Page 34 of Beyond Pride, Past Prejudice

Longbourn, a week later

“Miss Bennet!”

Elizabeth smiled and waved to her father, who observed her from the library window as she returned alone from her morning stroll.

“I am not Miss Bennet,” she retorted.

“You could have been had Mrs Bennet been more discreet in her public display of hopes and dreams.”

“Papa, hush!” Elizabeth implored, hastening her steps towards the library. “Do you take perverse pleasure in discussing such matters, knowing full well that Mama could overhear?”

“Perverse?” Mr Bennet laughed heartily, as he often did at Elizabeth’s words.

Upon entering the library, Elizabeth arched an eyebrow in surprise to see Jane and Mary there. True to her nature, Mary was reading in a quiet corner, while Jane occupied a small chair beside their father. They appeared to have been awaiting her arrival.

“A family gathering, it seems,” Elizabeth said, though she was not displeased.

Since her return home, she had desperately wanted to share her experiences in Kent with her father, who had felt her turmoil.

Mary paused in her reading, her curious and affectionate gaze fixed upon Elizabeth, making her realise how unfairly she had often excluded her younger sister.

She had a close bond with Jane, and Lydia and Kitty had their own, leaving Mary in the middle, usually forgotten or overlooked, as they sometimes did not even see her.

That had to change; they must forget the old relationships and their habit of sharing only news and gossip, and speak about intimate feelings and—why not?

—also worries or dreams. It was a good thing that her father had invited Mary to be present.

“Where are Mama and Kitty?” Elizabeth asked.

“They have gone into Meryton,” Jane replied.

“Pray, be seated, Lizzy,” Mr Bennet insisted with an unusual vehemence, for Elizabeth had a habit of fidgeting or pacing when they engaged in conversation.

“I see an important discussion coming. You are so serious—all of you,” Elizabeth remarked with her usual appetite for jest.

“One might deem it important. I would consider it ordinary family discourse. You are all of an age where such conversations are fitting.”

“Certainly, Papa,” Elizabeth agreed, casting an affectionate glance towards Mary, who responded with a timid smile. “When Mary smiles, she bears a striking resemblance to Jane,” she remarked.

“Yes, indeed. Only she seldom smiles—something that must change. She can learn from both of you when to smile, when or how to speak, and”—Mr Bennet hesitated—“how to dress, from Jane.”

“Papa!” Elizabeth protested, feigning offence, eliciting laughter from everyone in the room.

“Lately, I have noted a change in Lizzy’s demeanour, or perhaps it is in her appearance.

I cannot quite say. As the master of this house, I do not like being left out of important matters.

I expected Lizzy to initiate this conversation.

You have been home for a few days, and we have barely seen each other.

If I am not mistaken, you are avoiding me. ”

Elizabeth did not answer, but she breathed deeply as she usually did when scolded by her father.

However, she was sure he could not possibly know what had happened in Kent.

Neither Mrs Gardiner nor Jane would ever have revealed her secrets without her knowing.

Besides, she was no longer a child, and she had made no mistakes—or perhaps her father knew better.

“Then I shall begin the discussion,” Mr Bennet said when she remained silent. “I wish you girls to become closer,” he asked, directing his gaze towards Elizabeth and Jane. Both nodded, as the message was for them to include Mary more frequently in their secrets.

“I plainly see the division within our family, even if, regrettably, I know it is unavoidable. As much as I esteem your mother, I admit that she cannot be included in certain secrets, and her actions must be closely watched when a confidential matter regarding our family is to be considered.”

“I do not blame Mama for what happened to me,” Jane murmured softly.

“Do not blame her, but be aware that her interference must cease—it brought nothing good,” Mr Bennet insisted, and Elizabeth nodded.

“Unfortunately, those of us gathered here are too restrained, timid, or indifferent,” Elizabeth noted, glancing at her father, who accepted her reproach with a nod and continued.

“As a result, the image of our family is shaped primarily by the other ladies, who are vociferous, with a love of gossip, and highly regarded in Meryton. And a simple calculation tells us that they constitute fewer than half the members of our family. Yet, to most of the world, the Bennets are them because they are the most garrulous—”

“Papa!” exclaimed Jane with mild reproach, but her father gestured to let him speak.

“Please, I know what I am talking about. Furthermore, your mother wields the power to influence us and dictate the actions of some of you,” Mr Bennet added.

“Is this a revolution?” Mary asked candidly.

“No, it is a moment of clarity,” Mr Bennet said.

“While I deeply admire and appreciate your mother’s role in managing this household, a testament to her talent and intelligence, I can no longer tolerate her meddling in your affairs.

I intend to keep a close watch on her—and Lydia, if providence still gives me that chance and it is not too late for her.

But I need to know everything that is happening in your lives. ”

Even though he referred to all of them, he looked earnestly at Elizabeth.

“Yes, that is what I need too,” Elizabeth whispered.

“So, dear daughter, what happened in Kent?”

Elizabeth nodded, her face slightly worried, but looking at her father and sisters, she smiled. In that room she loved so much she could find only understanding and wise advice.

“I shall be brief, as my memories from Kent do not fill me with joy. Firstly, I must tell you, Papa, that Jane and I made no error in not wishing to marry Mr Collins. I am sorry for the future of Longbourn, but neither Jane nor I would have had the means to build a contented life with that gentleman. Fortunately, Charlotte is happy.”

“Perhaps I should have tried,” Mary pondered aloud, and all eyes turned to her.

“No!” Jane said fervently, staunchly defending the notion of marrying for love.

“Let Mary speak,” Elizabeth urged.

“I find myself to be more like Charlotte, and you said she is happy,” Mary confessed.

“You are not like Charlotte in so many ways!” Elizabeth replied. “You are an intelligent woman who has read more than anyone else I know. All you lack is confidence in your opinions and a more engaging approach to conversations and people.”

“Lizzy is right. It is essential to change your…” Jane hesitated.

“Your manner of speaking, walking, and dressing, as Papa said before,” Elizabeth interjected, punctuating her remark with laughter. “And that last directive applies to me as well.”

“Less so since you returned from Kent and London,” Jane replied, her face brightened by a loving smile.

“Thank you, dear sister,” Elizabeth replied, then turned to Mary. “Our aunt is prepared to introduce you and Kitty to some fine gentlemen, sons of her acquaintances in town. Henceforth, you will both accompany Jane or me whenever we travel to London or elsewhere.”

“Thank you!” Mary replied with evident gratitude.

“Now that I have concluded my remarks on Mr Collins and have sincerely apologised to Papa that we could not keep Longbourn in the family, I shall begin my tale. Mr Darcy asked for my hand in marriage, and I declined.”

The news was met with shock by Mary; she sprang from her chair to draw nearer to Elizabeth, who invited her to sit next to her on the sofa.

To her surprise, Mr Bennet remained suspiciously calm.

“Pray, Papa, do not tell me you suspected!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

“I guessed the gentleman harboured an interest in you,” Mr Bennet replied with that smile always on the border between affection and jesting.

“When and how?” Elizabeth asked. Then she looked at Jane, who seemed as bewildered as she was.

“As long as the Netherfield party were in residence, everyone spoke only about one couple,” Mr Bennet said, glancing at Jane, who blushed, and suddenly, tears welled in her eyes.

“Were there others?” asked Elizabeth with a rare touch of naivety; but she understood at once and blushed as well, a clear sign that her father’s words had struck her deeply.

Could it be that Mr Darcy had liked her from the beginning, just as Lady Oakham had said?

Yet her father was an important witness who noticed all subtlety—when it suited his purposes.

“But he had no intention of seeing me again,” Elizabeth lamented, her voice tinged with sorrow.

“Perhaps he resolved not to seek you out, but feelings are not so easily kept under control. And when you wrote that he had gone to Kent, having learnt that you were there from Lady Catherine, it became clear he had lost the battle with himself and had gone there to see you.”

“Papa!” Elizabeth exclaimed, deeply shaken. She came to sit on the arm of her father’s chair, just as she had in her childhood when she sought comfort. “Why did you not tell me sooner?”

“I was wrong,” Mr Bennet admitted, his voice heavy with regret. “And this is precisely why I must talk to you three more often. In the past, I avoided what I foolishly deemed women’s idle gossip. But you are now grown up, and we must address important matters regarding your future.”

“I should have realised he had affection for me,” Elizabeth mused.

“Yes, my dear, you should have seen the situation more clearly.”

“Why did you reject his proposal?” Mary interjected with burning curiosity. “He is not Mr Collins!”

“No, indeed. He is a wealthy, intelligent, and distinguished gentleman, though his conceit is at least as great as his qualities.”

“That might be true,” Jane murmured, a relatively unusual declaration for her, as she typically saw only the goodness in people.