Foolish Games: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (The Elopement Project) E-book

In this book of The Elopement Project, Lydia and Wickham are foiled before they get too far into their elopement. Now that she is physically safe, what is to be done with Lydia? She can't be trusted in Brighton, she can't hold her tongue at Longbourn, and there are no elderly aunts in far-flung places to send her off to.

Mr. Bennet has to figure out how to handle her—one of his least favorite things to do—and Lydia has to face the consequences of her actions for the first time in her life.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth is touring Derbyshire and running into certain gentlemen while she's there. Though her guilt and confusion leave her tongue-tied, she tries to make amends with Mr. Darcy. How will their relationship progress if she does not need to race back to Longbourn? How will Mr. Darcy woo her now that he is given the chance? And what will Miss Bingley do to stop him?

1

“You’re going to London? When?” cried Denny.
“Tonight.”
“But why?”
“My need has become pressing,” answered Wickham with a significant look.
Denny sighed. He should have known Wickham would owe money to half the regiment. “I suppose you wish for me to make excuses for your absence?”
“Thank you, Denny! You are a good friend,” said Wickham with a clap to his friend’s back.
Denny made a face, but Wickham did not appear to need his agreement. “You do know that deserting in a time of war is punishable by court martial?”
“It is the militia! Who will care about a lone soldier?”
“Colonel Forster will care.”
“I rather think he will thank me for taking his guest off his hands.”
“What?”
“I shall collect Miss Lydia Bennet on my way to London.” Wickham straightened his collar and preened in the tiny mirror.
“Miss Lydia?” Denny cried in disbelief. “You are eloping? With a Bennet?”
“Not eloping as such. The chit wished to go! She made a great fuss when I told her I was leaving.”
“And why did you tell her at all?” asked Denny, his features lit with suspicion.
“I was only looking for a little goodbye present,” said Wickham with a sly smile.
Denny sneered. “She will be ruined.”
Wickham shrugged. “She would not hear of being left behind. If not me, she will ruin herself over some man or other.”
Denny fell back a step at his friend’s audacity. To not care about ruining a woman—a fifteen-year-old girl of good family—and her sisters along with her was a depth he had not thought Wickham would sink to. Denny grunted and shook his head in bewilderment. Wickham seemed to take this as agreement, smiled at his reflection, and left the room.
~
Denny lay in his bed, his mind unable to rest. He knew he was far from the best of men. Hell, he was not even the best man in the regiment. He played too high and regularly had to ask his uncle for money to cover his debts. He drank too much and had a weakness for pretty women, especially the blonde ones.
As if that was not bad enough, he was a terrible shot, and he often slept too late in the mornings and had to be yanked out of bed by a private to avoid missing morning drills. All in all, he was not a good soldier and in no position to judge George Wickham.
And yet, he had never ruined a woman, nor her family. He had never even considered it. The Bennets were respectable. They were not the kind of family who would simply not care that one of their own had eloped with a poor soldier. He knew Wickham would never marry Lydia, and the Bennets certainly could not afford to bribe him into it. It was a well-known fact that the Bennet sisters had small dowries and little in the way of connections. Having a ruined sister would devastate their chances at respectable marriages. They would be lucky if tradesmen were willing to look their way. After all, what was the point of marrying a gentleman’s daughter if the connection brought nothing but disgrace?
Mrs. Bennet was not the most dignified lady, but she was an excellent hostess and had always been kind to him. She rather reminded Denny of his Aunt Millie, all silliness and warmth. She had often had the officers to dine and always set a fine table. The food at the barracks was nothing to brag about, and he had enjoyed pleasant evenings at Longbourn with good food and welcoming company. How could Wickham repay such hospitality with ruination? Had the man no decency?
And the Bennet sisters! They would be doomed to spinsterhood. Miss Lydia was young yet—she could have grown into a pleasant companion. He had rather liked Miss Kitty’s company. She was not too loud, and she listened to everything he said with rapt attention, smiling every time he said anything the least bit amusing. Miss Elizabeth was too quick for him by half, but he respected her intelligence and knew she did not deserve the hell that was soon to be visited upon her.