Side by Side Apart by Ann Galvia

Author:Ann Galvia
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781681310084
Publisher: Meryton Press
Published: 2016-04-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

When Elizabeth awoke, she pushed back the bed curtains. The day was bright, the sun high in the sky. She feared she had slept past luncheon. She hoisted herself out of bed and rang for Perry. Darcy had been at her bedside when she fell asleep, but he was gone now.

Elizabeth had never been more pleased to see Perry than she was at that moment. Good girl that she was, she had brought up a tray of cold meat, cheese, and bread.

“Good morning, ma’am!” Perry called cheerfully.

Elizabeth smiled back. “I fear it is nearly dinner time.”

“It is not that late. And even if it were, no one would say a word about it.”

As she sampled the food Perry had so thoughtfully provided, Elizabeth asked, “Pray, how are my guests occupying themselves? I have been a negligent hostess.”

“Mr. Bennet, I believe, is in the library. I have not heard anyone speak of it, and I do not see him myself, but I understand that is where he may usually be found. Mrs. Bennet is in the south sitting room with the children.”

Elizabeth fretted. “I have slept late. They are already through with their lessons?”

“Oh, no, ma’am,” Perry hastened to say. “Do not worry yourself so. Mrs. Bennet dismissed Miss Weston for the rest of the day.”

Elizabeth sighed. “Has Mr. Darcy been informed?” She could almost understand her mother’s thought process—between grandmotherly overindulgence and a lack of interest in giving girls an education beyond learning a mistress’s duties, Mrs. Bennet must find a governess unnecessary.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What did he say?”

Perry smiled ruefully. “Mr. Darcy does not give his opinion to the maids, ma’am. I am sure I could not say what he thought of it.”

He would not be pleased, Elizabeth reflected, but he did seem inclined to make allowances for the children to spend time with their grandmother. By all accounts, Mrs. Bennet visited rarely. And perhaps it was typical for the children to forgo their lessons when they had visitors.

After she finished eating, Perry insisted upon changing Elizabeth’s gown. She had slept in her morning gown, and Perry had too much professional pride as a lady’s maid to allow her mistress into the sitting room in a rumpled gown. Although she would need to dress for dinner soon, Elizabeth hoped to spend some time with her family before the children were sent to bed.

When she was properly adorned, Elizabeth went downstairs, determined to find her way to the family’s intimate sitting room without further direction. The arrangement of Pemberley was difficult to traverse. The land had belonged to the Darcy family for innumerable generations, and in that time, the house had been built, renovated, torn down, and rebuilt piece by piece, again and again. Still, she had spent a portion of nearly every morning in that sitting room, and she should be able to find it.

To her surprise and delight, as she was walking through the austere halls, Mr. Bennet emerged from the library. Elizabeth had not considered trying to meet her father in his favourite room, as she had never been to the grand library.

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