Two Peas in a Pod: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Newton Lyr & Johansson Annette

Author:Newton, Lyr & Johansson, Annette
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

As Mr Bennet had anticipated, the good weather lasted till the next day. Elizabeth counted another restless night, unlike Jane, who seemed to shine more from one day to the next.

After breakfast, Mr Bennet and Mr Collins departed on their planned tour of the estate. The day was bright and sunny, though cold.

“Should we not take the carriage?” Mr Collins suggested.

“There are places that are easier to reach on horseback,” Mr Bennet replied. “Besides, I believe a little bit of exercise would be beneficial for us both. Unless you are not comfortable riding?”

“Oh, I certainly am! I received a complete gentleman’s education. Even Lady Catherine insists that a man is not a gentleman if he is not proficient at riding. She said Mr Darcy is an excellent rider, as well as her other two nephews.”

“Well, neither Mr Darcy nor his cousins will join us, so we shall have no one to compare ourselves with. Let us make haste, Mr Collins, it is almost noon already. The days are short, and it gets dark early at this time of year.”

As soon as the two gentlemen left, Lydia and Kitty were free to resume their conversation about the officers, without fearing any restrictions.

“Upon my word, Mama, Mr Collins is so annoying that I feel I might die from tedium,” Lydia said.

“He is an educated man, and he has many interesting things to say,” Mary argued.

“He might have interesting things to say, but he certainly keeps them to himself,” Elizabeth added.

“Girls, you should be careful how you speak of Mr Collins! He is a perfectly eligible man, and he is in search of a wife! You may laugh at him, but one day you will be happy to receive a marriage proposal from such a man!”

“Mama, I should rather die than marry someone like him!” Kitty claimed.

“He seems to favour poor Lizzy!” Lydia laughed. “What if he proposes to you, Lizzy?”

“Let us hope he will not!” Elizabeth responded. “I hope everyone,” she said, gazing at her mother meaningfully, “is aware that I would never accept a marriage proposal from any man I could not respect and esteem. And certainly not from a man I only met a week ago.”

“Mary, would you marry Mr Collins if he proposed to you? I noticed you find him interesting,” Kitty continued.

Mary blushed and averted her eyes. “This is not a subject to laugh at. I have no reason to suspect any partiality from Mr Collins, so I shall not respond to your question.”

“You are all fortunate that Mr Bingley admires Jane so much!” Mrs Bennet intervened. “If Jane marries him, she will be able to invite you all to London, and you will surely meet some eligible men there. Otherwise, you might all die spinsters — poor, starving, and freezing with no homes of your own.”

“Mama, you always like to talk about such a tragedy,” Lydia replied. “Forgive me, but it is really annoying. Kitty, shall we take a quick walk to Meryton before Papa returns?

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