PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY RYANN DARLING ON JANUARY 6, 2018.
This is a video I “stumbled” upon by accident on YouTube while looking for Music Monday video options. What a sweet discovery! I think that this song pairs well with the relationship between Lydia and Richard in my Marrying Elizabeth series — especially with the scene they share at the end of the chapter I am sharing below — and if you’ve read the wedding breakfast scene at the end of Loving Lydia and remember the song Lydia sings for Darcy and Elizabeth, as well as her colonel, I think you’ll agree that this is another song she might sing to him. 🙂
Loving Lydia, Chapter 17
Mary huffed as she stood beside Elizabeth, waiting to be allowed entrance to Netherfield the next day. There had been a long and lengthy discussion between Mary and her father after Lydia had told him what Mary had said on their walk.
“You are to be polite,” Lydia said.
“I know,” Mary grumbled.
“And apologize.”
Again, Mary huffed. “I know. Stop speaking.”
“Good day, Mr. Harvey,” Jane said as the door opened. “We are here to see…” She looked at her sisters. “Well, everyone it seems.”
“Very good, ma’am. If you will follow me.”
“That lace Mama selected looked very nice on Elizabeth’s wedding dress, did it not?” Jane asked Lydia. She was attempting as always to direct the conversation so that the argument from a few moments ago would be lost.
“It was lovely,” Lydia agreed.
“Only two more weeks,” Kitty whispered, “and we shall have to call on you here, Jane.”
Jane smiled broadly. “It seems so far away and yet so close.”
When he had asked, their mother had assured Darcy yesterday that she thought all the necessary preparations for a wedding would be completed by the end of the week. There was nothing to be concerned about except whether Colonel Fitzwilliam would be able to attend and if standing for a full service would be too much for Mr. Bennet’s leg. Therefore, a date had finally been decided upon, and Elizabeth knew that Jane was eagerly anticipating becoming the mistress of Netherfield.
Dash was the first to greet the Bennet ladies when they entered the drawing room, but after a proper greeting, which consisted of a scratched ear, he sat down next to Lydia. Kitty and Georgiana excused themselves to go to the music room. Mary attempted to join them, but Jane, who was rarely stern, grasped her hand firmly.
“You have something you must do first,” Jane whispered.
Mary blew out a breath and, with flushed cheeks, turned to Lord Westonbury. “My lord,” she said and waited for him to acknowledge her, “I have come today with a very particular purpose. I have been made aware of the fact that though what I said to you yesterday was entirely truthful, it was not my place to say it even if no one else seems to wish to speak on the behalf of the less fortunate –”
Jane cleared her throat.
“What I am attempting to say,” Mary corrected, “is that my words were out of place and so I would ask your forgiveness for my immoderate behaviour.”
“My forgiveness is readily given. However, I must also apologize for provoking you to behave so.” He held out his hand to her. “Am I forgiven?”
“For provoking me.”
“Nothing else?” Westonbury’s lips curled into a smirk, and Darcy coughed. “Yes, well, that is all for which I have asked forgiveness, is it not?” His hand remained outstretched to her.
Mary looked at his hand. Then, with a raised brow and a look that did not speak of a willingness to bestow forgiveness, she placed her hand in his.
He gave it a firm shake and then, lifted it to lips.
Mary gasped and snatched her hand away. “That is not necessary.”
“I think it is.”
“It is my hand, and I think it is not. Therefore, it is not.”
“But it is what is polite,” Westonbury protested.
“I am not to argue with you, my lord,” Mary replied.
“A pity that,” Westonbury muttered.
“Tea!” Bingley inserted. “I think it would be very good to have tea, do you not, Darcy?”
“An excellent idea,” Darcy agreed.
“And Miss Lydia, you may help me pour,” Caroline said happily.
“Wes,” Darcy called to his cousin, who was still standing with Mary and offering to see her to the music room, “I believe she knows the way.”
“It seems we are to be kept apart,” Westonbury said with a laugh.
“It is for the best,” Mary assured him.
“I am not entirely certain I agree.”
“Of course, you would not. It is a logical and well-thought-out plan.”
“I am not incapable of logical thinking.”
Mary raised a brow and shook her head. “You have yet to prove it, my lord.” Then, she curtseyed and left the room.
Westonbury flopped into a chair. “You are a dreadful bore, Darcy.”
Darcy laughed. “Not everyone enjoys an argument as much as you.”
“I can argue with you if you wish,” Sir Matthew quipped.
Westonbury sighed. “I think I shall pass.”
“I am here if you should feel the need to disagree with someone,” Sir Matthew added.
Lydia followed Caroline out of the room to see that the tea service was being prepared and likely to discuss some other facet of being a proper hostess. It surprised Elizabeth how discreet Caroline was being. There was no announcement of a lesson’s topic nor was there any indication that it was not the most normal thing in all the world for Caroline and Lydia to be heading off together to do something or another.
Jane took a seat next to Mr. Bingley, and the two began discussing what preparations for their upcoming wedding were being made today while she was away from home.
“Your mother does not mind that you are leaving so much to her?” Bingley asked.
“Not at all. We will do our part when we return home. Father was much more eager that we see to Mary,” Jane replied.
Westonbury shifted uneasily in his chair.
“Troubles?” Darcy asked him.
“I had not intended for her to get in trouble,” Westonbury whispered. “Perhaps I should apologize for that?”
“When she returns,” Darcy replied.
The conversation then fell into the realm of topics commonly canvased in a drawing room – the weather, the neighbours, and the health of those family members who were ailing, namely Mr. Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
“Do you think he will see her?” Elizabeth whispered to Darcy. Lydia had eaten little yesterday or today. Between the worry over the damage Mary might have done by being so outspoken to Lord Westonbury and concern about the colonel, she had little appetite and wandered from room to room unable to focus on any task. To be honest, Elizabeth was more than a little anxious about the state of her youngest sister’s mind.
“We are hopeful,” Darcy replied.
“It would be excellent if he did.”
“I agree,” Darcy replied. “One way or the other, a decision must be arrived at eventually.” He took Elizabeth’s hand in his and simply held it.
“I will take him some tea,” Westonbury said as the tea service was brought in. “If I cannot argue with Miss Mary, I might as well see if I can persuade my brother to be reasonable.”
“Do not go to the music room,” Darcy cautioned.
Westonbury leveled a severe look at him before turning away to gather the tea for himself and Richard.
“He is…” Elizabeth sought for the right word.
“Troublesome and used to getting his way,” Darcy finished.
“Do I need to worry about him?” It was the same question she had asked Darcy after meeting Lord Westonbury for the first time.
“I would like to say no,” Darcy answered with a sigh, “but, to be honest, I am uncertain. I do not fear for your safety or that of your sisters. However, I do fear for everyone’s sanity at this point. What Miss Mary said to him yesterday seems to have struck a chord with him.”
“I was shocked to hear what she had said,” Elizabeth replied. “I know she does not approve of places such as Sally’s.”
“Which is as it should be,” Darcy inserted, and Elizabeth agreed.
“And I know that she is given to moralizing, but she has always confined her speeches to those she knows well. It is truly not like her to speak as she did to a stranger – most especially, one who is due a certain amount of respect just because of who he is. I have been attempting to deduce the reason, but I have not yet discovered it.”
“Have you asked her?”
Elizabeth nodded. “Her reply was not helpful.” She attended to the tea she had been served. “Lydia is doing very well.”
“And Caroline looks excessively pleased,” Darcy added.
This, of course, led to a discussion about Darcy’s aunt and Lydia’s desire to do well.
When tea was nearly over, Darcy went to inquire of Richard whether or not he would be amenable to guests.
Elizabeth sighed with relief when he returned and gave her a smile and a nod before informing Lydia that the colonel would be delighted to have her visit him.
“Come, my love.”
Happily, Elizabeth placed her hand in his and together, they went up with Lydia.
“Wait,” Lydia said as Darcy reached for the doorknob. She blew out a breath. “I do not know if I can do this,” she whispered.
“Do you not wish to see him?” Elizabeth asked.
“Oh, very much, but what if he is too greatly altered?”
“He does not look as he did,” Darcy answered. “His injuries are still fairly recent.”
She shook her head. “That is not what I meant.”
“Is it not?” Elizabeth asked. “I know you were worried about that.” Had they not had a discussion about whether or not Lydia could love someone who was not handsome?
“I will not lie. That is still a small fear, but…” Her eyes filled with tears and she wrapped an arm around her middle. “He did not wish to see me. What if he no longer loves me?”
Elizabeth wrapped Lydia in her arms. “He will still love you.”
“How can you say so?”
“If he did not love you, he would not be so concerned about not being good enough for you,” Darcy replied.
“But he is!” Lydia said with some force.
“Then, you must convince him of that,” Darcy replied. “His mind and heart are muddled. His life is not what it was, and it is likely that it never will be what it was.”
Lydia nodded and dashed away the few tears which had escaped her eyes.
“Not knowing is far worse than knowing,” Darcy added. “I know.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “I thought your sister hated me and would always hate me even though I loved her dearly. That is why I took part in the scheme to see Miss Bingley and Sir Matthew betrothed. I needed to know if I had a chance. Your sister Jane and your aunt seemed to think I did. Thankfully, they were correct.”
“I am also happy they were,” Lydia agreed with a smile. “You are very nice when one gets to know you. Not at all as you appeared to be when you first arrived at Netherfield.”
Darcy chuckled. “Thank you, Miss Lydia. I am happy to know I improve upon acquaintance. Now, shall we take on the surly Colonel Fitzwilliam and attempt to convince him that he is not unworthy?”
Lydia nodded and pulled in a deep breath as Darcy opened the door.
“Richard,” Darcy said, motioning for Lydia to follow him to the far side of the bed, “I have brought you some guests.”
Lydia’s hand rested on her heart and tears spilled down her cheek.
“I look dreadful.”
“You do,” she agreed, approaching his bed. “Does it hurt horridly?” She took his hand. “I’ll not move your shoulder,” she added. “I understand it is also injured.”
“It is not as bad as it was,” Richard replied.
“The room spins, and he can see you best when you are on this side of him,” Darcy added.
“I wish I could take it away,” Lydia whispered. “How dreadfully boring it must be to lie here and have nothing to do but consider if you hurt more today than yesterday.” She perched on the side of the bed.
“It is rather dull except when Darcy or Westonbury are here. Did you know that each swag of the flounce around the top of the bed on this side has between four and six folds?”
Lydia peered up at the material. “You are right!” She then looked at the other side of the bed. “It is the same on the side you cannot see.” She sighed and smiled at him. “I have missed you, and I was so dreadfully afraid you had died.”
Darcy handed her his handkerchief and then, without a word, he and Elizabeth left the room.
“And I missed you,” Richard said. He wished to pull her to him and kiss away her tears, but he knew he could not. “I would understand if you did not wish for me to continue –”
“Do not say it!” Lydia interrupted. “You shall not be rid of me that easily!”
“But I am not who I was.” She needed to know who she was accepting.
“Yes, you are. In your heart, you are.”
Richard grimaced as he lifted her hand to his lips. “You really will accept me as I am?”
She nodded, and Richard expelled a deep breath that carried with it many of the worries and fears which had settled upon him as soon as he had woken and found his life set on its end.
I love the way this Lydia is (with Darcy and Richard’s help) becoming a wonderful young woman in this story. The first three books of the Marrying Elizabeth series are available in one compilation, and that ebook is on sale for $2.99 USD (other currencies also reduced) until Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
Please note: Loving Lydia is book 3 and is included in the compilation that is on sale.
Find Marrying Elizabeth, books 1-3 at your favourite retailer here.
Now you have done it. That song video made me tear up. There goes my make-up. Leenie, that was not cool. LOL!! Beautiful, simply beautiful. When those groomsmen circled in prayer, I lost it. Then the mother/son and daughter/father dance finished me off. Whew! That was amazing.
Then you pulled the best excerpt. I love the Wes/Mary relationship. Lydia was such a surprise in this series. I enjoyed them all… even Caroline. Sir Matthew was my favorite until I met Lord Wes. Yeah, he was a pistol and fully loaded and Mary certainly had her hands full with him.
I’ve always loved the Colonel and for him to now find someone to love was the icing on the cake.
Your video for the collection was amazing. [I grabbed my copy] I loved the music and those pictures with the quotes were fabulous. This was such a fun post.
Blessings, be safe and stay healthy.
I’m glad enjoyed the post despite the ruined makeup. Lol I have loved the characters in this series, too. Lydia and Wes are, I think, my favourites out of all of them, although I’m enjoying Alfred at present.