Longbourn -- Jo BakerVolume One, Chapter Three

As mentioned in my 2014 Reading Goals post, I'm trying to add more adult fiction into my diet. And, as I like to chronicle this stuff, here I am, chronicling it.

Right now, I'm (obviously) reading Jo Baker's Longbourn, which is Pride and Prejudice from the servants' perspective. 

Feel free to read along! (If you end up posting about it, let me know in the comments and I'll link up.)

Basic rundown:

Sarah is carrying a (full) chamberpot downstairs to be emptied when she overhears Mr. Bennet speaking in his study. That isn't unusual, as he has a habit of talking to himself or to his books—he says it's the only "decent conversation" to be had at Longbourn—but she quickly realizes that he isn't alone: Mrs. Hill is in there with him, and they get into an actual voices-raised FIGHT.

Sarah can't hear any of the words, but it sounds bad. She flees before anyone can catch her eavesdropping.

INTRIGUING.

Other thoughts:

• Apparently my reading of the last couple of chapters has been less-than-generous towards Jane: Oil on troubled waters, Jane was; a blanket over flames.
• Then something changed. Three words from Mr. Bennet, like dropped stones: You may go, Sarah guessed. Well, maybe. But there are other, way more interesting three-word sets that I'm leaning towards, especially given Mrs. Hill's reaction.
• How could she be so angry? How could she dare to be? Well, that's depressing.
• And I was right about the affection Sarah has towards Mrs. Hill: a poorhouse orphan, she was taken in by the estate when she was six years old, and Mrs. Hill showed her kindness right from the start.

Index.