Lydia Bennet's Online Diary.
At this time of the year I always read Pride and Prejudice and I thought it would be fun to see what Lydia is thinking about all the goings on at Longbourn. Lydia's online diary starts just before Mr Bingley arrives and finishes where my novel, Lydia Bennet's Story, begins.
Saturday, January 23rd, 1802
Kitty and I took great pleasure in snubbing George Wickham today, as we walked through the High Street in Meryton. He was walking along with Mary King at his side, swaggering along on the opposite path with an air of self congratulation. On seeing us, he raised his hat and waved. Perfectly affronted, we immediately looked away and took refuge in Brown’s, where we spent a pleasant half hour trying on all the new bonnets. During our sojourn, we made the observation that Mr Wickham and Mary King could be seen through the elegant bow window of Holland’s Coffee House, partaking of hot beverages and cake, whilst enjoying the company of Mr Denny, Mr Chamberlayne, and Mr and Mrs Nicolson. There was no sign of Captain Carter and I must add that I was grateful for that small mercy.
As we were peering through the glass which contorted the view somewhat, Miss Brown said that if we were satisfied that there was nothing to tempt us, she would like to be able to close the shop for an hour in order to take some nuncheon. In any case, she only had two bonnets worth a second look, a silk with red cherries and a straw with plaited ribbon. After coming to the conclusion some minutes later, that neither were to my taste (or pocket), we left, taking great care not to look directly into Holland’s where we knew the party were seated.
Moments later, I heard footsteps running up behind us. I turned, fully expecting to see George Wickham but it was my friend, Emma Nicolson, entreating us to join them for some refreshment. Before I had a chance to speak and comment on the indecent haste with which some people drop firm friends to acquire new ones, Kitty answered for us both. She said we were much obliged but were expected at our Aunt Philips’s and were already late on account of having spent the better part of the morning in the employment of choosing a new bonnet. We exchanged the usual pleasantries and were on our way, Kitty marching me up the road before I had a chance to say anything very much at all.
So we have seen confirmation of all the rumours for ourselves and have decided that this evidence of Mr Wickham’s partiality to Miss King’s company (and her nasty freckles) need not be related to poor Lizzy who can have no idea how brazenly they are sporting themselves about the vicinity.
Lydia Bennet
Kitty and Lydia image from the movie, Pride and Prejudice