Sunlight poured into the dim chamber, its steady light rousing me from my bed. I lowered my callused feet to the floor, and wobbled over to the open window. The grounds surrounding Pemberley were in full bloom, my mother's azaleas, gardenias, tulips, and exotic roses opening themselves to the spring sun. "Mary," I felt myself call out hoarsely to my chamber maid. "Mary?"
Mary, my energetic fair-haired maid, sped into my room quickly, a freshly pressed gown in hand. "Here you are, miss. Shall I help you dress?"
"Yes, please." I replied in a murmur, reaching into my bureau for a clean underdress and petticoat. I slipped off my nightgown and easily changed into my undergarments. Mary pulled the delicate scarlet frock over my head, and then tugged it roughly over the rest of my body. The dress was tight across my chest, as it was intended to be, and was hard to maneuver in, but I managed to bend over to slip my boots on.
"Shall I do your hair, miss?" Mary asked humbly, looking up at me with kind, brown eyes. I nodded, my curly dark hair shaking with me. I sat down at the edge of my bed, and allowed Mary to brush out my locks and braid them. Once she finished, I grabbed my shawl and exited my chamber.
As I walked down the wooden hallway, I could hear my parents and siblings' energetic greetings in the dining room. I hurried down the mahogany staircase, hunger gnawing at my stomach.
"Talia!" My mother cried happily, her lips turning upwards in a kind smile. "How are you this morning, my dear girl?"
"Quite well, Mother." I gushed, smiling back at her. "How are you faring?"
"Very well indeed." She grinned in response, taking her arm in mine. "Shall we take a walk after breakfast?"
"Yes, that sounds lovely. I woke up this morning to see that your lovely flowers have bloomed."
"They will make for a most beautiful scenery." Mother led me into the dining room, where Faith, Elijah, and Father sat already eating. "Will!" Mother cried mockingly. "How dare you begin breakfast without Talia and I?"
"I do apologize, dearest." Father tried to say seriously, but a laugh escaped him loudly. "I amquite sorry."
"You do not seem apologetic in your behaviour, my love." Mother tried to say seriously, but she ended up laughing as well. "Your laugh is infectious, Will."
"Must I be sorry for that as well?" He smirked, motioning for us to sit. "Mrs. Reynolds has made a lovely breakfast for us, has she not?"
I nodded in agreement and sat beside my younger sister, Faith. "Good morning, Faith." I said happily. She nodded at me, and continued eating her porridge. I scooped myself a bit of porridge from the large bowl in the center of the table, and dropped a handful of raspberries in as well. Eating slowly, I looked around our table, trying to take in everything. My sister's shy giggling mixed with my own parents' mirth and brother's witty jokes.
Finishing my porridge, I intruded their conversation lightly, inquiring if my father and siblings would care to accompany Mother and I about the grounds.
"I wish I could," Father said somberly, frowning slightly. "But I must meet with Mr. Handley about the arrival of new horses."
"Of course," I nodded, trying to be understanding, but I knew my disappointment flooded into my voice.
"Maybe we can go for a ride later this evening?" He asked me, trying to make up for his absence. I nodded once again, trying my best to smile.
"Oh, Will, I forgot to tell you that the Stevens have invited us to dinner tomorrow at their estate." Mother said to Father simply.
"Sounds pleasant enough." Father agreed, and then excused himself from the table.
"Elijah, dear, do you have any plans for the day?" Mother asked him sweetly, her eyes revealing her intent of him walking with us.
"I planned to go into town with Reggie and maybe Marcello." He admitted, grinning.
"Ugh, those two." I groaned, frowning.
"Talia." Mother sighed, although her eyes shone with amusement, giving her away.
"I know you dislike them as much as I do, Mother." I laughed, smirking at her. She nodded, in defeat.
"I admit I do dislike their attitudes, but they are your cousins, my dear."
I shrugged, it not mattering to me. "I don't care if they were my brothers, I would still dislike them just as much."
"Oh, Talia." Mother sighed, taking a sip from her glass of orange juice.
"I enjoy their company at times," Elijah admitted. "And they are our cousins, sister. I choose to accept them rather than deny them."
"I speak for Faith and I both when I say I'd rather spend time with cousin Lily than her brothers any day."
"Then why don't you call on her?" Mother asked cordially. I smiled at the idea, and looked for Faith for confirmation. She nodded at me, smiling.
"I'd love to see Lily." Faith gushed, her voice quiet and timid as usual.
"After we walk." Mother laughed, getting up.
"Yes, Mother, after our walk." I agreed, smiling. "Are you finished eating?"
"Yes, I believe I'm done." She agreed, getting up from her chair. "Faith, are you ready?"
Faith nodded, and followed us to the door leading to the gardens.
"Talia, you were quite correct!" Mother exclaimed as we entered the plush flower garden. "I never expected my flowers to bloom so prettily."
"They are quite beautiful, Mum." Faith murmured, smiling at Mother, who beamed at the compliment.
"Thank you, my love." She grinned, hooking her arms into the crooks of our own. We walked about the garden quietly, admiring the petite colorful petals of flowers, the flowers themselves, and the precisely trimmed shrubbery done by the gardeners.
"We are very lucky to live in such a wonderful home, girls." Mother chided, probably thinking of our grandparents, the Bennets, who lived at Longbourn, near the country village of Meryton.
"Has Grandfather written to you lately?" I asked her sincerely, wondering about Mother's doting father.
"He wrote a fortnight ago," She confessed. "The last letter I received from Longbourn was from Mary, actually, saying our mother's nerves were in another horrid state."
"Our poor grandmother." Faith murmured quietly, looking at Mother sadly, who had looked out into the distance, entombed in thought.
I wanted to comfort my mother, but I knew she wasn't her own mother's favorite daughter, and did not have a deep compassion for her, for we all knew Grandmother's ever-changing opinion and ridicule could favor you at one point and deem you ill-suitable at another. Grandmother also tended to talk a tad too much in company, especially about the latest gossip and ridicules of society.
"I believe she'll be fine." Mother admitted after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. "Her nerves are always in a state."
Faith and I nodded, not wanting to upset our mother anymore.
"Mother," I began tenderly, trying to be as considerate as possible. "Would you care to accompany Faith and I to the Alexander's?"
"That would be lovely, Talia." Mother sighed happily, smiling at the two of us. "I would love to see your aunt and uncle."
"Wonderful." I felt my relief rush out of my body, as if a strong wind had pulled out my stress and put relief and calmness in it's place, a loud sigh the effect of it.
"Soon enough, my sweet Talia," Mother began gently, as if she and I both were sensitive to the subject. "You will have to find a suitable husband. We shall have to introduce you to suitors and bachelors that might give you happiness."
"Oh, Mother!" I cried, flinging my arms out in my rage. A husband? I was only nineteen, not even twenty yet. "I do not wish for a husband. Not at this moment in time, I am quite sure."
"Talia, my dear," Mother huffed in remorse. "I am sorry if I have upset you."
"No, do not be, Mother." I begged, my eyes clouding over with remorse and grief. "You are my mother, and you are only doing what is best for me. I am the one who should apologize, for being so selfish." I felt the remorse and anxiety of marrying flood into my words, because romance and love was an area I was not accustomed to. All that I knew I wanted in a marriage was what my parents had, laughter, friendship, and felicity, if at all possible. "I am quite apologetic for my behaviour."
I felt Mother break away from me, and then enclose me in a warm hug. "Talia," She murmured, inches away from my ear. "Do not be sorry, and do not chide yourself, my dear. Love is a most complicated subject, and I shouldn't have pushed marriage at you as I did. Once you find your own love, you shall find your own marriage." Her voice calmed my anxious feelings and thoughts for awhile, giving me time to contemplate the meaning of love and marriage themselves. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mother." I admitted, a flush of color rising on my cheeks. "I understand."
"I do not wish to become my own mother, pushing strange bachelors at me at every opportunity." Mother admitted, her voice cracking at the memory of her ordeals. "I shall never become her, and if I do, tell me as soon as you realize the change in my behaviour."
"Do not worry," I chuckled, flicking my braid off of my shoulder. "I could not bear to have you resemble Grandmother."
"I shall try my best to promise not to." Mother laughed in reply, smiling.
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