Dove tale

Lizzie looked up from her sewing as Clara the maid walked into the ladies parlor, "Yes Clara?" She asked smiling looking at the young woman who she had employed personally two months ago. "Please Madam a coach has just drawn up to the front of the house and your sister Mrs Wickham is asking if she may see you, she says it is a matter of much urgency." "Lydia, here?" lizzie said shocked as she stood up and walked towards the window she could see from that little perch that it was indeed her youngest sister Lydia whose infamous elopement with George Wickham a man who had earned nothing but the disgust of her own husband Fitzgerald Darcy since they're youth, had kept her away from this stately house. What can have happened to her now to bring her here at this time thought Lizzie to herself, she knows that she is not welcome here. Lizzie decided that she must at least go out to see her sister no matter how much she saw her arrival a burden, for although she thought that her sister as her father had once said was amongst the stupidest girls in Britain she was her sister. As she descended down the last of the stone steps leading from the front door to where the carriage was parked, she smiled and said, "Hello Lydia" "Lizzie!!" the younger girl shouted back in her immature way. "Lydia what are you doing here? Lizzie asked looking bemused as she observed the amount of luggage which was balanced on the top of the carriage and which was now being unpacked. "My darling Wickham has sent away to Ireland for a time and I was so lonesome at home all on my own that I thought I would come and visit all of my sisters in turn and aren't you glad that I decided to call upon you first?" Lizzie was a little thrown to begin with but then said "Lydia you know that you are my sister and that I am always glad to see you but I am afraid that you will not be able to stay here as I myself will be leaving tomorrow to visit Jane for a fortnight." "Why Lizzie its such good fortune, then it is agreed tomorrow we shall depart of Pemberly together and travel to Jane's. although I'm sure that I will be sorry not to spend more then one night in your lovely home." "Lydia I'm not sure whether it would be appropriate for you to accompany me to Jane's after all it is not long since you were last there and if I remember correctly you stayed for 3 months the last time you said that you were just driving by, and Jane is under a lot of stress at the moment as I'm sure you know not that she will admit it of course." Lydia interrupted just then and said "But Jane is my sister and you know that she would never turn away a sister who arrived at her doorstep and there will be plenty for me to keep myself occupied even if Jane will be to busy caring for Holly and Olivia to spend much time with us." Lizzie stood there stunned for a moment and then carried on saying "Lydia I'm sorry but you will not be able to accompany me tomorrow, I have promised Jane that I will go to see her and help her care for Holly and Olivia so that she will be able to have a break, I obviously am not so heartless that I will turn you away tonight, you are welcome to stay but only for one night Lydia you understand? Then maybe you can go home and spend some time with Mama or visit Mary or something but I am telling you now that you will not be staying here and you will not be accompanying me to Jane's tomorrow do you understand?" lizzie's eyes had turned from their usual river blue to cool icy grey as she had finished talking, she had been amazed at the selfishness Lydia was still able to show even after 5 years of marriage. Lydia looked at her and said simply "I decline your offer Mrs Darcy and if you think that am I going to stay in a house where I am clearly mistaken" and with that note Lydia told the driver to leave.