Dear Diary: The Thoughts and Extracts of Mary Bennet

A Trip to the Collins Estate

**I do not own Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, or Mary's Story by RJenJen

~A Trip to the Collins' Estate~

Dear Diary,

Today was an extremely dreary day. Rain poured and poured from the grey sky, creating miniature waterfalls on my bedroom window. It has continued to rain at Longbourn since my incident with Mama three weeks ago. And every time the warm sun comes out, the ground is too wet to take a stroll through our small garden or to the barn.

I thought that today would hold no events in particular, only filled with my usual routine of practicing a song I have learned on our piano, for Mama and Kitty do not mind as much as they used to, but I am happy to be corrected. Lizzy is coming to see Mama, then take a carriage straight to the Collins' to visit Charlotte, and offered for me and Kitty to tag along. Of course I agreed. Anything to get out of this house is worth it, even if it means seeing another lady with the man I thought I loved....

Kitty choose to refrain, for Lydia was coming to swoop her away to her own home, far away from Longbourn. It should be extremely quiet without her constant prattling of how Lydia is married and she remains single. Oh well, perhaps she shall find a lucky man who finds himself quite unlucky to be at the wrong place, at the right time.

When Lizzy arrived at our estate, I was ready to depart immediately, but Mama insisted otherwise, wondering why I was so persistent to leave my home. Lizzy stayed for tea, and chatted a bit with Mama, talking about how she and Darcy were, and Mama asking when they should start a family. I completely tuned both of their voices out, sipping slightly on my tea that tasted a little too sweet for me.

Finally, Lizzy was ready to leave and we both took to the carriage that await patiently outside. I held a book tight in hand, one thing I knew could never reject me. The carriage ride to the Collins' was awkwardly silent, only bits and prices of conversation throughout the journey. Yes, Lizzy was my sister, but I did not feel as close to her as I did Jane. Honestly, my attachment to Lizzy was less then it was to even Kitty, whom I have had to share my life with more because of Lydia's absence.

Lady Catherine DeBourgh's palace like mansion came to view as we neared the Collins's home. They were but separated a Lane from Lady Catherine's estate. The carriage passed the rod iron gates, and a figure that sat on the porch, clothed in a long, grey dress to her ankles, gazing intently at a book. I pressed my nose to the glass as the sickly figure glanced from her book to the carriage. I felt her matching solemn, grey eyes rest on me...and it appeared as if she looked at me alone. However in a swift second, we passed, and stopped in front of the Collins home.

How sad yet strange the poor souls eyes appeared. Quite lonely I might say. Well, now I must leave this carriage and go to face the man I thought I might of had feelings for...or maybe I still do...

Until again,

Mary