A Storm Over Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Carys London

Author:Carys London
Language: eng
Format: epub

six

My mother did not allow me to go to the farms for a fortnight.

I was forced to attend dinner after dinner, and even a dance held at Lady Althorp's grand estate.

But my boots were taken away, and I was not permitted to leave the house without one of my sisters following close behind. Mary was especially keen to keep me to our mother's rules and I was decidedly angry about her eagerness to participate in this betrayal.

"Why must you follow me so closely," I asked one morning as Mary accompanied me into the gardens.

"Mama has said that you are not to go to the farms," Mary said stiffly. "I am only doing my duty—"

"But why?" I pressed. "Has Mama promised you something in return for your diligence?"

"I—" My sister let out a heavy sigh. "She promised me that I would have a pianoforte instructor..."

"Oh, Mary," I muttered. I should not have been surprised that it would be something of that nature. Our mother took almost no notice of Mary, so for her to promise something like this—she must have been desperate to keep me in line.

"You should not be so defiant," Mary said. "Mama only wishes to see you properly married."

"She only wishes to see me properly controlled," I shot back. "I do not understand what she finds so disagreeable about my work at the farms."

"Our life is very different now," Mary said. "We are not in Hertfordshire any longer, and our family has a new position. Why, I heard Mama say that we were equal to the Lucas' now—could you imagine!"

"Indeed," I muttered.

Our mother had certainly decided that the Bennet family had been elevated in society since our move to Derbyshire. Now that Papa had a handsome income to match the grand estate that we lived upon, I supposed that it might be true... but it didn't feel right.

"And if Mama chooses a husband for you, what will you say to that?" I asked.

Mary snorted. "She would not do such a thing unless she were left with no other option. There are four of you who shall be married before a gentleman even looks twice at me."

"Do not say such things," I admonished her. "Why, I would not be surprised if you were the first among us to be married!"

Mary laughed aloud and it occurred to me that I had not heard my stoic sister laugh in quite some time...

Poor Mary.

Always forgotten somewhere in the middle.

She was too old to be coddled and watched like Lydia, too smart to be pandered to like Kitty, but too young to be a burden like Jane and I—

"Mama will not rest until she has found you and Jane proper husbands," Mary said firmly. "I believe she favors Mrs. Browning's youngest son for Jane—"

I made a face. "I do hope not."

"She may insist. Mama found her writing letters to a Mr. Bingley— do you know him, Lizzy? Mama said that he was one of the tenant farmers. She was most displeased about it."

My mouth went dry and I stopped walking so abruptly that Mary collided with me.

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