Chapter 3:
"So that was Miss Mary Bennet, interesting lady indeed," said Sir Anthony Burton to his very good friend, Mr. Andrew Crawley.
"I heard of her from Lady Bundley, Miss Bennet's sister, that apparently the woman is quite a wallflower," Mr. Crawley replied. "But Sir Anthony, why trouble yourself with a chit like that? She's nothing much to look at, and she certainly do not have the money to lure you out of bachelorhood."
"I'm just saying that Miss Bennet is very interesting," replied Sir Anthony.
"Sure, sure, if by interesting you mean a girl who'd rather become a nun than marry."
"You heard that from Lady Bundley? I though she was Miss Bennet's sister."
"She is, but it seems like Lady Bundley never had a high opinion of Miss Bennet. You know, there were five Miss Bennets at one time."
"Really? And now there is only one. Who did the others marry?" Sir Anthony asked, now really paying attention to his friend.
"There is Mrs. Bingley, then there is Mrs. Darcy, then of course there is Lady Bundley, and I think the youngest married…uh... a Mr. Winum, I believe."
"Mr. Winum?"
"No, no, it was…yes! Mr. Wickham!" exclaimed Mr. Crawley.
"Wickham? Really? Haven't heard from him for a long time. But really, this Miss Bennet certainly has a fleet of very rich brother-in-laws," said Sir Anthony.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Miss Bennet might not have the money, but her brother-in-laws do have a lot of them," replied Sir Anthony with a little smile.
"Really, there are much more widowers out there who have plenty of money to spare, and plenty who would welcome your company. Why bother with someone who has been on the shelf for years? Anyways, Lady Bundley told me she is quite immune to advances from our sex. Do you know she stayed at a monastery for two years? Surely a woman like that would not even bother with a man of your reputation."
Sir Anthony frowned at his friend's word, and said, "Are you saying that I can't get Miss Bennet to fall in love with me? Let me tell you Sir Anthony Burton can get any girl to fall in love with him, and Miss Bennet is no exception!"
Mr. Crawley looked dumbfounded at his friend, not knowing what to do.
"I'll tell you what, I'll make you a bet that I can get Miss Bennet to fall in love with me by the end of the season, and if I win you will have to pay me 500 pounds."
"If I win?"
"That would not happen. Believe me, Crawley, I will have little Miss Bennet swooned by me in no time," Sir Anthony replied triumphantly.
"Well…" said Mr. Crawley, unsure of what to say to such a statement for he certainly did not want to lose 500 pounds for nothing.
"Anyways Crawley, how is the delightful Miss Belleford coming along? Sounds like you are really trying hard," said Sir Anthony.
Mr. Crawley's doubts about his bet were soon cleared from his head and eagerly started to tell Sir Anthony how charming Miss Belleford is.
--This is a very short chapter, but I'm sort of having a writer's block.
Please do not wait to REVIEW, for I'm still not sure whether Mary should be with Sir Anthony or the Maruqess
