First Impressions: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Adaptation

Chapter 13

Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips had a considerably younger brother named Howard Gardiner. He and his wife, Melanie, always came to Meryton to visit at least twice a year, once at Christmas and once at the end of the summer. They had three children, ages seven, four, and not quite two, who were favorites of the Bennet sisters; the girls doted on their little cousins quite fondly.

They had not even been in the house for over an hour when the eldest child could be found showing Liz how to make a sword from spare cardboard and paper towel rolls, the middle child was quietly playing in Mary's room with the dollhouse, and Jane and Lydia were cooing over the baby.

Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet were taking a stroll in the garden, where Mr. Bennet was pointing out the new vegetable patch, and Mrs. Bennet, Mrs. Phillips, and Mrs. Gardiner were having a cup of tea in the kitchen. A quiet cup for Mrs. Phillips and Gardiner, but a rather noisy and tearful one for Mrs. Bennet. She blew her nose loudly into a tissue and continued. "Jane does her best not to show it—she is such a strong young woman—but oh that Chip Bingley. He used her terribly! Playing with her heart for three months straight and then leaving without a word! At least his sister was kind enough to send poor Jane a message."

Liz, who had just stepped into the room to fetch a pair of scissors to help build what was quickly becoming a cardboard fort, did her best to bite her tongue. Good enough to send Jane a message! Ha. She and Darcy probably orchestrated the entire escape plan without even asking Chip. He's not the one you should blame.

However, she wiped her dour expression clear as she reentered the living room. Emma was standing on the couch, one foot lifted on the arm of it. She raised one hand to lift the slightly overlarge pirate hat away from her eyes and cried, "Have you the supplies, matey!"

"Aye, Captain Emma!" Liz responded, raising the cardboard up as an offering.

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Mrs. Gardiner was almost closer in age to her nieces than her sisters-in-law. In understanding, she was most alike to the two eldest. After listening to Mrs. Bennet speak for so long on the subject of Jane's woes, Mrs. Gardiner was interested to hear news from the source.

Hoping to work some of the children's energy off before dinner, helped Eddie on with his shoes while her nieces helped the older girls. Elle, the younger girl, kicked her feet when Cat tried to tie her sneakers for her, narrowly missing catching her toe on Cat's shoulder. It was a relief to usher them out the door and across the expansive grounds. "Don't go too close to the lake!" Mrs. Gardiner called to her children. "And keep an eye on Eddie!" she added as the little boy toddled after her sisters.

Cat and Lydia were quick to run after their little cousins; both were quite fond of the children. Jane and Liz stayed back a little to walk with their aunt. "Jane, your mother was telling me all about what happened this summer with Chip Bingley. Really, how awful! But if you want to talk about it, I'm here for you," Mrs. Gardiner offered as soon as the children had run out of earshot.

"I think Mom has been overselling the entire ordeal," Jane responded, somewhat stiffly. She could finally say the names "Chip" and "Bingley" without bursting into tears, but the tradeoff had been a somewhat angry or sharp tone when she did have to talk about him. "She makes it sound like she expected him to propose to me at any second, but he never even asked me out!"

Liz let out a loud "Harumph," to show exactly how she felt about that part of the whole mess. Mrs. Gardiner smiled slyly at her niece, half in agreement, half shushing her so that Jane would continue.

"Of course, I'm upset that he... left. And hasn't texted me back. And—" She cut herself off angrily. "But there was nothing between us, so he's perfectly within his rights." She dragged one palm against her cheek; Liz peered over, but she couldn't tell if there were any tears.