Hi Guys
Welcome back to
A Swan in Hiding
Dodges thrown flowers and the mob of eager readers.
Yes I know its been some time between updates and sadly there is no excuse for it this time so thank you for sticking with me on the plus side I realised I cannot possible cram everything I wanted to do into one chapter so we have a couple left until the end.
As promised this chapter is dedicated to Lynette and Rayne263 who granted this story it's 355th and 60th reviews
I own nothing recognisable
Thank you to my wonderful beta Julianabr who is at this time slogging through my first story Pemberley before turning her attention and skills to this tale
This chapter has not yet been edited so as always any and all errors you find are entirely my own.
Now with the formalities concluded I bring you Chapter 29.The Necklace
Skydancinghobbit
"Will you tell me how long you have loved him?"
"It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began."
"Well my dear, is your curiosity satisfied?"
The kind enquiry brought Mary out of her musings with a start. The letter falling with little heed to the floor of the carriage, the endless ticking sound of the wheel soothing her nerves as she colored one curl falling into her face reminding her of the events of the day which by this time had been pushed entirely aside. Meeting the eyes of her companions she found only amused joy in one and teasing good humor in the other. Only then did she find her voice.
"I, rather imagine so Cynthia, but I scarcely know what to think, He is, quite serious?"
"Indeed Lass, as ever a man could be, never fear that"
Lady Catherine could no long hold her peace on the matter, setting her fan aside she straightened her seat almost as if she were about to begin a lecture on managing a household or rasing chickens properly.
"Now child we have a precious little to do on our end, forgive two old women for our scheming but your wedding articles are already waiting for you at the next Inn, your parents have been notified and the spare carriage dispatched to fetch them, and any of your sisters that care to make the journey"
Shock mingled with her joy at the pronouncement to know dear Jane and Elizabeth would be there to see her wed was proof enough of her family old and new consideration and affectionate for her. It was almost too much for Mary and she was forced to bite her lower lip to check a sudden spring of tears for the forethought in this matter. Cynthia caught her hand as she fumbled for her linen square with shaking hands.
"My dear girl, you should know Richard has been planning this for quite some time now, however rushed and ill timed it may seem to you know it has been all Catherine and I could do to restrain him these last few weeks at least"
"Indeed utterly besotted with you that one, ever since that day he bought your first gift"
Her gasp of wonder broke the silence as she attempted to hark back to that moment
"Lady Catherine...that was, months ago!"
"Do you remember what it was?"
There was a shrewed calculating look in her eyes as the other women regarded her. Almost as if she were about to burst with a secret long kept and Mary smiled. As she responded. Somewhere in the layers of serious elderly matron was still a young women and it was good to see.
"The necklace, how can I forget, I saw it in a shop window the day we went shopping"
"No Mary it wasn't the necklace was a cheap replica, the original piece designed for Richard's grandfather, as a wedding gift to his then intended, it has been passed down the family ever since from father to son."
A becoming blush touched Mary's features, she had worn that necklace often in Cynthia's home, never knowing the message behind it which every servant of the family would probably have known no wonder they had been so eager to help her get settled in and learn the location of the family rooms, they had been in their mind assisting their future mistress! The widow only smiled as she guessed what was running through her mind as she kindly continued the history of her gift.
"Ann knew this, her shall we say, mention of the piece in a conversation with Richard was the spark, he wrote me shortly after purchasing the copy, Catherine from what I gathered switched the wrapped parcels when she came to fetch you from home"
"Oh heavens no wonder my mother was so happy to see me leave. She must have thought I had left the necklace behind!"
Her horrified murmur was overheard by Lady Catherine who snorted seeming to think it fitting, however unladylike the gesture.
"I am sadly not taken aback by this Mary, if your youngest sister is any indication I imagine she can spot a facsimile across the length of a ball room if asked, I caught the youngest Miss Bennet eyeing Ann's jewel case one night while they chatted about balls, no doubt the information of its contents has by now reached her ears"
Mortified and unable to find a word to say in their defence Mary lowered her eyes, she knew it was a weakness of both women to admire the pretty piece's in the village shops or in the ballroom but never had she considered that they might be estimating the value! It was a vulgar way to judge one's neighbors and most unbecoming indeed by the standards she had recently been taught. Catherine spoke again her tone softening a great deal
"Oh my dear don't take it so to heart, we each of us have trying relation, there are worst faults to be found I assure you, we simply need to keep watch on them in future least we need to count the spoons after the wedding"
Mary raised her eyes just in time to catch Catherine's smile before the carriage swayed to a halt, the women were handed out and it seemed to her that she had barly time to set foot in the inn before a girlish squeal intruded in her muddled thoughts as Ann rushed to her.
"Oh Mary I could not bear to wait another moment!, tell me everything how was court? Did you see the king, the prince anyone you knew?"
Luckily here the young women was forced to draw breath and Cynthia was able to head heroff gently.
"All in good time Ann, our dear Mary has had quite the trying day, being presented at court, meeting a king and learning of her own forth coming wedding all in one day. Let her rest for an hour or two and then we will meet here for dinner, there isn't a moment to loose!"
Quite the day indeed
So ends Chapter 29-dodges the thrown sandwiches
So any thoughts comments or suggestions?
Whomever grants this story its 375th review shall have chapter 30's dedication
Stay tuned for Chapter 30 The Wedding
Skydancinghobbit
P.S. Please take a moment on your way out to check my other stories they need love too you know ^_^
