Heiress Of Longbourn – Laraba Kendig

“How was your trip, Bingley?” “It was excellent, with dry roads and good weather.” “Thank you for coming and bringing Mrs. Bingley with you. I know Elizabeth was a little disappointed that her father will not be giving her away, but if Mrs. Bingley were not here either, she would have been most unhappy.” “You are welcome, but there was no doubt that we would come here, as Jane is extremely excited about being a part of her favorite sister’s wedding.

Now, before we wander too far afield, are there any details which I need to know for the ceremony? If you are agreeable, I will be walking Elizabeth down the aisle.” “Yes, and my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will act as my best man,” Darcy said. “I have obtained the marriage license, Mr. Wickham is prepared to oversee the ceremony itself, and Mrs. Reynolds has eagerly made preparations for a modest wedding breakfast here at Pemberley.

So all is in readiness.” “Will any of your relatives be attending the wedding apart from Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam?” Darcy shook his head. “No, and frankly, I do not wish anyone else in the family to be here, as I have no desire to hear further argument about my choice of bride.” “Further argument?” Bingley demanded, straightening his back and glowering. “What do you mean?” Darcy grimaced. “My aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who has long believed that I ought to marry her daughter, arrived without warning about a week ago and proceeded to lambast me in a noisy and irritating manner.

I sent her away the next day, and she sent an angry letter to the Earl of Matlock, my cousin Fitzwilliam’s father, who in turn sent Richard north to obtain information. My cousin, of course, finds Elizabeth enchanting and is delighted for me, but I wish for no other tiresome relations bothering me. All I want is to be married in peace, Bingley, to the lady I adore! The hours have seemed like days of late as I wait for the wedding ceremony.”

“You only have two days to go,” Bingley remarked. Darcy cast his eyes heavenward and said, “Yes, and that still seems like a painfully long time.” *** Lydia’s Bedchamber Two days later Morning “You look absolutely beautiful, Elizabeth,” Lydia said solemnly. Elizabeth, standing in front of the mirror in her sister’s room, could not disagree. Her hair had been artfully arranged by Jane’s private maid and was a charming mass of curls held up by pearl combs, a wedding present from her beloved.

Her dress of sea green, with a gauze overdress, matched her coloring perfectly, and her new hat more accentuated her hair than covered it. Yes, she looked very well indeed, and she was pleased because she wished to be beautiful for the man she adored, the man who would soon be her husband. She glanced at the clock on the mantle and jolted in alarm. “Look at the time!

A cool breeze lifted the cream-colored linen curtains at the window, carrying in cheerful chatter from further down the street. The sun slanted in, already descending westward, though yet several hours above the horizon and still warming the earth below. The office door was locked, and Bennet took a moment to listen and ensure that there was no one passing by outside in the street or in the corridor, while the solicitor behind the desk waited patiently.

Mr. Thomas Bennet looked at his brother by marriage and said, “You have completed the documents, Phillips?” Mr. Phillips was short and stout, but his eyes were bright with intelligence, and he said, “I have, of course, though before I present them to you, I must ask you once again if you are absolutely certain about your decision.”

“I am,” Bennet replied quietly, his gaze meeting that of his brother- in-law. “Do you mind if I ask why? Jane is a lovely young woman, the most handsome lady in the area, and for you to pass her over in favor of Elizabeth is bewildering to me. Of course, I know that Lizzy is your favorite, but it still seems unfair.”

Bennet sighed and clasped his hands in his lap. “It is not that I love Lizzy more than Jane. I adore Jane. But you know as well as I do that my eldest daughter sees the very best in everyone around her. She is far more likely to make poor decisions and to be cheated than Elizabeth, who is quicker than all of her sisters, and also more cynical.”

“Much as you are,” Phillips said drily. Bennet nodded. “Yes, I am well aware that Elizabeth is most like me of all the children, but this is not a decision based on rational concern, not mere emotion. Elizabeth has already worked with me in overseeing Longbourn and will make an excellent mistress of the estate after I die. I fear that Jane is less adept in such matters, and moreover, she is all too likely to be enticed into a foolish marriage; she is such a pure soul that she assumes those around her are equally pure.”

Phillips considered this at length and then nodded. “I understand. Will you make your decision known to all that Elizabeth will inherit Longbourn?” Bennet wrinkled his nose and confessed, “Now that point I have not quite decided on. Mrs. Bennet will be indignant with the news, as Jane is her favorite daughter, and I am not certain I wish to cope with that.”

“You do not think Jane will be angry?” “I do not believe so. She is, as I said, a gentle and virtuous soul, and she and Elizabeth are dear friends.” “If I may make a suggestion?” Phillips asked hesitantly.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 6d55a7a163dd42d6
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 3,024,784 bytes (2.885 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• Pages: 686
• Language: English (en)

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• Estimated Reading Time: 1024.33 minutes
• Total Words: 204,866
• Total Characters: 1,156,352
• Average Words per Page: 298.64
• Average Characters per Page: 1685.64

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