Mary Bennet and the Longbourn Tutor by Carrie Mollenkopf

Author:Carrie Mollenkopf [Mollenkopf, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-08T04:00:00+00:00

~Thirteen~

The next day…

Elizabeth Darcy placed her mother’s pearl and ruby necklace carefully inside a velvet pouch and tucked it in her reticule. She thought how best to approach the subject without placing any of her Bennet family members in a state of embarrassment. Speaking with her father was out of the question. He still harbored a sense of obligation to Mr. Darcy for arranging Lydia’s marriage and resolving the debts of her worthless husband, Mr. Wickham. Mama would probably fling herself into hysterics and Kitty was equally of no use. She had not wanted to tell Jane, stress was not something her elder sister bore well, especially in her current state. It was Mary who would be able to provide honest answers. Fortunately, Charles and Jane had declined to accompany the Darcy’s to Longbourn.

“You two go without us. We see Mama and Papa regularly. This is your time to have them to yourselves,” Jane had reasoned.

In all honesty, Jane was simply too tired after yesterday’s festivities going late into the evening. Lizzie, while appreciating time with her father, did not relish being the object of obsession for her mother. Hopefully her mother would still be in the throes of a massive hangover from her celebratory indulgence.

When the Darcy’s arrived, Mrs. Bennet was indeed indisposed. Her wails of neglect could be heard throughout the house as she lamented the considerable pains that assaulted her person. Having completely forgotten the invitation to an early luncheon, Mrs. Bennet had closeted herself away and displayed such dramatics of imminent death that Atlas Sutton was summoned from Meryton. Having hoped to spend the day in his last examinations of the unknown person, he sighed and nodded his acceptance to the Longbourn footman to attend Mrs. Bennet. It was at her side that Lizzie found the young doctor, alongside Mary who refused to allow her friend to bear the experience alone.

“Good morning Lizzie. As you can see, Mama is in one of her moods,” Mary said with more than a touch of sarcasm.

“I am not in a “mood” young lady! This may well be the end for me and no one cares in the slightest!” snapped Mrs. Bennet before spying Lizzie in the doorway.

“Oh Lizzie! I knew you would come… sit on my bed and hold my hand while this charlatan administers his potions,” simpered the elder woman with an immediate change of tone.

Lizzie Darcy rolled her eyes at Mary and did as she was bid. It was the least she could do, considering that she would escape back to Pemberley on the morrow. Fortunately, within a few minutes, after a deep draught of a calming sedative, Mrs. Bennet was asleep and they could return below stairs to some solitude.

“Were is Papa?” Lizzie asked as the three joined Mr. Darcy where he waited in the parlor.

“Still asleep as well. I fear that he is getting a bit frail lately, so I have indulged him. Besides, he will be up and about long before you leave.”

“That is

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