“Thank you, Jane, and you too of course, Miss Jane, but I fear I feel rather ridiculous now.” Mary shook her head. “I think I will go and take off Miss Darcy’s gown and retire for the night. I am embarrassed that I was convinced to put aside my scruples, and I have been paid out for my vanity.”
“Miss Mary Bennet, I strictly forbid you to change your gown, nor to retire early,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam commandingly. When Mary looked at him disbelievingly, he continued. “Your sister is going to marry my cousin, whom I love as a brother. We are going to see one another quite often in the future, I think. That makes us as good as siblings, Miss Mary, but more importantly, I stand here as your friend to tell you that you are not ridiculous, nor a spinster, nor a curate, nor a ghoul inperpetual mourning. You are an astonishingly pretty girl when you choose not to hide it, an educated and intelligent lady, and a pious woman devoted to her faith, who will make a fortunate man a very admirable wife someday.Youare not beaten, Mary Bennet. You will go in there upon my arm, and you will make both that scheming conniver, and that miserable excuse for a man of God look at you. Makethemfeel their impropriety, and see how meaningless it is to you. And you will wear blue or pink again tomorrow, for you look very well in them. Do you hear me?”
“Mary, I cannot apologise enough that a kinsman of mine, even one through marriage, would be so cruel and improper.” Bingley passed a hand over his eyes. “I shall tell Hurst he must go first thing in the morning.”
“Oh no, do not do that, Bingley.” Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned wolfishly. “He has not been paid out for his crimes yet.”
“What are you planning, Cousin?” Darcy growled suspiciously.
“Only for Hurst to feel his mistake, and to suffer the embarrassment he deserves. Leave it in my hands, Bingley.” The colonel clapped Bingley on the shoulder, and offered Mary his arm. “Shall we, my lady?”
“Mary.” Elizabeth sounded concerned. When her sister met her gaze, she asked worriedly, “Are you certain that you are all right?”
“I am, Lizzy,” Mary promised. “Thank you, Colonel. And you Mr Bingley; and of course you, Miss Jane.”
When they returned indoors, Jane saw that Miss Mary Crawford and Mr Rupert Hurst were whispering worriedly in the corner. Her attention was disturbed as her group was ambushed by Mr Crawford.
“Miss Elizabeth, if there is to be no dancing, then I must insist you oblige me in taking a turn about the room. There is nothing like a turn about a charming drawing room such as this after dinner!” Mr Crawford held out his hand.
“No thank you, Mr Crawford, but I thank you for the invitation, all the same.” Elizabeth refused to be drawn away from her betrothed who only glared forbiddingly.
“Look at him!” Crawford objected. “He stands silent and says nothing, he does not even fight for you, madam.”
“That is becausethisfight was over before it began andIhave already won her,” Darcy bit out warningly. “I see no reason to insult the dignity of my bride over a man who cannot even win an instant of her notice. There is nothing to compete over, for she could not care less about you.”
“I have no desire to take her, only to make her regret her engagement at least a bit. Have I no chance at all, Elizabeth?”
“Elizabeth, indeed! Upon my word, what is this, Mr Crawford?” Mrs Bennet was suddenly upon him, her senses finally engaged by the presence of one who was a danger to her daughter’s betrothal.
Mr Crawford smiled charmingly, a smile that had obviously won over many matrons. “Madam, I merely–”
“Merely nothing, sir! I have watched you slinking about since you arrived, pestering my Lizzy with your pretty speeches and nonsense. By what right do you address my daughter by her given name? I will not have it, Mr Crawford, she is spoken for–married in all but name to Mr Darcy!”
Mr Crawford blinked in disbelief that his charm was not saving him this time, as Mrs Bennet continued on, gathering momentum as she did so. The other guests watched in fascination as Mrs Bennet reduced the man to a child.
“You waste your breath, thinking to turn my Lizzy’s head, sir! She is to be mistress of Pemberley! Nothing could tempt my Lizzy from her purpose, certainly not an overpuffed peacock with a smooth tongue and immoral eyes! Do you think she is so clever for nothing? She is far too intelligent for the likes of you! I know about rakes such as yourself, ruining matches and taking what is not yours simply for amusement. You are no more interested in Lizzy than she is in marrying a frog. You only wish to take her from Mr Darcy, you wicked man. Now go on! Flirt with the other silly girls still looking for husbands, but you stay away from my Lydia and Kitty, do you hear me? I shall be happy to see you continue on your journey to wherever it is that you are going, Mr Crawford. We have had enough of your nonsense in Meryton.”
Mr Crawford for once looked entirely discomposed. He backed away, then left them and approached his sister and Mr Hurst.
“Mama!” Elizabeth exclaimed, laughing. “What has got into you?”
“Nothing will threaten your match, Lizzy, not whileIdraw breath. Mr Darcy is to be my favourite son-in-law.” Mrs Bennet beamed at Darcy. “You have very good taste, Lizzy, dear. So handsome! So tall!”
“Mother Bennet, you have my deepest gratitude.” Darcy bowed.
“Mother Bennet! How well that sounds in my son-in-law’s handsome baritone! Of course, my dear, your poor hands were tied! How could you have called him out without ruining my dinner party? You are such a thoughtful boy.” She patted his cheek.
“Quite,” Darcy struggled to hold in his mirth as Elizabeth openly expressed hers. “That was–quite obviously–my primary concern.”
“Of course it was.” Mrs Bennet went to a small writing desk in a corner, and out of curiosity, Elizabeth and Darcy followed. She wrote a short note, folded it in half, and handed it to Darcy. “Can you have one of your grooms deliver this immediately? All of our servants are busy here.”
“May I?” Mr Darcy asked. At Mrs Bennet’s nod, he opened the note and laughed out loud. “It is to the cartwright, promising to triple his wage if he has Mr Crawford’s carriage ready by breakfast. Do you think he would return to his work so late?”
“He will, for his wife has been ill, and he has had to pay a girl to help with the children,” Mrs Bennet tutted. “I have been looking for an excuse to help them, and even set aside a portion of my pin money for the endeavour. They are not our tenants, so any assistance would be regarded as charity, but Mr Henry will consider this solution quite reasonable.”
He leaned over and kissed his future mother-in-law’s cheek. “I refuse to allow you to bear the expense, Mother Bennet. I will proudly pay the bill. And I wish you to visit the milliner’s, and select any bonnet you like to wear to the wedding as my treat. After all, you are to be my favourite mother-in-law.”
“Oh you!” Mrs Bennet blushed and tapped his arm with her fan, then sighed. “I have always wished for a turban. I have always thought it a most elegant mode of dress.”
