Untamed & Unabashed: Lydia Bennet's Story, #1

By Liza O'Connor

Elizabeth Bennet told her story in Pride and Prejudice. Now Lydia Bennet tells her side of her whirlwind marriage to Lieutenant Wickham and what happens afterward.

As the youngest of five daughters with a pittance of a dowry and no hope for a good marriage, it appears her life is doomed from the start. But Lydia refuses to accept such a possibility. She learns how to set herself apart from her sisters and gain the attention of young men. She hones charm and flirtation to an art.

Willing to take risks, she manages to acquire a substantial dowry and marries her beloved Wickham. Yet, her life remains on the brink until she gains the patronage of a wealthy Duke trapped in a loveless marriage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Authors Online
• Release date: Apr 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386889991

Liza O'Connor

   Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens in a myriad of genres. http://www.lizaoconnor.com/   

Book preview

Chapter 1

August, 1812

Lieutenant George Wickham pasted a smile on his face and entered the Winston ball being held for his regiment. He wouldn’t miss the constant parading in sweltering heat, but damn, he would miss the ladies of Brighton.

Unfortunately, not one of them had sufficient funds to cover his current debts. He had come close to reeling in Mary King with a dowry of ten thousand pounds in Meryton, but her uncle rooted about and uncovered a few of his many debts. In the blink of an eye, Mary King was whisked away.

Damn the man’s impertinence.

Had George known the uncle would ask questions in London, he would have left the silly freckled girl alone. The fool’s inquiries had resulted in some very nasty men tracking him to Brighton, looking for the repayment of old debts. Two thousand pounds by tomorrow or they would break both his legs.

He’d promised faithfully he would have it, but that was only to give him time to plot an escape. As he stared across the ballroom, looking for someone who might help him out of this sticky wicket, his brow furrowed with concern. He owed money to half his fellow soldiers and every shop in town. He had no one left to loan him such a sum.

A peel of laughter drew his attention to a circle of soldiers surrounding the youngest Bennet sister.

Lydia.

A smile came to Wickham’s lips. The girl might just be his salvation. She was staying with Colonel Forster and his wife. If she would be willing to leave this dance and return to the Forster’s house, she could provide him access to the colonel’s library. Rumor had it that the Colonel kept the army’s provisioning money somewhere in the room, and with any luck, it would be enough to pay the bruisers off.

No. That wouldn’t work. Lydia couldn’t keep a secret to save her soul. She’d tell the colonel’s wife that he’d been in the library. He sighed. The man was no fool. He’d know exactly what happened, and Wickham would spend the rest of his life in an army prison, which was only marginally better than what the two fellows planned if he didn’t pay up.

He studied the tall auburn-haired lass, batting her eyes at her cadre of admirers. How could he keep the twit from talking? He smiled as a plan formed in his head.

Yes. He could escape his current predicament and start anew with the money in the colonel’s library. A moment of guilt flitted over him. Eliza would never forgive him for using and tossing her youngest sister aside.

His affection for Eliza had been foolhardy from the start. She had no dowry and no connections. All she possessed was a clever mind, genuine humor, and the finest brown eyes he’d ever seen.

What he needed was money, and Lydia could provide access to it. Upon comparing the theoretical displeasure of a woman that he would never see again to his certain displeasure at chipping rocks in an army prison, or having both his legs broken, the choice proved remarkably easy.

He joined the young soldiers circling Lydia. After a nod to Captain Carter and Denny, he smiled at the pretty miss.

Her eyes settled upon him and her smile widened. Lieutenant Wickham, you have come. I began to fear you would not. She pouted beautifully.

As he lifted her gloved hand to his lips, he gave her a seductive smile. And forego the pleasure of a dance with you? Not a chance. I would have walked through fire first.

She stepped forward, her eyes glittering with adoration. Let us dance now.

Denny objected at once. But you promised me the next dance.

Oh, la! She waved him away. Lieutenant Wickham has walked through fire for this dance, you must step aside.

Wickham led her to the dance floor before Denny could rightly argue no fire had been walked upon.

The room was a crush and the stifling air beyond endurance. He looked at his happy partner. Do you feel adventurous?

Her cheeks dimpled as she nodded.

Taking her hand, he weaved through the dancing couples, and led her onto the patio. It held too many people for his plan, so he continued down the steps, through a wisteria archway, across a circular lawn, past the rose garden, to a boxwood lined contemplation garden.

He worried she might balk at the imprudence of entering such a secluded spot with a man she barely knew. However, one glance at her sparkling eyes assured him Lydia Bennet would be the easiest seduction he had ever made—a good thing, given his need for haste.

LYDIA COULD NOT BELIEVE her turn of fortune. She had been trying to catch Lieutenant Wickham’s eye ever since Eliza invited him to dinner several months ago in Longbourn. While he had always been congenial, his treatment of her had been that of an adult to an amusing child. Tonight, however, he finally saw her as a woman.

Thankfully, she had spent all her dress allowance, and then some, on the newest fashion, an off-the-shoulder gown. It displayed her ample breasts sufficiently so no man could think her a child.

When Lieutenant Wickham’s hands rested upon her bare shoulders, she knew her plan had worked.

His eyes sparkled in the moonlight. You are so breathtaking. Try as I have, I can deny my affection for you no longer.

She opened her mouth to inquire why on earth he had ever resisted, but she lost the moment when his lips pressed upon hers, calling forth passions she had hereto never known. She forgot her question, nay, reason entirely, when his tongue parted her lips and drove inside her mouth.

His scorching hands slid down her arms, taking the sleeves of her gown with them and baring her breasts to the cool night air.

She gasped, but did not protest her nakedness, or the way his thumbs played across her nipples. How could she? Never had she felt so alive and happy in her life. Wanting the sensations to continue forever, she not only gave herself to him, but responded in kind with growing passion.

She would be Mrs. George Wickham. She did not care he had barely a pence to his name. Such things were of no consequence when compared to the pleasures she would receive every minute of the day.

Escaping the binding sleeves, she wrapped her arms around Wickham’s neck. Now even if her legs turned to pudding, she would not fall from his delicious attention.

Still, she was relieved when Wickham eased her to the concrete bench. She had barely sat when Wickham kneeled before her. She laughed with joy. He was going to propose to her. She’d be the first of all her sisters to marry. What a lark! Her sisters would be eaten with jealousy.

Lydia, you have no idea what you do to me. He then devoured her right bared breast with his hungry mouth.

She gasped at the unexpected titillation, cradling his head tight to her chest. Lord, she might very well faint from such pleasure. Before she truly did swoon, a new sensation distracted her. Wickham’s hand beneath her gown burned a path up the inside of her leg. Her heart pounded so hard she feared she might die from the glorious sensation. But, oh, what a delicious way to go!

When he reached the joining of her legs, she cried out as her body thrust itself toward Wickham on its own volition. He released her breast and eased her sideways on the bench as he softly hushed her. Then he gathered the skirt of her gown about her waist.

You cannot make a sound, my love, or we’ll never know the perfection of a true union between man and woman.

She took in a deep breath and clamped her mouth shut. No one would stop our marriage, especially not me!

He removed her pantaloons with ease. You are Aphrodite incarnate. A Goddess in the flesh.

Wickham fumbled and softly cursed at his own uncooperative pants his pants. Eventually, he released his manhood, that mysterious appendage her friend, Harriet Forster, had tried to describe to her. It’s rather like a fleshy pickle which grows stiff at the sight of a wife’s body, Harriet had explained.

Lydia laughed with delight. Her Wickham’s manhood was a far cry from a pickle.

He slipped his arms beneath her thighs and shifted them upward, so her legs hung over his wonderfully broad shoulders. His military braids cut into her skin, but she did not complain. He would soon be her husband and she the very best of wives. She sighed with happiness.

He paused at her reaction.

This may hurt a moment, love, but do not cry out, else they’ll take you away and we’ll never be man and wife.

She closed her eyes and waited for the sweet pain that would bond them forever. When he ripped into her body, she squeaked. Opening her eyes, she looked about, fearing she had ruined everything. She relaxed upon the sight of Wickham’s blissful face.

We are married.

With self-satisfaction, she gave herself to the sensation of him deep inside her, moving in and out. Ignoring the painful braids and the hard concrete, she concentrated on the new sense of pleasure growing within her, thinking it far more enjoyable than Harriet had let on.

The pleasure continued to grow. Remaining quiet became an almost impossible task. Then to Lydia’s dismay, Wickham pulled away.

She opened her mouth to object but quieted as voices spoke nearby. Wickham tugged her from the bench and into the darker shadows of the tree. Upon putting himself to right, he helped her tug the bodice of the gown into place.

An officer and Cecilla Barns entered the private garden. Seeing it already occupied, the soldier turned to leave.

Lydia laughed at the sight of the pious and proper Miss Barns. Do not depart on our behalf. We were just leaving, were we not my dear Wickham?

She had surprised her beloved with such fearlessness and courage. But she had no reason to be ashamed. Wickham was her husband. Soon they would acquire a license so they could let everyone know. And what a grand day that would be.

She wrapped her hands around her husband’s arm and left the private garden to a blushing Miss Barns and her not-so-attractive officer. Lydia had walked no more than a hundred feet when she laughed and covered her mouth. Oh, La! I left my pantaloons.

Wickham hurried her forward. Never mind them. They are a bloody nuisance. In the future, you shall go without.

Lydia smiled at Wickham and pressed her body closer to his. He led her further into the gardens, finally coming upon a gate to the street.

She was not ready to end their evening. Can we not go back and dance some more?

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she forgot her question.

Would you rather dance in a crowded room or travel in a private carriage to Gretna Green?

She laughed at his silliness. Oh, Gretna Green, to be sure.

Chapter 2

Wickham couldn’t believe his luck. He had imagined it would take at least an hour to convince Lydia he was so passionately in love that they had to marry this very night. Never in his wildest dreams did he think she would spread her legs after a few kisses and agree to travel to Gretna Green in less than ten minutes later.

Her willing responses had made him believe she was far more experienced than her age would imply. Still, he did her the courtesy of saying the things expected when deflowering a virgin. He knew from his previous seductions, young ladies appreciated the ruse during their first encounter with a gentleman, no matter how battle-tested they were.

Thus, when he met true resistance, he was stunned. What the bloody hell had Denny and the others been doing for the last two months? He was ashamed of the whole sorry lot of them and thanked God he’d never have to set eyes on them again. If ever there had been a young girl ripe for the taking, it was Lydia Bennet.

He sighed wistfully. If only Eliza had been so easy to seduce.

Lydia looked up at him in worry. What is wrong?

Stroking her slender neck, he replied, Nothing. I was just working out the details. When we get to the Forster’s house, I will stay in the library and you go upstairs to pack, but only one small bag. Anything you need we can buy on the way.

Her smile widened. While he didn’t know much about Lydia, he did know she loved to shop. Poor Denny barely had a pence to his name due to her shopping sprees. Had he realized the boy was getting nothing in exchange for his coin, he would have knocked some sense into him.

Lydia gripped his arm, pulling Wickham from his thoughts. May I write a letter to Harriet?

Yes, of course. I would not wish her to worry. Sending everyone to Scotland in search of them would give him more time to disappear in London. His smile widened as he noticed how sensual Lydia looked with her bruised lips and her gown barely covering those plump mounds. It put into his head a better plan than abandoning her. He could probably make several hundred pounds selling her into white slavery. And having her safely on a ship headed to foreign lands would ensure she’d never talk.

When they arrived at the Forster’s home, the butler let them in, and suggested Wickham wait in the parlor. However, Lydia escorted him to the library. The butler followed her in and frowned when she kissed Wickham on the lips. Wait here, I won’t be long.

Wickham sat down on the settee and patiently waited. The butler stood near the door, watching him. Noticing a newspaper on the desk, Wickham asked, May I read the paper while I wait? I fear Lydia may take considerable time. You know ladies.

The butler’s frown deepened. He evidently knew this lady all too well. The man retrieved the paper for Wickham and exited the room. Unfortunately, the door remained open.

Wickham read the news, expecting the butler would check on him regularly. He was good at sizing up people. This butler would not trust a stranger in his master’s library, especially if somewhere in the room, the colonel kept a large sum of money.

Pondering its precise location, Wickham pretended to read. Ten minutes later, the butler looked in the room. His eyes flickered to the