We are an extremely protective and possessive lot. We take care of our own.”

“But you are eloping!” Julia exclaimed unhelpfully. She had spent the last year as a witness to the horrors which her mother-in-law was frequently subjected to and better understood the woman’s anxiety. “Your family is not likely to be enthusiastic over your actions. What makes you think that they will be willing to assist us? If anything, they might wash their hands of the entire thing.”

Mrs. Landsdowne choked and began to cry once more in her oddly quiet manner. Lydia wrapped her arm about the woman’s shoulders and gave Julia a repressive look. “You do not understand my family. We would never turn our backs on one another, no matter our choices or mistakes.” Julia turned away with a sigh, but not before Lydia caught the look of deep pain and hurt on her face. In an instant, she realized what her friend must be feeling. Her own family had completely abandoned her when she most needed them, how could she trust anyone else to not do the same?

“My sister was ensnared by a rogue, who had made promises to her. He was pretending to be my brother and had even signed marriage articles. The whole of Meryton turned their backs on her, and the rest of us, if we continued to support her. My parents were livid and Mama decided to cast her from Longbourne while Papa sat in his book room and did nothing but mock the situation.” Lydia sighed at the memory of those horrible days and her own lessons so hard won. “My sisters and I banded together and supported her, even against my parents, and when my brother appeared to investigate and offered to marry her, only my sisters and I attended the wedding. We knew then that we would always rely on one another and that no matter the situation, we would stand by each other and support each other.”

Lydia reached across to lay a hand on Julia’s shoulder, “When Georgiana and I came out, we were told repeatedly that if a man attempted a compromise, we would never be required to marry him, no matter the consequences. Would such a family turn their collective back on me for marrying the man that I love, even though they had reservations about the match? No! You shall see.

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