Lydia's expression had taken on somewhat of that fixed quality again, because, well, there were things she wasn't telling Arden, either, and wasn't planning on telling her any time soon. (Especially after she'd taken such a dislike to Wickham, although it wasn't as if Lydia could blame her for that. Lots of people disliked Wickham. Some days Lydia was amongst that number.)

"I promise I'm not upset," she said. "If you couldn't tell me, then that's that. I just wish that you hadn't gotten hurt!"

And hoped that if and when Arden found out Lydia's secrets she still liked her.