A Gentleman's Daughter

Elizabeth and Jane both married well and for love. Lydia did not marry well and Wickam certainly didn't love her. But what of Mary? Does she become a spinster? Does she find her perfect match? Regency era. Friendly reviews always welcome :)


"Well Mary and Kitty, your two older sisters have married better than anyone expected of the Bennet girls, and your youngest sister was as silly as ever in hers," Mr. Bennet said as they returned to Longbourn after the wedding breakfast.

Oh Mr. Bennet!" cried his wife, "all of our girls have and will marry well! Lizzy and Jane will be able to introduce Mary and Kitty to the best society in the country!"

"I believe this family is in need of a respite from weddings," Mr. Bennet replied, "What say you, Mary?"

"As no young men have approached me, I believe you will have your respite, Papa," she said, barely looking up from her novel.


Upon their return to Longbourn, Mary went right upstairs to her room (formerly Jane and Elizabeth's). She relished in finally having her own space away from her younger sisters. Kitty was tolerable, but Lydia had been unbearable. Under the guidance of the vicar, Mary had turned to Fordyce in the hopes of improving Lydia but to no avail.

Mary sighed, "Oh Lydia, I hope you know what you're doing."

Suddenly, a knock on the door disturbed her reverie.

"Mary, I'm going to town with Maria Lucas. Would you like to come?" Kitty asked timidly.

"I suppose" Mary replied, "I could use a trip to the bookshop."

The girls grabbed their hats and bonnets and set off for Meryton, meeting Maria Lucas along the way.

"Your sisters' wedding was just lovely this morning!" Maria gushed, "I only hope that I can marry as well as they have."

"So do I!" replied Kitty, "Mama thinks we should visit Lizzy when they are in Town for the season."

"The only thing that could bring me to town other than seeing Lizzy and Mr. Darcy would be the plethora of bookshops," Mary said with finality.

"Oh Mary," said Maria, "You're just like Charlotte. You'll be well into your twenties and have everyone thinking you'll be a spinster before you settle for a desperate vicar."

"I see nothing wrong with a man of the cloth," replied Mary, thinking of Mr. Collins.

As they entered Meryton, Kitty and Maria set off for the ribbon shop while Mary turned towards Barnes Booksellers.

"Good afternoon, Miss Bennet," said Mr. Barnes as she entered the shop, "Anything I can assist you with?"

"Do you have the newest Anne Radcliffe yet," she asked.

"Of course, as a matter of fact it just came in yesterday," he said. Turning to an assistant he said, "Robert, go in the back and get the Anne Radcliffe."

"Yes, uncle," said a young man with dark hair and warm brown eyes.

"That my sister's youngest son" said Mr. Barnes, turning to Mary. "As I have no sons and his brother is inheriting their father's business, I've agreed to apprentice him."

"That's very kind of you," Mary said, counting out the money to pay for the book.

"He's a good lad and is much happier here than he ever was in London," said Mr. Barnes, taking the money.

Robert returned from the storeroom. "Here you are, Miss Bennet, I hope you enjoy it," he said with a smile as he handed her the book.

"Thank you, Mr…." she paused.

"Noble, Robert Noble," he said.

"Well thank you, Mr. Noble, I hope you enjoy your stay in Meryton," she said.

As she left the shop and went to find Kitty and Maria, all she could think of was Robert Noble and his warm, brown eyes and gentle smile.


"Mary… Mary!" cried Kitty, "Have you been listening at all?"

"Wh—What?" Mary asked, slightly unhappy at having her thoughts interrupted.

"I was saying that the vicar has found his replacement for when he goes to London," Kitty said with an exasperated look, "Maria and I happened to meet him when we were in Sellard's."

"Oh really," said Mary, still annoyed at her younger sister.

"Well I thought you should know that Papa has invited him to dine with us this evening," said Kitty, also annoyed.

"Well I will be happy to meet the new vicar," said Mary, still thinking of Mr. Noble.

"Did I mention he's not six and twenty?" Kitty smiled.

"Does the new vicar have a name?" Mary asked, now interested.

"Edward Dickens from Surrey," Kitty said.

Two young men in one day? I thought we were giving Papa a respite, Mary thought.


A/N: Thoughts? I really have a good feeling about this one, unlike my past attempts. So, I apologize to fans of my other stories. I'm stuck on those. Anyway, constructive criticism is always welcome, but no flames! If anyone would like to take an early guess as to which young man Mary will end up with, or if she will at all, feel free to leave it in a review