Page 23 of Cousin Conundrum

The curtain hung, Elizabeth hopped down from the stool. “I, for one, will not marry anyone odious simply for an estate. Not even our own.”

“It would mean he would never cast us out.” Jane looked from face to face, very serious. “It would ease many worries.”

“If he is handsome, I will marry him,” Lydia declared.

“Why you?” Mary tugged at the coverlet, her efforts useless as Lydia still sat atop. “He is a clergyman. He likely requires someone with a serious mind.”

“He likely requires someone fun because being a clergyman is so dreary, you mean.”

Mary and Lydia glared at one another.

“How do you know he is a clergyman?” Kitty asked.

Mary cocked her chin. “I asked Papa.”

“What a novel way to procure information,” Elizabeth murmured.

Jane’s lips twitched into a smile.

“Girls,” Mrs. Bennet’s voice called down the hall. “If you are done in there, change for tea. Jane, Lydia, wear your best gowns.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “I see it has occurred to Mama that he might marry one of us as well.”

Lydia stood. “You may have him, Jane. I will have Mr. Bingley.”

Elizabeth went still.

“We have not even met Mr. Bingley,” Jane protested.

The odd strain in her voice shot fresh worry through Elizabeth. Maybe Jane had turned around as well, and seen the carriage-gentleman, and set her sights on him?

Mary leaned over to finish smoothing the coverlet.

“No, we have not met Mr. Bingley, but he is rumored to be quite wealthy. Far wealthier than a clergyman. Even one who will have Longbourn someday.” With that, Lydia sailed from the room.

“Papa said Mr. Collins has a patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and enjoys her especial attention,” Mary said as she straightened. “I will go change as well.” She left with a determined expression.

“Kitty, come help with my hair,” Lydia’s voice screeched back down the hall.

Kitty leaned down to sniff the flowers she’d brought in, then sneezed. Wrinkling her nose, she left.

Jane turned to look out the window, trailing a hand lightly down the curtain to her left. “It truly would be best if one of us could marry him.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “We have not even met him yet. Nor have you met this wealthy Mr. Bingley.” Who would undoubtedly fall instantly in love with Jane. Beautiful, sweet, perfect Jane. Pain lodged in Elizabeth’s throat and she cleared it. “The entail will not matter if one of us marries such a gentleman as Mr. Bingley.” Either one of us.

Jane let out a sigh. “It all seems very mercenary.”

“That is not our fault. We did not make the world this way, and we cannot change it.” Elizabeth paused with a grimace. “Unless we marry men who can, and we push them to do so. Until then, we are subject to our fathers and then to our husbands, with little recourse.” Could a man as handsome as her carriage-man be a kind gentleman? He’d seemed serious, but perhaps he was merely pompous?

“Which is why one of us must ensure we are not cast out of Longbourn.”

“No.” Elizabeth shook her head. “It is why we both need to ensure we marry worthy men who we can love.” No matter how captivating other, possibly pompous, men might be. Jane gave no reply, so Elizabeth caught her arm. “Come. I will help you with your hair and you need not even shout to get me to do so.”

Jane managed a small smile for that, as Elizabeth hoped.

***

Kitty scuttled off down the hall, not wanting Jane and Elizabeth to catch her eavesdropping. Keeping her footfalls light, she ducked into the room she shared with Lydia and quietly swung the door closed.