A Match for Mary Bennet Read Free

small knot of men loitering under the swaying sign of a greying and scratched bell. He soon had his simple fare before him, and he spent much of the quiet mealtime recalling last year’s Christmas ball at Pemberley. It had been the second one since Darcy’s marriage. How much more festive it was than the first, when the lovely Elizabeth tried to be all things to all her new neighbours and grew tense over it. That second one, nine months ago, displayed an Elizabeth comfortable in her position as mistress of Pemberley. Besides, the presence of the Bingleys, recently moved from Hertfordshire, had obviously added to Mrs. Darcy’s joy, Jane being her most beloved sister. Mrs. Bingley exuded a grace and calm presence exactly complementing the witty charm of Mrs. Darcy. Bingley himself, Darcy’s oldest friend, had likewise enhanced Darcy’s pleasure, so that even the stateliest guests joined in the merriment. The Colonel himself had danced—and even sung noels—with a pleasure he experienced anew as he thought of it. Georgiana charmed him with her slightly timid smile and new-found ease and grace of movement. She even teased him a bit as they danced, crowing that he no longer had license to tell her what to do since her coming of age. Caroline Bingley, houseguest of the Bingleys, amused him greatly at that ball also. Fitzwilliam’s dances with her were altogether enjoyable, and he was much taken with her fine dark eyes and stately, almost majestic manner. Yes, either young lady would grace his homely estate. Caroline’s imperious good looks pleased his military nature. Her fortune, likely adequate, could not reach a proportion which would render his own modest Norfolk estate inconsequential. On the other hand, Georgiana’s new sparkle and burgeoning womanhood appealed to him, and Georgiana may well prefer being lady of the house in her own right to remaining at Pemberley, where she resided only as sister of the master.
    He tried to recall the Bennet girls at that ball, but only the younger one came to mind. He had danced with her, he knew. What was it she was called? Kitty? Probably Catherine, a name not happy in its nuances for him. Of the other sister he remembered nothing. He knew he had not danced with her.
    Fitzwilliam entered the carriage bound for Meryton, still certain of his course yet undecided as to its exact object. He hoped to explain satisfactorily his visit to the Bennet family by offering to collect any messages the family might wish him to carry to their married daughters in the North. It would be pleasant to provide some missive more palatable to Mrs. Darcy’s taste than the note from Lady Catherine, which burned in his pocket. He knew not what it contained, but Lady Catherine’s grim and rigid expression as she wrote and handed it to him led him to fear that it would not please the recipient. He meant also to glean some homely news from Longbourn to retail to Jane Bingley and Elizabeth Darcy, sure that it would be more welcome than what he had to tell of his stay in Kent. He might even mention his own just-forming plan to be married by next year, in order to see how the idea fared. The more he thought of marriage, the more comfortable he grew at the prospect. Marriage had done his cousin’s companionability a great good: Darcy’s concerns had deepened, his compassion extended beyond his estates, and his ease as both host and guest had visibly increased. Fitzwilliam sighed. “May my own future be so bettered by taking on a helpmate!”

Chapter 2
    At Longbourn, half of the Bennet household bustled gaily from the large sitting room to the hall mirror preparing for the next day’s assembly. Gowns had been brushed and aired, and fussing over hairdressings now occupied young Catherine Bennet, while Mrs. Bennet called for Hill every few minutes to have her freshen a bit of lace or press yet another ribbon. Catherine set three ribbons and some gems on the