A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward Read Free Book Online

pacing and regarded her with pride and love, looking for all the world as if she had made his choice. “Very much. I will write to him.” He left for his study.
    Elizabeth wondered at his sudden decision, musing on whether Bingley’s penchant for precipitate choices had been contagious. Then she watched the late morning sun filter into the upper chamber she had grown, perforce, to enjoy. Was it her mother’s five pregnancies, she wondered, that had taught her to spend times of crisis in her sitting room? It could not improve upon a walk in the woods, but the place had nevertheless a calming, meditative effect. What manner of mother would she make? She had achieved no great obedience as a wife, for twice last week fine weather had enticed her down the forbidden stairs and out to the gardens. Even in the yellowing autumn, a walk invigorated her, as a walk—or in her case a waddle—had always done. Elizabeth mused also on the pros and cons of confinement. She had been spared some months of hostessing her at-homes, a blessing she would have loved in those first trying months of receiving Darcy’s neighbours and acquaintances, most of whom dropped in out of curiosity to see his bride. She vaguely remembered stately, white-haired Lord Exbridge and jolly Lady Exbridge, who had amused and teased her into relaxation on one of her first at-homes. They had finished by inviting her to their country residence some ten or fifteen miles west of Pemberley. She and Darcy never returned that visit, as not long after that first meeting Lady Exbridge and her son were killed in a carriage accident on an icy bridge. Excepting only the funeral, even Darcy had not seen Lord Exbridge since then. He had vacated his country house for his London seat with its better memories and had remained in solitary mourning ever since, discouraging all visits. For a while, Darcy worked to bring him out of his sadness but was always refused entrance by a sympathetic but solemn servant. Lizzy deeply regretted the loss of those neighbours who had been the lone bright and saving grace of her first days as mistress of Pemberley.
    She turned her thoughts to more familiar neighbours who had come to be regulars: Mrs. Langley of Kympton had seemed as nervous as Lizzy on that first visit. She stayed only long enough to present the new bride with a jar of excellent plum jam. How Lizzy praised it when next she came, until she noticed that poor Mrs. Langley accepted her praise most uneasily, making Lizzy wonder how the mistress of a manor should comport herself. She simply broke down and told Mrs. Langley of her own nervousness, assuring her guest that she never intended to spread her unease around. Then they laughed, relaxed, and became friends.
    It was harder with Lady Elliott, Georgiana’s mentor and friend in London. When she first visited, Elizabeth detected some jealousy, possibly arising from Georgiana’s praise of her new sister. Or perhaps Lady Elliott feared that Lizzy would usurp the lady’s role in Georgiana’s life. Elizabeth sighed. She hoped by now Lady Elliott, whom she liked well, saw that Lizzy meant to be a sister to Miss Darcy, and certainly no companion in London, a place Lizzy had never learned to appreciate. She knew that Lady Elliott could teach Georgiana far more about fashion and manners than she ever could.
    Had she ever grown accustomed to being mistress of Pemberley? She felt so, but still she did enjoy these weeks of respite from the social duties, and she was glad Georgiana had agreed to act in her stead. She would like to be able to peek in on her as hostess, fearing that Georgiana must miss the help of Mrs. Annesley since her coming of age. Now she must offer refreshments while Mrs. Reynolds provided protection when Miss Johnstone visited. Oh, Alicia Johnstone had been an education indeed for Lizzy.
    Elizabeth adjusted the pillows at her back and stretched a bit as she thought of that fateful first