A Notion of Love

Chapter 4: Mr. Edmund Hale

"Mama!" Mary spoke vehemently, jerking her head away from her mother's hand. Immediately, when Mrs. Bennet heard that her daughter had fainted once more, she rushed to the resting guest room that Mary laid in to attend to her personally. Mary, however, wasn't ecstatic to wake up to her over-reacting mother coddling her like an infant. When the news of her waking caused her other family members to crowd into the bedroom as well, Mary began to feel as if she was being suffocated. All she wanted to do at that moment was to simple curl up in bed with her Shakespeare novel. Mary awkwardly jerked forward, startling her mother ("Mary, what on earth?") as Mary patted the soft sheets nearby her. Not finding the item that she was searching for, Mary threw back her covers, ignoring her mother's cries and her sisters' protests.

Her bare feet touched the cool wooden floorboards that nearly made her want to curl back into the bed. But the matter was far more important. Nearly stumbling into the stand next to her, Mary held onto the white-painted furniture for support as she looked around the room wildly. Her eyes were livid, trying to search for her precious novel that was her absolute favorite. Though it was formerly Jane's and Elizabeth's novel before her, pages dog-eared on certain pages and yellowed with age with the print fading from touch, Mary cherished it above all of her dresses.

"Mary, I think you should not be out of bed," her father told her, leading her back into her bed.

"But Papa—"

"No," her father told her sternly. Mary looked down at her lap to where her fingers were curled closely together. Irritation spiked within her as she felt her mother dab the damp cloth over her forehead. She was most definitely not having a fever, thank you very much! Angrily, she swatted her mother's hand away, her mother making a scolding noise in reply as Jane and Kitty talked quietly in the background. It felt far too clustered in her room for her comfort. She just wanted to be left alone, was that too difficult to understand?

"…You are far too delicate to be outside, Mary," her mother spoke to Mary in a chiding manner. "Perhaps you ought to stay inside more often and practice your sewing—" Kitty snorted at that, earning a disapproving look from her mother. "—which has become quite atrocious! How will you be able to mend your clothing, your new ribbons?"

"I wouldn't know," Mary drawled dryly. "For my new ribbons have mysteriously disappeared as of late." Her eyes darted to her younger sister, who flushed heavily with red; Mary's eyes flickered to the windows, the curtains drawn aside to allow the warm sunlight to enter the room. It was a beautiful day—a perfect day to lie underneath the strong tree resting on the hill overlooking the garden maze, next to the lake. Mary could feel the soft, late-spring breeze brushing over her skin, smell the woodsy scent of the tree next to her, and hear the quiet ripples of the surface of the water breaking from the fish that lived within—

"Mary, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Mama," Mary repeated, sighing back on the comfort of her pillows in resignation. However, her mother did not believe her as she leaned forward to dab the damp cloth on Mary's forehead, much to her daughter's irritation that suddenly spiked.

Mary immediately slapped her mother's hand away. "I'm fine, Mama! I don't need to be coddled over like an infant! I am perfectly fine—All I want—I would like—I wish—"

"You wish what, Mary?" Jane asked finally, stepping forward to speak before her stunned family, who had just witnessed Mary's odd outburst. She gave a soft smile in encouragement, seeing her younger sister just close herself up physically: her legs curled closer to her body, her arms wrapping around each other in protection. It was if she was shielding herself.

"I would like to be alone," Mary declared fiercely into the silent room.

"Oh dear," A kind voice spoke from the open doorway, causing everyone's attention to shift from the uncomfortable-looking Mary to the handsome young man that stood in the doorway. Kitty immediately began to make herself look presentable in front of this potential suitor: brushing the dirt from her skirt, throwing her hair over one shoulder, flashing a beautiful smile. Much to her surprise, however, his eyes seemed to not even give her another take, as he focused his gaze on Mary, much to her annoyance. Mary had been gathering all the attention not just from Miss Caroline and her friend, Miss Alice, but the two new gentlemen as well!

"It seems then, Miss Bennet, would this be a terrible time to return your novel that you dropped earlier?"

"N-Not at all-all," Mary stammered, blushing bright-red in embarrassment at the thought of this handsome young man catching her at the wrong moment. She thanked him quietly for returning her novel. Perhaps it was just her mind, but she froze when she felt his fingers ghost over her skin when he handed her back her Shakespearean novel. Giving him a smile in gratitude, she opened the book, making sure that nothing was torn or damaged.

"It is in the same condition as it was before you dropped it, Miss Bennet," the young gentleman informed her.

"Thank you once more…er—"

"I am Edmund Hale."

"Mr. Hale," Mary thanked once more, feeling far more at ease than before, feeling the leathery binds underneath her fingers that traced the fading gold-etched letters in the cover. She let out a sigh of relief, while her mother shook the gentleman's hand for returning Mary's prized possession.

"It was nothing," the fair-haired gentleman smiled, lifting his dark eyes to Mary. "I do hope that you are feeling better, Miss Bennet. It would be delightful if we could meet properly next time we see each other."

"Of-Of course," Mary nodded, turning her reddening face away while her mother immediately pounced on the opportunity to introduce herself and the blushing Kitty besides her.

Edmund smiled, bowing to the others in the room. He took his time now, allowing himself the pleasure to glance at the younger Bennet sister with a lingering stare. She flushed, her smile widening as she relished in the attention, unlike her older sister who merely fidget underneath his gaze. With a kind smile, he walked out of the room. Much to his surprise, he saw a familiar face waiting for him at the edge of the hallway.

"Edmund."

"Hello, Miss Alice," He greeted politely, bowing to the fair-haired beauty. Holding out his arm, she graciously took it as he led her down the flight of stairs. "It has been a while since I've seen your lovely face. May I say that it has grown much fairer these days?"

He was rewarded with a beautiful smile and half-concealed infectious giggle. Smiling widely, he made to move to the outdoors, only for Alice to tug on his arm. Confused, he turned to face her as she gestured to a pair of closed doors. He only answered with a confused raised brow.

"Alexander would like to speak to you in private," Alice spoke to him quietly. Like the gentleman that he was, Edmund quickly held the door open for her. Stepping into the small library, he spotted the Captain, who was lounging on a rather comfortable-looking divan, a novel in his hands.

"Thank you, Alice," Alexander spoke, his eyes not leaving from the printed paper in front of him.

Alice threw Alexander a bright smile, moving to sit next to him. She stopped, however, seeing the book sliding on her intended spot. Dumbfounded, she looked at Alexander, her smile threatening to waver. Did he not want her to sit next to him? After all, he did ask her personally to bring Edmund into the room. She fluttered her eyes at him, her smile widening as he leaned forward.

"Caroline was looking for you," he spoke, causing her smile to waver. "She said it was rather urgent."

"I'm sure Caroline could afford to wait a few minutes," Alice smiled dazzlingly.

"If I recall correctly," Alexander replied a little too sweetly, the smile on his lips not quite reaching his blank eyes. "She doesn't like being kept waiting. You don't want to face her wrath again, do you?"

"N-no."

"There's a good girl," Alexander smirked smugly, sounding like he was praising a young child. "Don't forget to close the door after you, Miss Alice."

Edmund frowned disapprovingly at the other male, who turned his grinning face towards him. His lips were thin, brows furrowed together. Although he may not like her, Alexander could at least show some kindness to a woman instead of patronizing her!

"That was very unkind of you, Alexander."

"Oh, Edmund!" The Captain sighed, leaning back comfortably as he waved his hand carelessly. He could care less about what that empty-headed woman felt. After all, Edmund was not the one that Alice was vying for, was he? No, and Edmund did not know how increasingly irritating Alice was, latching to his arm as much as possible. "You and your gentleman-like way, honestly! It is absolutely a bore to watch. Where is the fun? The excitement of the game?"

"Nonetheless, you should've treated her much more kindly," Edmund replied, folding his arms across his chest.

Alexander retorted with a scoff and roll of his eyes.

"Alexander."

"Why are you even here, Edmund?" Alexander sighed, cutting off the other gentleman quickly. He thought that Edmund would be able to keep him company so that he would not be disturbed. Unfortunately, it seemed that he was becoming quite irritating as the others. He was no fun at all (much to Alexander's disappointment). "Surely you could not have just dropped by for a visit whimsically. That is not the Edmund I remember."

"Time changes everyone."

"Yes, I recall," Alexander smirked knowingly at the fair-haired gentleman. "Since you decided to deflect my question for your reason for being here, may I ask how long you plan on staying here?"

"Why? Worried that I might foil your game plans?" Edmund shot back.

"Perhaps," Alexander answered slyly, tilting his head to get a better look at his friend. "By the way, how is the lovely Miss Bennet? Such a fragile creature, do you not agree? She fainted when I first met her. We were having tea in one of the pavilions when she stood to her feet and crumpled to the floor."

"And you didn't catch her?" Edmund frowned disapprovingly at the ungentlemanly action of the man sitting in front of him.

"Well, I could not have my clothes soiled," Alexander said, appalled at the thought.

Edmund scoffed.

"Besides, her sisters had already shouted for servants to carry her," the Captain shrugged nonchalantly, picking up his novel besides him. He began thumbing through the novel, looking quite disinterested.

"Miss Mary Bennet had demanded that she wanted everyone out of the room when I entered," Edmund told Alexander, rising to his feet. "I don't think she is such a fragile creature as you think, Captain."

"She has a fiery temper, hmm?" Alexander mused, his lips curling mischievously.

"Good day, Alexander," Edmund bowed politely to the man stiffly. He had barely reached for the doorknob when Alexander called out to him.

"Just exactly how long are you staying here, my friend?"

Edmund turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder. Alexander saw the familiar mischievous look in the fair-haired male's eyes, as a kind smile that unfurled across his lips. There, Alexander thought to himself, there is the Edmund I know. "Why Alexander, you already know the answer to your question. Why would I want to repeat that for you, my friend?"

Alexander merely raised an eyebrow at the gentleman, turning back to his novel as Edmund walked out of the library.

Disclaimer:I do not own anything. I am just respectfully borrowing from Jane Austen.