“What is my husband planning to do?” Fanny askedcalmly.
“Mama, you remember some years ago, shortly after I was born, my father revealed that the entail precluded a Collins from inheriting Longbourn?” Elizabeth verified.
“I do,” Fanny confirmed. “But surely Thomas cannot reinstate the Collins line as heirs, can he?”
“No, he may not,” Henry responded firmly. “The last remaining Collins, William, wrote your husband the most nonsensical letter we have ever read. What we think, in fact, Lizzy suggested, is that he will not tell you of the visit until the day of this simpleton’s arrival. Before we proceed, Lizzy dear, allow your mother and sisters time to read the missive you copied, and then the Taylors may as well.”
Elizabeth handed the copy of the letter to her mother. Jane and Kitty sat either side of her while Mary and Roger stood behind her while they read. Once they had read the epistle, Roger handed it to his father, who sat with his mother and two sisters who were present.
“Papa means to try and push one of us towards this man as a potential bride,” Jane realised.
“Among other mischief. I assume he will send the man to Purvis Lodge to try and claim he is the heir presumptive and not my nephew, Henry,” Henry opined. “We all know there is no legal basis to have this man be part of the line of succession, and my Bennet nephew well knows that. His aim will be to sow as much discord as he can so he can find some amusement. I am sure this will be his way of repaying us, for as he sees it, depriving him of his sport.”
“What can be done?” Fanny asked. “I am sure he intends to attempt to provoke me as much as possible.”
“Thanks to my friend Matlock having written to me regarding the truth of what occurred in Kent, I had Lizzy scribe a letter to my friend…” Henry related what had been written and the requests he had made of his friend.
“As Thomas knows nothing of this, he will be the one who looks like a complete fool,” Fanny stated.
“He will. This is what I suggest…” Henry, with some aid from Lizzy, laid out a plan which would protect Fanny and her girls and arm the Taylors, in case, as they suspected he planned to do, Thomas Bennet sent the bumbling former parson to Purvis Lodge.
There were no disagreements with the plan. The family members spoke for a while longer before standing to leave for their respective homes. Roger asked Fanny for a moment.
“I know I should be asking this of Mr Bennet, but he is not here. May I address Mary privately?” Roger requested.
“You may,” Fanny allowed “Depending on what question you ask Mary and her reply, I would suggest you wait until all of this nonsense my husband is attempting to stir up is behind us before you seek permission from her guardian.”
“Thank you, Mrs Bennet,” Roger responded gratefully. “That was my intent.”
Roger approached Mary. “Mary, may I ask you something in private?” he requested. He looked at her hopefully.
“Yes, Roger, you may address me, as I would like to hear what you have to say,” Mary replied excitedly. She had fallen in love with Roger almost two months past, and as keen as she was for him to offer his addresses to her, she also appreciated that he was willing to allow her as much time as she needed to truly know her own mind.
They approached Uncle Henry, who told them to use the study. Actinginloco parentis,as Mary had no other Bennet male member present, he allowed them ten minutes and made sure his great-nephew knew that the door was to remain partially open. A maid was summoned to sit outside of the door. As soon as she was in place, Roger led Mary to their great-uncle’s study.
Once the door was set per Uncle Henry’s instructions,Roger turned to face Mary. “Since I have been in England, I have heard that it is acceptable to first court the woman you intend to ask to be your wife before you ask for her hand. Although I never asked your father for permission to court you, I hope you know that is what I have been doing almost from the first time I met you when you captivated me. I first noticed your beauty, but I soon saw your intelligence and character, which are two traits that were far more important to me.
“Mary, I respect you more than I can say, but more than that, I love you most deeply as well. If you need more time, the question I most want to ask will wait, but if you are ready…”
“I am very ready for you to ask the question to which you are alluding. Roger Henry Taylor, you are the man who I love and respect. I could never see myself walking life’s paths with any man other than you. If I am not being too presumptuous, and you meant to ask me to marry you, the reply is yes, as many times as you need to hear it, yes, I will marry you, and only you.”
“That was the question I wanted to ask above all others. I did not even have a chance to kneel down before you. Mary Penelope Bennet, you have made me the happiest of men.”
Roger pulled Mary to himself gently, all the while making sure it was what she wanted. He received definitive confirmation when she threw her arms about his neck and crushed his lips down on her own. He had some experience kissing, but not very much. He had never kissed the woman who owned his heart before, and Roger learnt just how different that was; it was infinitely better.
The kisses deepened as he drew Mary against his body as much as possible. The feel of her generous breasts pushing into his chest almost caused Roger to lose control. However, other than his tongue probing her mouth, and hers his, he managed to keep himself under reasonable regulation. Far too soon for him, but needing to make sure he did not cross a line, Roger stepped back.
Mary sported a gorgeous pout which only made him want to kiss her more. “Our time is all but up,” Roger managed with a ragged breath. As if to prove his point, the maid knocked on the door. Thankfully, things had returned to their normal state, and he opened the door fully. “You know why I cannot speak to your father yet, do you not?”
“Yes, I am aware of the reasons. Even if it will not be official in the strictest sense, our families and closest friends will know. If everything goes to plan, it will be a little more than a fortnight before that issue will no longer be one,” Mary responded. She was glowing with absolute pleasure and fulfilment.
Holding hands, their fingers interlaced, Mary and Roger made the short walk back to the drawing room.
Even though the news had been expected, the congratulations were bountiful and sincere. Henry and Debby Taylor welcomed Mary as a soon-to-be daughter and insisted she call them Mother and Pa. Aunt Felicity asked Mary to call her Gammy like her other grandchildren did.
The three other Bennet sisters present were greatly excited for Mary and repeatedly hugged her. An added advantage was that they would finally have a brother.
“Mary, I am sure you and Roger will be very happy together. I can see you are well balanced, and it will be a marriage of equals, neither being cruel to the other. I am so pleased for you.” Fanny pulled Mary into a warm hug. She knew she could not change the past, but she lamented all of the wasted years she had missed with her three middle daughters.
