Delighting Mrs Bennet by Leenie Brown

Author:Leenie Brown [Brown, Leenie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leenie B Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“But Mama, I really must get a red ribbon,” Lydia protested upon hearing Mrs. Bennet’s suggestion of returning to Darcy House without entering any other shops.

Mrs. Bennet pursed her lips, furrowed her brow, blew out a breath, and gave a small shrug. “One ribbon?” Her tone was filled with uncertainty.

It was not like their mother to be so brief when shopping, nor was it like her to question Lydia’s wants. On most occasions, Lydia had only to hint that she might like this or that, and it was secured if at all possible.

“We could wait for her in the carriage,” Elizabeth suggested softly to her mother. “She will be well with Jane and Mrs. Annesley to attend her.”

“But that woman – oh, it is too much,” Mrs. Bennet dug in her reticule and pulled out her salts. “I do not wish to see her again.”

“Nor do I,” Elizabeth agreed. “She is most horrid.” She placed an arm around her mother’s shoulders. “In fact,” she said in a whisper, “she is so horrid that she makes Miss Bingley and Mrs. Long look rather pleasant.”

Her words did what they were intended to do by causing Mrs. Bennet to giggle. The sound made Elizabeth’s heart ache a bit less. While it had pained her to hear that woman speak so cruelly to her mother, the worst of it was how it discomposed her mother. A giggle meant that her mother’s usual vigor and cheerfulness would soon be restored.

“She does, does she not?” Mrs. Bennet took one more whiff of her salts before tucking them back in her reticule.

“One more shop,” she said to Lydia with a smile. “I think I can endure one more shop.”

“I dare say Mrs. Salter will not approach you again,” Jane said as they began moving toward the street.

Mrs. Bennet sighed. “Perhaps not today, but…” She shook her head. “She is not the sort to be easily put off. She tormented me for months.”

“How do you know her?” Elizabeth held one of her mother’s arms while Jane had the other.

“I went to school. It was not a fancy school. It was a good one, but not the sort that Miss Darcy would have attended, I suppose. Your aunt Phillips and I were sent to polish a few skills which might help us rise above our beginnings. I managed it. My sister did not, but then I have always been more accomplished at the skills necessary to manage a home, and, well, not to be too very arrogant, I have always been the prettier of us two. You know your aunt well, and I am sure you can see the truth in what I am saying.”

Elizabeth had to admit that if she were to compare her aunt Phillips and her mother only on beauty, her mother was most decidedly the prettier sister, and, if she were to pause and consider the soirees held at her aunt’s home and compare them to what was had at Longbourn, she would also have to admit that her mother was indeed more skilled than her aunt Phillips at entertaining.

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