Lydia and Mary - An adaptation of Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 6

It felt as if a year had passed before I heard the rhythmic tapping of Papa's shoes on the carpeted floor which signaled his exit. Counting to ten, I waited till I could no longer hear his footsteps echoing down the hallway before springing out from behind the door, and making a beeline for his wooden desk. Seeing that it had nothing on it, I felt a sudden surge of anxiety rise within me. Had he taken it along with him? I wondered as I started pulling rows of drawers out from beneath his desk and searching through them.

My hands began to tremble as I lifted sheets of paper, books, stationary and other bits and bobs out of the drawers in my desperate attempt to find the letter. Lifting up an old bible, I spotted something rectangular sticking out of it. Could it be the letter? I wondered. Pulling it out, I saw a white envelope with a rose-red wax stamp in the center of it. Opening the envelop and pulling the letter out, I realized that the letter was addressed to Mr. Edward Gardiner. 'This has to be it!' I said, tearing the letter up and throwing it into the fireplace which was very fortunately lit.

Pulling out a fresh sheet of paper, I began writing my version of Papa's letter to Mr. Gardiner. Imitating the style of writing used by most Victorians, I wrote:

Longbourn, Thursday, August 5.

Dear Edward, I am very grateful to you for your assistance in this matter of grave urgency, but I am sorry that I shall have to tell you that you are not to act on my behalf where Lydia's marriage to Mr. Wickham is concerned.

I want Lydia sent home immediately. She is not to marry Mr. Wickham and I would like her to be kept away from him till she returns. Yours, &c. W. Bennet.

Folding the letter up carefully, I inserted it into the now empty envelop which had contained Papa's original letter to Uncle Gardiner just moments before. Closing the envelop, I picked up the wax-stamp which had held the envelope's flap down before I had ripped it off in my haste to find out whether the envelop contained the letter that I'd been searching for. How was I supposed to attach it back onto the envelop? I wondered. Looking around the room, I spotted a candelabra with three lit candles attached to it. Hot melted wax cascaded down the sides of each of the candles and dripped down onto the low windowsill on which the candelabra was left. Perfect, I thought as I picked it up and held it above the center of the envelop. A drop of melted wax dripped down and landed right where I'd hoped it would. Putting the candelabra down, I picked up the stamp and placed it right above the drop of melted wax, pressing it down so as to secure it in place. 'The deed's done.' I muttered, holding the envelop in one hand and opening the bible with the other, preparing to place the envelop back where I'd found it. He will never find out that the letter inside isn't the one that he'd written. I thought wistfully.