Lydia Bennet's Story
—Diana Birchall, author ofMrs. Darcy’s Dilemma
storyennet’s
The continuing adventures of Mrs. Darcy’s youngest sister
A sequel to Jane Austen’sPride and Prejudice
jane odiwe
LydiaBennet’sThe continuing adventures of Mrs. Darcy’s youngest sister
A sequel to Jane Austen’sPride and Prejudice
jane odiweCopyright © 2008 by Jane Odiwe
Cover and internal design © 2008 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover illustrations by H.M. Brock
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The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
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Odiwe, Jane.
Lydia Bennet’s story : the adventures of Pride and prejudice’s naughty youngest sister /
Jane Odiwe.
p. cm.
1. Austen, Jane, 1775-1817. Pride and prejudice—Fiction. 2. Young women—
England—Fiction. 3. England—Social life and customs—Fiction. I. Title. PR6115.D55L93 2008
823’.92—dc22
2008022772
To the memory of my mother Val, To my father David,
and to Annette, Gaynor, and Richard, with love
Part One
Tuesday, April 13th
I have quite worn out my silk dancing slippers at the Assembly Ball tonight by standing up with several very handsome officers for every country jig and figure. Indeed, on entering the Rooms, I had barely cast my eye about before I was applied to by a string of gentlemen, though sadly, they were not all officers. I must say there is something about a soldier which makes an excellent partner—I am quite giddy in their company!