AU Pride and Prejudice

Reminder In this AU ALL ESTATES except Pemberly, are within either walking distance, or no further than a day's drive.

Unbreakable Bonds

Previously:

"I have never seen her." He then gave instructions as the fever had already shown signs of breaking. "If it keeps going down, I doubt we have anything to worry about. If it shoots back up, do what you have to in order to break it and send for me immediately." With that, he left.

Kitty and Mary

Ch. 6

The sun had barely risen over the horizon when the servants of Longbourn began their daily chores. The cook and kitchen maids prepared breakfast for the Bennets, the housemaids did their daily chores of dusting and sweeping the rooms, while the rest of the servants did their jobs effectively and without complaint.

Mary was the first to rise. She was intending to spend most of her time in her room, reading and playing the piano. She and Kitty, who was now awake and sitting next to her, listening to her music had grown even closer since their talk while watcing their father talk to their mother's grave. Mary could see she had been able to help her sister improve her mind and manners, and Kitty had helped her to become more cheerful and sociable.

Mr. Bennet was the second to wake up. He put on his dressing gown and slippers and went to his library, he still enjoyed reading his books in peace and quiet. He - depending on the day- still mourned in his own way the passing of his wife, but mostly Mr. Bennet's mind was still puzzled as to why she had felt the need to draw up such a will and where on earth had she acquired such money? Even if she had cracked own on her spending habits; that should not have been possible.

Kitty was the last one of the household to get up. She had learned to appreciate the joys of reading and music, as well as dancing and flirting within appropriate bounds. She no longer missed her sister Lydia whose actions she now were nothing but foolish and imprudent. The second to youngest had grown to see just how much trouble they had caused to her family. It was not a cycle Kitty wished to repeat.

The servants brought the breakfast to the dining room, where Mr. Bennet and his daughters joined each other for the morning meal. They ate with some conversation, with Mr. Bennet sharing some amusing anecdotes from his books, and Mary and Kitty telling him about their plans for the day. None of which included the knock which came at the door before their meal was even half way done.

"Sorry, Mr. Bennet," Mr. Philips said as he was shown into the dining room. "Please forgive me for interrupting your breakfast. I have not even eaten mine."

"What is so urgent that you would skip your morning meal?" Mr. Bennet asked.

"We have an ill stranger at our home, one who, when she manages to wake up, is not saying much other than her repeated request to see Mary and Kitty Bennet. She seemed relieved when told we were relations of yours. We do not recognize her and I found it so odd that, rather than sending a letter or a messenger your way, I decided I would waste no time in coming myself."

"Mary and Kitty..." Mr. Bennet turned to his daughters and asked them if they had any idea who the lady might be.

"If you tell us what she looks like, we might," Mary said. Her heart was thumping hard, as was Kitty's, though they somehow managed not to show it.

"Well, she is not very big built, has a thin face, dark hair, and is lucky if she stands five feet two inches." He gave a few other minor details and he, along with Mr. Bennet, were surprised when both girls spoke simultaneously.

"That sounds like Miss Perry!"

"Miss Perry?" Mr. Bennet asked with confusion; he had never heard the name.

"We met her while on the trip to Brighton with Mama. She was in a deserted building; she was taking care of some poor people who needed her help and had taken shelter there." Mary and Kitty knew they were making an assumption about what Miss Perry was doing in the empty building, but they had seen a few people who looked extremely poor huddled in a corner and had seen Miss Perry head toward them before their mother had them step back through the door.

"After you finish eating, would you mind your daughters coming to my place?" Mr. Philips politely declined Mr. Bennet's offer to join them for breakfast. "I promised my wife I would deliver the message and come straight home."

Mary and Kitty went back to their eating, saying no word other than to answer any questions they could not get out of. However, thankfully, their father only asked one. Did they really want to go talk to this Miss Perry? They both said they did, as politely as they could, as they were still eating and did not wish to draw attention to themselves.

88888888

Mary and Kitty were shown into the guest room; They noticed the bed was new and now was the most prominent piece furniture in the room. Its four-poster, canopy of white lace and mattress- which appeared exteremly soft and comfortable- looked far more inviting than the 'old thing' it had replace.

That so-called bed and had rickety, nicked and old. Its mattresses was horridly hard. And no one in their right state of mind slept on it for more than one night. However, their main focus was on the lady in bed. It was indeed Miss Perry and she looked pale and frail.

"Poor lady, had no shoes or stockings." Mrs. Philips shook her head. "I did not notice until we were getting her into bed. "Those feet of hers were so dirty and bruised. We found no belongins with other than a small locket that only has a drawing of a woman we have never seen before. Mrs. Gardiner and I think it must have been her mother."

Their aunt had come in carrying a bowl of soup, a cup of tea and spoon. She laid the tray on the nightstand and was relieved to see the one her nieces were calling Miss Perry open her eyes. "Mary and Kitty are here."

"I do thank you for sending for them." Miss Perry's accent was strange to Mrs. Philip's ears, but then again, she was not inclined to travel much; so, that might not mean much. She would need to see if Mrs. Gardiner could talk to the lady before Mr. Gardiner made his departure for home with his wife. "I am sorry about your mother; I had no idea she was so ill when we met."

"No need to be sorry. We had no clue ourselves."

"My...status...is not what it once was. Do you know of anyone who would hire me when I have no experience? I promised you and your mother if I ever came to Mertyon I would look you up first so, I thought it only right I ask you first so I would not be seen as breaking my word."

Her words impressed Mrs. Philips; this lady...even in her state of ill health, had remembered her promise, that was something to be admired. However, her mind did not stay on the woman's request long for her nieces were already replying they were sure a place could be found and then asked their aunt if she minded if her nieces be the ones to take care of their friend. "She is already feeling better than last night, and I am sure familiar faces would help aid Miss Perry's recovery." Mary stated not about to reveal what they were really going to discuss.

"I think that is a splendid idea; I will let your father know what is going on."