Unmasked: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Roy Neville

Author:Roy Neville [Neville, Roy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

As the dinner drew to a close, Mr Bennet and Elizabeth agreed to take a leisurely stroll back to Longbourn. The walk, which lasted no more than an hour, provided a welcome reprieve from the unavoidable annoyance of Mrs Bennet.

Despite the looming sense of impending doom, the two companions savoured the time spent together and remained unperturbed by Mrs Bennet’s nerves. “It will be hard to convince Mama,” Elizabeth joked as she leant on her father’s arm.

“I expect as much,” Mr Bennet replied, “but I shall invoke her brother’s orders. Sometimes, it seems only Mr Gardiner can impose his authority on her, despite her seniority.”

Elizabeth gathered her courage to ask a question that had been plaguing her and Jane for some time. “Is it true that Grandfather Gardiner made her marry you?”

“Well, it was her father’s decision,” Mr Bennet answered. “But long before we married, I had the opportunity to get to know Jenny, and we fell in love.”

Touched by her father’s confession, Elizabeth’s eyes welled up with tears. His use of her mother’s Christian name was the ultimate proof of the love she had questioned.

“You doubted,” Mr Bennet observed, though without reproach. This time, Elizabeth felt herself blush, though the relative darkness offered some solace. They had chosen to walk, for the moon and stars had made the road from Lucas Lodge to Longbourn particularly enchanting that evening.

“Yes, Papa,” Elizabeth admitted.

“Because you see only the superficial aspects of our relationship, which mostly consist of daily struggles. And you hold such a flawless view of marriage, believing that the bliss one feels on one’s wedding day will last forever.”

“And it does not?”

“No, the wedding lasts but a day. My advice is to seek friendship before love. For love may fade over time, whereas friendship, like a fine wine, only improves with age.”

“Papa,” Elizabeth suddenly murmured, emboldened by the enchanting night. “I met a man at Pemberley.”

Mr Bennet fell silent, allowing his daughter to continue at her own pace.

“I know the setting was magical, and that it influenced my feelings, but after that night, I could not settle for friendship. I need love, no matter how long it may take to find it.”

“I understand,” her father responded. “I have faith that even if love is your primary objective, you will find a man who also values you as a friend.”

“What happened to the gentleman?” Mr Bennet enquired after a moment’s pause.

Elizabeth heaved a mournful sigh. “I do not wish to blame Uncle Gardiner—”

“But he is guilty of forcing you to depart the ball at midnight.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I am sorry, Lizzy. But why did you not speak to the man earlier?”

“I tried. I believe that night was intended solely to demonstrate to me what love truly was, reminding me not to give up on that dream.”

“I observed you earlier, conversing with Mr Darcy at great length. I was apprehensive at first that he would conduct himself discourteously—”

“Nay, certainly not! On the contrary, I found him to be most congenial, which was a great surprise to me, for I had previously held a wholly different impression of him.

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