Chapter 2: Strange Territory
Naturally Mrs. Bennet wanted to hear all about the party the next morning at breakfast. Mary and Kitty's, mostly Kitty's, social life was the highlight of breakfast conversations.
"I heard from Miss Compton who heard from Miss Nicholson that Miss Reed and her brother tried to elope instead of holding a proper wedding," Kitty said.
Mrs. Bennet gasped, "Why ever would they do that?"
"According to Miss Nicholson, there were disagreements about the wedding plans and no one could reach a decision, which was driving both the bride and groom insane, so they decided to elope," Kitty said.
"Where did they go?" Mrs. Bennet asked. Mary listened with little interest as she buttered her bread. Mr. Bennet was reading his newspaper.
"London. Apparently, Mr. Nicholson's friend, Mr. Anderson, is a parson and owes Mr. Nicholson a favor, but they were discovered before leaving town. Their maid, Abigail, overheard them talking and told Mrs. Nicholson."
"Oh, bless Abigail, she knows her duty to her household. Thank the Heavens they did not go through with it. To ruin the family forever? Perish the thought," Mrs. Bennet said. "I hope you two do not get a foolish idea like that ever. Lydia was enough. The thought of two daughters with an elopement hideously patched up. Ohhhh, my poor nerves!"
"Do not fret Mama, I am sure that will not happen to me, or Mary for that matter," Kitty said, raising an eyebrow at Mary. "She met someone last night. Someone of the male persuasion."
"Kitty!" Mary scolded, but Kitty didn't stop. Mary's cheeks turned red.
"Oh! Who was it my dear? Do we know of him?" Mrs. Bennet asked, her eyes fixed on Mary.
When Mary didn't say anything, Kitty spoke, "His name is Henry Aldridge and he lives at Pine Hollow, in Cambridge. He is staying in at his cousins, the Weston's, in Hatfield for a fortnight. He has light brown hair and blue eyes and he's fairly tall."
"Kitty!"
"Good for you, Mary! He sounds like an interesting fellow, you must invite him over to dinner one night. Mr. Bennet! You must make the rest of us known to him. Oh, perhaps I will write to Lizzie and she can ask Mr. Darcy if he knows of Mr. Aldridge, then we could have a family dinner and then Mary and Mr. Aldridge would have something in common," Mrs. Bennet said, getting up to fetch a quill and paper.
"No, please, Mama, I am sure he's enjoying his cousins' company too much to be away from them," Mary said.
"Nonsense, cousins get boring after a while and I'm sure he wouldn't mind seeing more of the country side and Meryton. Perhaps you could show him the land," Mrs. Bennet said.
Mary sighed. There was no stopping her mother when a prospective husband was afoot.
Later in the afternoon, Mrs. Bennet asked Kitty and Mary to go into town and get more paper and ink, as they were running low. She also recruited Kitty to find more colorful bonnet material for Mary. Mrs. Bennet did not understand Mary's lack of color. Mary always replied she did not want to be the center of attention because of what she wore. Kitty promised she would find something to suit Mary.
Town was busy as usual on a warm and sunny day. The shop was bustling as they entered and who would they see but Mr. Aldridge himself. Standing by him was Louisa Weston, who was examining the feathers of a quill. Kitty nudged Mary, "Look!"
Mary gasped her surprise at seeing Henry, which at that instance, Henry and Louisa turned to see Mary and Kitty, who waved them over.
"Fancy meeting you here, Kitty dear, Mary," Louisa said, curtsying to them. "I assume you met my cousin, Mr. Henry Aldridge of Pine Hollow."
They curtsied to him and he bowed in return.
"We met at the party last night," Kitty said. "Mary and Mr. Aldridge kept each other in good company."
"It was a good time," Mary supplied. Henry nodded in agreement, "Aye, that is so. Where are you ladies headed today?"
"Just to get paper and ink," Mary said.
"And material for a bonnet," Kitty added. She turned to Mary, "I just remembered Mama told me to get that before we left. You would both be welcome to join us."
"I would enjoy it," Louisa said. "Come along, Henry."
On the way to Mr. Mill's shop, Kitty and Louisa gossiped about Miss Reed and Mr. Nicholson's wedding plans, which were still in the decision-making stages.
Mary and Henry walked on behind them. Mary knew she should say something to Henry to be polite and not seem standoffish. Maybe she could ask him about other books he's read. But what if he hasn't read anything else besides Shakespeare? No, he must have read others, Mary thought. But what was interesting about books? She was sure there were many other things he might rather talk about than books.
"Meryton is a lovely town," Henry commented. "Close to comparison with Cambridge. Have you ever been?"
"Hmm? My apologies, I was taking care not to stumble over the holes in the road. They really should do something about that," Mary said, stepping around a big pothole in the road.
Henry gave a little laugh, "Yes they should."
Mary scolded herself for making such a comment. The roads? This territory was new to Mary. She was not so lucky as her other sisters to be talked to by someone of the male persuasion. Whether it was because she made that decision for herself or the men simply did not notice her, Mary did not know. It was true, she was plain and simple, but Mary didn't mind. She could find comfort and solace in her books and music.
They arrived at the shop. Immediately, Kitty and Louisa were drawn to a yellow flowery bolt of material. They whispered excitedly about it and then turned to Mary when she approached, holding it up to her cheek.
"That looks handsome with her color, don't you think Louisa?" Kitty asked.
"Oh, my, it brings out her eyes," Lousia agreed.
"Kitty…Why exactly did Mama send us here?" Mary asked.
"She might have said something about getting colorful material for a bonnet…for you."
"I do not need a new bonnet," Mary said. "This one suits me just fine."
"Oh but sister, it's so drab! Now look at this color," Kitty picked up a green calico material and held it above her head. Kitty shook her head no and then picked up a blue flower one.
"Louisa! What about this one?"
"That's the right one! What do you think Henry?"
Henry was caught off-guard, as he had been quietly spectating from the other side of the material counter.
"Most becoming, if I may say so, Miss Mary," Henry said. "Your eyes are bright with the blue fabric."
"Do you really think so?" Mary said.
"Aye," he smiled at her. Mary's stomach fluttered.
"Well, I guess I could use a new bonnet. There's no harm in having more than one as an extra, right?" Mary said. Kitty and Louisa agreed. So they left the shop with the blue material in hand, cut to the right measurements for Mary's new bonnet.
They parted ways with Louisa and Henry, who kissed Mary's hand goodbye. Mary practically bolted home after their backs were turned. Kitty had to run to keep up with her.
"Mary!" Kitty called. Mary slowed, as she was tiring. "Whatever is the matter, my dear sister?"
"What was all that back there? Henry? Calling me becoming?" Mary questioned.
Kitty laughed, "He thinks you're pretty and he seems to like you."
"Do you really think so?"
"Mary, he talked to you for half the day and stared at you in the shop," Kitty said. Mary started to giggle.
"Now what do I do? I don't think I know this territory."
"If you like him, indicate you like him back. Talk to him. Smile a lot. I think you two would be wonderful together."
Mary entertained the idea for a while. Maybe it would be nice to have a close companion. The butterflies fluttered again. Perhaps she should think about it for a few days.
