My Dearest Aunt and Uncle Gardiner,

I hope this letter finds you both well and in good spirits. I am to relate news to you that I am afraid you shall find unpleasant, but I believe you will agree with me such a measure must be taken. My father has agreed for Lydia to accept the invitation of Colonel Forster’s wife to Brighton without the protection of a chaperone or sister. I appealed to his good senses; stressing that Lydis’s behavior, lack of maturity, and easy manners with more than a few soldiers in the regiment make her a poor candidate for such an adventure.

None of my arguments persuaded him. He is convinced my sister, and our collective reputations, are safe from unscrupulous suitors and soldiers. I might be convinced if I did not hold in my possession on good authority that one soldier in particular deviates from gentlemanlike behavior. While I cannot pen his name for fear of this letter falling into the wrong hands, you may recall me asking your memories of a man from your home county. 

Perhaps my sister’s lack of fortune and connections shall make her immune from his nefarious aims, but should it not, and I was aware of the risk, I would regret my lack of pluck. And so I write to you begging your forgiveness, but pleading your understanding, that I am declining your most generous invitation to travel this summer. Instead, I shall take myself to Brighton, endure Lydia’s antics, and play politely with the regimental society. 

“Lizzie, there you are! I thought you were speaking with Papa,” Jane interrupted her sister’s letter writing. Elizabeth spun around in her chair and the redness of her cheeks gave Jane pause. 

“He won’t listen to reason!” she yelled, infuriated. As her father’s words had stung her heart, words of another man were suddenly fresh in her mind. In Kent, just three months past, Mr. Darcy had unkindly laid out her family’s shortcomings, even listing her father as a participant in the ridiculous behavior. If Mr. Darcy could see her now, he would feel quite vindicated.

“Who? Papa?”

Elizabeth nodded. Tears of frustration began to fall mixed with a sudden melancholy in her heart. Stupidly, part of her had thought if she went to the Lake District with her aunt and uncle, there might be a reason to stop in Aunt Gardiner’s home county of Derbyshire. Elizabeth could never call upon Mr. Darcy at his home, not after spurning his affections, but stranger things did . . . Determined to stop her flight of fancy before it spiraled out of control, Elizabeth explained to Jane.

“Lydia is a flirt. Unchecked, she will ruin us all.”

Jane calmly sat down on the edge of their bed. Ever the peacemaker, she attempted to soften Elizabeth’s harsh critique of their youngest sister.

“She is spirited. And with the right guidance—”

“He means to send her alone!” Elizabeth interjected and Jane gasped. Spying an ally, Elizabeth pressed her case. “See? Even you agree. So I am writing to our aunt and uncle and turning down their invitation—”

“But you were so looking forward to going!”

Elizabeth shrugged, purposely ignoring the nagging tugs of pain on her heart. “It is no matter. I shall go to Brighton, and you can go to the Lake District.”

Jane shook her head and leaned back away from her commanding sister. “Please, no, I am done travelling. Send Kitty. Or Mary.”

“Jane, he is not going to come back,” Elizabeth said softly, and both girls suddenly remained quiet. Only they knew the private details of each other’s dealings with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. 

“Write your letter and tell them to write back to me,” Jane said, diplomatically. “But I do not wish to travel, I am tired. But if they invite me, I shall go and fill your place, for their sake.”

After Jane left, and Elizabeth trusted her to continue to make excuses for her downstairs as she finished her letter, she considered her eldest sister’s words. Kitty had been the most upset by Lydia’s invitation, but Mary was the next in line by precedence.

Suddenly, inspiration sparked and she dipped her pen once more into the ink.

I humbly suggest you send an invitation to both my sisters Mary and Catherine as my replacement. Mary’s quiet will help soothe the children and Kitty’s lack of travel will provide the sense of marvel you so enjoy when you’ve introduced Jane and me to new experiences. 

I dearly wish I was able to go with you this summer, but I shall put on my bravest face and follow Lydia to Brighton. If uncle agrees with my aims, perhaps he could send a letter to my father in support of the scheme. I am afraid my mother may not like that I am spoiling the fun of her youngest daughter, but I truly feel I must protect my family.

Your Loving Niece,

Elizabeth Grace Bennet 

Finished with one letter, she set it aside to dry and began to pen another. This one was to Colonel Forster and his wife, from the perspective of her father. In this missive, she wrote that he was grateful for the invitation of his youngest daughter, but added the stipulation that for her to accept such favor, one of her sisters must accompany her. Elizabeth listed her name and finally began to breathe more easily.

She would never win the affections of Mr. Darcy again, but she could aspire to raise her family above his censor. Though it hurt to accept her family’s shortcomings, she felt relieved that she possessed a small amount of power to remedy them.

When at last she felt the letters were dry, she collected them to confront her father. If he did not accept her plan to keep their family from ruin, she would have to tell her mother what truly happened between Jane and Mr. Bingley from Mr. Darcy’s interference. In her she could count on an ally even if her father remained unmoved.