The third Bennet sister's wedding came around quite quickly after that, or so it seemed to Mary. Richard had never intimated precisely what had passed between he and Mr Heatherington the evening of their meal at Longbourn, but any suspicions he still held of Jane's intended were so thoroughly put to rest that Mary found her own peace heightened. Indeed, it was so pleasant to walk into the small church on Richard's arm and to see Jane looking so radiantly happy that there could be no doubt in anybody's mind that the match was a merry one. The only lack, to Mary's mind, was in Elizabeth's not being there, but if Jane missed her sister she never remarked upon it, other than to react with a happy smile as a message was read with affection, from Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy. Mary had continued to correspond with Elizabeth and was pleased to hear tell that just as soundly as Jane had found affection with another, so too did Mr Bingley's wounds seem to be healing. Mary had not met Mr Darcy's sister, although she had been spoken of so often by Richard that it felt as if she knew her, and she could well imagine her making a happy match with Mr Bingley, and one that would please even Mr Darcy's exacting nature.
"Well, my love, it appears the merriment is winding down. Shall we make our way home?"
Mary agreed and the two bade their family and friends farewell, clambering into the small carriage they had quite recently acquired in addition to their pretty little estate: for Richard called it "little" although to Mary's mind it seemed quite expansive enough. Mr Bennet, too, approved of it, although his praise was nothing in comparison to his wife's, for Mrs Bennet could hardly be kept from reciting the acreage and contents of the home her middle daughter had secured. "It may not be Pemberley, or even so grand an estate as Jane shall live in by and by, but for Mary to have done so well in her marriage is enough to render me quite contented!" It was as close to a compliment as she was likely to get, and Mary could admit to herself and Richard, once out of Mrs Bennet's hearing, that she liked their home all the better for it not being either Elizabeth's or Jane's. It is ours, all ours, and none could possibly compare to it on account of that! she had declared when first they settled there. Large enough to comfortably receive guests, the requisite invitations had been sent both to the south, inviting Lady Catherine, should she wish to leave Kent, to call upon them, and northwards to Derbyshire: an open invitation to Mr and Mrs Darcy to come any time they felt the desire to travel to Hertfordshire. An addendum had been included offering the same to Anne and Mr Wickham, at Mary's insistence, although Richard had grumbled throughout the composition of the short note, and written Wickham's name with such slap-dash attention that the true nature of his feelings towards the invitation must have been evident even from his handwriting.
Their first reply to these missives had been slow in coming but was patiently awaiting their return home from the wedding.
"Colonel and Mrs Fitzwilliam, it read. I am pleased to see you settled at last, although disappointed that you remain in so dreary a county as Hertfordshire. I trust that is on Mary's account, and in her desire to remain close to her family, an attitude I must applaud, however grudgingly I acknowledge its impact on your fortunes. Unfortunately, I must refuse your invitation to visit, for I have no desire to spend any time in Hertfordshire just at present. In fact, I am just about to undertake the long journey north, for I am to pay my respects on Mr and Mrs Darcy at Pemberley, and see Anne again…."
"Good Lord!" Richard exclaimed, tempering his words only when Mary glanced over at him from her corner. "I mean –" he fumbled for an alternative, and found none, instead clearing his throat and reading aloud the words from his aunt that had so discombobulated him. "I am to pay my respects towards Mr and Mrs Darcy at Pemberley, and see Anne again. I dare say you are surprised to see me write that name again after I swore I would no longer acknowledge my daughter after her foolish match. In truth, I spoke out of anger, and whilst I am still unhappy with the decision she has made, I come to realise that anger makes for a very cold companion. That they are married, and in their own home on the Pemberley estate gives me some comfort, for I always knew Mr and Mrs Darcy to be such generous, kind spirits as could not imagine casting out their own cousin into the gutter, no matter how intent she seemed upon making her home there. As for her husband I have done a little more research and believe him to be some distant relation to a Lord and Lady Limmington, on his mother's side, but you know I believe these connections to run deep. It would not surprise me at all if it was his noble blood that my Anne recognised, even if it is disguised in the body of a humble clerk…"
Richard snorted, which gave way to a laugh, and Mary waited patiently for his amusement to subside before encouraging him to read on a little further.
"I am sorry, my dear, but really! Can you see Wickham descended from a Lord? It is a fabrication, surely!"
"If it soothes your aunt's conscience and enables her to see past Anne's folly it hardly signifies," Mary said, placidly. She smiled. "We cannot all of us be as forthright as you, husband."
"That is apparent!" Richard shook his head, marvelling at Lady Catherine's self-deception. He cleared his throat and continued with his reading, consciously or unconsciously raising his voice an octave to affect Lady Catherine's imperious tone, and Mary struggled to maintain her composure at this comical recitation.
"I am eager to see how Mr and Mrs Darcy suit Pemberley. You recall I am sure, how surprised I was by their sudden decision to wed, and yet I feel certain that Mrs Darcy is more than capable of managing Pemberley well. She was such a spirited girl, and so like my own dear sister that I do not wonder at her securing Fitzwilliam's heart so completely."
This caused Mary herself to take a sharp intake of breath, and Richard glanced up from the note to view his wife with sparkling eyes.
"She is adept at historical revision, is not she?" he murmured, glancing over the rest of the letter. "Herein lies a long list of the many stops she will make on her journey north, but alas, dear Mary, not a one will be in the vicinity of Hertfordshire and thus we will be spared the upheaval of a visit. "Perhaps upon my return," she states. "For I would dearly like to see Mary again…" He snorted, folded the letter and dropped it unceremoniously on the side-table next to him. "There's thanks for you. I have been her nephew all my life, but now that I have secured so amiable a wife I am all but forgotten." He smiled. "Mind you, I can hardly blame her. Given the option of us both, I am quite sure I would desire to see and speak only to you, also. Fix me another cup, would you, love?"
Mary reached for the teapot which had all but chilled, and poured another cup, passing it to her husband with a smile, and the picture of happy domesticity resumed. Mary could barely stop a happy smile from creeping up onto her face. She was so happy. So very happy.