“I have never been one for sharing.” he replied easily, “I was breaking the silence.”
“Phlegmatically!”
“Would you rather I sing a ditty, Miss Mary? I feel that you would prefer my toneless warbling to the real subject I wish to discuss.”
“You want to know what is wrong.” she cut through his teasing preamble flatly. Her shoulders slumped and she sighed heavily, “I do not blame you. It must appear strange to you that all of us are so out of sorts tonight.”
“Will you tell me why?”
“We do not have much time. They are due to arrive at any moment.”
“Then you must speakquickly andbegin at once.”
With a grudging smile, Mary lowered her voice and relayed the whole sorry mess. Her voice remained expressionless throughout as if she found the whole thing tedious. Fitzwilliamknew that she was simply protecting herself. Mary had been just as dispassionate every time he had tried to compliment her. As soon as she was uncomfortable with a topic, she closed herself off.
Still, she told the story concisely and well. It fascinated Fitzwilliam to hear parts of it, such as the conditions that Darcy had tried to force upon the Bennets to prevent the marriage. He had no notion that his cousin’s marriage had been made for noble reasons. When he was told about Mrs. Bennet’s refusal to abide by the contract Fitzwilliam glanced up at Darcy in awe. He was genuinely surprised that the man had notexploded.
Mary’s explanation was halted abruptly by the click of the door. The room did not fall silent; Bingley made an immediate effort to raise the mood, launching into a boisterous story and encouraging Kitty and Jane to laugh along. It was clearly a ploy, as they all glanced towards the door as it opened, but it gave them an excuse to pretend they had not noticed the new arrivals.
The footmen had been directed to be on top form tonight. The one who opened the door excelled, flourishing and announcing with aplomb bordering on sarcasm. The new arrivals did not notice the exaggeration; they walked in with gratified, waxy smiles and confident steps.
Fitzwilliam stared openly at them.
Had he not known that the woman was Mrs. Bennet he would have been able to guess. She had the same remarkable eyes as her daughters: large, shining and framed by long lashes. Hers, however, were narrowed in a sly manner as she searched the room. Her body was plump and she slouched a little, but Fitzwilliam could see that she had once been a beauty. Now, it seemed, she was trying to cling to her fading youth with laceand ribbons. The man even detected a hint of rouge bringing an artificial glow to her cheek. He hid a smile. Rouge! Howdaring!
The man beside Mrs. Bennet was one that Fitzwilliam recognised. Like Darcy, he had served his time in a number of tedious services in Hunsford Church. He had no interest in sermons, especially not ones which made unsubtle comparisons between serving God and being loyal tenants. While his aunt nodded indulgently along, Fitzwilliam studied the rector. He hadn’t been impressed then; he was even less impressed now.
Mr. Collins was wearing a smart new waistcoat. Other than that, he was remarkably unaltered. His manner was the real distinction. He spared no compliments for the room and expressed no gratitude for the dinner invitation. He bowed once to the room in general and then squirmed across it towards Jane, already murmuring obsequious compliments in a nasal voice.
Fitzwilliam saw Elizabeth roll her eyes. She nodded subtly to the footman, who grinned and hurried away. In a few seconds the dinner gong rang.
She expected it.Fitzwilliam thought, amused,It’s like a game of chess.
Mr. Collins continued his advance only to find that Jane’s attention had been drawn away. The handsome young man who had claimed it gave the rector an innocent smile even as he offered Miss Bennet his arm. Before Mr. Collins could draw breath, the couple were peacefully walking away from him and towards the dining room.
“Miss Mary?” Fitzwilliam offered his arm to his own companion. Mary took it, smiled, and murmured:
“Ask Kitty to take your other arm. Then he cannot askanyof us.”
“What of Miss Lydia?”
Mary grinned wickedly, “The last time he tried that she pulled a face, rolled her eyes, and declared that she would prefer to be locked in the stocks. Mr. Collins took offence at that - rather understandably, I must admit. He has not repeated his offer since. I believe that he pretends Lydia does not exist, for I have not even seen him look at her.”
“He did! At first.” Kitty argued, having joined them mid-discussion, “Lyddie pulled faces at him. Once, she blacked her teeth with soot and heyelpedwhen she smiled! He called her a naughty, sinful child. Since then, he has expressed no interest in us younger girls at all.” she looked thoughtfully back at her cousin, who had grudgingly offered his arm to the only woman who could stand him. “Perhaps Jane should pull faces, too.”
“She would never do that, and it would make no difference. It is not herfacewhich Mr. Collins stares at.”
“Mary!” Kitty giggled in shock, “Such a thing to say! How do you dare be so crass in front of a gentleman?”
“Oh, I have heard worse.” Fitzwilliam reassured her.
Kitty’s eyebrows flew up, “FromMary?”
“I cannot possibly say. I speak to many women, Miss Catherine, and am the very spirit of discretion. I would hate to make a lady regret spending time with me.”
“I had no idea you were such a man of the world.” Mary jabbed as they sat down at the dining table, “I dare say that the kind of women who say such things are suitable companions foryou,but I cannot imagine sitting down beside one at whist.”
“Such ladies generally let the gentleman win.”
