Mary Bennet and the Longbourn Heiress by Carrie Mollenkopf

Author:Carrie Mollenkopf [Mollenkopf, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-01-29T05:00:00+00:00

~Twelve~

Just before dawn, Mary again wrapped the dead woman’s journal in oil cloth for the walk to Meryton. This time, however, she included the Bennet family Bible. Perhaps there were additional clues in the lineage that had been overlooked. After their guest had left the previous evening, Mary had spent a few minutes speaking with her father.

“Papa, please allow me to see to the burial arrangements. You are still not up to moving about so much, and I almost feel as if I have somehow gotten to know her. I want to give her a proper send off.”

Mr. Bennet easily agreed. He had learned long ago not to argue with the women of his family when they had formed attachments. It simply did not do any good, plus, he was relieved to have the business settled. While the coins found with the body had indeed been a blessing, they were simply stalling his financial problems for a few months. If his new investment ideas did not pan out, he may be forced to ask Mr. Darcy for assistance. Not relaying this to Mary, he bid her a good night and to keep him appraised of when the internment was complete.

Thinking back as she walked the distance to the surgery, Mary was pleased that her father had entrusted this to her. Was he beginning to see that she was able to manage things? If only he would allow her to do more. She had a thousand ways in which improvements and economizations could be made at Longbourn. Would he listen to her ideas? Pondering how to best approach her father, the distance soon evaporated and Mary was standing on the doorstep to Meryton’s only physician.

The door opened before she could knock, revealing a rather disheveled young doctor.

“Forgive my appearance, I have spent the better part of the night delivering a very stubborn set of twins,” he said with a yawn.

Mary only raised a brow before laughing and moved past him in to the laboratory part of the surgery. She had a list of things to do in the arrangement of the burial. “I can come back later if you like?”

“No, I just need some tea,” he replied as he poured steaming water from a beaker poised over a small flame into two cups.

“Hardly fit for someone’s parlor, but one learns to make do at university.”

Mary accepted her cup and produced the books from her tarp. “The family bible, as well as the journal,” she explained and opened the former to where she had marked the page featuring the births of Christina and Margaret in addition to that of their elder brother Stephen. “All dead before adulthood. However, it does not seem a complete tragedy, apparently their father, George Bennet, was married twice. Later, two more children were born, Mathilde and Edwin, but something is odd. Edwin’s birthdate is five years before the marriage.”

“That is strange, unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Perhaps his mother was also a widow? One with a child. Second marriages often make complicated family lines.

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