{"id":2090,"date":"2017-12-06T07:47:11","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T12:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=2090"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:42:09","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T17:42:09","slug":"chapter-5-spring-sentiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-5-spring-sentiment\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 5 A Spring Sentiment"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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I have always loved this chapter as it showed the real characters in my changed story line. I’ve never liked Bingley with Jane… there, I said it. \ud83d\ude42 (I often give him more of a backbone in stories where Jane and Mr. Bingley are together).<\/p>

XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Chapter 5 - A Spring Sentiment, a Pride and Prejudice Variation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cMama! Please, be reasonable! The cottage is ready,\u201d Elizabeth Bennet pleaded with her mother for what felt like the hundredth time in a week.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou don\u2019t understand these things, Lizzie. You\u2019ve yet to run your own household. Yes, a few more days, perhaps a week and the final details attended to, and Lydia will . . . \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Her mother continued to fritter on, but Elizabeth had stopped listening as frustration began throbbing in her ears. Her heart raced, and she focused on taking a few calming breaths. For three weeks Elizabeth\u2019s mother had dragged her feet, and now that she had been invited to Matlock for the Easter holiday next month, she desperately wanted to return to London to prepare her trousseau. Her future aunt, the Countess Matlock, had made it plainly clear that this holiday would begin her transformation from a small country squire\u2019s daughter to the illustrious Mrs. Darcy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201c. . . and Kitty will need new furnishings as the castoffs that are currently in the home are below our station\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cWhat station? You are a widow with five unmarried daughters.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cTsk, tsk, you will soon be married to Mr. Darcy, and he wouldn\u2019t wish his mother-in-law to live in abject poverty. No, no, we will need finer linens and must commission a new set of silver.\u201d Mrs. Bennet continued to chatter away about the expenses she planned to incur as Mr. Darcy\u2019s mother-in-law. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

The frustration Elizabeth felt turned to boiling rage. She stood up from her seat and glared at her mother. Not trusting her mouth to say anything remotely gentle, she simply scowled and donned her spencer. She left her mother in the parlor with Jane and Lydia. Elizabeth\u2019s feet carried her in the direction of Netherfield, away from town, without conscious thought on her part. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

A carriage traveling much too fast for the roads hurtled past her, and Elizabeth stepped well out of the way. Instead of continuing along the road, she opted for a detour into the woods she now knew very well since moving to her Aunt Phillips\u2019 home. Soon, she arrived in a peaceful glen and was cheered to see winter\u2019s thaw had set upon the countryside. A babbling brook soothed her frayed nerves, and Elizabeth found a fallen log to serve as her bench. Turning her face up to the sunlight pouring between the still-bare tree branches just beginning to bud, she felt her anger and frustration also melt away. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cLizzie?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth sighed as she recognized her sister Kitty\u2019s voice. \u201cOver here,\u201d she called out, reluctant to cede her peaceful moment. When she looked down and opened her eyes, she stifled a laugh at the sight of poor Kitty fighting every low-lying tree branch determined to snag her cloak. Brushing her hands of the small bits of bark stuck to her palms, Elizabeth stood and modestly cleaned the seat of her skirt. She met Kitty halfway and pulled the branches aside to allow her easier passage. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cUgh, the woods are so disagreeable!\u201d Kitty fumed as she pulled twigs from her person. \u201cI don\u2019t know how you manage.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cI stick to the path.\u201d Elizabeth laughed as Kitty frowned. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou need to come back. A woman named Lady Catherine de Bourgh has just arrived. It doesn\u2019t appear to be a cordial call.\u201d Elizabeth immediately hastened back through the woods without a thought as to how Kitty was keeping up. She stomped through mud, caring not as the twigs and branches brushed her face and bonnet. By the time she reached the outskirts of her aunt\u2019s yard, she was out of breath. Doubled over and panting, Elizabeth took a moment to collect herself as she could already hear raised voices inside. Before she could enter, Kitty caught up, also out of breath. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cGo to the stables and send someone to Netherfield. Tell them to fetch Mr. Darcy.\u201d Kitty nodded and hurried off while Elizabeth did her best to fix her appearance. When she heard her mother howl, Elizabeth knew she could wait no longer and rushed to the door. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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