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wrenched back it had become as she tried to draw breath between his enthusiastic pecks.
    She had not noticed it before, Lydia reflected, as he lunged at her a second time with quite as much vigour, but his aquiline nose, which she had previously thought rather noble, now seemed overlarge and kept getting in the way. Perhaps if she moved her head around she might have more success! But on doing so he moved his with great zeal and, not only did their heads clash with a huge blow to both parties, but she managed to catch the end of his nose between her teeth. To her horror she realised it had all gone terribly wrong. However, when the Captain pulled back to look longingly into her eyes, she knew that, as far as he was concerned, his experience had been more than pleasant. How she wished she could feel the same! Still, undaunted by the first attempt and resolute in her desire to improve, she was on the point of begging the Captain for another try when they were disturbed.
    “Miss Bennet, Mrs Forster is looking for you everywhere,” exclaimed a loud voice, which boomed out of the darkness. Lydia was as vexed as she could be at the interruption and turned to face the intruder as she defiantly took hold of the Captain’s arm.
Chapter 7
MR WICKHAM HAD APPEARED out of nowhere with such an ill-tempered expression on his face that Lydia felt quite fearful.
    “Forgive me, Mr Wickham, is it not?” Captain TraytonCamfield asked as he steered her back into the light. “We seem to have lost the path; how fortunate that you have found us.”
    “Yes, I consider it very fortunate,” said Mr Wickham, ignoring the Captain’s proffered hand. “I was on my return to listen to the singing when I saw you both disappear and imagined that Miss Bennet might easily lose her way. The lady will now leave you and accompany me back to her friends. I hope you will excuse us; you may imagine that Mrs Forster will be most distressed.”
    “By all means, dear fellow,” continued the Captain, “but do not imagine that your friend was in any danger. My intentions are entirely honourable towards Miss Bennet, and I hope there has been no misunderstanding.”
    “None whatsoever, sir,” Lydia announced and shrugged away Mr Wickham’s hand, which had caught her elbow and was propelling her towards the path.
The Captain started moving rapidly in the opposite direction. “I think perhaps it would be wise to return to your friends,” he called. “If I may be permitted, I will call on you at your convenience on the morrow.” He bowed with a great sweep before rushing off into the night, leaving a very cross Lydia on her own with Mr Wickham.
    “How dare you,” Lydia cried and slapped him hard across his face. Embarrassed and indignant, she had also been made to feel guilty. He had treated her like a child who needed a nursemaid, and a foolish child at that. To her great surprise, he slapped her hard in return, and she was so shocked that she could not immediately find the words she wanted to say.
    Tears sprang to her eyes, though she did her best to blink them away. “I hate you,” she cried. “You think you are such an exceptional man when you are not even esteemed as highly as those whom you despise. Captain Trayton-Camfield is an officer held in the highest regard and he will make me an offer before I leave Brighton: an offer of marriage. I daresay he would have declared himself tonight if it were not for your interference. He has told me he is falling in love with me and now you have probably ruined all my chances of happiness. Let me go, I hate the very touch of you. Leave me be!”
    She ran, falling into a couple that had their arms wrapped around one another, knocking them over, and bruising her arm. Harriet and Henry were soon found, still standing in the same place, and were it not for her harried appearance, which slightly alarmed her friend, she guessed that they had not been at all concerned about her whereabouts and had presumed she was