Mary felt her face begin to flush—good heavens, what was wrong with her? She cleared her throat. “Oh, yes. I was just telling Amelia that Lizzy is doing quite well. The more her wicked wit displayed itself, the better I knew she was.”
“Mary is quite fetching tonight, do you not think, Robert?” Amelia asked. “Now that she and Miss Kitty Bennet are out of full mourning, they can enjoy assemblies and dance as all young ladies should.”
Oh, please ask me to dance—please! Mary silently begged.
“You look quite well indeed, Miss Bennet,” said Yarby. “And if I may—”
“Mr. Yarby—the last set has ended. I believe this is our dance,” a voice broke in.
Mary turned to see her sister Kitty smiling, her eyes firmly fixed on the rector. How on earth did she get an invitation to dance with Mr. Yarby so quickly? He must have promised it to her earlier in the week. Perhaps he is smitten with Kitty! Mary felt her confidence begin to ebb away.
“Indeed, it is, Miss Catherine. But first, I wished—”
But Kitty was already tugging at his sleeve. “Come, or we shall have a bad position in the line!”
With a small smile and an apologetic look back at his sister and Mary, Mr. Yarby allowed himself to be pulled onto the dance floor.
While the dance set commenced, Mary and Amelia chatted although Mary found it hard to concentrate on the conversation as she watched her sister and Mr. Yarby. Kitty was so light on her feet and seemed to be enjoying herself enormously. Much to her dismay, Mary saw that Mr. Yarby appeared equally engaged. Did he particularly care for her, or was this just the kindness he always showed her family? Mary was in agony as she watched them. The set seemed interminable, but at last it ended, and Mr. Yarby escorted Kitty off the floor, where another young man immediately engaged her for the next dance. Mary stared resolutely at the floor, wishing she could disappear into the crowd, but Amelia’s arm was firmly linked in hers.
“Goodness, that was robust. I am quite glad my new shoes fit well.” Yarby said as he rejoined them. “I believe this next dance is ours, Amelia.”
Amelia turned to her companion. “Mary, would you do me the gracious favor of taking this set with my brother? I suddenly feel overheated and am quite thirsty and in need of refreshment; it is so very warm in here. You don’t mind, do you, Robert?”
Mary saw a flustered expression on Yarby’s face for a moment, although it quickly changed to his usual smile. Was he feeling forced to dance with her? She lowered her eyes to the floor and stood, mute.
“Not at all,” she heard him say. “That is, if Miss Bennet is agreeable.”
Mary nodded, fighting back tears. Likely, it would be her only dance all night with the rector and was due to a gift from Amelia—not even his own idea. She took his arm, and they walked onto the floor to take their positions.
Why should I have thought it would be any different than before? I am homely, awkward, and not at all a desirable partner. He was clearly uncomfortable with Amelia’s request. I have his pity, not his affection. Well, at least I know the steps to all the latest dances, thanks to Georgiana, so I shan’t make a complete fool of myself.
***
“You look quite well tonight, Miss Bennet,” Yarby said as they brushed past each other, took hands and turned. “Is that a new hairstyle? Amelia always exhorts me to notice such things, for she says ladies enjoy such comments. Am I correct?”
“It is a new style. You are all flattery, sir, I thank you.” Mary could think of no other answer, but fortunately, the dance steps moved them apart for a time. When they reunited again, she changed the subject. “There was an assembly last month, was there not? Did you and Amelia attend? The subscription fee is not too steep, is it?”
“No, I think it quite reasonable. And to answer your question, we had planned to attend in November, but one of my parishioners became quite ill—indeed, we feared he might die—so I was at his bedside. Amelia could not attend alone, of course, so she stayed home.”
“Papa might have been persuaded to take her—oh, but so soon after Mama died, that would have opened him to criticism, most likely.”
She saw an odd, brief expression on Mr. Yarby’s face, but he did not have time to speak before the two parted again, taking new partners for the next few lines before reuniting.
“Yes, and Amelia as well,” Yarby continued. “I should hate to see her injured in such a public manner.”
Mary gave him a serious gaze. “You are such a good and devoted brother, Mr. Yarby. You make me quite envious. I believe all we Bennet sisters would have benefited from having a brother such as yourself. And not just because we could have kept Longbourn in the Bennet family.”
“You are generous to say so. I hope I am the kind of brother she deserves.”
They continued to dance silently for a time before Mr. Yarby spoke again.
“Miss Bennet, I wonder whether I could ask you for some advice.”
Mary felt her color rise again—how gracious of him to seek her opinion! He must think highly of her.
“Of course, how may I help?”
“I have been wracking my brain trying to think of a good Christmas gift for Amelia. I have purchased a book for her, but I should like to get her something…you know…”
