“I am sorry to have to agree,” Jane said quietly, “but I must. It was not proper.”
“Oh, no one cares about that,” Lydia scoffed.
“You are fortunate neither Mrs. Keller nor Mrs. Quimby are here to correct you, Lydia,” Kitty said. “You are the only one who doesnotcare.”
“You and Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth added. Kitty grinned at her, and Elizabeth returned it.
“Perhaps Mr. Collins will choose you for a wife, Lydia,” Kitty continued.
“Perhaps he will,” Lydia shot back. “I would be mistress of Longbourn one day and never allow any of you to live here.”
“Lydia, that is unkind,” Jane cautioned their youngest sister.
“Except Jane,” Lydia proclaimed. “Jane may stay.”
“Lydia.” Jane sighed. “That was not what I meant.”
“You will not meet Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth said, “because Papa does not like him. Count yourself lucky.” She pulled a face. “The rest of us shall have to dine with him.”
“Lizzy,” Mary scolded, “you know we must be kind to guests.”
“I would agree with you, Mary,” Elizabeth said, “but he isnota guest. Guests come to stay by invitation. Yet here he is.”
“What do you suppose Papa has done with him?” Jane inquired.
Elizabeth waggled her eyebrows. “I do not know. Mr. Hill said all the gentlemen met him at the door with their coats on. Do you suppose they shall return without him?”
“Lizzy!” Mary cried in alarm.
Elizabeth cocked her head in puzzlement at her sister’s exclamation and then laughed. “I meant they should leave him at the inn, Mary, not that they would do away with him. It would be exciting, though, would it not?” She addressed Kitty and Lydia. “It would be very like that novel you lent me.”
“Oh!” Lydia said, her expression dreamy. “I loveThe Old English Baron.”
“They knew he was to arrive at three,” Mary said. She frowned. “Why would they be wearing their coats?”
Jane cast a glance at Elizabeth, and they broke into giggles.
“He has not done that in some time,” Jane said.
“Papa once told Mama,” Elizabeth explained, “that when someone unexpected appeared, he always answered his door with his coat on. That way, if it was a person he did not wish to see, he could say that he was just going out. If it was a person hedidwish to see, he would say that he had just arrived home.”
“Mama believed Papa the cleverest man in the world,” Jane said fondly.
“I wish . . .” Lydia said but then hesitated.
“What, dear?” Jane asked.
“I wish I remembered Mama better. I am starting to forget her.”
“You were almost twelve when she took ill,” Elizabeth said kindly. “You are sure to have some lovely memories.”
“Well,” Lydia said, considering, “I remember how she loved to dress us up. She loved ribbons and lace and colour.” She glanced around anxiously. “Is that right?”
Mary nodded. “She insisted on those red cloaks for all of us, do you remember?”
They all smiled. “She was very fond of the colour red,” Jane said lovingly.
“Is that why she married Papa?” Kitty asked innocently.