Mistress of Longbourn, Once Again

Hi everyone, I am Amy D’Orazio, the newest member of Austen Variations and the author of The Best Part of Love, recently published by Meryton Press.

The ‘about me’ part of these things is always tough for me so I’ll just make it quick and say I love me some Jane Austen (I mean, why else  are we here, right?) I drink too much diet Coke, my favorite color is pink and, like my favorite heroine, I love a good long walk — mostly for me, but also because I have two Jack Russell terriers who start chewing the legs off the furniture if they don’t get a good ramble.  And of course I love to write … hopefully you’ll like this bit I’ve written for you today! I like to think of it as regency Cougar-Town 🙂 


As the morning light beamed ever brighter into her bedchamber, Mrs Bennet sat at her vanity taking a critical look at herself.

First order of business: remove the cap. Yes, indeed, an improvement already. She unpinned what her maid had just pinned and allowed the thick, honey-coloured curls to fall to her shoulders. Not bad at all, a few strands of grey perhaps but certainly a far sight better than most.

Her skin bore very few wrinkles, thanks to diligence in wearing her bonnet from a very young age and the religious application of a cream she had Mrs. Gardiner bring her from London. Oh, perhaps she did not have the bloom she once did but, as her sister said, an older lady does not need to glow if she smoulders instead. She practised several types of seductive smiles and concluded her sister must be right on that score.

She rose from her seat so that she could better view her figure. Of course, bearing five daughters had left its mark on her but was that not the business of corsets? Before she went to the breakfast room, she would have her maid tie her more tightly; perhaps she could even try one of Jane’s, see if that did the trick.

“Yes indeed,” she murmured to herself. “Only just forty. Still, quite enough kick left in these boots.”

When she had received Mr Collins’ letter — intended for her late husband God rest his soul — she believed the worst of all her fears was about to be realised. Then when the boy himself had arrived, and that foolish second daughter of hers had refused to do her duty, she despaired, believing all was lost. Foolish, foolish Lizzy! — selfishly refusing to secure her family’s comfort.

So she would do for them herself, no sense wallowing in misery and complaints. There was a duty to be done, and she was still young enough to do it. She had coveted and won the position of Mistress of Longbourn once, and she was sure she could do it again. She had seen, immediately, that Mr Collins had an ardent attachment to his benefactor and wondered that she had not understood the nature of it sooner. Evidently, Mr Collins knew what there was to appreciate in an older, experienced woman.

She moved her hair into a style that she had once seen on Lydia and with a last scornful glance at her mob cap, left her bedchamber.

Mr Collins was sulking over a hearty breakfast, still wounded over the infamous treatment he had received at Lizzy’s hand. She took a seat next to him, listening as he once again expounded on how Lizzy was unworthy of his offer and unlikely ever to receive another.

“I could not agree more,” she said, locking her eyes with his. “Mr Collins you are indeed an exceedingly eligible prospect for any woman.”

Something in her tone must have alerted him. He stared, blinking owlishly for a few times before remembering the food in his mouth. He chewed absently, his eyes not once leaving hers.

“But we cannot blame Lizzy,” she continued. “I see now that she is not at all the wife for you.”

“She is not?” he asked.

Mrs Bennet shook her head firmly, allowing the motion to toss her curls and jiggle her bosom. “No, indeed. Why Mr Collins you do not require a girl — you need a woman. A woman who has the experience of being mistress of an estate like this; a woman who has the wisdom to tend to all your needs.”

She reached out, spooning another generous portion of ham onto his plate, and refilling his coffee cup with a little coffee and a generous amount of cream and sugar.
“You see, just as Lady Catherine aided and advised you on your role at Hunsford parish,” said she “so too shall you require a mistress for your home who knows what she is about. A woman who can manage all these little details for you, that your superior male mind need not be troubled by it.”

“Lady Catherine gave a vast deal of attention—”

“I am sure she did,” Mrs Bennet smiled and reached out, giving his doughy hand a pat and a lingering caress. “And I am confident that you could never wish for less.”

She watched him as he considered it; soon enough she saw his eyes wander over her face then down to her bosom before coming back to her face. She gave him a smile she had practised in the mirror — not the smile of a maiden but the smile of a lady who knew what she was about and would gladly make sure he did too.

It did the trick. Mr. Collins flushed a little, as dots of moisture appeared on his brow. “Perhaps after breakfast, we shall take a walk, Mrs Bennet.”

“Indeed,” she said in a breathy tone. “I would like nothing more.”

73 comments

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  1. Omg! I have not read this book yet, but it does sound intriguing if this is an excerpt from it, or is this the March Madness Mix-ups?

    Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins who would have thought to put them together?! I am not sure I want to think of the two of them together. Considering their personalities, they could work.

    1. Thanks Patty! And no worries, this isn’t part of a longer work, just my little foray into the monthly theme! 🙂 Thanks for reading it!

    • Kathy Wallace on March 7, 2017 at 1:32 am
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    Ye Gads, THAT was shudder worthy! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. Thanks Kathy! I figured I’d start by leaving everyone horrified and go up from there haha! LOL!

    • Caitlin Williams on March 7, 2017 at 2:16 am
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    Love your mashup, Amy, even though it’ll give me the night terrors. Great to have you here at Austen Variations (I’ll teach you the secret handshake later).

    1. Ooh can’t wait for the handshake! Thanks Caitlin!

  2. LOL! Amy, that is one warped couple! Welcome aboard!

    1. Thank you Leslie!

    • Glynis on March 7, 2017 at 4:05 am
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    Ugh! I should have had my breakfast before reading this as I’m not sure I can face it now! 😞 But on the other hand I think they deserve each other and surely Charlotte will find someone less repulsive?
    Thanks for sharing this Amy (I think!) although I think your next post should be about the ardent love between ODC to make up for this 😍

    1. I think you’re probably right! Hopefully you were able to return to your breakfast! Thank you Glynis!

    • Mari on March 7, 2017 at 7:26 am
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    I couldn’t stop laughing when I read this. The best part was imagining a possible future meeting between Mrs. Bennet and Lady Catherine. This needs to be expanded into a full length novel. I never saw the end coming until the end and it was worth waiting for. Love love love this!

    1. I do love a good laugh so I am glad to hear it! Thanks Mari!

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on March 7, 2017 at 7:45 am
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    Amy, as always, you are so funny! Congratulations on your new release and becoming an author on Austen Variations. Jen Red

    1. Thank you Jen! XOXO

    • Daniela Quadros on March 7, 2017 at 8:08 am
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    That was great fun, Amy!!! To think that Mrs Bennet was only 40, very young indeed!!
    Congrats on becoming an author on Austen Variations!!!

    1. Thanks Daniela! I know the miniseries have done Mrs BEnnet a bit of a disservice, I think she was probably not nearly as aged as they cast her! 🙂

    • Linda on March 7, 2017 at 8:18 am
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    All I can say is WOW. What a pair-up. However, they do deserve each other. Mrs Bennett, although very concerned about her daughters getting married always wanted at least one of them to make a most advantageous match. She was always looking out for herself too. Sometimes I wonder just whose future was of most concern to her….her daughters or herself. Thanks for this little tidbit. Most intriguing. No one has ever taken us down this particular road before. You are striking out on an entirely new path. Kudos!

    1. Thank you Linda!

    • Carol hoyt on March 7, 2017 at 8:54 am
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    Oh my!
    No one can say that’s she is coy!
    Thanks for sharing this fun read!

    1. Thank you Carol!

    • Lynn Char on March 7, 2017 at 9:14 am
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    Look forward to reading more of your writing! This was so much fun. I’ve always thought Mrs Bennet could be relatively young. This could definitely be a full length novel….I’m enjoying thinking about it right now lol

  3. Does Mrs. Bennet use Gowland’s? Sir Walter Elliot recommends it.

      • Linda on March 7, 2017 at 10:23 am
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      LOL……true.

    1. Ah good old Gowland, inventor of the chemical peel! That stuff was harsh!!
      Thanks Jack!

    • Sheila L. Majczan on March 7, 2017 at 10:21 am
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    OMG: not in a hundred years would I have imagined this pairing…I am smiling ear to ear at the though of it or should I be gagging? Mrs. Bennet only forty? So she has not yet gone through menopause and could still bear children? Stop it! Have to get my mind away from that thought. I am sure Mrs. Bennet will provide a few more ways of persuasion on that walk…somewhere that is hidden from view?

    Thanks for the laugh…I already ate my breakfast…now to keep it down.

    1. That would be rather ironic wouldn’t it? All those years of NOT giving Mr B a son, and then she gives Mr. Collins one instead! Lets not consider the details on that one !! 🙂

      Thanks Sheila!

  4. Hilarious, Amy! I can just picture Mrs. Bennet. And what an intriguing interpretation of Mr. Collins’s admiration of Lady Catherine!

    So glad you’ve joined us!

    1. Thanks so much Abigail, I’m glad to be part of the group! 🙂

    • Alecia on March 7, 2017 at 11:06 am
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    Ha Ha! I remember when reading P&P years ago that I wished Mrs. B could marry Collins if she was going to tout his eligibility as a suitor. Here she did! Disgusting and so, so fitting. Collins is stupid enough to fall for it to. Perhaps he’s the last generation on the entail and Longbourn can go to someone more worthy? Thanks!

    1. Now that would REALLY be a twist, if Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins failed to produce an heir and it went to yet another long lost cousin! Ha! Thank you!

    • Madenna Urbanski on March 7, 2017 at 11:43 am
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    Welcome – I am so happy you are here! I just recently read everyone of your stories on Meryton.com and I am a huge fan.

    Today’s post was shocking & uncomfortable in a good way! I could not previously imagine such a pair, but it would make for an interesting story line. I look forward to your further posts and hearing about your upcoming works.

    1. Wow thanks for reading all my stuff (its quite a collection over there, good, bad and ugly haha!) and for allowing me to shock and discomfit this morning! LOL! Thank you so much Madenna!

    • Carol on March 7, 2017 at 12:29 pm
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    I can’t determine whether WOW, OMG, Haha, or REALLY!!! should be first comment. Mrs. Bennet and Collins together. Well stupidity loves company and it saves the Misses Bennets from his grasp. Reminds me of the movie title, Dumb and Dumber. Yikes.

    1. LOL! that’s a great analogy!
      Thanks Carol!

    • Christina B on March 7, 2017 at 12:31 pm
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    Regency Cougar Town! Hahahaha! Loved.

    1. 😉 Thanks Christina!

  5. Welcome, Amy!! And what an entrance you’ve made–you have put Caroline Bingley to utter shame!! 😀

    Thank you for that hilariously horrific scene–I’m not certain whether to laugh or to gag. 😉

    Thank you for quite an interesting start to my day!!

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. I do like to make an impression LOL! Thank you!

    • Sandra Fillmer on March 7, 2017 at 1:10 pm
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    Very interesting! And why not. As an older woman I can see the possibilities. It will be very entertaining to read more. Keep it coming. Can you image the girls’ reaction?

    1. OMG… poor Lizzy, can you imagine Mr. Collins is your spurned suitor one day and your stepfather the next! Haha!
      Thank you Sandra!

    • Carole in Canada on March 7, 2017 at 1:46 pm
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    Congratulations and welcome!!! So excited to have you and your writings here! You must have had a nightmare to conjure this one up! I loved the line “…an older lady does not need to glow if she smoulders instead.” I do think you need to expand on this little vignette! I would love to know what the girls would think on this match-up. I’m sure there would be alot of squealing going on and not just from the girls! Shuddering with that thought! LOL!

    1. Ha! So SO many shudders!
      Thanks Carole!

    • StephanieL on March 7, 2017 at 2:25 pm
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    Welcome and blech. Just *shudder* blech. LOL Maybe she can have a son and pass it off as Mr. Bennet’s and then break the entail, leaving Mr. Collins on the outside. 🙂 Yes, that would be evil and conniving but not beyond the reach… O:-)

    1. Perhaps, although Mr. Bennet is dead in this little scenario of mine, so that might make it tough! 🙂 Thank you Stephanie!

        • StephanieL on March 8, 2017 at 10:17 am
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        Whoops, I guess I missed that part. LOL I saw the “proposed to Lizzy” part and got stuck in canon. LOL

  6. Amy! Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins?!? Haha That is actually pretty brilliant. She’s not as much of a dingbat as she seems, eh? Oh dear, what will Lady Catherine say?

    I’m happy you’ve joined AV! 🙂

    1. Is Mrs B really just 40, or is she 40 in the same way that I’m still 30? Lol

      1. Hey there Monica! LOL, you know me, always a bizarre line of thought to follow 😉 As for Mrs Bennet… I generally think of her being early 40s, being that Jane was 22 so 40 is not too much a stretch!

        Thanks girl!

    • Lex on March 7, 2017 at 7:06 pm
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    Welcome Amy and thank you for sharing! It’s so funny I never thought of pairing them before. I wouldn’t put it past her if it meant keeping Longbourn!

    1. Thank you Lex!

  7. Regency Cougar Town!! LOL 😀 . Love that, Amy, and welcome!!

    1. Thank you Marilyn!

    • Jan Ashton on March 7, 2017 at 9:39 pm
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    Such a fun twist on May-December romance, Amy. And how dignified of Mrs B to keep her hands above the table. Thanks for sharing another tale, my prolific friend.

    1. Thank you Jan! 🙂

  8. Oh, my, this is quite a unique story line that I have never seen before. Better Mrs. Bennett than Lizzy, so this is great.

    1. Many thanks Donna!

  9. Refreshingly different and funny! A hearty welcome, and I’m glad you’re here.

    1. Thank you Diana I am very glad to be a part of Austen Variations!

    • Anji on March 9, 2017 at 4:30 am
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    Thanks for making me chuckle this morning Amy – and what a debut piece! I actually saw the picture of Alex Kingston (my favourite Mrs. Bennet, btw) before I read the text and then when I saw the words “Regency Cougar”, I knew what was coming. Knew it, but was still kind of horrified/gobsmacked/delighted the more I read! My mind has her playing the scene as a kind of mashup of her Mrs. Bennet from Lost in Austen and her River Song from Doctor Who. Don’t know if you’ll have seen the latter, but she’s one of my favourite recurring, non-regular characters from that series.

    You’re so right about the age that Mrs. Bennet is always cast. When Alex Kingston played her in Lost in Austen, she was about 45, almost the right age to my mind. She and Hugh Bonneville made a great couple in that, I thought. Many thanks once again.

    1. She my favorite Mrs Bennet too! LOL! For her looks if nothing else, most other Mrs Bennets just seem too old!So glad you enjoyed my little tale — thanks for commenting!

    • Lex on March 9, 2017 at 9:28 pm
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    I just downloaded “The Best Part of Love” on my Kindle. Looking forward to reading it!

    1. Thank you Lex!

    • Anne Seebaldt on March 10, 2017 at 7:06 pm
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    Hysterically funny.

    1. Thanks Anne!

    • RMorrel on March 11, 2017 at 2:48 pm
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    Amy! What a terrific surprise to find your writing here. You always have a fascinating take on JA’s characters and you don’t disappoint in MoL,OA. I can just imagine the reaction of Mrs Bennet’s daughters to the surprise announcement that she plans to wed Mr Collins herself. The interesting thing is that Mrs Bennet may actually have a better marriage this time around because she will be training the master to make him the husband she wants.

    Ruth

    1. Thank you Ruth! Yes can you just imagine Elizabeth’s face! I think that’s an even worse shock than Mr C and Charlotte! 🙂

    • Gail W on March 11, 2017 at 4:45 pm
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    How did I miss this? So funny and so icky, Amy! Loved it!

    1. Thanks so much Gail!

  10. Congratulations on joining the Austen Variations group of authors, Amy.

    I wouldn’t have considered these two characters together before but to keep from being thrown into the hedgerows, it wouldn’t surprise me!

    1. Thanks so much Ceri!

    • Deborah on March 17, 2017 at 2:17 pm
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    Icky. Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins. Loved it. Welcome to AV.

    1. Thank you! 🙂

    • Mary Jo on March 21, 2021 at 10:26 am
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    great one shot!

    I really enjoy reading your books and the way you tell a story. I’ve read everything you posted on AHA and immediately purchase books when they release on Amazon. Can’t wait for your next release 👍🏼

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