Master of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Jane Grix

Author:Jane Grix [Grix, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Alternate Universe
ISBN: 9781517309404
Google: diEkjgEACAAJ
Amazon: B014VTP05K
Barnesnoble: B014VTP05K
Goodreads: 26223290
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Published: 2015-09-03T04:00:00+00:00

Once he had returned to Pemberley, Darcy wrote to Bingley, telling him of Jane Bennet’s death. He offered to accompany him to Netherfield if he was planning to close the house. He hoped Bingley would take his suggestion. Otherwise it would be difficult to engineer a reason to return to Meryton and see Elizabeth again.

* * *

Within days Elizabeth’s life fell into a steady, if boring, pattern. She woke, went walking before breakfast and then ate with her sisters. In mid-morning she often read with her father, then there was luncheon and the possibility of walking into town or going to visit one of their neighbours. Evenings were dull, with little more than the possibility of music or cards, unless they dined with Mrs. Phillips or one of their friends. And even then, the conversations seemed repetitive and inconsequential.

Elizabeth missed Jane terribly. She began to think that even Hunsford with the annoyances of Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine were more interesting than Longbourn.

A week later, Elizabeth was woken by Hill. “Oh, Miss Elizabeth, you must wake. Your father is dead and I will have to tell your stepmother.”

Elizabeth blinked, unable to comprehend. “Dead? Are you certain?” She hastily wrapped a shawl around herself and followed Hill into the library.

“I thought at first he had fallen asleep reading as he sometimes does,” Hill said. “I came in to light the fire, but he didn’t stir.”

Elizabeth walked over to her father, who sat in one of his favourite chairs, slumped down. His glasses had fallen to the floor. She touched his forehead. It was cold to the touch.

Dead without warning. Unlike Jane, he hadn’t been ill, so perhaps it was his heart. But the cause of his death did not matter now. At least his face was peaceful, which made her hope that death had been quick and painless.

“We must tell Mrs. Bennet,” the older woman reminded.

Elizabeth could tell that Hill did not want to be the one to do it. “I will do it.”

Slowly she walked back upstairs to her parent’s bedroom. She hesitated, hating to spread the bad news, but knowing that there was no changing it. First Jane and now her father. She hoped that the shock would not kill her stepmother.

But Mrs. Bennet’s reaction was completely unexpected. Rather than cry and wail, she sat perfectly still for several minutes, as if shocked.

“Do you think she heard you?” Mrs. Hill asked quietly from the hallway.

“Dear me,” Mrs. Bennet said finally. “I was afraid this would happen, and now it has. Mr. Bennet gone. Poor man. I always knew books would be the death of him. And what is to happen to us?” She sighed. “If only Jane had lived and married Mr. Bingley, everything would be better. Or if you had married Mr. Collins, Lizzy.”

Elizabeth flinched.

Her stepmother continued. “And now to think that the conniving Charlotte Lucas is going to be mistress of my house. Well,” Mrs. Bennet said with vigour, “She is not going to kick us out. We will leave immediately after the funeral.

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