Pride and Prejudice- AU GENERAL REGENCY FAN FICTION

Previously:

"Rest assured, I have no intentions of doing business with him. As far as I am concerned he is a madman. I may have been pompous, but he is a liar and, most likely, far worse. Now, let us go inside and get a bite to eat; I am starved and my wife is a great cook." Mr. Collins said, leading Mr. Gardiner back to the house.

William Collins hoped he could make amends with the other people he had wronged in the past. He also hoped he could help the Novarks and Mr. Bennet against Mr. Brown's schemes. He had a feeling that this was not the end of the matter.

Fresh Start

CH. 12

Nadia entered the drawing room with a couple of bags in her hands. She had just returned from shopping in town, where she had found some bargains and treats for her family. Mr. Bennet was sitting at the desk, reading a letter from Mr. Darcy with interest. Mary was curled up in a chair, trying to read a book on theology. Kitty was working on mending an old shawl that had a tear in it.

Mrs. Bennet had been very careful with the budget she had been given earlier. She had bought some new books and fabrics for the family, hoping to make Longbourn more comfortable and pleasant. She also wished to encourage the girls to read a wider variety of books, instead of the narrow subjects that Mary preferred. Kitty hardly read at all, and Nadia really hoped to persuade the young lady change as not a bad thing.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Bennet," Thomas greeted her warmly, rising from his chair and kissing her forehead. He smiled at her, glad to see her back. "Did you have a pleasant outing?"

"Very much so. And, I assure you, I did not overspend," Nadia replied with a wide grin, placing her parcels on a table. She saw his eyes widen with curiosity and quickly added, "They were all on sale, or I would have chosen something else, I promise." She did not want him to think she had slipped and become wasteful or extravagant.

"I see," Mr. Bennet said, as Nadia handed him a leather-bound volume of Shakespeare's plays. He recognized it as one he had been looking for a long time. He opened the package with delight and admiration. "How much did this cost you?" He was astonished to learn that it was only seventy pounds. The book had been known to go for much more in other shops. "I have been looking for this for a year. I could not find it for less than a hundred."

"I know." Nadia could not help it, her face beamed with delight. "You said you would buy it in a heartbeat if you found it cheaper. That is why I snatched it without asking you first." Nadia said, thrilled that she had made him happy.

"I am glad you did. I would have missed a great book and paid much more for it. You have saved me thirty pounds. Thank you." He said, sincerely and gratefully. He hugged her again before sitting down.

"You are welcome." Nadia said, returning his affection.

She then turned to Kitty and Mary, who had been watching them with curiosity and envy. She was unaware of the shocking tongue-lashing that Mrs. Bingley had given them upon her visit the previous week when they had complained about how strict Nadia was behind her back, when in truth she was no stricter than what was healthy. A fact Jane had quickly seen.

However, what their mother had seen was two girls doing their best to respect their father's new wife. And she appreciated their efforts. However strained at times it felt. So, she had seen no reason not to include them in the shopping list.

"Kitty, this is for you," Nadia said, handing her a pale green shawl. She had noticed that Kitty liked bright colors and often felt cold. "I thought it would keep you warm as this winter seems exceptionally cold, and it matches your eyes."

"Thank you," Kitty said, taking it and feeling how soft it was. She wrapped it around her shoulders and smiled wide; Nadia was quickly growing on her. She liked the shawl and the compliment.

Mrs. Bennet turned to Mary and handed her a book of poetry. She had seen that Mary read mostly serious and dry books, and she wanted to introduce her to some more lively and beautiful literature. "I know the books you read are good ones, and you deserve praise for reading them. But everyone needs some balance in life. I think you might enjoy these poems. They are full of beauty and wisdom."

Mary opened the book cautiously, unsure what to think. She was not used to reading poetry, and she did not know if she would like it. "Thank you, Mother." She found herself smiling; while she was not sure exactly how to relate to Mrs. Bennet, who seemed so different from her; Mr. Bennet's third daughter was finally -truly- admiting to herself Nadia was not so bad after all; even if she were exceptionally young.

"You are welcome." Nadia said, her own smile matching the girls'. She joined Mr. Bennet who had left the desk and now sat on a loveseat near one of the windows. Mary and Kitty excused themselves as it was getting time to do their nightly chores; Mrs. Bennet's trip to town had taken longer than she had expected. Letting out a long breath of air, Nadia leaned her head against Mr. Bennet's shoulder. She felt tired but content.

"I do not wish to complain about the joys of having two daughters who have honestly attempted to adjust to me being their mother, and seem to have succeeded, nor do I intend to be unkind to girls who are capable of showing such spirits at times. Nonetheless, am I wrong to look forward to when the sun sets and the time of their slumber arrives? I mean is it a crime?" Nadia said, half-jokingly and half-seriously. She did not mean to speak in a comical tone of voice, but she did and Mr. Bennet cracked up laughing as he sat with his arm around his wife's shoulders. He understood her feelings and shared them.

"No, you are not wrong. You are only human. And a very lovely one, at that." He said, kissing her hair and holding her close. "And if it were? I fear I must join you in prison for committing the same crime." Soon enough, the girls were finished with their chores, and their parents joined them for dinner. Kitty was the last to sit at the table and, inspite of any improvements she had made; unfortunately, she still had a tendency to complain too much. And tonight; she opted to complain about the meal their cook had worked extremely hard on.

"This soup tastes horrible. A dog would not even eat it."

Nadia bit her tongue to stop herself from snapping at Miss Bennet in a loud voice. She turned to face Mr. Bennet and forced herself to speak calmly, though Mr. Bennet could feel the fiery indignation in her tone nonetheless. "I understand that it is late, Mr. Bennet, and you are probably tired, but could one of the servants take Kitty's meal in a different container and take her and me out? There must be places where it would be more appreciated." Kitty was shocked by what Mrs. Bennet was saying.

Mary thought that her father would never agree to it. He did not need to ask why the question had been asked. To Kitty's horror, her father signaled one of the servants to not only do as Mrs. Bennet had said, but told them to put some bread and cheese in another bag and they would take that too. Plus, he then informed the servant he would take the ladies himself.

Soon, Kitty was riding with her parents to a poorer part of Meryton. A part she did not know existed. Her father stopped the carriage and climbed down. Helping his wife down, he took the bag and told Kitty she would carry the container of soup.

"Follow your mother." Mr. Bennet said, as Nadia led them to a narrow path. Kitty did not dare to argue as her father was right behind her. The three walked down the path and knocked on a house that looked more like a shack. It had only one room, with rags covering the windows.

"Bless you!" Widow Smith exclaimed; she was wearing an old dress that had seen better days, a red shawl, and fingerless gloves reached out and took the soup Kitty handed her and then the bag Mr. Bennet handed her. She had a thin face and a weary smile. "I just fed my children our last bit for lunch. We were getting ready to go to bed without supper."

Her words hit Kitty hard, and she held back tears. She felt ashamed of her earlier complaint and sorry for the woman and her children. She said nothing as her parents bid the widow goodbye. Climbing back into their carriage, the fourth Bennet sister remained silent until her parents had them heading back to Longbourn.

"I did not realize there were people that poor." Kitty said, breaking the silence. She looked out of the window and truly saw the dark and dismal houses which they had passed on the way to the widow's home.

"Some are even worse off than that woman. She still has a roof over her head." Mrs. Bennet said, adding no more.

"Think twice before you complain about your meal again. And when we get home, you go straight to bed." Mr. Bennet said, sternly. When Kitty tried to protest, her father pointed a finger at her. "You will do what those children would have done if it were not for what we just took them."

He did not tell Kitty what her own mother had done for more than one night before she came to Longbourn. Nor did Mrs. Bennet, as she saw no need to undermine her husband's actions for they both were trying to teach Kitty an important lesson...to be grateful for what she had and, maybe, to open up her eyes to those in need.