Becoming Ms Bennet: Pride And Prejudice Novels & Stories

Bennet's last remaining kindness to Rachel dissipated completely. "Rue, don't worry! I will tell your dad exactly that. I'll let him handle Rachel and I will no longer take part in it!" After Mrs. Bennet's promise, Rue eventually calmed down. "Mm, mom, the Bennets have everything to lose in this, so you can't ever get emotional over that! Now that Rachel has changed, we can't let her take advantage of us!" Mrs. Bennet replied with resolve, "Don't worry, Rue, I will no longer be so sympathetic to her anymore. Whatever your dad wants to do with her, I will not intervene."

"Madam Bennett, you overstep...." "I overstep nothing." The elderly woman's natural authority made Emily seem like a child playing dress-up with her mother's clothes. "I've watched your games for decades, Emily. Watched you destroy anyone who didn't fit your perfect mold, anyone who threatened your control. Well, congratulations, you've done it again. Another young woman sacrificed on the altar of Caldwell pride." She turned to Lora, who shrank from her gaze like a child caught in a terrible misdeed. "Two hundred million dollars. Your entire inheritance. The legacy of five generations of Bennetts, handed over to these... social pirates."

Meanwhile, back at the Bennetts' flashy villa. The real Bennett daughter—well, now technically Rachel Bennett—was standing stiffly on the spotless marble floor, totally overwhelmed by the glamour around her. Crystal chandeliers, a spiral staircase, designer rugs... stuff she'd only ever seen on TV. "Rachel, from now on, this is your home. Mommy's going to give you everything you deserve," Vivian said, holding her hand with a smug satisfaction, as if doing her a favor. "You're now our Bennett heiress. Those cheap clothes? Not worthy of you anymore."

Nathaniel, growing irritated, added, “Sylvia, even if you’re doing this just to provoke me, bringing in a beggar as your stand-in is ridiculous. Do you really think this is funny?” Bennett’s brows furrowed as he glanced down at himself. He had been in a car accident on the way and had crawled under a vehicle to rescue an elderly woman, which explained his disheveled clothes and dirt-covered appearance. But to be mistaken for a beggar? That was pushing it. He didn’t bother to explain. Instead, he raised his eyes to his bride. She was elegant and graceful, with a beauty that needed no embellishment. As for her character? That remained to be seen.

*** ** * [Hazel Quinn] The living room no longer felt cold, but my chest felt even tighter. I sat stiffly on the edge of the velvet sofa, while Mrs. Bennet sat right next to me. Contrary to my worst expectations, this elegant woman wasn't hurling insults at me or telling me to stay away from her son. Instead, her warm, sapphire-ringed hands were firmly grasping my icy palms.

"I am feeling so much better, actually amazing. I have never felt this peaceful and relieved in my arms. All my life I have been controlled by my parents, as a member of Bennet, I have to act proud, and arrogant and yet act to be kin with others, marry out of love just to keep the standards up, learn to adjust to the surroundings, always to choose high standard things, normal life is out of the way because then you will be felt like a cheap person and the list goes on. So yeah! For the very first time, I feel really amazing. And, best when you are in my arms. Thank you for giving me another chance and I promise you that I will spend the time making up to you. I don't think that I would have

All the girl talk is a welcome distraction from the nerves of tonight and time passes by a little too quickly. A series of funny knocks rap out against the door. “Come in!” I call out. The door pushes open slowly, “Everyone decent?” I snort, “I wouldn’t have told you to come in if we weren’t.” Bennet, steps through the door and shrugs, “Just trying to be on my best behavior, princess.” “You know she’s your luna and queen now, right?” Harlow quips. “She’ll always be a princess to me,” Bennet huffs, shooting me a wink.

my mother said softly, her voice tinged with both pride and sorrow. I lowered myself onto the couch beside her, my movements slower than usual. Everything was slower now. My body, once full of energy, now felt fragile, weighed down by the poison coursing through my veins. I ran a hand over the bouquet of blush roses on the table, their soft petals a cruel reminder of the vibrancy I was losing. “The Bennetts were powerful then,” I said quietly, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. “And they still are. But now, they’re fighting to keep it—and so am I.”

“So, what did you do about it?” I asked, my voice thick with accusations. “I couldn’t turn the woman away because she was carrying my child,” Bennet said softly. “I also didn’t want a relationship with her though. So, I kept her in the manor and allowed her to live here. I had my maids care for her during her pregnancy and I spent some time with her as well. But it was never anything more than platonic. She was the mother of my child, that was all. I tried so desperately to coax your mother out of her depressive state. I never wanted her to feel neglected, like I was choosing another woman over her.”