A/N:Thanks to everyone who reviewed though I haven't been very rigorous with my updating, but I hope everyone likes this chapter!
Chapter 11
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"Eddington, I want you to answer me truthfully and honestly. We have been friends for how long?" Asked Mr. Darcy the next day as he paid a visit to the Marquess.
"Ah…. Probably since we were children. Why?" Inquired the unsuspecting Marquess suspiciously.
With a frustrated sigh, Mr. Darcy said, obviously uncomfortable, "Then I am sure you will have the decency to answer truthfully. So please, are you in any way, connected to my sister-in-law?"
"Which one?" Asked Lord Eddington who was calmly sipping some tea.
"Mary of course! Who else?!" Exclaimed the frustrated Darcy, a little louder than usual.
"Mary? Miss Mary Bennet? Ha! The only connection we can ever share is a mutual dislike- no hatred is more like it," laughed Lord Eddington as he looked at Darcy with a raised brow, "What has married life done to you Darcy? Has your eyesight suffered or has your head been taken over by air? I would have thought you of all people would notice that your sister-in-law and I don't really get along."
With one great sigh of relieve Darcy sat down in one of the chairs, clearly more relaxed. "Of course I have noticed you and Mary aren't necessarily Romeo and Juliet (at this Lord Eddington snorted, in a gentlemanly way of course), but after what you said yesterday…" He trailed off, "Lizzy and I were just worried that you two might…possibly…maybe…share a clandestine romantic affiliation." Darcy finished the sentence in a hurry and looked very uncomfortable.
Lord Eddington laughed again, which resulted in a glare from Darcy. "Oh Darcy! 'A clandestine romantic affiliation'? That's the best you can do? Why don't you just ask straight out if Mary is my mistress and get it over with? That way you won't have to make yourself a fool." Once again, Lord Eddington proceeded to a quiet laugh.
"Eddington, I just want you to be careful with my sister-in-law's reputation. She's the only one who's not married and I do not want her name to be tainted during this season under my roof. You must understand that I am not accusing you of anything. But if, in any way, I would need to defend Mary's honor, I would defend it if I have to risk another's life," said Mr. Darcy in a serious tone.
"Darcy, Darcy, when can you ever relax once in a while? Always brooding about something or another ever since we were in school," said Eddington jokingly and upon seeing Darcy's grim look, he continued in a more sober tone, "Darcy, ever since Eton and Oxford, have I ever ruined the reputation of a perfectly respectable woman? No. And I promise you, as one of your oldest friends, that I would never lay an unwanted hand on your sister-in-law."
"Well, that is good to hear Eddington," said Darcy with a nod of approval.
With a big intake of breath, Lord Eddington said pleasantly, "And now that you are done with your brother-in-law threat, what do you say we take a trip to White's? I hear it's a great place to recover from an awkward situation."
As they were getting ready to leave, Lord Eddington turned around and said somberly, "Just so you know Darcy, there is nothing for you to worry here. My parents would probably disinherit me if they find out that Miss Bennet's name is linked with mine, as well as my whole family. They have this foolish idea that a noble must marry another nobleman's daughter."
Mr. Darcy looked at his friend for a moment and saw that the merriment that was present before was gone for a moment. He knew that a future Duke would mean many obligations, for Darcy himself came from a family closely linked with many noble families. He himself was a victim of parental pressure from his aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh to marry someone of his own class. He also knew that the recent elopement of Lady Harriet came as a great relieve for the Marquess, who had been dreading the marriage that was arranged by both of their families.
"Eddington, you have been avoiding matrimony for so long, I'm sure your parents would be thrilled to just see you at the alter, no matter who is standing next to you," said Darcy.
"Yes, you are probably right," said Lord Eddington, "I would even marry that Lady Annabelle if it would just stop my mother's bickering about my marital status. It does get irritating after hearing it for about fifteen years."
"Now, now Eddington, Lady Annabelle is my sister-in-law, I will not permit you to talk of her in such a way," said Darcy, a little jokingly.
"Well, it seems like every lady in town is related to you in some way or another Darcy! What will you do once they all start courting and whatnot?" Asked Eddington with a laugh.
"I really have no idea," replied Mr. Darcy.
"Now Mary, I would like for you to answer me truthfully and honestly. And I would hope that as a sister, you would be able to trust me and tell me the truth," said Lizzy as she was eating breakfast with Mary.
Mary looked up as she was just about to take a bite out of her muffin, which she had been looking forward to because of the tiring night before.
"Ah…Yes…Lizzy," she said a little confused.
With a sigh of frustration, Lizzy continued, "Are you and Lord Eddington, in anyway, connected?"
"Apart from a mutual dislike, we are not connected."
"Then are you and Sir Anthony Burton, in anyway, connected?"
"Lizzy! Are you trying to talk me out of associating with Sir Anthony? Again?" Asked Mary as she realized the true intentions of this conversation.
"No Mary. I just wanted to know…as a concerned sister!"
"Well when did you turn into a gossip queen?" Asked Mary sarcastically.
"Mary, I know you are a grown woman and can make your own sensible choices, but I am just worried that you might be heading into something you can't handle," said Lizzy kindly, "This is your first time in London, and some people could take advantage of the fact. I just want to make sure you won't get hurt."
"Thank you Lizzy," said Mary a little tightly, "But I am not as silly as Lydia was and I assure you that I won't ever be that sort of person."
"Mary, I just want what is the best for you. You are my sister under my care for this season and I don't want you to go home with a broken heart because that is all you are going to get if you keep associating with that Sir Anthony!" Lizzy ended in a very frustrated tone, which was not helping her already precarious conversation.
"You really think I would actually let my heart to be broken? Do you still think of me as the pitiable sister of yours who has no talent, no beauty, and dense enough to get her heart broken by a man?! Do you really think I am that desperate to fall in love with Sir Anthony? I am twenty-one years old Lizzy! I am practically a spinster here next to girls barely out of the schoolroom who are all beautiful, accomplished, and young! I seriously doubt I would ever be able to come to love this season. So please, dear sister, don't waster your time worrying about your pathetic sister!" Mary exclaimed as she jumped up from her seat dramatically and immediately left the room leaving her forgotten breakfast.
"What am I going to do when I have children?" Lizzy mused as she sighed in frustration and took an uneasily bite out of her muffin.
Lizzy…you were always pretty. But were you ever the only girl who doesn't have a dancing partner? Did you ever embarrass yourself in front of everyone by singing, something you thought was the only thing you were good at?! Mary thought angrily as she ran up to her room and started pacing around her room.
"Miss Mary? Are you all right?" Asked the confused maid Marie.
"I-I'm fine Marie, thank you. I-I just need to leave this place," Mary said as she quickly grabbed her cloak and bonnet.
"But Miss Mary! You need a carriage dress, or a walking dress at least. And your hair! You are in no state to go yet," Marie exclaimed agitatedly as she watched Mary hurriedly put on her bonnet.
"Marie, please don't tell me what to do. I have enough of those kinds of people in my life," said Mary absently as she started putting on her cloak.
"Miss Mary, I was hired to help you become a fashionable young lady. It is my job to make you look presentable! In the name of fashion, I will not let you out looking like that!" Exclaimed Marie as she defiantly stood her ground.
"Well I am sorry that you have to have me, the misfit, as your doll then. I will refer you to Lady Annabelle straight away, I deem she shall prove a interesting enough specimen to practice your precious fashion on!" Said Mary as she swept past the horrified maid and ran down the stairs demanding for the carriage to be brought around.
She then went to the kitchen in the back past the many surprised looking maids and immediately started stuffing a basket full of food.
"Miss Mary? M-may I help you?" Asked a timid-looking cook as she watched Mary grab for a big loaf of bread.
"I have decided to go to the orphanage earlier than planned, and I am packing some food for them," said Mary tightly as she somehow managed to fit a big piece of ham in the basket as well.
"Would you like me to help you?"
"No, thank you."
Once again, she left the room in haste, leaving behind a room of very confused maids.
"Arthur? Is the carriage ready?" Mary asked the young footman as she approached the door to leave with her basket in one hand.
"Yes, the Master's carriage has just come back," said the footman.
"Good, thank you."
"Miss Mary! Wait!" Exclaimed Marie as she ran down the stairs, "At least permit me or Arthur to accompany you to where you are going. It is only respectable."
"No thank you Marie, I am merely going to the orphanage and I don't believe I shall be compromised there. Before I forget, do tell the Mistress that she won't have to worry about my reputation this morning, and I do not plan to rendezvous or run off with a man this morning either. But if the Mistress asks, my afternoon is still open," she said before climbing into the carriage.
The ride certainly calmed Mary down a bit as the otherwise bothersome rocking of the carriage helped take her mind off from her conversation with Lizzy.
"Miss Mary, when shall you be leaving the orphanage?" Asked the driver John.
"Do not worry John, you can take a break this morning and perhaps buy something good for your wife. I won't be leaving in about four or five hours, so do not worry about me, I can always stay longer," said Mary kindly.
"Thank you Miss Mary," said the happy driver.
"You are certainly welcome."
St. Margaret Homes was located in the less fashionable part of London in a large, but rundown home on Amherst Road. It was a place barely noticeable with its shabby exterior and a small sign that not many would be able to notice. It was first built by William Hearston, the Earl of Shrewsbury. At first, the orphanage was blessed with many patrons of the higher class. However, as the years went on, money slowly dwindled until St. Margaret Homes was ready to close down. It was then that the orphanage was saved by the kind Darcy family of Derbyshire who was good enough to make some generous donations.
It was how the orphans and the ladies of the orphanage met Miss Mary Bennet. It was rare to find a lady who truly believed in God's words for charity, but it was even rarer to find one during the London Season. Most ladies would probably be visiting the park, shopping for new clothes, or trying to catch the eye of an eligible gentleman on a bright day. However, it was on such a day that the children found themselves playing with Miss Bennet in the playroom.
For some reason it was always with children that Mary Bennet seemed to be able to relax, for it was always the children who could make her feel like a part of them. It was with children that Mary could sing and not feel embarrassed; it was with them that she could laugh and have fun for once in her life. Even when she lived in Hertfordshire, she always found time to visit the local orphans despite the disapproval of her mother. Thus, it was the children who were able to cure Miss Bennet of her rare morning anger.
"Good-bye Mrs. Henley, Mrs. Jones, I will see you all as soon as I can," Mary said as she prepared to leave the orphanage.
"Miss Bennet, I must thank you for coming today. The children are so very lonely sometimes with only old ladies like us around. You always make them happier when you visit them," said Mrs. Henley fondly.
"Of course Mrs. Henley, I am just glad I am help," said Mary as she tied her bonnet, "And I will be sure to bring some others the next time I come."
"Thank you so much dear," said the elderly Mrs. Jones.
"It is the least I can do," said Mary before saying good-bye to the children.
As she left the orphanage, she immediately regretted telling John to take a break for she, again, found herself without a carriage and without a clue how to get home.
Why didn't I get a map?! Mary thought as she stood out on the sidewalk to wait for the carriage. But this time, she was determined not to leave the spot.
So she waited…and waited…and waited.
It has been half an hour! Thought Mary as she just heard the church bells proclaim it was indeed four in the afternoon. She eyed the men who were beginning to scare her a little now walk past her with a curious look on their faces. It definitely was not helping her pass the time.
Suddenly, a carriage sped past her as if the devil was chasing it and with a big splash, it completely soaked her.
Oh wonderful, thought Mary bitterly as she looked down at her now drenched dress, and the driver didn't even say sorry! Ugh where is Sir Anthony when you need him?
Finally, she decided she needed to leave the place immediately and with the help of a few respectable-looking people on the streets, she was (hopefully) walking home.
As Mary walked, the streets started getting less familiar and the people seemed scarcer. She was just about to admit that she was…again…indeed lost when a carriage stopped next to her.
"Miss Bennet?" Asked a voice that Mary recognized too knowingly.
She slowly turned until she faced an impressive carriage with a head poking out of its window that belonged to none other than the Marquess of Eddington.
Oh wonderful, can this day get any better? Mary thought sullenly.
"W-what are you doing here?" Asked Lord Eddington incredulously, "And dressed in such…particular fashion. Quite a fashion statement right there."
"Actually My Lord, I believe this is the new rage I hear in France!" Answered Mary sarcastically, "Perhaps you could try it, it is quite refreshing."
"I would, but I do not believe my carpets would like it very much. It's a tragedy really," said the Marquess.
"Well My Lord?" Mary gestured to her dress pointedly.
"Yes Miss Bennet?" Acquired the Marquess confusedly.
"I would believe a gentleman would help me in such situation, My Lord."
"But haven't we established the fact that I am not a gentleman?" The Marquess answered with a smirk.
"Fine then, good-day My Lord," said Mary as she turned around to leave.
"Now Miss Bennet, perhaps we can settle in a compromise."
At Mary's inquiring eyes, Lord Eddington continued, "I would gladly take you home if you will politely ask me to take you home."
Oh that smug look… Mary thought disdainfully. But even if I don't go with him, my pride would be lost anyways…
"Lord Eddington, would you please take me home because I am unfortunately very lost and in need of your help," said Mary scathingly.
"Now was that very hard Miss Bennet?" Asked the Marquess with a grin as Mary climbed into the carriage.
"So Miss Bennet, tell me what you are doing on St. James's Street of all places?" Inquired the Marquess.
"I-I got lost when I was walking back home from the orphanage because the carriage didn't come to pick me up and as you can see my dress was already in such condition…so I had to come back or else I would turn into an icicle with all this water on me."
"Orphanage? Where?"
"It is on Amherst Road. Unfortunately it is in a very bad condition right now because money has not been as abundant as it was in earlier years. So I help out whenever I can by bring some food there and play with the children since there are only two older ladies there to take care of the poor children," said Mary with a hint of sadness.
"Oh, perhaps I can help," said Lord Eddington, serious for the first time.
"You would?" Asked Mary skeptically.
"Of course, St. Francis said that 'Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance'."
Mary stared at him with her mouth agape but immediately cleared her throat before saying, "Well, perhaps he was wrong on the ignorance part."
"I am in all seriousness Miss Bennet. I come from a long line of very charitable Dukes; charity is in my blood. With my influence, half of England would be donating for that orphanage by the end of the week," said Lord Eddington assertively.
"Well I see modesty is not in your long and noble blood then."
"Ha ha. Now really Miss Bennet, tomorrow afternoon I will take you there and you can introduce me to the children. And perhaps you should wear a raincoat too," said the Marquess and before Mary could say anything the carriage stopped.
"Well here is Darcy's townhouse. I will walk you to the door Miss Bennet," said the Marquess as he was about to get up.
"No My Lord, you don't have to do that. You have done enough already. Thank you," said Mary hurriedly as she got off the carriage before Lord Eddington could follow. "Goodbye."
As she was walking back to the house, she noticed the carriage that was supposed to bring her home standing right outside the house.
That's odd, Mary thought.
When she entered the front doors, she heard a shrill voice shout "Mary!" that seemed to be able to penetrate her very bones.
"Oh Mary there you are! What on earth are you wearing?!" That voice asked, aghast.
"Well hello to you too…Mother."
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A/N: Mrs. Bennet is in town! So review please!