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Welcome back to

A Swan In Hiding

I'm glad you still enjoy this story! it had been so long between updates I was afraid everyone had lost interest

As promised this chapter is dedicated to Mia who granted this story its 260th reviews!

I own nothing you might recognise

Now with the formalities concluded I bring you

Chapter 21 Thundering Hooves, Noble Heart

Skydancinghobbit

``We were born in the same parish, within the same park, the greatest part of our youth was passed together; inmates of the same house, sharing the same amusements, objects of the same parental care. My father began life in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Phillips, appears to do so much credit to - but he gave up every thing to be of use to the late Mr. Darcy, and devoted all his time to the care of the Pemberley property. He was most highly esteemed by Mr. Darcy a most intimate, confidential friend.

Wickham P&P Chapter 16

Mary was most displeased.

Every morning she stood at the large picture window eagerly awaiting the post, hours in fact before its arrival when the only creatures about were the servants who stoked the fires and started breakfast. Filling the house with the most wonderful smells. How long had he been gone she mused? It was hard to say, Ann and Cynthia had kindly filled her days with endless activities in the time. Sewing new patterns altering a few gowns for practice and even sitting for instruction from Lady Catherine for an extra hour a day on the finer points of higher class behavior. This perhaps being the most painful experience for Mary, who could not harkening back to that first test in the tea rooms of London where she had first been convinced of Richards merits as a gentlemen.

The amount of information itself staggered her, being brought up as a simple country lass it amazed her to learn there was in fact so many ways of insulting someone. A misplaced cough or injudicious wave a fan could create a mortal enemy in the courts of nobility. There ladies being confined to show one emotion but forced to display another. Her fan now well used and beginning to look a bit shabby became her weapon even Cynthia interjected now and again to reveal the complexities of court life. Demonstrating how difficult it truly was to judge the emotions of those around.

Etiquette was quickly followed with dance lessons. Happily having mastered the basics as a child Mary was surprised to find, when not crushed by the expectation of a mother who's only aim in life was to promote the best match for her two eldest daughters, was graceful and even went so far a to begin enjoying the activity. Though she would never have admitted it to any other creature other than Minnie. The tiny creature was swiftly becoming fat. Fed on a diet of fish cream and loving pats she had grown considerable. Longing down in a picture of feline contentment she purred as Mary passed a hand through the glossy fur in passing.

"oh Min, three weeks has passed since he left here and still naught a word"

Minerva merely purred rolling over on her back to demand a good belly scratch in answer. Catly concerns only being the food dish and affection. However her ears where perked in Mary's direction showing like all good pets that as long as her hand kept busy she would listen to any troubling news the mistress had to 'share.

"Spoiled thing"

Her affectionate tone softened the string of her words as she scratched the tabby behind the ears. A soft laugh sounding from the door way as Ann stood leaning against the frame. She knew well that Mary talked to her pet and was smart enough not to comment on it by now. Thus she simply confined herself to a simple good morning and poured a cup of tea from the sideboard, which Mary noticed with a start was laden with breakfast so lost had she been in her wool gathering.

Filling her plate Mary was halfway through her morning eggs when a sudden thundering of hooves on the drive made all three women forgo any further nourishment in favor of sending one of the junior members of the party to the window for a look being happily occupied with tea and muffins to give it much thought Ann let out a squeal as she rushed back to the table as she gaily announced.

"Richards back!"

The flurry of movement this announcement prompted would have been quite remarkable to any house staff fortunate enough to witness it. Lady Catherine choked on her tea. Coughing and spluttering she fumbled for a napkin. Cynthia had risen like a lark from a rose bush and gone to the window in a moment to confirm the young women word. Mary sat like a statue in the park. Stunned .

"Mary come here, Ann is quite correct and he has a young lady with him poor thing looks quite a fright."

Lydia was here? This piece of information jolted Mary as effectively from her chair as if she had accidentally sat on Minerva's tail or her mothers mending. Moving to the window she gasped. It was indeed her youngest sister. Pale as death and with torn garments and dirty stockings she looked nothing at all like the vivacious young women Mary had left a few short months ago. She had not been aware she'd been trembling until the comfort of a pair of arms encircled her and Cynthia's soothing voice mumered in her ear.

"Easy Mary, Hysterics wouldn't help your sister now, be strong and we shall see what is to be done"

A bell was rung and help scent for, in nearly the same moment steps where heard running up the stairs. Johnson the stable-boy. Who all but vibrated with the excitement of the day.

"Madam, the young Miss has been found, the young Master had brought her to one of the guest rooms, shall we not send for a surgeon? She does look ever so wretched I'm afraid"

A harsh clicking sound was heard from Lady Catherine who by this time had recovered her wits and health and risen from the table like an angry crow.

"See here young man, speak in that fashion again and I shall rebuke you most soundly! Go fetch the surgeon at once and cease your driveling this instant!"

Startling as if he'd been shot the young lad was gone again in a moment calling for one of the other staff to dispatch will all haste to the good doctors house for the sick Miss Bennet. Mary bit her lip. If Lydia was a bad as john implied then she had little hope of being of use. As if sensing her darkened thoughts Lady Catherine poked her with the end of her cane gently.

"Take Heart Mary. She lives there is still hope. Useless alarm giving fool that boy, no compassion for your nerves in the least poor girl"

It was a close to affectionate praise as she had yet received from the great lady and Mary perked up at once. After if she said they still had hope then it was so. For who would have the gall to call her Ladyship a liar? Gathering her courage about her she was about to go in search of Lydia when she bumped into something just outside the door, something tall warm and smelling beautifully of shaving lather. She needed have heard the familiar rumble of his chuckle to have known into whom she had run into.

"Well Miss Bennet, I am flattered you rushed out in such a hurry to see if I am well"

Color sufficed her cheeks as she took an ungraceful step back, then another until she could meet his eyes, He did look well, if a little fatigued that was only to be expected. His light tease seemed to be for her sole benefit as the laughter that normal danced in his eyes was absent in a marked fashion and she honored him for it.

"Indeed I did, though if you continue to call me Miss Bennet there will be some confusion when the doctor arrives, for he must do so soon and I fear for the result of finding two ladies bearing the same name when one is clearly not in distress "

His brow contracted, his gaze passed over her head in some silent quest for further information from either of the two fine ladies who stood a short ways off watching the pair with all the joy of a young child who has discovered the first snows of the year had fallen during the night. Ann with dancing eyes and Cynthia with a thoughtful expression. In a moment it was over and he nodded in silence having found whatever answers there were to be had from that quarter.

"Ah I see you must have witnessed us enter the drive, allow me a relieve your mind. Other than swooning from fatigue and refusing with all violence to be put down the entirely of the journey your sister is well."

"Surely you jest Richard, no young girl would be so foolish, to be so held and catered to whatever the horrors that where to be met with on the road tell me you did not indulge her"

Watching his expression suffuse with color Mary had her answer and it was the only the work of a moment for her ever eager imagination to supple pictures of a most distressing scene to her mind. Lydia starry eyed and simpering to her rescuer. Whispering whatsoever foolish thing that came into her head on the miles back and lamenting over every small hurt he must have met with. It made her quite jealous. Indeed had not she known of his noble heart and steady ways she would have grown quite alarmed at the very notion. Lesser men she knew could be made fools of by a beautiful women.

"I confess I had, though had it been Miss Mary in need of rescuing I would have been a good deal kinder in my dealings with her I assure you"

Though tart this comment sent a wave of reassurance through Mary's entire body. Indeed as she watched he seemed to drop his gaze, as if having said something that had not been for her ears. Flattered and touched Mary too dropped her eyes noticing his shuffling feet and all the accompanying sign of a man about to flee the scene of an emotional display she quickly spoke.

"Richard!"

Ringing silence met the word as in half turning to leave he froze a moment before moving to face her once more eyes alight with good humor in a moment.

"Ah ha so the Swan does not forget her promise to the noble frog prince who had weathered all manners of horror to return to her. I am flattered Mary by such, enthusiastic use of my Christian name, what was it you wished to say?"

Robbed of her courage by the eyes that fell on her she was about to turn and flee with all do haste when a pair of gloved fingered gently raised her kind.

"Do not grow shy on me now my Swan, with my mother and meddling women gone, I can at last say what is on my heart, speak as you always have to me for I have longed to hear the sound of your voice"

Any women of merit on receiving such tender words would have swooned yet Mary stood firm. Grasping at the last of her courage embolden by his words spoke.

"I wished to welcome you home, that is all, I don't have words enough to thank you for what you have done, the trouble you have endured for my sake, and that of my family, but I hope this will suffice for now"

Reaching into her mending back she withdrew a braided cord, hand woven and made of fine thick fiber. She offered it to him with flat palm admiring how the green color of the roping gleamed in the sunlight

"In visiting Lady last week I noticed that Sultan's halter had grown quite shabby, I hope you will accept this as a suitable replacement:"

It seemed for a long moment she had all but robbed him of speech, he simply stared at her gift in amazement, reaching out almost in wonder to touch the fine work as he lifted it from her small pale hand, and hefting.

"A gift worthy of his namesake my lady, I shall accept this token with a full grateful heart on one condition"

Had not she already gathered a hint of the upcoming event Mary would have had no notion of his next words as it was she merely smiled feeling all the compliment of an accept gift.

"Name it good sir"

That you would do me the honor of promising the first dance to my care during the Admiral's ball next month"

So ends Chapter 21-dodges the army of fan-girls-

So thoughts comments? Suggestions? Have I lost my touch after so long between updates?

What trouble will Lydia bring what has become of Wickham and what will everyone be wearing at the ball? All these questions and more answered in the next installment of our story.

Whomever grants this story its 280th review shall have Chapter 22 dedicated to them

Stay tuned accordingly for Chapter 22. The Admiral's Ball

Skydancinghobbit

P. take a moment to check out my other fanfics they need love too you know!