“He… kissed you.” Elizabeth breathed out slowly, “Did he do anything else?”
“Mm. A lot of talking. It turns out, Lizzie, that there are times when I donotprefer a rousing debate. Yet that was all I was offered, at least until this morning.”
“Without making me almost faint for the second time, Mary, please tell me what you and Fitzwilliam did this morning.”
“Not what you and Darcy were doing, if that’s what’s making you light-headed, dear sister. Nor, I might add, what Jane and Mr. Bingley were doing the night before.”
“What!” Elizabeth half-shrieked, half-hissed, “How do you know about…?”
“I wake up early to go walking. They were saying goodnight in the corridor. At least, that is what they told me. What I observed was decidedly less of a farewell and more of an invitation.”
“Mary! Hold your tongue! You are not supposed to know of such things, much less talk about them so… so plainly!”
“Am I not?” Mary shrugged, “It is all in the Bible, you know. Alongside all of the verses concerning modesty… chastity…”
“Mary, I am in no mood to debate scripture with you. I congratulate you on your moral fortitude and hope your kiss was a pleasant one. Will that do?”
“Thank you. It was not unpleasant. My intention was not to debate morality, Lizzie, only to reassure you that I did not act improperly.”
“I shall be more reassured if you actually finish telling me your story. This year, if you please! What happened between you and Fitzwilliam this morning?”
“Oh, he has gone to speak to mama. It seems that Mr. Collins has a very bad hangover and was trodden upon by a horse, not to mention having his pride firmly trampled by our dear sister. The dower house must have felt much like a prison with him whining, or perhaps like a menagerie, so Fitzwilliam invited mama to spend the day in Lambton. She leapt at the chance, poor dear. I believe they will be back in time for dinner.”
Elizabeth spoke very, very carefully, for she believed Mary was making vagaries on purpose to be difficult. It was difficult to make her sister concise at the best of times, much less when she was skirting around the notion of marriage or ruination. “Is Colonel Fitzwilliam making an offer?”
“If he is a fool, then he is. He made it very clear that he should only marry a woman who can bring him a generous income. If he meets one of them on the road to Lambton, then perhaps he will do the sensible thing and change his mind about proposing to me. His opinion of me seems to eclipse every scrap of common sense, Lizzie.”
“Do youwanthim to marry you?” Elizabeth was exasperated by now, “You sound utterly… indifferent! If Fitzwilliam is prepared to have only a modest income for your sake, then you should be grateful, not… not criticising his judgement!”
“Oh, I am grateful, but that does not mean that I do not disapprove. I tried to talk him out of it, but he refused to listen. I am sure that he did not kiss me to be affectionate, but rather to silence me. It was rather effective, I must admit. I am only saying that I do not know forcertainthat he really wants me for his wife. I would not blame him for choosing logic over love. It is whatIwould do.”
“No,” Elizabeth interrupted. She had been watching her sister’s expression with wonder. Under all of the hard words there was a softness in Mary’s eyes that was staggeringly beautiful. “A year ago, perhaps… but that is not what the Mary in front of me would do. My little sister values love very highly, I think - and I suspect she feels a great deal of it, even though she would never admit it.”
Mary scowled and did not answer. Elizabeth kissed her cheek and stood up.
“I need to get the girls. Will you tell them about this?”
Mary shook her head emphatically. Elizabeth had one final, delicate thing to ask.
“Will you tell them about Jane? I do not mean about her running away - I will tell them about that myself. But do you plan to tell them about seeing her with Mr. Bingley?”
“Of course not. They are too foolish to understand such things.”
Elizabeth sighed. “They are only young, Mary. I thought that you were the most innocent of us all. But I thank you for yourrestraint. I do not think my nerves could compete with hearing Lydia’s opinions on such matters. You have shaken them up enough for ayear.”
Chapter 78
There was no thought of taking dinner that night. Everyone was so overwhelmed and occupied that Elizabeth thought it better to arrange for trays. The following morning dawned bright and sunny, with no hint of the lingering rain clouds that had been in the air before. Indeed, it had an air of festival to it.
For the first time, everyone in the house knew some of the conspiracies that had been woven together beneath Pemberley’s watchful eyes. They all knew the truth about Georgiana. Kitty had been introduced to her, and Lydia shamefacedly re-introduced, at Miss Darcy’s own request. Both Lydia and Kitty behaved themselves admirably, although their tact was rather lacking. After an awkward apology for her earlier behaviour, Lydia bluntly asked Georgiana if she would like her to help with her hair.
“I am sure Elizabethmeanswell, Miss Darcy, but she has such boring taste. There are some wonderful styles I would love to try myself. Perhaps, since you have your own maid, we can practice them together? If we tease curls over your cheeks then you won’t even need to powder those scars, you can just smile at people and look pretty. Elizabeth, I shall need new ribbons - Miss Darcywill look very fetching in pink, don’t you think? And you know it ismyfavourite colour.”
Before the hour was out, the three young ladies were firm friends, at least in the younger Miss Bennets’ estimations. Georgiana looked a little stunned but pleased to be free of the need for secrecy. Now that the ball was over and the guests dispersed, she was at liberty to be brought downstairs once more. Lady Catherine insisted upon it, declaring the pleasant bedroom to be in need of airing, and the curtains a questionable choice.
So, Georgiana sat with them at breakfast, and Mary helped her to eat some porridge before Lady Catherine came down. The middle Bennet looked serene, as if she was not the agent of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s abrupt absence.
It seemed that Mrs. Bennet had finally decided to defer to her husband and had sent Fitzwilliam to Meryton to formally ask for Mary’s hand. Mary confided to Elizabeth that it was a cunning ploy on their mother’s part: when Fitzwilliam returned, he would know what was happening with Jane and Bingley. Even if Mary did not gain a fiancé, Mrs. Bennet would get much needed news.
