No wedding clothes for Lydia…
August 31, 1812
Mrs. Gardiner entered her husband’s study quietly and glided across the room. Kissing him on the cheek, she pulled a chair up beside him and sat down. To her dismay, he looked even more tired and distracted than he had been for the past few weeks.
“Thank you for coming, my dear,” he said.
“I am always looking for an excuse to spend more time with you, my love.” She placed her hand affectionately upon his knee. Their eyes met and for a moment the world and all its problems seemed very far away. She saw the weariness return to his face much too quickly.
“I received a letter this morning from brother Bennet.” Mr. Gardiner rifled through the papers on his desk and finally came up with the one he had been looking for.
“He is not having second thoughts about the wedding, is he?” she asked.
“The letter contains mostly questions about the financial arrangements. He seems relieved he will not have to shoulder all the debt, but I also detect a bit of guilt as if he feels he should be settling it all himself. I do hope this does not cause difficulties.”
“I know it disturbs you Mr. Darcy is doing so much but insisting you take the credit. He has proven to be a most kind and considerate gentleman, not at all what we first thought.”
“I have stopped trying to talk Darcy out of taking this all upon himself. He still refuses to hear of accepting any help. But that is not why I asked you to come speak with me. There is news of another sort in the letter which will undoubtedly affect the peace and tranquility in our household.”
Mrs. Gardiner sat up. “Everyone is well at Longbourn, are they not?” She had been worried that the distress caused by Lydia’s elopement might be too much for Mrs. Bennet’s nerves. Everyone worried about Mrs. Bennet’s nerves!
Mr. Gardiner patted her hand. “Have no fear. Everyone is well enough considering recent events. No, this concerns Lydia’s request for funds to purchase wedding clothes.”
“From the look on your face, I can see it is not good news.”
He shook his head. “No, it is not. This is certain to send Lydia into one of her – shall I say fits? However, it cannot be helped. Bennet has decided to send no money for her use.”
Mrs. Gardiner looked concerned.
Her husband examined the letter again. “I believe his exact words were…yes, here it is: ‘not a guinea.’ He also says that he does not wish Lydia to visit Longbourn after she is married. He will arrange to send her clothes on from Longbourn, but that is all. It appears he is washing his hands of her.”
“Oh, dear. Everyone will be able to hear her screaming all the way to Hertfordshire.” Mrs. Gardiner said, shaking her head. She was a woman of good sense and great patience, but she had long passed her limit with her niece’s antics.
“Surely, he will change his mind about allowing her to visit? Your sister will insist and as we know, she can be very persuasive.”
“Yes, some things never change. My sister was always very good at getting her way with our father, and I am afraid that, over time, her persuasiveness has developed into the kind of loud insistence that would be hard for any husband to handle, never mind one like Bennet, who hates of all things to be bothered.”
Mrs. Gardiner patted her husband’s hand in a soothing manner, as they sat in silence for a moment. She marveled at how different his acute, sensible mind was from his sister’s, as different as Lydia was from Jane and Elizabeth.
“I wanted to tell you first so you would be prepared,” he said. “Frankly, I would almost rather face old Boney himself than give Lydia this news, but it must be done, and without delay.”
“I will tell her. You have enough other, more important things to worry about.” Mrs. Gardiner stood and smoothed out her skirts. There had not been much she could do to help her husband and Mr. Bennet find the errant couple, but at least this was something she could manage.
“Are you certain? We could do it together.” Mrs. Gardiner saw the strain around his eyes and shook her head.
“No, I know you are behind in your work because of the trouble this girl has caused, and the last thing you need is to listen to her whining and complaints again. It is bad enough that you must endure her at the table every evening.” She turned to go, but stopped. “Speaking of supper, I believe I will insist that she have a tray in her room this evening. Her manners are a positive penance.”
“Thank you, my dear,” said Mr. Gardiner gratefully.
“Actually, I have an idea that might help soothe Lydia’s ruffled feathers a bit. I have some leftover fabric in the attic, which should be enough for us to make up a couple of simple new gowns. The maids can pitch in to get them done in time. What do you think of my plan?” she asked.
“Brilliant! Anything you wish to do within reason will be fine with me as long as you don’t expect me to personally sew any buttons or lace.” He laughed. “I will be so glad when this is over.”
While the children were napping Mrs. Gardiner went in search of her niece. She found Lydia alone on the window bench in the sitting room, staring out at the street. The girl looked sullen instead of in her usual high spirits.
“Lydia, are you feeling well?”
“I am tired of waiting for the wedding. Why can’t we be married immediately by special license? Surely, Mr. Darcy could arrange it.”
“You know the cost of a special license is very dear, and there is no reason you cannot wait.”
Just then a horrible thought occurred to her. “Lydia, there is no reason you must be married immediately, is there?”
Mrs. Gardiner held her breath while Lydia, never the brightest girl, worked out the meaning of her question.
“No reason except that I may die of boredom. I do not understand why we cannot go out to parties or balls. Surely, there are such events going on, even if it is not the season right now. This is London, after all.”
Her niece’s impatience and impertinence was astounding. Lydia appeared to have no idea of the seriousness of her escapades, and no concern that she had nearly ruined the chances of all her sisters to marry well. Even more disturbing, if she did understand, she did not care. Nothing seemed to matter except parties and balls, and of course, soldiers. How many times had Mrs. Gardiner lectured her on her transgressions, and not a word had made any impression on the girl!
“You are here for one reason only and that is to be married, not for a ball or a party or any other entertainments. We are working to save your reputation and your family, something for which you seem to have no concern,” she said severely.
Lydia looked at her with wide-eyed innocence. “I have done nothing wrong.”
Mrs. Gardiner took a seat next to her niece and put her hands on the girl’s shoulders. She wanted to shake some sense into her but refrained as experience told her it would do no good.
“Nothing wrong? Oh, Lydia, what were you thinking?”
“That I will be married first before all my sisters. Now, that will be something!”
“So is that why you ran off? Because you wished to be first? You are ruined and came just this close to not being married at all. Only your family’s intervention saved you.” Mrs. Gardner held her thumb and forefinger together in front of Lydia’s face as she spoke.
“I knew we would be married sooner or later. It does not matter,” Lydia shrugged. “I set out to catch a handsome officer as my husband, and I have succeeded. What is there for any one to mind in that?”
Only good breeding and years of training prevented Mrs. Gardiner’s mouth from dropping open. This girl truly had no sense at all.
“My Wickham loves me,” Lydia continued confidently, “and I love him.”
“That is a good thing since you may very well be married to that villain for a long time,” Mrs. Gardner muttered under her breath. Fortunately, her words did not seem to register with Lydia. Mrs. Gardiner sighed. Best just to change the subject. Trying to explain to Lydia what she had done wrong was like talking to a rock. The words just flowed past her.
“I came to tell you your uncle received a letter from your father this morning. I am afraid he has said he will not be able to send funds for wedding clothes for you.”
“I do not believe it!” Lydia cried, jumping to her feet. “How could he do this to me?”
She stamped her foot and started glancing around the room as if looking for something to throw. It would not be the first time in her weeks at the Gardiners’ house that she had damaged something fragile when in a temper. Just as Mrs. Gardiner saw the girl’s eyes light on one of her favorite porcelain figurines, she decided she had had enough.
“Lydia, I will not tolerate your throwing things in my house. Your actions these past few weeks have been deplorable, but let us have no more destruction of my personal property.”
“I know this has to be a mistake. Mama wrote that I would have new gowns. It is only right as I am to be a bride.” She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly.
“Your father does not have the funds at the moment. He has had to settle the debts Wickham left unpaid in Meryton.”
That stopped Lydia, but only for a moment. “If Papa will not send money, then I will ask Uncle Gardiner.”
“Lydia! You have done enough to upset your uncle. You will not bother him further with your petty complaints.”
“But how can I be married if I have nothing to wear? This is absurd. Next you will be telling me I must be married in my shift,” Lydia sputtered.
Mrs. Gardiner sighed. “You will not be wed in your shift. Of all the ridiculous things! Please stop your dramatics. Although your father will not allow you to purchase new things, he has at least arranged to send all your gowns and bonnets from Longbourn.”
“That is well. Harriet will send the things I left in Brighton. I asked her to have Sally mend the great slit in my worked muslin gown before she packs them up. I do hope she remembers.”
“That is all you have to say? You should be thankful to your father for making the arrangements.”
Lydia sighed heavily and sank back onto the window seat. “Oh, yes, thank you so much, Papa. I am so grateful to have nothing but old rags to wear.”
Should she just leave Lydia to stew? No, she could not be that cruel despite her niece’s behavior. “You do not deserve it, but I have a plan. I have several different fabrics upstairs. It should be enough to make up a few new gowns if we work quickly.”
Instead of smiling, Lydia’s mouth turned down in a pout. “Oh, Aunt Gardiner, I am simply terrible with a needle. Couldn’t we have someone else make the gowns?”
“There is no time or money for that. Even if my maids help us, it will take the rest of the week to complete the gowns. You will simply have to apply yourself more diligently to sewing. It is fortunate I have some spare muslin lying around. That is not always the case, I assure you.”
Mrs. Gardiner stood and went to her sewing basket to retrieve a measuring tape, pencil and paper. “Now stand up, Lydia, and we shall begin by taking your measurements.”
Lydia stood, looking unhappy but resigned. Mrs. Gardiner thought she might have heard a slight thud of a foot stomp underneath the girl’s skirt, but she ignored it and set to work.
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Great insight into the Gardiner household, I really like Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner immensely. Your characterization of Lydia is consistent with the original P&P novel–she is such a petulant mess! The sooner she and Wickham are married and living in the North, the better off everyone will be.
I fear I would have let her marry in her shift! Such a totally senseless, selfish brat she is. Mrs Gardiner should give her a bit of material and told her to make herself a new dress if she wants one, with no help from anyone as she won’t show any gratitude!
I had this friend who would always defend Lydia saying, “she was just a teenager”. I was always on Lizzie’s side saying, she “should have known better”. But now I’m a little older and I do think Lydia is just totally unaware of her own impropriety and furthermore, she totally believes Wickham is some knight in shining armor. She was duped bad. Wonder how long it takes Lydia to realize what she’s gotten herself into. “Poor stupid girl”
In today’s world Wickham would be a predator, his target is really young women ( Miss Darcy, Lydia). In terms of that era, a 16-year old girl/woman was not excessively young. She was of a marriageable age. Most girls of families at a certain level came out socially between the ages of 17-18, so that was a version of letting the world know that they were ready to be married.
Lydia was a cautionary tale of what can happen to a young woman who is not brought up properly. Her lack of prudence could and would affect the reputation of the rest of her family. The fault was due to the lax behavior of her parents.
Lydia’s future is not bright. Her husband will be back to his louche gambling ways. He likely will be having affairs with other officer’s wives to get a little extra coin or influence. Lydia is a Becky Sharpe in training. She may find herself becoming someone else’s mistress,
Lydia seems almost disabled. But what disability is marked by immaturity, selfishness, willfulness, obliviousness to others needs, and absence of moral fiber?