Pride's Remedy Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Pride’s Remedy

  By

  Erin Butler

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 by Erin Butler. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact Erin Butler.

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  First Edition March 2017

  Chapter One

  Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the second daughter of five, pulled her petticoat up to her ankles to step through the garden. It had rained a little yesterday, and she did not wish to hear her mother complaining about another ruined skirt.

  Ever since Elizabeth read a book about plants and vegetation when she was much younger than now, she was entertained by growing and using different herbs and spices in medicines and other pursuits. This trip out to the garden was for something much more desirable than making a salve or drink, though. She was in pursuit of the pretty purple flower, lavender.

  Tomorrow, her and all her sisters were to attend the Meryton assembly, and since there was a new gentleman in the neighborhood, a Mr. Bingley, she thought she might as well do all she could for her and her sisters. It would be their first meeting with Mr. Bingley, though Mr. Bennet had met him twice. An unfortunate trip into town had prevented the young gentleman from dining with the Bennet family the week before, so they would have to make do with introductions that were sure to occur the following day. Elizabeth thought perhaps if they had made the young man’s acquaintance prior, that this assembly would not be so longed for as it was at present.

  Since that was not the case, Mrs. Bennet was in a state of happy anticipation, for surely Mr. Bingley would fall in love with one of her five daughters. They were known around Meryton as beautiful, and since no other girls in the village could compare to them, she had already set her mind to the event occurring, though she did not know which of the five Mr. Bingley would choose. She secretly hoped it was her youngest, Lydia, for that dear, sweet child was a favorite of hers.

  Elizabeth bent over and hummed as she picked the lavender. The sun shone down hot upon her shoulders, but the wind was enough to cool her. Gardening had been a friend to her over the years. She had cured members of her family from illness, settled stomachs, improved acquaintances around the village, but most of all, she enjoyed being in the pursuit of education on the topic. Sure, she played and sang, and trimmed bonnets like the rest of her sisters, but she was more than happy to stay in her garden than do any of that.

  Though gardening and medicines was not a genteel sort of pursuit, Elizabeth did not mind. Her mother did, however, which was a frequent discussion at Longbourn and one where Elizabeth’s father would always speak his mind in encouraging Lizzy to work with her plants, which vexed Mrs. Bennet greatly. Her poor nerves were not understanding of Elizabeth’s pursuits, though she never minded the Feverfew her daughter gave her to help ease the pain in her head she sometimes fell ill with.

  “Elizabeth,” Jane’s voice called out.

  Elizabeth stood, shielding her eyes from the sun and spotted Jane walking up the park. She waved to her sister and made her way out of the garden after pulling the last lavender plant she needed.

  Jane’s forehead creased the closer she got to her sister. A worried look back toward the house made Elizabeth understand before Jane even spoke. “Mother wants to know where you are. She does not wish you to be getting dirty the day before the assembly where we are to meet Mr. Bingley. Won’t you come inside?”

  Elizabeth smiled. Jane, always the peacekeeper. “I have picked all the lavender I need. Mr. Bingley, and whoever else he brings to the assembly, will not know what to do with us. We shall smell above the rest of our company, I assure you.”

  Jane’s nerves relaxed. She had flowers in a basket to arrange on mother’s table. “Do be careful, Lizzy. You sound like a witch.”

  Elizabeth could not help but laugh. “It will be your beauty that attracts Mr. Bingley, I am merely adding the lavender to secure his nose. You know we will not hear the end of it if none of us catches the eye of Mr. Bingley and since you are quite five times as pretty as the rest of us, I fear this task will fall on you. He has a fortune, Sir Lucas has said he has happy manners, now if he is as handsome as he should be, he will be a good prospect for you.”

  Jane laughed at her sister’s teasing. “And what if he should not be handsome? How should I act then?”

  “Pretend you are falling ill. Then, he will keep his distance and the lavender will not lure him. Let us hope, however, that he is quite handsome. We need more handsome men in the neighborhood.”

  “Especially ones with five thousand a year.”

  Elizabeth’s mouth dropped. “Jane! I am astonished by your remark.”

  Jane’s cheeks reddened. “I meant only to tease. You know as well as I do that I wish to marry for love. Money will only be a happy accident.”

  Elizabeth barely kept her countenance by her sister’s pretty speech. “I cannot agree with you more.” She mimicked her mother’s voice, swallowing down the giggles as they kept bubbling to the surface. “Take aim to fall for someone with good fortune. If Mr. Bingley is handsome, let him be your man. A young man ought to be handsome and rich if he can.”

  Jane stared at the grass around their feet as they strode down the path back toward Longbourn. She bit her lower lip and Elizabeth worried that she had taken the joke too far. She knew Jane felt their mother’s remarks more than her. Whether the reason was her constitution, or her age, Elizabeth was not sure, but it certainly was not up to Jane to recommend their family and secure their fortunes.

  Jane sighed. “Mother only means to help. With the estate entailed away from the female line, we have little to recommend us. I believe she thinks her advice is helping us to move in the right direction.”

  “I believe you are correct. Why, then, the distressed look upon your face?”

  The creases returned to Jane’s forehead. “Since I am the eldest, I believe it is up to me to make the first advantageous match. But what if I do not, Lizzy? What if I never marry? Or what if the man I fall in love with is not rich? What will Mother think of me then?”

  It hurt Lizzy’s heart to see her dearest sister so cast down about this. “Mother will love you just the same as she always has. I daresay once one of us marries, she will forget whether they are handsome or have two or three thousand a year, or two or three hundred a year. She only wishes to see us out of the house.”

  “Lizzy!”

  Elizabeth’s sides hurt from laughter. “Besides,” she continued. “The lavender will do wonders on any man, whether Mr. Bingley or not.”

  “Lizzy and Kitty have heard this morning that Mr. Bingley intends to bring a large party to the assembly—eleven ladies and seven gentlemen.”

  “Too many ladies,” Elizabeth noted. “But seven different prospects for us. Maybe all of us should have husbands by the end of the night. I wonder what our mother would think then?”

  “I am sure she would be in raptures.”

  Just then, Mrs. Bennet called out to them. Jane looked toward h
er sister with a small smile. “I suppose we should go in now.”

  “Eggs!” Elizabeth gasped. “I forgot the eggs.” She picked up her skirts and ran in the opposite direction of the house. “Tell Mamma I shall be right there.”

  “You know she does not like…”

  Elizabeth ceased listening. She knew what Jane would say, anyway. Using eggs for their hair was an ill use for the item when they could be eaten for breakfast. But, Elizabeth was certain the eggs would make their hair shiner than anyone else at the assembly. And she would risk her mother’s ill will for that.

  Chapter Two

  Upstairs, Elizabeth gathered the ingredients for each of her sisters. She did not believe Mary ever used hers, but she would not exclude her all the same. She also gave detailed instructions to Hill and Sarah on how best to use the ingredients when each of her sisters bathed.

  Jane looked over Elizabeth’s shoulder as she worked. “I can smell the lavender already. There are always such peculiar smells coming from your room, Lizzy.”

  “I can believe it.” Elizabeth glanced at the items in her small case. There were medicinal solutions for sore stomachs, body aches, head pain, and cold remedies. Each of them had their own distinct smell, and she was adding yet another layer of aroma with the purple flower.

  A knock came at the door and Jane stood to open it.

  “I knew you would both be in here,” Lydia said. “Is my satchel ready? I aim to bathe soon. Have you heard what I was telling our mother earlier? Mrs. Abbott asked for one of your special concoctions, Lizzy. Do you want to know what I told her?”

  “Mrs. Abbott asked for one of my concoctions? What could she mean by that?”

  “She thinks your garden is why Jane is so pretty, that you are feeding her a mix of special spices to enhance her appearance. I could not help but laugh in her face. However, and you will think me so bad, I told her you would give her no such thing. Why would you do that when you have sisters to marry off? I told her you may help her as soon as we were all married, but not before.”

  “Dear Lydia,” Jane scolded. “That was not right of you. I beg you to undeceive her at the assembly.”

  “It was just good fun, Jane. Elizabeth does not mind, do you?”

  Elizabeth, trying to hide the smile that wanted to form on her face, looked as composed as she could. Perhaps Lydia should not have said such a thing, but that did not make it any less agreeable to her ears. To think a drink could enhance someone’s appearance? It was funny indeed.

  Jane frowned at the both of them. Elizabeth, determined not to say anything, gave Lydia her satchel with the bathing ingredients. “Do be careful and do not con any ingredients away from Kitty. You have enough there to suit you.”

  Lydia thanked her sister and left the room without acknowledging Elizabeth’s instructions. When the door shut, Jane sat on Lizzy’s bed. Elizabeth noticed her look in the mirror and frowned. “I hope it is not Lydia who has distressed you. Surely Mrs. Abbott is well aware that I cannot make her daughter any prettier than she already is.”

  “No,” Jane said. “That is not it. It is what Lydia has said to Mrs. Abbott about marriage that injures me. Lizzy, surely you have heard the rumors of our family. How our family wants nothing more than for us to be married off? Then, poor Lydia, encourages the remarks by saying such things. I shall have to have Papa speak with her about this.”

  “Is not marriage the aim of any family with young daughters? It is not as if it is a secret.”

  “It is only the way in which we are thought to be trying to get our husbands that vexes me. To think that I have used a concoction for my beauty?”

  “That is just the talk of a jealous woman who has two very plain looking daughters. And if it distresses you so, I shall talk to Lydia myself. Nay, I shall talk to Mrs. Abbott myself, then I know it will be done.” Elizabeth stood and moved toward the bed. “You know I cannot stand to have a serious conversation for too long. If my teasing about Mr. Bingley has upset you, I shall stop. It will be as simple as that. Then I shall beg Mamma never to mention it again either. You shall find a husband however you wish to, and he shall be the type of man you want him to be. It is not up to myself, or Mamma, or anyone, who you will marry.” Elizabeth grasped her sister’s hands and squeezed. “Just you.”

  “Thank you, Lizzy.”

  “Now let us enjoy the assembly as if it were any other, whether there be new acquaintances there or not. I only hope that there are enough partners to go around. I detest sitting at an assembly.”

  “I believe you are right, Lizzy. It should not matter whether Mr. Bingley is at the assembly or not. We shall have a fine time either way.”

  “Good. That is just what I believe.” Elizabeth stood and grabbed the small satchel for Jane and placed it in her hand.

  Jane hugged her sister and was about to slip out of the room when she turned. “I would ask you to please speak to Mrs. Abbott, though. I fear Lydia has placed us in a bad way again.”

  “You have my word. I shall right whatever misgivings Mrs. Abbott has about us. Do not worry.”

  Jane left and shut the door behind her. Elizabeth spent the rest of the night reading as each of her other sisters knocked on her door in turn to retrieve their satchels. Even Mary came, who announced that if it were not for her mother who begged her to do as her sisters, she should not have cared about such trivial things.

  Elizabeth chuckled as she blew out her candle and went to bed.

  Chapter Three

  The evening of the assembly came, and Elizabeth found herself strung up in nerves. She knew not why, other than her mother had taken the time spent in the carriage ride to Meryton to school Jane with what to do, say, and how to react when she met Mr. Bingley. Jane, as benevolent as any child, listened as intently as she could. However, Elizabeth started to see the wear on her sister as she continued to nod at everything their mother said.

  Elizabeth could take no more and interrupted her mother, saying, “Jane, you look so lovely tonight. I daresay Hill arranged your hair quite nicely. You put the rest of us to shame.”

  Jane colored at the cheeks, but she knew—most of the time—when Lizzy was teasing her, and when she was not.

  “What about mine, Lizzy?” Lydia asked. “I asked Sarah to put a twist in it, but I daresay she has not, even though she says she has. I believe it looked better at the last ball. For this to happen at such a time, I am quite vexed with her. Mamma, will you have a talk with her?”

  “Of course, my dear. She should have done your hair as you wished.”

  Kitty, who had the pleasure of seeing Lydia’s hair up close since her back was turned to her, said, “There is a twist. It looks well, indeed.” Under her breath, she said, “Better than mine.”

  Elizabeth smiled at her second youngest sister. “Your hair looks just as fine—without the twist.”

  Kitty snickered into her hand and gave Lizzy a grateful look. “I hope one of the gentleman shall like it.”

  “I hope they all shall like mine,” Lydia said, beaming. “What a good joke it would be if they were to admire me above my older sisters?”

  Thankfully, the carriage came to a stop. Jane looked beside herself and Elizabeth took no time in standing next to her so they could speak in private. “Do not listen to our mother. She has got you in such a state and we have not even met the gentleman yet. Just be yourself, Jane, and if he is the right sort of man, that will be all it takes. For, I do not know who would not admire you. Also, you do not even know if you care for him yet, either. Let that be your first determination.”

  Jane breathed in deep and forced a smile to her face. They entered the rooms and were there for about half an hour before the party, who was of great interest to not only themselves, but every other resident in Meryton, arrived. Instead of the unusually large party that was rumored to attend, there were only five all together. Mr. Bingley himself, a young friend, an older gentleman and his wife who was Mr. Bingley’s sister, and another young sister.
r />   If it were not for Sir William, who approached Mr. Bingley first, everyone at the assembly could still be staring at the party who stepped in. They were all in high fashion, and it only took mere minutes for another piece of interesting news to circulate the room. Mr. Bingley’s oldest friend, a Mr. Darcy of Derbyshire, had ten thousand a year.

  That was all it took for Mrs. Bennet to exclaim that Jane had better set her sights on the darker haired man than Mr. Bingley for he was worth two times of the other. Jane, who had already scarce looked away from Mr. Bingley, was not deterred.

  To Elizabeth, they both looked extremely amiable. Mr. Bingley more so because a smile never left his face even though he was shown around the room and introduced to everyone. Also, he showed good taste for he asked Jane to dance the first.

  Jane glowed, and if Elizabeth’s eyes were not deceiving her, she was sure Mr. Bingley sniffed her at one point during the dance.

  Elizabeth also had the opportunity to dance with many partners, though not quite as many as Jane, which suited her just fine. Lydia and Kitty had little time to sit as they were always being asked. Mary, who rarely danced, took up residence next to Elizabeth during one of the times when partners were scarce. They shared private ruminations and Elizabeth tried to elevate Mary’s spirits. She was not a ball person, and even less so when the music was provided. She dearly loved to play the piano, but she would not have the chance here.

  Elizabeth gazed at the crowd. Jane spoke with Mr. Bingley’s two sisters, who looked as if they were enjoying her company. She was happy for it though she did not care for the sisters themselves. Elizabeth felt as if they thought themselves quite above the company. Even Mr. Bingley’s friend only walked about the room. He asked no one to dance, but those in his party. His manners were much different from his friend’s.

  Mr. Bingley walked amongst the crowd hardly needing to find enjoyment, while Mr. Darcy looking for something wrong. The whole truth of it was on their faces for Mr. Bingley was not seen without a smile, while Mr. Darcy was seen always looking displeased.