Ramsgate Rescue: A Ramsgate Pride and Prejudice Variation by Laraba Kendig

Author:Laraba Kendig [Kendig, Laraba]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Dining Room

Longbourn

Several candles sat in front of the mirrors placed artfully about the dining room, illuminating the china and silver laid over the cloth. A beef roast, a ham, and a steamed chicken were surrounded by potatoes and carrots and asparagus and rolls and pies and soup. It was an extravagant spread for a mere family dinner, but it was also typical of the table Mrs. Bennet set. She was very proud of her ability to provide a fine meal for her family every night.

Elizabeth appreciated the variety of dishes and had always eaten enthusiastically; her habitual exercise left her with a healthy appetite. She could not help but be conscious, however, that her mother’s frivolous spending and her father’s contentment with merely preventing debt did not bode well for the family’s future. Had Mrs. Bennet followed in Madeline Gardiner’s sensible footsteps, perhaps there would be a few hundred pounds saved at the end of each year to put toward the care of Mr. Bennet’s widow and daughters when he passed. But neither of Elizabeth’s parents cared enough to set aside any money, and there was little Elizabeth herself could do. She had decided to rest in God’s hands in prayer and do her best not to fret about the uncertain future.

“So, Lizzy,” Mr. Bennet remarked, drawing her attention. “When I visited Mr. Bingley today, I was startled that it was you who recommended Netherfield Park to the gentleman.”

This, not surprisingly, drew the regard of the whole family. Mrs. Bennet was sufficiently taken aback that it was a full five seconds before she spoke. “Lizzy told Mr. Bingley about Netherfield Park? What are you speaking of, Mr. Bennet? None of us have ever met Mr. Bingley, certainly not Lizzy!”

“I did not speak directly to the gentleman, Mamma,” Elizabeth said, forcing her tone to remain calm even as she cast a resentful glance at her father, who returned her gaze blandly. “I met a young lady at Ramsgate this summer, a Miss Georgiana Darcy, and her brother is a friend of Mr. Bingley’s. I mentioned the availability of Netherfield to Miss Darcy in a letter, and thus Mr. Bingley heard of the house and estate, toured them, and liked them. I had little to do with it all.”

“Do not be ridiculous!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, her eyes bulging in her enthusiasm. “That is wonderful news, Lizzy, for you to already be a friend of Mr. Bingley’s friend’s sister…”

She trailed off, and her wide eyes grew wider. “You said that Miss Darcy has a brother? Did you meet him at Ramsgate as well? And is he single?”

Elizabeth took a sip of wine as she gathered herself and said, “I did, yes. Mr. Darcy is unmarried, a good deal older than Miss Darcy, and was only in Ramsgate for a short time, as, like my uncle Gardiner, business concerns kept him in London for much of the summer.”

“Oh,” Mrs. Bennet returned, her nose wrinkling slightly. Elizabeth hid a smile; she had deliberately painted Mr.

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