Elizabeth Bennet Is Not a Shrew: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Kimberlyn Wyn

Elizabeth Bennet Is Not a Shrew: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Kimberlyn Wyn

Author:Kimberlyn Wyn [Wyn, Kimberlyn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2022-04-04T00:00:00+00:00


Chapter 12

“Sweetest Lizzy! You did well, my clever girl! My Lizzy, mistress of all this! And the northern estate is surely grander—can you imagine it, Mr. Bennet? For I almost cannot! Why, this house is so big that our little Lizzy need not breathe the foul town air if she is inclined to go on those walks of hers!” cried Mrs. Bennet’s echoing voice from the hall below.

“Goodness,” said Darcy. “We can hear her from here.”

Elizabeth reached for Darcy’s favourite cushion in the library, put it over her head, and muttered, “That is my mother you are insulting.”

“I am not the one who is trying to drown her out.” Darcy took back his cushion and poked his wife’s side when she turned over and burrowed her face into his lap. As Elizabeth was trying to figure out which of her ears received less sound when pressed against her husband, Darcy said, “I would be most appreciative if you cease your movement. We ought to greet your parents, and I must appear decent.”

Immediately, Elizabeth sat up, red as a ripe strawberry. “Well,” said she, brushing her skirts, “let us be proper creatures. I confess I do not have a clue what brought them here. We received letters from both of them only this morning, and my father, particularly, never writes.”

“Let us hope that this will be our last interruption.”

“We are only here for another day, but I will hope as well. Perhaps you may evade the majority of the loudness by offering to show my father this room.”

There was a knock at the door, and as tempted as they were to ignore it, Darcy spoke, “Enter.”

A nervous footman appeared and articulated the presence of six people of the name Bennet, who claimed to be the relations of Mrs. Darcy.

Elizabeth and Darcy sighed, but the former also had the compassion to attempt a smile at the uneasy footman. She directed, “We will meet with them in the main drawing room. Thank you, Tom.”

Ten minutes later, the Darcys were sitting across from the Bennets.

“But Mr. Bennet, why have you and Mr. Darcy returned so soon?” asked Mrs. Bennet.

Darcy had taken Elizabeth's advice and offered to show Mr. Bennet the library. The elder man had gratefully accepted, but they spent what scarcely seemed like a minute in there. They reentered the drawing-room, one red in the face and the other white.

“The scent did not agree with me,” spoke Mr. Bennet. He wore a severe frown and avoided looking in Elizabeth's and Darcy's direction.

“Oh dear, it must be serious if it kept you away from what must be a fine selection of books,” said Mrs. Bennet. “Do you own a cat, Mr. Darcy? At times, Mr. Bennet is terribly affected by one. His nose turns red, and he sniffs more than Kitty coughs!”

Mr. Darcy made no effort to answer, though he soon regretted it, for Mr. Bennet replied in his steed. “I did not see any cat, but I suspect there had been two in



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