[Pride and Prejudice] Dear Lydia

After the ball at Netherfield, Mrs. Bennett came home in high spirits, as if she had won a battle.In the next few days, she described her little daughter as the most lovable woman within a [-]-mile radius without humility, and she could talk nonstop for two hours every day.

In the end, everyone's ears were really callused. Headed by Mr. Bennett, Elizabeth and Mary assisted, and tried their best to put an end to her horrible behavior of nagging and bragging.

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy lived in the house that Mr. Darcy rented in Meryton, and they generally came to Longbourn every day before breakfast and left after dinner, and sometimes the Bingley sisters who lived with them also accompanying.

On this day, Mrs. Lucas brought her guest Mrs. Burns and her two daughters to visit the Bennett's house. They sat in the living room to drink tea and chat.

"Lydia, can I ask you a question?" Seeing that her mother was having a lively conversation with the two ladies, and Mary was also discussing something with the two ladies of the Lucas family, Elizabeth turned her head to the person sitting next to her. Lydia said softly.

"Of course, what do you want to ask?"

"How did you convince Mr. Darcy's aunt to express her admiration for you in a high-profile way in all public occasions?" Elizabeth expressed deep doubts. This question puzzled her for a long time, and she almost didn't think about it. I want to understand, "Mrs. De Boer is not a talkative woman. She has always looked down on our sisters. Although you helped her find her daughter who ran away from home, it is impossible for her to be willing to repay you with such effort. It’s okay once or twice, but it’s really puzzling to come back like this.”

Lydia smiled mysteriously, "I knew that Mr. Darcy would not hide this matter from you. Dear Lizzie, how long have you been curious about this question? I admire your patience a little bit, and you even waited until now to ask."

"Come on, I've always been very curious, haven't I never had a chance to ask?" Elizabeth pushed her, "Actually, I once put myself in the shoes of myself and thought about it, if I were you, what method should I use to ensure that Mrs. de Boer will not cross the river and destroy the bridge , After I helped her find her daughter, she turned her face and refused to recognize anyone."

"What did you come up with?"

"No, so please don't play tricks and tell me." Elizabeth pretended to be listening.

"It's very simple. After I found out where Miss De Boer was, I managed to get a token from her, and then took this token to find her mother, Mrs. De Boer, and asked Mrs. De Boer to write a letter of thanks in person. , this letter was written sincerely, and I was very grateful to me for helping her find her elopement daughter, and finally signed her old man's name. After she handed this letter to me, I will take her to find her daughter. But in the future, she must be polite when she meets me, and she must remember to say a few good words for me in public. If she breaks her promise, I have the right to publish her letter in the newspaper to let everyone know that it is honorable. Miss de Boer had eloped, and her mother had betrayed the benefactor who had retrieved her daughter."

"Oh my God!" Elizabeth covered her mouth and exclaimed in a low voice, "You actually came up with such a bad way to blackmail people!"

"Lizzie, if you don't want everyone to know about your husband's cousin's failed elopement, please keep your voice down!" Lydia looked around, but fortunately, everyone was talking about their own things, and no one noticed them.

Elizabeth patted her chest, "I'm not too surprised." After thinking for a while, she said, "Lydia, I still have to persuade you, your method is not proper, in fact, I think you might as well ask her directly A lump sum is more affordable.”

"Of course I'll ask for a payment, and she's not such a pleasant character to be around for nothing! Mrs. de Boer will pay me a thousand pounds for it. I thought she was very noble, and she was often in Pemberley last year. The daughter who is angry and sarcastic at me is worth at least three thousand pounds, but I gave her a discount for the sake of you and Mr. Darcy." She didn't say that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth might also know these things from Mrs. de Boer, so Elizabeth As soon as she asked Lydia, she confessed honestly.

Elizabeth stared at her beautiful eyes that Mr. Darcy had warmly praised before marriage, and asked as if wanting to confirm again, "Lydia, a thousand pounds?!"

Lydia nodded sincerely.

After Elizabeth was shocked, she had to face the reality. It was too late to talk about dissuasion or mediation. Besides, she asked herself, she was a little secretly pleased with the always arrogant Mrs. de Boer for being dumb, so she slumped her shoulders, He said helplessly, "My dear sister... Congratulations on making a small fortune."

Lydia smiled and nodded, "Thank you, as long as you don't get angry."

"My dear Lydia, what are you and Lizzie talking about?" Mrs. Bennet suddenly called out to them. "You didn't hear Mrs. Burns talking to you."

"What's the matter, Mom?" Lydia and Elizabeth looked up together.

"Mrs. Burns said she would like to invite you to stay with her in Somerset for a while!" Mrs. Bennet said cheerfully, proud of her youngest daughter's popularity.

Mrs. Lucas looked a little ugly. Mrs. Burns was a relative of her family. It was really annoying to invite Lydia instead of her two daughters.

Mrs. Burns patted her understandingly, and said softly, "I think it would be the most appropriate time to invite Maria and Kate to my place next spring if there is a chance. Young people with good conditions."

When Mrs. Lucas heard this, her face immediately returned to normal, and she smiled and replied, "They really need to go out more to see the world."

Lydia was taken aback when she heard that Mrs. Burns was going to invite her to go back together. She thought she was just talking politely at the ball, but she didn't expect to take it seriously. She was very surprised. It stands to reason that the friendship between Mrs. Burns and her Far from being this intimate.

"Well, mother, I am very grateful to Mrs. Burns for her kindness, and would very much like to see Somerset, but I cannot leave dear Lois, who, you know, has few friends, She'd be lonely if I went to Somerset," Lydia replied after thinking.

"Mrs. Wickham, I can't help liking you even more when you say that. It's really rare to show such sincere concern for a friend!" Mrs. Burns smiled heartily, "But I think this may not be a problem. I was lucky enough to Go and see the Lord Earl of Chatham, to hear from him that he is going back to Somerset soon, and he probably intends to take Miss Mallard with him."

If this is the case, Lydia thought she might consider a trip to Somerset. I heard that there are many beautiful places there, but she was still a little puzzled by Mrs. Burns' sudden enthusiasm, and felt that she should go to Somerset. Go and consult with Miss Mallard again.

After the guests had left, Mrs. Bennet scolded her for being stupid, and she didn't agree quickly when she had such a good opportunity, "What's so hard to understand, she invited you because you have a cute personality and people like you! That said, among the five daughters, you are the one who resembles me the most!"

Lydia saw Elizabeth smiling secretly, and Mr. Bennett, who had just come out of the study, also turned around, "I think I should go for a walk."

Just at this time, the servant brought in a letter from Netherfield, which resolved Lydia's embarrassment in time.

The letter was written to her by Miss Mallard. Although it was only a few words, it reported the great news that the British army had regained control of a large area north of Cape Town. Mr. Eshton sent The months of hard waiting by those staying there were not in vain, the gold mining project was able to continue, the first batch of ore was released quickly, and huge profits were already on the way.

Although Lydia knew that the Cape Town area would be taken back by the British army sooner or later, she couldn't remember the exact time anyway. During this period of time, she had to wait for some communication. Seeing the good news in black and white at this time, she really felt overjoyed ——Finally waiting for the dawn of getting rich!

He grabbed the letter and ran out, "Mom, Miss Mallard invited me to dinner, I'll go right away, if it's convenient, please remind Dad to send a carriage to pick me up at night."

"Oh, wait, Lydia, aren't we still talking about whether you want to accept Mrs. Burns' invitation to go to Somerset?" Mrs. Bennet shouted behind her, but her daughter had already run away. Far away, she was so angry that she complained hard, "This frizzy girl! Is going to see Miss Mallard more important than talking to mother? It's so unruly!" I completely forgot who was boasting about her daughter's extremely cute personality just now of.

Lydia arrived at Netherfield four or ten minutes later by half-walking and half-trotting. She was so tired that her cheeks were flushed and she was out of breath. He walked into the living room with a smile on his face.

Miss Mallard was sitting with Mr. Pitt talking, and she smiled when she saw Lydia rushing in like this, "George said you are a complete little money fanatic, and you will definitely come over immediately after receiving my letter. Just now I defended you and him a few words! My dear, you are too careless about your image, even if you are happy when you hear that you have made money, you should be more reserved and come back to ask more questions tomorrow morning. "

Lydia walked over and sat down calmly, "I don't think there is anything to hide about this. I invested through legitimate channels and obtained benefits aboveboard. It is natural to be eager to know the specific situation. Why do I have to suppress myself until tomorrow? Speaking of it You should also thank me, if I hadn’t strongly suggested to wait, maybe you would have withdrawn your capital.”

"Okay," said Mr. Pete, "I heard that Aimorod Jewelry has a new batch of very fine pearls. I will buy you a necklace as a thank you."

Miss Mallard immediately glanced at her cousin with a subtle frown.

Lydia also waved her hands again and again, "Aren't you serious, Mr. Pete, this is not to thank me, but to cause trouble for me. I can't explain such an expensive gift to me!"

Mr. Pete smiled and didn't insist, "Take it as a joke."

Lydia looked at Miss Mallard, then at Mr. Pete, and found that the two of them were silent and had no intention to speak again, so she had to ask herself, "May I ask, dear Lois, What exactly was the substantial benefit you mentioned in that text message?"