The Truth About Family: A friends to lovers variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Lucy Marin

Author:Lucy Marin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Quills & Quartos Publishing
Published: 2023-01-08T18:30:00+00:00

Elizabeth looked between the two of them and sighed. “And to think I was anticipating seeing you again.”

Fitzwilliam grinned. “Of course you were. God, it has been too long, but I shall not reprimand you for scaring us all half to death. I shall leave that to Bramwell. Truly, sister dearest, are you ill?”

Elizabeth looked over her shoulder at the assembled party. “I cannot talk about it here, but there is something I must tell you.”

Mrs Bennet’s voice filled the space. “Miss Bingley, this is a very pretty room. Such fine furnishings. The chairs alone must have cost a great deal—and the drapery! My girls and I were wondering where you found them?”

“Excellent question. I, too, am curious. Shall we, Miss Bingley?” Bramwell held out an arm, indicating they should join Mrs Bennet.

“You owe him for that,” Elizabeth said. “Miss Bingley and Mrs Bennet, Kitty, and Lydia.”

Darcy cared nothing for Bramwell’s present suffering. There was something distressing Elizabeth, and he burned to know what it was.

“Tomorrow morning by the stream?”

Elizabeth nodded, and a moment later, a servant entered with the tea service.

When Miss Bingley suggested music, Elizabeth was relieved for the diversion. She found the haste with which Miss Bingley sat at the instrument amusing. She had looked—almost snarled— at her and Mary. Elizabeth was not certain which of them she wished to discourage from playing, but she expected it was both because it would take attention away from her. Next, Mrs Hurst played a piece by Chopin. Miss Bingley then had no choice but to ask if any of the other ladies would take a turn.

Mary immediately stood and went to the pianoforte without saying a word. She selected her music, which Elizabeth knew she brought from Longbourn and placed by the instrument in preparation for this moment. Mary entertained the company with a ponderous concerto Elizabeth had tried to dissuade her from learning. Even in competent hands, it was not one to enliven a room full of people.

As soon as she was finished, Mr Bennet said, “Thank you, Mary. Let us not strain your fingers any further this evening.”

Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst looked at each other and, as one, covered their mouths with their hands, which only partly concealed their sniggers. Mary stood with great dignity, straightened her sheets of music, and returned to the settee.

“Elizabeth,” Bramwell called from across the room where he stood with Fitzwilliam, “you must play for us next.”

Elizabeth tried to demur, but they insisted, and Darcy stepped to her side and held out a hand to help her stand. By the time she reached the pianoforte, Fitzwilliam had chosen a piece from the available music, and Bramwell stood ready to turn the pages for her. All three gentlemen remained close by. The selection was a lively piece by Clementi she had learnt several years earlier. After the first half a page, Elizabeth closed her eyes and played from memory, feeling the rise and fall of the phrases. Her anxiety faded.

When she was finished, Fitzwilliam said, “Now you must sing.

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