Passion and Prudence Mary Bennet
Chapter 9
The month with the Gardiners went quickly. Although they did not live in a fashionable part of London, the time was spent pleasantly; visiting other families of their acquaintance, one or two trips to the theatre and to musical events and playing educational games with the children. If Mary often found herself thinking about Mr. Dane, she would resolve again to do so no more and determinedly think about something else.
When Mary returned home, there was a piece of gossip that Mrs. Bennet wasted no time in telling her.
'That Mr. Dane has found someone else to court. And who do you think it is?'
Mary said that she did not know.
'Why, it is only your friend, Susannah Long. Every time I see him, he is talking to her or dancing with her. What do you think of that?'
She strove to reply calmly. 'Mr. Dane may court who he chooses. It is no concern of mine.'
'No concern of yours! You could have been married to him. You could have married Sir Eustace. You could have been married twice over but no…' Her mother continued to rant but Mary left the room.
She thought of Elizabeth when she found out that Charlotte Lucas was going to marry Mr. Collins. The look of disbelief followed pain had been wholly on behalf of Charlotte Lucas though unlike Mary who had two sources of pain.
Mary did not permit her mother to see her anguish. That Mr. Dane had chosen Susannah was a cross hard to bear, but she would have felt pain whoever Mr. Dane had selected. That Susannah, knowing Mary's feelings, had consented to being wooed by Mr. Dane was another torment. Susannah had listened to all that Mary had told her about Mr. Dane, had sympathised with her, and was now encouraging his courtship! Mary knew that she would meet Mr. Dane and Susannah Long together again soon and steeled herself to show no signs of weakness when they met.
The moment came when they met again, at a ball at the Assembly Rooms. Mr. Dane was there and danced with Susannah Long exactly twice. He also danced twice with her sister Sarah and once with several of the other single ladies. Mary knew exactly the number he danced. It was easy for her to do so as she had not even one offer of a dance. Then to Mary's surprise, she saw him making his way over to her.
He bowed. 'Might I have the pleasure of a dance, Miss Bennet?' He seemed all politeness.
'Certainly, Mr. Dane,' Mary said with equal politeness. If he did not show any signs of embarrassment or emotion, then why should Mary?
They danced their dance with no conversation, however. Mary could not think of a topic of conversation that would not lead into dangerous waters and Mr. Dane seemed equally reluctant to speak.
Mary was grateful to him, however, for dancing with her. It made her feel less of a social leper. That she had broken off an engagement made her suspect even if the man in question had shown signal lack of propriety or common sense afterwards.
Afterwards, Mary saw Mr. Dane conversing for some time with Sarah, the younger and prettier of the Long sisters. She tried not to let it affect her. He was free to dance and speak with whoever he chose. Although, preferably not with either of the Long sisters.
A few days after the assembly, the Longs paid a visit to the Bennets. Susannah asked about Mary's trip to London and commented on the ball but said never a word about Mr. Dane. Mary could not decide whether this was from delicacy or cowardice. She finally broached the subject herself.
'And how is Mr. Dane?'
'Very well, I think. I have not seen him since the ball.'
'I understand that he is...,' Mary paused, 'that is, you and he…' she paused again.
Susannah laughed. How heartless of her, how could Mary have ever thought her a friend?
'Mary, have you been listening to the rumour mongers? It is true that Mr. Dane has been talking to me a good deal more recently but surely, you know the reason why?'
Mary shook her head.
'Why, you ninny, it is because he wishes to speak of you to me. While you were away at your sisters, he asked me every time we met whether I had heard from you. And the same again while you were at your aunt's. He asked if you seemed much distressed by…' It was Susannah's turn to pause.
'By the breaking of my engagement to Sir Eustace,' Mary finished for her.
'Yes. We spoke about how fortunate it was that Sir Eustace behaved so imprudently afterwards and proved how sensible you were to break the engagement. It has considerably lessened the talk in the neighbourhood about you, you know.'
'How considerate of Sir Eustace,' Mary murmured.
She simultaneously did not like the thought of Susannah and Mr. Dane discussing her private affairs and felt a warm glow that Mr. Dane was concerned about her welfare.
The next morning, they heard a coach drawing up outside Longbourn. Mary and her mother went to look. To their surprise, they saw Lydia and Wickham emerging from the coach, both looking rather bedraggled.
'Lydia, my dear! What a wonderful surprise! But why did you not write and let us know that you were coming?' Mrs. Bennet asked.
Lydia tossed her head, her yellow curls falling about her face.
'We decided to come on the spur of the moment, didn't we, Wicky?'
Wickham murmured his agreement.
More like they had had to leave their last lodgings in a hurry, thought Mary.
'I must tell your father that you have arrived and then order some partridges for dinner, I know those are your favourite,' Mrs. Bennet said and hurried off to perform both these tasks.
The three of them were alone on the steps of the house.
'How are you, Mary?' Lydia asked. 'Oh, I forgot, you're engaged to some rich man, aren't you?"
'Congratulations,' Wickham in a stronger voice this time.
'Not anymore, I'm afraid. I broke off the engagement,' Mary informed them. Really, she thought, it was almost worth all the distress of a broken engagement to see the look of disappointment and chagrin on their faces. Wickham recovered first from the shattered dreams of another rich relative.
'How very distressing,' he said.
Lydia was less circumspect. 'You, Mary, broke off an engagement? Someone asked you to marry you and then you changed your mind?' She looked at Mary as if she was mad.
Mary was tempted to tell her that she, her plain sister, had received not one but two proposals of marriage but held her tongue.
'Shall we go inside?' she asked.
At dinner that night, Mr. Bennet asked the Wickhams, 'How long will you be staying for? I hate to think that someone more deserving is being deprived of your company.'
'Lord no.' Lydia said then turned to her mother. 'We can stay as long as you desire.'
'Excellent news. You will be able to go to the Farehams' dinner and to the next Assembly ball…' Mrs Bennet rattled away.
'Then I will need to purchase a new gown. Of course, the shops in Meryton are sadly unmodish but I will have to do my best.'
'How will you afford one?' Mary asked.
Lydia looked affronted. 'Darling Wicky has come into some money, haven't you?'
Wickham acknowledged that he had.
'So Lady Luck has smiled on you,' Mr. Bennet.
Mary wondered what her father was referring to but after a few moments' thought, she realised that Wickham must have been gambling.
She frowned. 'Should you not pay some of your creditors before you buy a new gown?' was her question even though she strongly disapproved of Wickham's way of supplementing his income.
Lydia snapped, 'That is none of your business!'
'Yes, Mary, keep your nose out of Lydia and Wickham's affairs,' scolded Mrs. Bennet. 'As Lydia says, that is really nothing to do with you.'
'Do not concern yourself, Sister Mary,' Wickham said, smiling at her. 'We have sufficient to pay any trifling outstanding bills and to purchase a new gown for my charming wife.' He nodded at Lydia who dimpled back.
Mary found this most suspicious. She had heard the Wickhams were not in the habit of paying their bills, but she said no more.
'I am very glad to hear it,' Mr. Bennet said.
#
Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, and Mary went to Meryton the next day. Mary accompanied them purely because she wished for the exercise.
'I must say, Mary,' Lydia said as they walked along, 'you are looking much prettier these days. And your clothes are not so dowdy.'
'Thank you.' Mary said.
'I shall have to see if I can find you a husband. I know plenty of gentlemen.'
'I do not doubt it, but I urge you not to trouble yourself on my account.'
'No, don't Lydia, ' her mother said. 'Mary would only turn him down the same as Mr. Dane and Sir Eustace.'
Lydia halted in her tracks. 'What? Mary has received two proposals of marriage? Impossible!' she declared.
'Thank you for your confidence in my ability to attract suitors,' Mary said.
Both Lydia and Mrs. Bennet ignored her. Then to her discomfort, Mrs. Bennet began to regale Lydia with details of Mr. Dane and Sir Eustace's proposals. This occupied their time until they reached Meryton.
And whom should they see, as they started to walk to the nearest dress shop but Mr. Dane.
Mr. Bennet nudged Lydia. 'That's Mr. Dane,' she hissed.
Lydia frankly stared and continued to stare, even as Mr. Dane came up to them, took off his top hat and bowed.
'Ladies,' he said.
'Mr. Dane, let me introduce my youngest, Mrs. Lydia Wickham. She is my youngest, but she was the first married, think on that! We are come to get her a new gown.'
Mr. Dane smiled politely. 'Then I must not take up any of your valuable time.'
Mary was torn between wishing her to stay and wishing her to go, to avoid any embarrassment with her sister and mother.
Lydia was rooting through her bag. 'Now, did I remember to bring the money dearest Wicky gave me?' She wondered aloud. She pulled out a small, velvet drawstring bag with such vigour, that the bag, which had not been properly tightened, fell open and coins spilled out and tinkled to the ground.
'Allow me,' Mr. Dane said. He stooped down and picked up the coins. He stood, gazing at them and frowning.
'Thank you so much,' Lydia said and stretched out her hand to receive them.
Mr. Dane did not return them.
Lydia pouted. 'If you would be so kind?'
Mr. Dane raised his eyes to Lydia's face. 'I'm afraid that I must tell you, Mrs. Wickham I believe these coins to be counterfeit.'
Lydia paled and there was a fleeting look of panic on her sister's face.
'No!' gasped Lydia. 'How could that be? Are you sure?'
'Quite sure. I was involved in a case at my last employment.' He held out his hand, palm upwards. 'They are too light. And see how the gold coins are not the right shade? I'm afraid you have counterfeit coins. This is very serious; you could be accused of uttering.'
'What on earth is uttering?' Mrs. Bennet asked.
'It means possessing counterfeit money or putting it in into circulation. Forgers pass off halfpennies or farthings as shillings, or shillings as guineas by disguising them as coins of a higher value.'
'How dreadful!' gasped Mrs. Bennet. 'How lucky that we met you, Mr. Dane.'
'Yes, how lucky,' Lydia echoed but Mary noticed that she did not look at all grateful. She took the coins from Mr. Dane.
'As you say lucky indeed, Mrs. Bennet. To be caught uttering carries a mandatory minimum sentence of six months imprisonment,' Mr. Dane gravely told her.
Mrs. Bennet put her hand to her chest. 'Oh! I cannot bear to think of it. I feel quite faint. Goodbye, Mr. Dane. Come girls, we must go to Mr. Paynter's for some smelling salts.'
She hurried them away. Mary resolved to check the coins before Lydia bought anything.