Chapter 2 – Northerly Breeze
"Mary, perhaps mama was right about taking a stroll down to Meryton. Hertfordshire is probably the most splendid town during the summer." Kitty remarked to her taller sister. "Yes, it is as if the Lord's countenance has smiled on our small bit of country—oh!" A northerly breeze swept Mary's bonnet from her head just as the two young ladies neared the edge of the small town. Mary began to rush after the bonnet and urged her sister to do the same, "Oh Kitty hurry, we must not let it fly into a patch of mud; oh mama, will be thoroughly displeased if I were to return to Longbourne without it. I do not know that I could withstand another lecture on appearance and marriage! Oh hurry Kitty!"
"Mary, mama would not be pleased if she knew that we were moving in such a way that does not put our figures to our best advantage. Why any number of soldiers who saw us now might think we were ill-trained country girls!" Kitty called out breathlessly to the back of Mary's petticoat. Mary answered back with a laugh, "Oh, I can imagine! Now there Kitty, I've almost got it!" Unfortunately, the bonnet began to float eastward, and landed right at a pair of booted feet. To Mary's dismay, four soldiers were standing right where her bonnet had landed.
'Mama, could not have been more pleased than if she tossed my bonnet at this soldier's feet, and then pushed me into his arms' mused Mary as she consciously slowed her pace and watched the tall man bend to pick up her bonnet. 'This is utterly vexing! Now, I will have to actually be polite in expressing my gratitude, and unfortunately spend time conversing with soldiers.'
Kitty whispered "Oh Mary, our faces are so flushed from the small exercise and I am not sure of how we must appear to these soldiers." Although she no longer did her share to disgrace the Bennet name, Kitty still remained a favorite amongst the soldiers, and hoped to remain so until a suitor called for her hand.
"Pray, do not make yourself uneasy Kitty, I daresay, these soldiers can scarce put three words together that make any sense. I fear that I shall have inherited mama's poor nerves by the end of this meeting." Mary whispered soberly.
"Miss, I believe that this bonnet belongs to you," the soldier stated as he held out her bonnet in his gloved hand. As Mary took the bonnet from his hand, she noticed that his gloves, coatee, breeches, and rapier were somewhat different from his friends. She began to raise her eyes to meet his (for he was rather tall) to express her thanks; simultaneously she said "Thank you, kind s—" She knew not what to say as she looked into the most startling green eyes she had ever seen, and then she did something she had never before done in her 19 years. She fainted.