Pride and Prejudice
AU
No Common Lady
Previously
"They are playing with their grandfather," Elizabeth replied just as they heard squeals emanating from the parlor, accompanied by the sound of a 'ferocious' bear. "I believe he is thoroughly enjoying their visit. Now, let us proceed with dinner; I am certain their stomachs will soon growl as loudly as that bear."
EDITED NOTE: First, I did edit a line in this chapter, and she will be staying in a guest room though she is coming on as a housekeeper as SHE offered. AND PLEASE REREAD chapter ONE...in that chapter it STATES he LET ALL THE SERVANTS GO. He has NOT hired any back on. Could he at this point, probably, but he has not. Will he, this story is not finished...so the answer is most likely, yes. And Lydia HAS been helping out. And will continue to do so.
Aurelia's arrival
Ch. 6
A warm breeze blew across Longbourn, through the trees, and around the Bennet home as the carriage bringing Mrs. Fletcher to their abode stopped in front of it. The lady closed her book, took a deep breath and put her reading material back into her traveling bag and prepared to make her exit.
Lydia, who had seen her friend's arrival from a distance, hurried down the stairs and out the door even before her father was halfway down the hall. She managed not to slam the door shut in her father's face, who had come out of his study at the same time his daughter had been rushing down the steps. It was her haste that allowed her to open the carriage's door at the same time as Mrs. Fletcher reached for the handle herself.
"I see you are as energetic as ever."
"I promise, I am much calmed down." Lydia felt her face get hot. "I simply got overexcited to see you." She then turned to her father. "Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Mrs. Aurelia Fletcher."
"It is an honor to meet you, sir." Mrs. Fletcher gave a graceful curtsey.
"Please, it is Mr. Bennet. Sir makes me feel decrepit and ready for the grave." His smile was genuine, and his eyes sparkled with a warmth Mrs. Fletcher had almost forgotten existed. "Now." He gave a slight bow. "I will take your trunk to your quarters and then Lydia will instruct you on what is to be expected of you. She may also show you around the house. I was going to have you stay in the old servants' quarters as you offered to be a housekeeper. Only you are so close to Lydia that would not be right. She will show you to our guest room. Oh, and..." Mr. Bennet could not help but chuckle. "You have dinner tonight; I am sure Lydia will not mind stepping aside."
"No, I will not." Lydia giggled and confessed her last batch of biscuits had been hard as rocks.
Mr. Bennet ignored the conversation that started over what would be fixed for dinner cand carried the trunk to the guest room. He entered the cozy room that was reserved for guests. It was warm and inviting with a hearth that would be lit with a fire when it was cold outside. Its walls were painted a pale blue. Its four-poster bed had a quilted coverlet and lace curtains afforded their guest privacy as did a large tree just outside the window.
A dresser was simple but elegant, with a brass mirror and a vase that could hold flowers if one wished were on top. A washstand was in the corner with a pitcher and a basin of clean water had been placed there by Lydia just that morning. A small soap dish and a towel rack held the necessary items for their guest to use. A small writing desk and comfortable chair had been placed near the window. Mr. Bennet hoped the room would suit her taste. If there were other items Mrs. Fletcher needed; Lydia could get them for her. He then closed the door and went to his own room.
Pulling out a small portrait of his late wife, Mr. Bennet sighed. "My darling, you and I should not have ever married. We were not suited for each other." He sat down at the edge of the bed and let out another long breath of air. "Though, I do owe you my deepest apologies. I was wrong to hide behind any ill-humor and, at times - too many - sarcastic remarks. I want you to know your daughters are doing fine; yes, even Lydia's eyes shone today, and her steps were lighter. I am going to keep an eye on this Mrs. Fletcher. There is something different about her; I just cannot pinpoint it when I have just met her.
Mr. Bennet may have been speaking as if his first wife were by his side, but Lydia had been walking her friend through the main part of the house and was now stepping out the back door. "We all take turns in the garden now, even Father has been seen in the evenings cultivating a few rows; though I confess it is not as often as I."
"Do you see your sisters and their families often?"
"Elizabeth comes quite often with her boys. Mr. Darcy comes occasionally as business keeps him away more than he would like. Jane used to come on a frequent basis but, recently, she has been confined to bed. She has not been well; the birth of her son was hard on her. Mr. Bingley is beside himself at the fear of the possibility of losing her; though Elizabeth, and I, think he is fretting way too much. Jane is doing far better upon our last visit than our first." Mrs. Fletcher was positive Lydia's confidence was a by-product of Elizabeth's own; however, she saw no need to point that out and simply let her friend continue on. "And my other sisters live too far to see us except on holidays." Mrs. Fletcher listened to Lydia talk, and again -as she had in Brighton- watched her eyes and mannerisms. They reminded her of Angela, a niece who had also passed away from consumption, along with an old classmate of one of her brothers. They both had done extremely well - as long as they had structure and routine. If not? They had run wild and got into trouble. It was that which prompted her next question.
"Did your mother establish much of a regularity for you and your sisters prior to her passing?" The manner in which the question was posed was not impertinent and nothing suggested censure.
"In a manner of speaking, not as Father or Elizabeth deemed proper."
"So, what have you been doing since we last met?" Aurelia steered the question away from the late Mrs. Bennet, the mother was not around so it was not like a routine had been set in order that would have explained this calmer Lydia - other than the excited one that had greeted her coach.
"I have been doing what a young lady should have been doing, not what I had been doing."
"And that is?"
"You should know, you wrote down on that list in your room. I promised myself I would follow it. I wanted to be like you."
'Good gracious, that paper was not meant for your eyes. If you have acted upon it, I fear your father is as much alarmed for you as when you were wont to indulge in excessive mirth. I must do my best to rectify matters.' Aurelia reflected. It was a matter of some urgency, but it must be accomplished while Mr. Bennet's meal was in preparation, as her carriage had been delayed in its arrival. Fortunately, it had not taken the Bennets by surprise, as Mrs. Fletcher had contrived to dispatch a messenger before her, who traveled in the same direction as her own carriage.
"We need to talk." Aurelia led Lydia into the kitchen and began preparations for boiled beef and vegetables.
A/N due to Fan Fiction being so squirrely the past few days, I am posting two chapters just in case Monday it is being mental again.