Pride and Prejudice: BTS version

Chapter Thirty

Sir Jaejoon stayed only a week at Hunsford, but his visit was long enough to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a mate and such a neighbour as were not often met with. While Sir Jaejoon was with them, Minseok devoted his morning to driving him out in his gig, and showing him the country; but when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Jimin was thankful to find that they did not see more of his cousin by the alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden or in reading and writing, and looking out of the window in his own book-room, which fronted the road.

The room in which the omegas sat was backwards. Jimin had at first rather wondered that Jisoo should not prefer the dining-parlour for common use; it was a better sized room, and had a more pleasant aspect; but he soon saw that his friend had an excellent reason for what she did, for Minseok would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and he gave Jisoo credit for the arrangement.

From the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Minseok for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often especially Miss Baek drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. She not infrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' conversation with Jisoo, but was scarcely ever prevailed upon to get out.

Very few days passed in which Minseok did not walk to Rosings, and not many in which his mate did not think it necessary to go likewise; and till Jimin recollected that there might be other family livings to be disposed of, he could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours.

Now and then they were honoured with a call from her ladyship, and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture; or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Kang's joints of meat were too large for her family.

Jimin soon perceived, that though this great lady was not in commission of the peace of the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Minseok; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented, or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty.

The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir Jaejoon, and there being only one card-table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living in the neighbourhood in general was beyond the Kangs' reach. This, however, was no evil to Jimin, and upon the whole he spent his time comfortably enough; there were half-hours of pleasant conversation with Jisoo, and the weather was so fine for the time of year that he had often great enjoyment out of doors. His favourite walk, and where he frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Sohee, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but himself, and where he felt beyond the reach of Lady Sohee's curiosity.

In this quiet way, the first fortnight of his visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. Jimin had heard soon after his arrival that Min Yoongi was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of his acquaintances whom he did not prefer, his coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and he might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Jeon's designs on Yoongi were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Sohee, who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Byun and himself.

His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage; for Minseok was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it, and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the Park, hurried home with the great intelligence.

On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects. There were two nephews of Lady Sohee to require them, for Yoongi had brought with him a Colonel Jung Hoseok, the younger son of his uncle Lord Jung, and, to the great surprise of all the party, when Minseok returned, the gentleman accompanied him. Jisoo had seen them from her mate's room, crossing the road, and immediately running into the other, told the omegas what an honour they might expect, adding:

"I may thank you, Jimin, for this piece of civility. Min Yoongi would never have come so soon to wait upon me."

Jimin had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three alphas entered the room. Colonel Jung Hoseok, who led the way, was about thirty, handsome, and in person and address most truly the gentleman. Yoongi looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire--paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Kang, and whatever might be his feelings toward her friend, met him with every appearance of composure. Jimin merely bowed to him without saying a word.

Hoseok entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred alpha, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Kang, sat for some time without speaking to anybody. At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to inquire of Jimin after the health of his family. He answered him in the usual way, and after a moment's pause, added:

"My elder brother has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see him there?"

He was perfectly sensible that he never had; but he wished to see whether Yoongi would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Jeons and Taehyung, and he thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Park Taehyung. The subject was pursued no farther, and the two alphas soon afterwards went away.