Read Jane Austen Mysteries 08 Jane and His Lordship's Legacy for Free Online Page A

mother looked as though she might accept with grati-tude--but I considered of Lord Harold's papers, lodged for the nonce in the henhouse, and interposed a negative.
    "You are very good, Mrs. Prowting, but we are perfectly con- 34 ~ Stephanie Barron
    tent in the cottage. A clergyman's family, as you know, is accus-tomed to the Dead."
    A pompous speech enough; but Mrs. Prowting looked as though she admired it. My mother was nettled, and kicked my shin quite savagely beneath the table. She had the grace, how-ever, not to engage in public argument.
    "I think you said that Captain Austen is serving on the China Station?" Mr. Prowting enquired. "Excellent! Excellent!
    We hope to welcome another member of the Navy into the bosom of our family before very long; a young man we greatly esteem--"
    "Papa! I beg you will not run on in that unbecoming way! I am sure I shall die of consciousness! The Austens can have no interest in Benjamin Clement--and to be sure, he is grown so odd of late--so inconstant in his attentions--that I protest I have no interest in him either!"
    This impassioned cry fell from the lips of the youngest Miss Prowting, a girl I should judge to be at least twenty. She was fair-haired, blue-eyed, and full-figured; her white muslin gown was bestowed from neck to hem with fluttering primrose ribbons. It was clear she was accounted a Great Beauty, but I could not join in the general acclaim. Tho' Ann's complexion was good, it bore an expression of peevishness, and she had not the slightest pretension to either wit or conversation.
    "Eh, do not be pouting at me, miss!" her father returned fondly, chucking her under the chin. "Young Benjamin is always the most constant of your beaux, no matter how little you are in-clined to notice! Quite the belle of the village, our little Ann!"
    It was as well, I thought, that my mother and Ann Prowting had divided the dinner table between them; for I had rarely been so ill-disposed to the rigours of Society, nor been so woe-fully unable to concentrate my energies. My mind was full of Jane and His Lordship's Legacy ~ 35
    Lord Harold's bequest and the puzzle of the corpse in our cel-lar. I could not be attending to the insipidities of a country neighbourhood, however congenial the party.
    "The Squire was well, I hope, when you quitted Kent?" Mrs.
    Prowting enquired. A brief silence ensued; her gaze, I saw too late and with sudden horror, was fixed upon me.
    "My brother was very well, I thank you, Mrs. Prowting," I re-turned in a rush.
    "It's a sad business, a gentleman of Mr. Austen's circum-stances being left with all those children on his hands." Mrs.
    Prowting continued to study me, as though attempting to dis-cern some likeness in my features--but it is Henry whom I re-semble, not Edward. "A sad business, indeed; but Man proposes and the Lord disposes, as we have good reason to know. Does Mr. Austen think of giving up the Kentish place, and settling here in Chawton, with so many of his family fixed in the neigh-bourhood?"
    "I do not think my brother has any idea of quitting Kent," I replied. "All his affections and interest are bound up in the en-virons of Canterbury."
    "I should adore to go into Kent!" Ann Prowting sighed.
    "Hampshire beaux are nothing to those of Canterbury, I am sure! All the smart ton fellows descend upon the place for the races in August, Mamma!"
    Mamma did not appear inclined to notice this effusion; and it was the elder daughter, Catherine, who turned the conversa-tion. She was dark where her sister was fair, and retiring in her disposition. We had not yet had five words together from her lips.
    "We were very sorry to hear of Mrs. Edward Austen's pass-ing," she managed. "That lady only came to Chawton once within memory, but she left an impression of goodness as well 36 ~ Stephanie Barron
    as of fashion, and appears to have been everything that is ami-able."
    "Thank you," I said. "We have all felt my sister's loss most keenly; and as Mrs. Prowting observes, my