Chapter 8: Country Life 2: A Gift from the Rich Aunt
Heather didn't remember the timeline of the original work very clearly, but she still had some impression of this key plot.
Mrs. Bennett is now busy deciding on Jane's dress and accessories for the day after tomorrow. She is directing the maids around to make sure that Jane will be the most stunning at the Netherfield ball.
She asked someone to move all the dresses out of Jane's room, saying that she wanted to re-sew the lace on them; then she asked someone to find her own jewelry, saying that she wanted to choose a suitable necklace for Jane.
Kitty and Lydia clamored to wear one too. Mary sat quietly next to her aunt, and the two sisters gathered together to talk in whispers.
Heather suddenly remembered that she had not taken the gifts out of the box yet. It was messy and inconvenient in the afternoon, so she only gave the gifts she bought in London.
Heather asked Mary to help call Lena, who was packing her luggage, and ask her to bring the box containing the gift to the living room.
Mary ran out obediently.
Mrs. Bennet asked, "Didn't you give the presents this afternoon? And anything else?"
Heather said, "When I was a countess, I also had some pretty good jewelry. I wanted to give my nieces some little trinkets to wear, but I almost forgot about it just now."
Mrs. Bennet nodded quickly when she heard this. "If there is any suitable necklace, it must be borrowed by Jane to show her the way. When she becomes the mistress of Netherfield, she will have no want of jewellery."
When the sisters heard that there were gifts, they couldn't help but gather together again.
After a while, Mary came running back excitedly and said, "Reina will be here soon, Auntie, that box is so heavy!"
When Reina appeared in the living room, the Bennett girls realized how heavy the box was. It wasn't too big, but it took two people to lift it.
Mrs. Bennet asked in surprise, "Is it filled with stones?"
"The heaviest thing is actually the outer chest," Hessel said. "It's made of mahogany, with heavy silver corners engraved with the Lawrence family crest, and it's locked with the most sophisticated brass combination wheel lock."
Hearing this, even Mr. Bennett, who had been sitting in the corner, came over and observed carefully with the magnifying glass he used to read the newspaper.
No one spoke, and in unusually quiet anticipation, Heather turned the rotary lock and opened the box.
The lining of the box was dark blue velvet, divided into six compartments. In each compartment was placed a goat leather jewelry box, each tied with a green ribbon embroidered with a different name.
Looking at Mrs. Bennet's stunned expression, Hazel couldn't help but tease her sister who spoke without thinking.
"Sister, although I'm married and don't have much dowry, I did marry a count after all, so it's not a problem for me to give my nieces a few pieces of jewelry. I'm just worried that you won't like my things!"
Mrs. Bennett paid no attention to the echo of her words.
"How dare I look down on it! Even if it's really filled with stones, this box and a few boxes alone will be enough to add to your nieces' dowries."
Heather was helpless against her sister's shamelessness and could only let her go under the coquettish urging of her nieces.
Heather first opened the first box in the upper left corner, which was given to Jane.
"The one for Jane is a set of natural South Sea pearl jewelry, which includes a pearl necklace and matching teardrop-shaped earrings."
Heather handed the box to Jane. "Your aunt told me that you are of marriageable age and have a gentle personality. I think this set of pearl jewelry, with its warm luster and symbol of purity and nobility, is most suitable for you."
Jane was very touched. She was a thoughtful person and had felt sad for her aunt's misfortune before. Now she was happy and embarrassed to receive such a valuable gift.
Jane wanted to refuse, but Mrs. Bennet squeezed next to her and shouted: "God, you are so lucky to have such a generous aunt. Such fine pearls are enough for Jane to bring when she gets married."
Kitty and Lydia's eyes turned red with envy, and they were eager to open their own boxes.
Heather let them take the boxes with their own names on them.
Kitty got a pink sapphire flower cluster bracelet, while Lydia got a platinum detachable shoe chain with diamonds.
Lydia was so happy that she shouted to the maid to get her dancing shoes upstairs so that she could put them on and try them on immediately.
Heather prepared a diamond star comb for Elizabeth, which could be inserted into the bun. It was practical and gorgeous. She felt that this fresh and shining object was particularly suitable for Elizabeth's personality.
The sisters gathered together to exchange and admire each other's gifts. Even the calmest Jane couldn't help but comment excitedly.
Heather opened the box belonging to Mary, took out the key-shaped brooch made of light blue topaz and amethyst, and helped Mary put it on her chest.
"It really suits you. A little girl your age should dress up properly. If you want to read, ask your father for it. Don't save your money to buy books anymore."
Mary pouted and almost cried under Heather's gentle gaze. She always felt that Heather was not an elder, but a sister who was not much older than her and always understood her very well.
Heather smiled and pushed Mary in between the sisters, and she was quickly surrounded and joined the crowd looking at the gifts.
Hazel turned around and saw that Mrs. Bennett had become quiet for a rare moment, watching her daughters huddled together, laughing and making noises.
She said to Heather, "I'm suddenly reminded of that time twenty years ago when Mom took out her jewelry box for us to share. The jewelry Mom gave us back then wasn't as good as the ones you have here today, but you were so excited that you almost blew the roof off the house. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye."
Mrs. Bennett's expression was one of nostalgia and relief.
In fact, Heather never dug up the scene she described from her memory, perhaps because it had long been overshadowed by the joy of obtaining more expensive treasures countless times later.
But unexpectedly, Mrs. Bennett, who seemed heartless and careless, still remembered that scene.
The few hours they spent together actually deepened Heather's stereotype of Mrs. Bennett.
She really seems to be as portrayed in the book: ignorant, shallow, vain, and convinced that the only way out for women is to marry a good man.
But she is also a very protective person. She loves her family with 100% of her strength, happy for their good things and anxious for their misfortunes.
Heather had few relatives in her previous life, so she was more easily moved by such outward and passionate emotions. She wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.
But Mrs. Bennet did not give her a chance. She quickly pulled herself out of her memories and concluded: "This shows that it is better to marry a rich short-lived ghost than to marry a poor old long-lived person!"
Don't break the touching atmosphere.
She urged Heather to open the last box that belonged to her, and Heather rolled her eyes in annoyance.
If one day Mrs. Bennett didn't mention the word "marriage", Heather would definitely suspect that she had traveled through time.
The present for Mrs. Bennet was the most costly of all.
It was a gold pendant inlaid with an emerald. In the center was a large cushion-shaped emerald, surrounded by a circle of old-cut diamonds, which sparkled in the dim candlelight.
Mrs. Bennet was speechless as she held it in her hands, while her daughters gathered around her and exclaimed one after another.
After a while, she managed to say: "God, this must be worth so many pounds! When I wear it to the ball, Mrs. Lucas will be envious!"
It was a long and merry evening, and the Bennett sitting-room was the happiest place in all Derbyshire.
There is no woman who doesn't like exquisite jewelry, let alone unexpected windfall.
Heather was also infected by this happiness.
The happiest moment for a rich woman is when she can spend money unconditionally according to her own wishes. It is such a great sense of accomplishment to pay for the people she cares about.
After she was happy, Heather went to sleep. A five-hour carriage ride was more uncomfortable than a ten-hour green train ride. She fell asleep soon after she got into bed.
But Mrs. Bennett in the master bedroom downstairs did not go to bed until very late.
She first jumped up and down looking for a safe place to put the jewelry.
She insisted that it should not be placed with other jewelry, otherwise the servants or acquaintances who came to visit might steal it.
She even tried to hide it on top of the cabinet, but gave up because of the dust problem. Finally, she decided to temporarily put it on the bedside table next to her pillow so that she would see it first every time she opened her eyes tonight.
Once she was in bed, she began to talk to Mr. Bennet again.
"Hazel is truly rich. It's true that being a countess is different. Such a fine thing wouldn't be embarrassing even if she were to wear it in the palace."
Bennett hummed perfunctorily and began to snore.
Five minutes later he was woken up again by his wife.
"It seems that at least she had a good life when the Earl was alive. No wonder this damn girl hasn't contacted us relatives for so many years. It turns out that she was so happy that she forgot all about us."
Mr. Bennett felt driven mad by his wife, who had been talking for an hour.
She added, "But she must have suffered a lot. When she was younger, that sharp-tongued girl would have confronted me at least five times without any courtesy. But look at her, she only retorted once, and even managed to smile the rest of the time. My poor sister, she must have suffered terrible mental torture."
Mr. Bennett could no longer bear it and shouted to ask her if she had finished her speech today. If she had, he would have to go to bed because it was already an hour and a half past his normal bedtime.
Mrs. Bennet had to shut up reluctantly.
Over the next two days, Heather experienced firsthand how grand the social dance, the most important entertainment event in the countryside, was.
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