Five Little Ducks - Part Two (Complete)

Summary: Mrs. Fanny Bennet attempts to adjust to a new chapter of her life as she learns to let her daughters go.

Author's Note: This story is complete and will be posted in 2 posts.

Chapter Four – Two Little Ducks


Two little ducks went swimming one day, Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "quack, quack, quack, quack," And only one little ducks came back.


The house is quite, even with Mary, thought Mrs. Bennet one day in spring more than a year after Jane and Elizabeth had been married. Mrs. Bennet sat comfortably in the sitting room looking out at the clear day while she embroidered a new cushion for a chair in her room. If only Mr. Bennet would allow Lydia to visit, or even if Kitty were home again. There is no more…liveliness in the house. Mary and Thomas are more likely to spend an entire evening reading than conversing with me. I get callers in the morning, but what should I do with my afternoon? I used to sew with the girls, or make my own calls.

Of course, Mr. Bennet will not let Lydia visit because she would bring that wastrel of a husband with her, Mrs. Bennet thought acidly. I should never have encouraged that match. I should never have rejoiced in the marriage. I have learned my lesson the hard way.

Lydia had, unfortunately, returned to Longbourn six months after she was married, claiming that she wished to return home. She gave wild accusations about her husband abandoning their marriage when she told him she was pregnant. Round with child, Mr. Bennet took his daughter back in. When Wickham showed up two weeks later, begging for more money, Mrs. Bennet’s eyes were opened to his nature. Unfortunately for him, she witnessed a physical argument between him and Lydia that sent her screaming for her husband.

Mr. Bennet quickly threw his wastrel of a son-in-law out of his home, and told Lydia she would be welcome to stay as long as she wanted so long as she never saw her imbecile of a husband again. Mrs. Bennet was pleased with his strength and resolve, but was quite shocked when Lydia, instead of thanking or appreciating her father’s motives or actions, threw an enormous temper tantrum. She claimed her “Wicky” would never hurt her. When Mrs. Bennet tried to calm her down and tell her that she witnessed Wickham hit Lydia, Lydia denied it.

After a long argument, Lydia finally did admit that she had been injured by her husband, but she then took full blame for the argument and started acting like a spoiled child again, wanting to see Wickham and have him back. For the first time in her married life, Mrs. Bennet fully supported her husband in his dismissal. Wickham would no longer be welcome in Longbourn. Lydia left that day and Mrs. Bennet had not seen her or heard from her youngest in a few months. Even the letters asking for money had stopped.

Absently, she figured the letter from Elizabeth she had just completed reading. Elizabeth and her husband kept Lydia’s movement and wellbeing in mind and Darcy had taken over completely dealing with the Wickham’s, although he had made it clear that George Wickham would not be allowed near any of his own family or the families of his siblings.

Mrs. Bennet sighed as she thought of her youngest, the first to marry but at what cost? I was not the mother to that child that I should have been. I must take my share of the blame in who she has become. Mrs. Bennet sat quietly for a few moments longer before the quite was too much for her. She quickly reached for the letter again and started to re-read it.

The letter was not full of news from Lydia, but rather it was full of news concerning Kitty. Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth had convinced Mr. Bennet to allow Kitty to stay at Pemberley for the past Christmas and possibly through Easter. However, Kitty met her beau and Mrs. Bennet had been able to convince Mr. Bennet to allow Kitty to stay longer. Now the girl was engaged and had decided to marry from Pemberley.

The remaining Bennets at Longbourn were to travel in three weeks’ time to Derbyshire to see the child wed in the Pemberley chapel. James Cunningham of Glennbrook Park. My Catherine really has done well for herself, almost as well as Lizzy. Mrs. Bennet picked up the letter and re-read the part where Elizabeth spoke about the upcoming nuptials.

I have to admit, Mama, you made Jane and I’s wedding seem so easy. Having only married last year, I can remember myself how much time I wanted to spend with Fitzwilliam and not with you making calls on our neighbors, and all the teas you held. I feel I must apologize, for now I can see how much work you did. I feel overwhelmed at times just thinking about all the work Kitty and I have to do before you, Papa, and Mary arrive next month.

Mrs. Bennet could imagine the liveliness from Christmas extended through the seasons. Feeling herself become more depressed and lonely, she forced herself to continue to read the letter with the same joy she felt the first time she read it.

The fabric you sent from Meryton is perfect for Kitty. The seamstress in Lambton was quite jealous of the quality of it and begs me to ask you where you got it from. I am quite sure you got it from Uncle Gardiner, but promised I would ask you.

Fitzwilliam has written to Papa, and invited you all to stay and extra few weeks here after the wedding. Jane is quite round and won’t be able to travel for a while now. I, myself, am starting to feel quite exhausted and I have much more time to go than she does. If I were more selfish I would ask to have Mary stay after the wedding to help us both out. I do know how much help she has been to you while Kitty has been away. Both of you have written as to your growing relationship: I am loath to part the two of you.

Mrs. Bennet smiled as she read the remainder of the letter. She recalled how excited she was that Kitty had met her James and was to be married. She was only a little put out that Mr. Bennet refused to go any earlier than a week before the wedding. I guess I should be pleased that he even let Kitty go to visit Elizabeth. Her enthusiasm at her fourth child’s wedding was tempered quite a bit when she realized that when Kitty married her beau, she would not return to Hertfordshire.

So quite.

She looked over to where Mary was studying yet another book and found herself asking, “Mary dear, what are you reading?”

“A book on herbs,” she replied succinctly before burying her head back in it.

Mrs. Bennet, wanted more than a few words of conversation, and remembered Elizabeth’s admonishment from her wedding when Mrs. Bennet had commented that Elizabeth had grown up before her very eyes with very little help from herself.

“Mama, it is not that I did not need your help, you were simply so focused on Jane and Lydia that…well…there was no more of your time for the rest of us.”

Mrs. Bennet all at once realized the truth of Elizabeth’s statement. Since then she had tried harder than ever to get to know her middle child. She could boast as to quite a bit of luck. Since the wedding, Mary and Mrs. Bennet had become quite close. Mary had even started to blossom and allow her mother to help her more with not only her appearance but her attitude toward society. During the last assembly, Mary had danced every dance, and Mrs. Bennet could not have been happier.

The rest of the family, however, noticed how much quieter and more subtle Mrs. Bennet was becoming. In fact, unknown to her, Mary had written to Elizabeth regarding how she had been surprised at how restrained her mother had been during that assembly. Even Mr. Bennet had started to take notice more of his wife’s calmer character.

“Mary, I had thought your interest was in….religious works. Have you always been interested in…herbs?” Mrs. Bennet continued, quite disgruntled at the silence in the room.

“No, not really,” Mary said with a slight blush, “Lady Lucas mentioned some herbs that help with nausea, and I was curious…”

“Nausea? Are you not feeling well dear?”

Mary hurried to explain, “No! Not me, I mean, I am not unwell. It is Mrs. Weston who had been feeling poorly recently.”

Mrs. Bennet leaned back in her chair, and set her embroidery down for a moment, “Mrs. Weston? You mean the reverends’ mother?” Mary nodded. “And how did you two come to be discussing her?”

Mary blushed at the inquisition, and said quietly, “The reverend and I were discussing his plans on bringing her to Hertfordshire from his aunt’s house, but he was concerned about the trip with her feeling so poorly. Lady Lucas overheard and started discussing the lady’s symptoms with Joseph—I mean Reverend Weston.”

“Joseph?” Mrs. Bennet asked with raised eyebrows, “That is a little…intimate is it not?”

Mary blushed again but said nothing and went back to her book.

Mrs. Bennet decided to discuss the intimate use of the Reverend’s name with her husband later. To Mary she said, “And what have you learned, dearest?”

Mary looked up from her book, and said, “There are plenty of teas that would help but I do not recognize a few of these plants. I did, however, learn that Ginger Tea is perfect for upset stomachs.” Mary here hesitated a few seconds before she added, “I had thought to inform Aunt Philips about possibly giving Uncle Philips ginger tea in the afternoon. He has complained of a stomach ache after lunch quite a few times…”

Mrs. Bennet smiled at her middle child and laughed a little, “You are quite right, my dear. Although, I believe Lady Lucas has already informed my sister and her husband of the benefits of ginger. Unfortunately, your Uncle doesn’t like the taste of anything other than his breakfast tea.”

Mary smiled and went back to her book, but Mrs. Bennet would have none of it and was determined to have more of Mary’s company, “Why do we not go out to the herb garden with your book. Perhaps we can see if we have some of the plants in your book? If not, we can also see about getting some seeds from your Aunt in London and planting some.”

Mary looked skeptically at her mother, but Mrs. Bennet just laughed and said, “I want some company Mary, would you mind spending the morning with me and your book?” Mary nodded a little and both ladies rose and spent the rest of the morning in the garden.

After lunch, Mr. Bennet returned home to hear Mrs. Bennet giving Mary a small music lesson on the piano. He chuckled as he hear Mary attempt to describe her own playing, “I played the notes exactly as they appear on the page, but why do they sound more like that cat in the garden this morning?”

It was much later that evening, when Mrs. Bennet retired that she realized she how much she enjoyed Mary’s company. Joseph Weston, are you going to be taking my last daughter away? Kitty won’t be coming home, and Mary is my last daughter. Am I ready to be…alone?

Mrs. Bennet shook her head in derision on herself. Mary is a good girl and deserves her own happiness. She’ll make the Reverend a wonderful wife. An image of Mary and the Reverend popped into her head, and Mrs. Bennet felt the loneliness and melancholy she had that morning after reading Elizabeth’s letter. Soon she’ll leave me, and then who will I have for company?

Shaking her head her last thought of the evening was one filled with confusion, I always thought I wanted nothing more than for all my girls to have homes of their own. Now that it is very likely to happen, I wonder: why did I want them gone? With Kitty soon married, and Mary so close to coming to an understanding,

She sighed as she looked at the letter sitting on her desk from Elizabeth. Kitty won’t be returning home. I will need to have Hill and Mary help me pack her things to take with us. I should be pleased at the proceedings. God has been very good to us. Should I want for more?

Four daughters married and gone.

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Chapter Five – One Little Duck

One little duck went swimming one day, over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack," And no little ducks came swimming back.


“Oh Mr. Bennet! They will all be here soon! Are you ready?” asked Mrs. Bennet excitedly.

It had been two months since her last daughter had become Mrs. Weston and two years after her first daughter, Lydia, had married. Unfortunately for Mary and her husband, Mrs. Weston, the Reverend’s mother had died shortly after arriving in Meryton to live with her son. It had been a sudden cold that she simply never recovered from. However, she had lived long enough to meet and approve of Mary. The couple had chosen to wait until after the proper mourning period to marry.

Mary, having become closer to her sisters, except Lydia, through correspondence, had wanted all of them to witness her joy. Unfortunately, both Elizabeth and Kitty had been with child and Elizabeth could not travel near the end of the mourning, and Kitty’s ability to travel became non-existent when Elizabeth would finally be able to. It was fortunate that the happy couple were both, very patient individuals. The Reverend had admitted to having no other close family and was willing to wait for Mary.

The weeks Mary had been gone had been very lonely for Mrs. Bennet. Jane and Charles had given up the lease to Netherfield during the Reverend’s mourning period, and purchased a home thirty miles from Pemberley and Lizzy and her Darcy. Mrs. Bennet, as much as she had wanted to be upset by the move, had completely understood.

Jane and Lizzy are so close. This will be much better for them. I do not know what I would have done had my sister, Mrs. Philips, not been near those first few years of my marriage. I only wish we would have been as close as Jane and Lizzy. I love my sister, but we are very different people. She has her own obligations in town, and I have been so focused on my children’s futures, there just never seemed enough time.

I actually feel closer to Mary than I do Mrs. Philips. I have missed that girl more than I thought possible. How is it that I missed out on so many years of her subtle wit and humor? It has been too quiet. I can honestly say, I miss all of my girls. There was so much noise. So much happiness.

There was no quiet, then. I had not anticipated that when I attempted to marry them off so soon. I had not anticipated being so lonely. If only Mr. Bennet would take me to visit one or two of my daughters. If we went to Derbyshire, we could visit three of them!

But he will not. He has rejected so many of my pleas I do not even ask anymore. It is of no use. I feel so cut off from my family here. I feel like the only contact I have is through letters. I look forward every day to any correspondence that comes.

It will be different now that Mary is home. So the community will be used to her being the Reverend’s wife and I will be able to visit more.

Mrs. Bennet shook her head as she heard her middle child and son-in-law announced. Mrs. Bennet raced towards the door. As soon as she reached her daughter she hugged her tight, “Mrs. Weston. It is so good to see you.”

Mary hugged her mother tightly, “I have missed you Mama, and have so many things to tell you.”

“Well, come on in then,” Mrs. Bennet said as she ushered the group inside, “Dinner is actually already ready, why do not we go in and sit down?”

The group followed her lead and in no time, laughter filled the air as Mary and Joseph described their trip to the North. However something that Joseph said caught Mrs. Bennet’s attention.

“No actually, even though our needs are fewer than most, we will still need more room than what we are currently being offered in Meryton. Please do not misunderstand me,” the reverend said to Mr. Bennet, “We love Meryton society, but if we choose to enlarge our family, the current accommodations are somewhat…limited. Perfect for a retiring couple as the last of my predecessors have been, or even for a bachelor such as I was when I first arrived, but not quite right for Mary and myself.”

Mrs. Bennet was a little taken back by the comment. However, not really knowing what her son-in-law had been specifically discussing with her husband, she decided to remain silent and not interfere. Her nerves, she could feel, rising quickly.

Surely Mary is not contemplating moving away! I do not think I could handle her and Jane leaving me! That would be all of my daughters! None to stay and keep me company!

She looked across the table at her middle child and saw compassion in her daughter’s soft brown eyes, and Mrs. Bennet knew her suspicions were correct. Mary would be leaving. Nothing was said or confirmed that night, but a fortnight later, when Mary and her husband came to dinner again, the news was then imparted. Mary would be moving to Derbyshire to the living in Kempton not far from her other three daughters.

Mrs. Bennet outwardly, handled the entire situation much different than any of her family would have thought. She was happy, of course, for Mary; and Mrs. Bennet realized that after so many years of not supporting her daughter or encouraging her middle child, she felt she could do or say nothing against what would be a positive move in Mary’s life. No matter how negatively she felt it impacted her, Mrs. Bennet was determined to encourage Mary’s excitement about the move.

The move took a little under four months, and by Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were the only remaining members of the Bennet family still at Longbourn and in Hertfordshire. The house which once was filled with laughter and noise, now stood covered in snow and silence. Mrs. Bennet could be found most days in the sitting room, hoping, watching, and praying for a visitor. Even Mrs. Philips, whom had started to get onto Mrs. Bennet’s nerves, turned into a welcome visitor.

There were days, where Mrs. Bennet found herself at a loss as to what to do to fill her time. Before her girls left the nest, she felt as if she could not get everything she needed done. Now, problems with the household accounts, dinner, and other duties were quickly dispensed with. Her embroidery was becoming finer, and her piano skills sharper with constant use. Still, Mrs. Bennet could feel the silence bearing down upon her.

The cheerful attitude of years past slowly dissipated to the point that even Mr. Bennet noticed his wife’s receding joy.

“My dear, Mrs. Bennet,” he said as he raised his glass at dinner on Christmas Eve, “I do believe we can toast to a rather eventful and happy Christmas this year.”

Mrs. Bennet just sighed and clinked her glass with her husbands.

“Do I detect a note of melancholy? At Christmas?” he said incredulously.

“Maybe a little,” was all she replied.

“Why on earth? Has God not been good to us this year? To our family? Elizabeth and Kitty have both had children while Jane announced their soon to be addition. Mary and the good Reverend love their new posting! What on earth could bring you down so much?”

Mrs. Bennet took almost shrugged off her husband’s comment but he was not to be gainsaid, “Mrs. Bennet, what is the matter? You’ve been melancholy these last four weeks at least, if not longer! Surely you are not unhappy?”

“No. Not really. I am just not used to so…little activities at Christmas.”

“Surely you are not upset that neither of your siblings was able to join us? Mrs. Philip’s has the flu, and the Edward was stuck in London on business,” Mr. Bennet said cautiously. To be quite honest, he had a feeling what was disturbing Mrs. Bennet as he too had been feeling a little lonely since he found himself with an empty nest.

“Maybe a little. I believe I am more disappointed that none of our girls were able to come home, or even that we had not been able to go to them,” Mrs. Bennet replied, “After all Lizzy wrote that her dear Darcy would have sent his own comfortable carriage to come and get us…”

Mr. Bennet shook his head, “And we would have gotten snowed in some small hovel of accommodations between here and Derbyshire. Are you not much more comfortable being stuck at home.”

“Not really.”

Mr. Bennet was taken back by the bitterness he heard in his wife’s voice, “Fanny!”

Mrs. Bennet had finally had enough, “Well, what do you want me to say, Thomas? It is so quite without the girls, or even my family here that I am starting to feel…closed in. The silence is starting to really affect my nerves! I hate to be a pain or a nuisance, and haven’t wanted to complain, but I am quite tired of sewing, my fingers are developing hard spots with how much I have been playing the piano. I have no need for any new clothes.” Throwing her hands up in exasperation, she cried, “I wait on pins and needles just for a letter from my girls! Oh, Thomas! Why did they all have to move so far away?”

Mr. Bennet shook his head as he replied, “I cannot answer that my dear, but I do understand –”

“How could you possibly understand?” screeched Mrs. Bennet. She could feel her nerves start to rise, and started to feel overwhelmed by all of the emotions she had tried so carefully to hide over the past few months, “You have your work, your letters to occupy you. You have an entire library that you find so fascinating. Even if you did get tired of what you have already collected, Darcy keeps sending you more! How can you possibly understand what I am feeling?”

“You hardly spent any time with any of our daughters, besides Elizabeth. I spent most of my days with our five girls, not just the one. I assure you I feel their loss more than you possibly could!”

Mr. Bennet was silent as he let his wife of thirty years, be more honest with him than she had ever been. “For years, you have hidden yourself away in that…sanctuary of yours. Silence is nothing new to you! What do I feel my days with now if not to be of use to my daughters? How can I be of use to them when I so far away! No, you could not possibly understand!

“Did you ever trouble yourself with their troubles? No. Who did they come see if they had a problem? Me! Who did they come see for help with their lessons? Who solved their fights and helped them to make up? Me! Who has spent these last twenty five years seeing to their future with what little we had? Me!”

The room became still as Mr. Bennet tried to gather his thoughts. Finally he asked, “I take if you are missing the girls as well?”

Mrs. Bennet’s head shot up, “As well?”

“I may not have had as much to do with their upbringing, past signing of checks, as I probably should not have, nor was I the one they confided in; but I do miss them. I miss their noise. I miss the chatter. I miss the laughter. I miss seeing their beautiful smiling faces that every day reminds me of my most prized possession: your smile.”

Mrs. Bennet sat unmoving without showing the shock she felt. Mr. Bennet, however, after a lifetime with his wife, could tell she was astonished by his own revelation, “Yes, I love those girls and can see you in each and every one of them. If I may be completely honest: I am glad you were able to secure their futures so well. I feel very selfish for my feelings; since now that they are gone and living their own lives, I find myself pleased I have you to myself again.”

Mrs. Bennet sat shocked, not completely comprehending what she was hearing, “If you wish to see our girls, I would be more than happy to take you myself to Derbyshire. We could go for an extended stay this summer and visit all of their homes and visit with our new grandchildren. We can spoil them rotten then hand them off to their parents just as your parents did to us with Jane and Lizzy.”

Mr. Bennet started to get animated in such a way that Mrs. Bennet had not seen in years, “As for this blasted snow, if I could have, I would have moved all of it to see you happy my dear, but as it is, we are stuck in Hertfordshire with our family elsewhere. May I suggest we put our heads together to see what we can come up with to get rid of this dreaded quietness?”

Looking at her husband and seeing the love in his eyes for her for the first time in years, she thought, my five girls may be gone, but I get Thomas forever.

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Epilogue – Five Little Ducks


Mother duck went out swimming one day, over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack," And all five little ducks came swimming back.


The house stood almost still and eerily quiet. Mrs. Bennet wandered aimlessly through the halls of the home she was visiting of her eldest daughter and compared it to the one she had known for nearly thirty years, the years had been good to me and my little family.

After that first Christmas alone with Mr. Bennet, the good couple was almost inseparable. If Mr. Bennet had to go to London on business he waited until Mrs. Bennet could come with him. True to his word, they visited all of their children that following spring and summer. Mrs. Bennet decided she had enough of traveling and settled into the quite life at Longbourn. Days became routine for the couple and Mrs. Bennet started to feel solace and ease in her new quite surroundings to the point that balls and parties started to hold new charm for her.

She and Mr. Bennet become so close that they started to become of one mind as well. Gone were the shades from Mrs. Bennet’s eyes as Mr. Bennet allowed her to read all of his correspondence. She found out about the money he would send to their youngest child, and all the money and favors Mr. Darcy and his brothers-in-law did for her youngest girl. Fanny Bennet could not help ut start to feel even more responsible for her youngest behavior and thus poor life.

Lydia came to visit with her husband once after her sister’s marriages; when Mrs. Bennet refused to give her money or a new wardrobe, Lydia broke ties wither her parents. The Wickham’s frequently sought help from William, Charles, and even James but never spoke of the Bennets. It was a sore spot in Fanny’s world, but she felt she could do nothing until Lydia took responsibility for her own actions.

Now as Mrs. Bennet wondered around her sitting room for the last time, she felt grateful for the rest of her daughters and wonder how Lydia had ever been her favorite. She did not even return for her own father’s funeral! She fumed. I should be grateful the rest of my girls showed Thomas the respect he deserved. My girls have been so helpful. Charles and William have been godsends; even Kitty’s James has been so kind and considerate. I am quite sure I will be most comfortable at Jane’s, maybe in time, I will take William up on his offer of the dowager cottage at Pemberley, but for the moment I will be content with moving in with Jane and Charles.

Mr. Bennet had died unexpectedly not three months prior. His heart simple stopped during a ride around the estate. Either her girls came or sent their husbands to her side. She could feel their love and support. Now here she was moving away from her home to start the new chapter in her life: widowhood.

Over the course of the next five years, Mrs. Bennet was able to grieve from her husband, and learn to live without him. Jane and Charles were truly supportive. Every now and then she would temporarily move to one of her other’s daughter’s homes to visit or even visit her brother’s growing family in London. After a quick visit to London to see her brother Mrs. Bennet found she was pleased to return to Jane’s house, only to be invited to stay with Lizzy for a while.

Mrs. Bennet wrote to her second child and explained she wanted to rest from traveling for a while, but she would be more than happy to come in a few months.

After all, dear Lizzy, the rode between you and Jane’s estates is so well maintained that the trip shall be nothing at all. I am only tired of the actual action of traveling. I am not as young as I have been, and feel every bump in the road so unpleasantly from London. Please say that you understand. I would love nothing more than to see little William and little Annie. Maybe you could bring them to Jane’s for a bit?

Mrs. Bennet quickly sealed the envelope and sought a servant to take her message out. However, as soon as the servant left, Mrs. Bennet realized quickly that she did not wish to be alone. Her chest was starting to feel a little funny and decided to go visit Mary since she was by far the best with physically maladies. She was much nearer than Lizzy since Kempton was actually closer to the Bingley estate than the Darcy one. Fanny sought out Jane to see if she could borrow a carriage.

She found Jane, where she was normally these days: in the nursery with her third child Benjamin. Mrs. Bennet always loved watching Jane or even Elizabeth with their children, and this moment was no exception.

Fanny paused at the opening to the nursery as she saw her eldest beautiful daughter hold her 12 month old son and hold her fingers up as she sing, “Five little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Mother duck said, ‘quack, quack, quack, quack,’ and only four little ducks came back.”

Mrs. Bennet smiled as she recognized the same childlike rhyme she herself had sang to all of her children so many years ago. As she listened to Jane, she could not help but think back upon her life and remember her girls when they were so young.

“Four little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Mother duck said, ‘quack, quack, quack, quack,’ and only three little ducks came back.”

As Jane continued to sing her quiet little song to the awestruck child in her arms, Mrs. Bennet could not help but think of her girls as children. So different each of them: I was so worried that I would not be able to be the best mother for them. Each of them has grown up exquisitely in their own ways. Jane with her serenity and beauty – her family is an extension of her loveliness and sweetness.

“Three little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Mother duck said, ‘quack, quack, quack, quack,’ and only two ducks came back.”

Smiling to herself as she stood there contemplating her girls, Mrs. Bennet felt a sharp pain in her chest while she listened to Jane sing. Then my little Lizzy, really Thomas’ Lizzy, she was always his favorite, and for good measure too. I was never quite able to keep up with her, but she turned out quite alright. Married to the richest of my sons, but for all his wealth, he loves her dearly and is one of the best husbands and fathers. I think I might like him most of all.

“Two little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Mother Duck said, ‘quack, quack, quack, quack,’ and only one little ducks came back.”

Although, James and his wonderful personality was indeed a good match, even though I did not make it myself. He is so sweet, completely dotes on dear Kitty, and is almost as rich as dear Darcy. So full of life, just was Kitty needs. Very different from Mary: her vicar has helped her in ways I never could have. I just never knew how to relate to her. She was far more her father’s child than either of us responded to.

Mrs. Bennet stopped and frowned as she heard Jane start to say, “One little duck went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Mother duck said, ‘quack, quack, quack, quack,’ but no little ducks came swimming back.”

My last little duck, Lydia was entirely my fault. My only regret in this life is that I encouraged her wantonness and have since failed to reconcile with her. I have not even met her three children! Her attitude toward her own entitlement, I confess was my own fault. Thomas was right: I spoiled her too much. It is such a pity that I did not realize this until it was well too late. That Wickham was never a good choice for her.

The pain in her chest was now acute. Mrs. Bennet slowly walked to the chair right next to the door, and lowered herself down. I do not wish to interrupt Jane, I will just rest a moment, she thought as she closed her eyes and held her left arm.

The last thing Mrs. Bennet every heard was, “Mother duck went out swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Mother duck said, ‘quack, quack, quack, quack,’ and all five little ducks came swimming back.”

My girls. God has been good to me.