AN: Skydancinghobbit, I thought of you when I wrote this chapter! I'm sure you will be able to guess why. Please, all critiques, suggestions, etc… are all taken in with much appreciation and consideration. Thanks again to all who have R&R. You make this the best experience!

13

Upon arrival into town, Mary found just as many eyes upon her and Georgiana as ever before. It was peculiar, to know that she looked no different than the days where she passed through the streets of Meryton, but mennow grinned as she passed. It was an odd sensation for a lady who was so very accustomed to being ignored by all of society.

"Have I truly changed that much, Georgiana?" Mary whispered, locking arms with her friend. "The people… they stare so."

"Is not the most beautiful thing in the world one who is content with theirself?" Georgiana asked, returning the smiles in a manner that had Mary giggling. "Perhaps you should wave to a few, Mary. These men think they are bold to grin at us so, but we are bolder, of that I am sure."

"Is this an appropriate wave?" Mary grinned as well, and even threw in a wink. "My, this is something more suited for Lydia than myself. I feel rather ridiculous acting so juvenile."

"Oh, it is only a short way to Mrs. Barnaby's."

"We are to visit her again?"

"Why, I am sure she should be able to help us, Mary."

Mrs. Barnaby sat behind the counter, threading a needle with her eyes squinting, but at the sound of the bell ringing, she stood and rushed to the door.

"Georgiana!" she embraced the girl and then let out a cry of joy. "Why, is this Mary Bennet before me? Goodness child, I do not think I ever did see a more pleasant girl in all of my life! You have such a natural glow to you at this moment, it is most lovely. And look at that hair! It is nearly to your waist!"

"I do think it to be a wise decision to grow out my hair."

"Oh, there be no doubt about that, child." Mrs. Barnaby wobbled to the counter and motioned for them to follow. "Just look at you both! So youthful and vibrant! I never saw two girls with more life within them. It is a wonder all of the men are not escorting you through the door."

"I do not think the men shall so easily follow a coquette," Georgiana responded innocently, batting her eyes.

"Do not tell me you have decided to become one of those girls, Georgiana Darcy!"

"You need not worry for me, Mrs. Barnaby, I was merely having my fun."

"Why, of course I shall worry for you, child!" Mrs. Barnaby replied. "I do doubt that every man who lays his eyes on your pretty face would turn you down, if ever they had the opportunity to have you. I could not live another day to have such a sweet lamb taken by a wolf. Now I do not wish to ever hear of you making eyes at those men, Georgiana Darcy, or I shall be forced to escort you around the town myself to make sure those men keep their distance."

"Well, you need not put yourself through such trouble, for I am most certainly never going to place myself in the position to allow a man to take advantage of me." Georgiana turned to Mary. "I suppose now you understand what I mean when I speak of Mrs. Barnaby being the mother of all us young ladies."

"Without a doubt."

"And I suppose Miss Darcy was not alone in this act, Miss Mary Bennet?"

"You suppose quite correctly, Mrs. Barnaby."

"Such lovely girls you both are," Mrs. Barnaby shook her head. "I do hope that neither of you find yourselves with those men who only care to find themselves within the arms of a pretty lady for a night."

"No, we shall never find us prone to be the prey of such men." Mary assured.

"I suppose this is enough of my talk on that," Mrs. Barnaby leaned over the counter to grab a ruler. "Now, what sort of dress do you ladies wish to look for today?"

"Oh, we are not here to shop for dresses," Georgiana answered. "Mary wishes to deliver a letter to a friend in London, and I thought that you might know of a person who departs for there soon."

"You do know where to go to get what you want, Georgiana." Mrs. Barnaby remarked. "Both of you are quite fortunate, for my eldest son, Roland's, wife is leaving this very evening for London! She has helped me with some of the latest gowns that I have in stock. I am most certain she shall deliver the letter for you."

"Thank you," Mary handed her the letter. "You are right. It is very fortunate that we are in your acquaintance."

"You all are such dears, and I know not if I could have had sucha daughter!" Mrs. Barnaby commented and read who the letter was addressed to. "A Mr. Thomas Richardson. Richardson? That name sounds so very familiar..."

"I do believe that Roland knows a Mr. Thomas Richardson," a women emerged from a back room. "He works at the university, I believe."

"Yes, that is the man I write to." Mary acknowledged. "However does Mrs. Barnaby's son know Mr. Richardson?"

"My husband works at the university as well."

"Oh, Roland was always such an intellectual! Such a gifted little boy, I do recall…"

"We often have him dine with us for supper. As far as I have heard, the man has nothing but his studies. It must be a lonely life."

"Well, it does appear as if the man might not be so alone in due time." Mrs. Barnaby winked at Mary. "Is he an affectionate man, Miss Bennet?"

"I know not enough of him to tell you," Mary replied. "But he is perfectly amiable, and cares greatly for literature."

"Mary is modest," Georgiana told Mrs. Barnaby. "Why, the man is half in love with her! He called upon her and stuttered so very terribly while in her presence, for fear of saying the wrong thing!"

"Georgiana, I know not if that is why he stuttered so!"

"Yes, Thomas always did have trouble with speaking eloquently, for he grows nervous all too quickly." Mrs. Roland Barnaby agreed. "But he is a dear, I do promise you that. He shall be most sincere and I am sure that he shall provide you with much sweetness and endearments."

"I barely know the man," Mary told them all. "You need not speculate so."

"Oh, but I must live vicariously through those I love!" Georgiana answered. "There be no love in my life to uphold and giggle of, so I must find contentment in the excitement of those close to me."

"You are still so very young, Georgiana." Mary replied. "You need not worry of such things quite yet."

"You are not even two years my senior, Mary." Georgiana reminded. "And you have had your fair share of love."

"Please, do not do me the injustice of calling those previous affairs love." Mary laughed. "It was all a bunch of silliness after all."

"Whatever does she mean?" Mrs. Barnaby inquired. "Are my girls already growing up? So soon? Why, I feel myself half in the grave already!"

"It is nothing…"

"Mary does not take pleasure in boasting of her affairs, so I shall." Georgiana interrupted. "Within the month, Mary has encountered five potential husbands. Yes, there was first a Mr. Gallagher I do recall who was far too old with a daughter her age. Then she met Edward Pendleton, and I need not inform you of that, for you have heard enough of the topic from me already. Her dear friend William is a potential as well…"

"Georgiana, William is younger than I and already engaged! You need not consider him…"

"And William has an elder brother, Jonathan, who is more of a coquette than ever I shall be, and he proposed to her!" Georgiana grinned. "But, of course, he was far too indecent to marry, so Mary refused. Now there is Mr. Richardson, whom we all do hope she might marry. Is he not such an amiable, desirable companion, Mary?"

"It does appear as if I have no choice in the matter…"

14

Talk of Mary Bennet's past since her sisters had abandoned her in Hertfordshire made her tire of it all. She withdrew herself into the library for a few days, unable to allow herself to depart to town again, despite Georgiana's urgings that Mrs. Barnaby wished to see her again. Mary found much indulgence with poetry as her companion, and as she opened the page to John Milton's masterpieces, Georgiana burst through the door, a basket within her hands.

"Mary! Oh, Mary… you shall never guess what just came to Pemberley!"

"It does appear as if a basket arrived," Mary noted.

"Do set down your book, for I am sure this shall prove to be more enjoyable than anything within that book." Georgiana handed the basket to Mary and drew a chair to sit in front of her. "Do open it… I have been most anxious to see what its contents are."

"I do not know what nonsense has decided to come my way but…"

Mary's thoughts ended as she opened the top of the basket and found a small kitten within its depths. As dark as her hair, the creature slept soundly and opened its eyes when a hand reached for it. Beneath the kitten was a small piece of paper, which Mary picked up once Georgiana had removed the kitten.

"Oh, it is most adorable!" Georgiana patted the feline with a finger. "I do not believe any other creature might have suited you better, Mary. Cats are so very independent and they have such a regal air about them. Now I suppose you shall always have a companion by your side."

"I do suppose I shall…" Mary's eyebrows furrowed together as she read.

"Whatever does it say?" Georgiana inquired, leaning forward. "Who sent it?"

"I am not sure… it was not signed." Mary cleared her throat before reading. "But if thou wilt prove faithful then/And constant of thy word/I'll make thee glorious by my pen/And famous by my sword;/I'll serve thee in such noble ways/Was never heard before;/I'll crown and deck thee all with bays/And love thee more and more."

"My, Mr. Richardson is such a romantic!" Georgiana declared with a sigh. "It does appear as if Mrs. Barnaby's daughter-in-law was correct in her depiction of Mr. Richardson. He does provide much sweetness and endearments."

"It did not say who it was from," Mary reminded.

"Oh, but there is not another soul who might have sent you such a thing," Georgiana replied. "Only a man so knowledgeable in literature might send you a poem. I did not think him to be a poet from what I heard of you, but I suppose he might speak eloquently in pen and not in tongue."

"He did not write it," Mary responded. "It is a poem by James Graham. I believe it is called 'I'll Never Love Thee More'…"

"My, are you so well versed in poetry as well?" Georgiana laughed. "Why, I do think you both were meant for one another!"

"I cannot believe he would do such a thing for me," Mary breathed. "I barely know him."

"It takes only an instant to fall in love!" Georgiana giggled and handed Mary the kitten. "Is it not the most adorable creature you have ever beheld? Why, every time you see this little thing, you shall think of him! Of course he must have thought that when he chose to send it to you."

"I never thought myself to be one to have a pet," the kitten locked eyes with hers, and Mary smiled. "But I do feel it suits me quite well."

"Perhaps you should name it after him?" Georgiana suggested. "Mr. Richardson… it does make the cat appear rather old."

"I was thinking I might name it Graham, after the poet of this verse." The cat blinked and it was sealed. "Yes, I do think I shall name it Graham."

"I suppose it should not be a surprise that you name the creature after a poet," Georgiana shrugged. "It is a deal better than naming it Wisdom or Sensibility…"

"Why, I am not so much a bore as I was!" Mary exclaimed at Georgiana's jokes. "I am perfectly capable of being entertaining."

"Oh, I suppose you might…" Georgiana batted her eyes and a sly grin spread across her face.

"Whatever is going through your head, Georgiana Darcy?" Mary inquired. "I know well when a person is up to some trouble."

"It is no trouble at all, I am sure, unless you make it so." Georgiana giggled. "Prove it."

"Prove what? There be nothing to prove…"

"Show me you are able to entertain."

"Should I head to the music room?"

"No, no! Please, I have had enough music!" Georgiana begged. "No, I think that you should host a gathering. You may decide on what it may be, for I shall not constrict you to plan a ball when you abhor such things…"

"I am glad that you realize that."

"So you shall do it?"

"It does appear as if I have no choice," Mary looked down at her new friend, who had begun to purr in her hand. "So, Graham, what do you suggest?"

"My, if you wait for an answer, Mary, I do think you shall never begin!"

"Who might I invite?"

"Whomever you would like."

"And if they do not attend?"

"Then I suppose you should make it appear interesting enough for them to not miss the opportunity."

"Perhaps I should host lunch and tea at Pemberley?" Mary suggested. "It shall be a picnic. There could be croquette, and I shall have music if anyone does wish to dance, and… my… you must help me on how to entertain the guests from there, Georgiana."

"I suppose I could offer some assistance," Georgiana grinned. "It does sound delightful, Mary. And Pemberley is known for its lovely landscaping and gardens. I do wonder why my brother and I never hosted such a gathering…"

"You both do not detest balls so much as I," Mary laughed. "So I suppose we shall be quite occupied these next few days?"

"Of course!" Georgiana clapped her hands. "Let us not waste another moment, Mary. We should be off to tell the servants to send out some invitations. Naturally, Mr. Richardson shall be invited."

"Mr. Richardson could not possibly leave his work to attend such a thing."

"Do not be so certain. Men do find themselves acting rather rashly when in love. Every moment appears so very valuable, and they are not so patient the type to miss an opportunity to spend with those that their heart calls for."

"And I should take your word, for you are erudite in love?"

"It is what living vicariously does to you, Mary. You might never have experienced such a sensation before in your life, but it enables you to know all that is possible to know on the subject."

"I know not the first thing of love," Mary looked down, remembering the words that were spoken to her so candidly before she had departed for Pemberley. "So I shall take your word in regards to it all."