I don't own Pride and Prejudice
Elizabeth woke the next morning to find herself wrapped in her husband's strong embrace. She blushed when she realized neither of them was dressed. She was surprised how much she had enjoyed what they had done last night, having heard such differing accounts of the act itself.
She felt him stir next to her, and turned in his arms, being greeted with a sleepy smile. "How are you feeling this morning my dear."
"I feel wonderful, however, I ask that you not call me My Dear." She saw his confused look, "That is what my parents call each other, and I think we can both agree that the less similarities in our marriage to theirs the better."
"I believe that is a fair enough request." He smiled at her, "How did you enjoy the ball last night?"
"It was mostly enjoyable, however, there is one thing I should like to speak to you about." He sat up, giving her his full attention, so she sat up as well, covering herself as she did so. She told him if the Baron and his propositioning her.
She saw her husband's entire body stiffen, but when he cupped her cheek, his touch was gentle. "He will never touch you." He then took a breath, "I know how relationships of the Ton work, but it is my hope that your and I will not follow that trend."
"That is my hope as well, and I told him that I was most emphatically not interested." She informed her husband.
She really shouldn't have been surprised when Baron Something or other was announced, and she discreetly asked the footman to ask her husband to join them. She had scheduled visiting hours for this morning, her first ones having finally settled in. It helped that she felt her first two official outings into the ton had gone well enough. She had been nervous that she hadn't done her part well enough to uphold the Darcy name, but the steady flow of visitors spoke differently. Granted, most of said visitors were untitled, there were still some respectable guests. There were also a few titled guests, but those were mostly women with sons to marry off looking to make a connection with Georgiana, or married ladies who had no need to feel threatened of as if she stole something from them.
"Mrs Darcy, you are looking as beautiful as ever." The Baron said with a flourish, and the other ladies who had come to pay visits all tittered behind their tea cups.
"You are to kind sir." She said, as she poured him a cup of tea. "Miss Clark, I heard you say you visited a museum the other day. How did you enjoy it?"
The young woman seemed shocked to be noticed, but also wasn't given a chance to answer, as the Baron cut her off, "Tis only the truth, I assure you."
"I thank you for the compliment then." She answered before turning back to the now blushing young lady. "Mr Darcy and I have been trying to find activities our sisters, Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet, would enjoy, and I wondered if maybe you thought this would be one of them."
She smiled at her husband when he entered the room, and prepared his tea when he approached them, glad to see the Baron back off. "Mr Darcy, won't you join us? I have just found out that Miss Clark has visited the new exhibit at the museum, and I was hoping to get her thoughts on it. I am hopeful it is something we could take Georgiana and Kitty to see."
"If Miss Clark deems it appropriate I am sure the girls would love an outing." He said, and Miss Clark seemed to shrink more into herself. Elizabeth had seen Miss Clark at the ball the night before, and was so reminded of her sister Mary that her heart went out to the poor girl.
Miss Clark too had a younger sister who was out, and obviously the apple of their parents' eye. Miss Amelia Clark, was more outgoing than her older sister, and not afraid to put her down to make herself seem more important. She was eager for marriage, and had more than once said that her hope was to marry before her sister, and see her sister become an old maid.
Miss Clark, was just as pretty as her sister, but lacked the confidence to put herself out there, obviously never having been encouraged by her parents. While her sister was a classic beauty, she, like Elizabeth, Mary, and Kitty was darker in her coloring. She also tended to wear colors that didn't flatter said coloring, likely because they were considered fashionable.
"I thought it was very enjoyable." The younger girl finally said.
"Perhaps if you are not busy sometime this week you could accompany us." Elizabeth said making the girl's eyes fly open in shock, to be so singled out, "I believe there is some benefit in having someone familiar with the exhibit with us, you will now best where to start."
"She would be honored Mrs Darcy." Mrs Clark answered for her daughter. Elizabeth was glad to see that unlike her own mother, the woman had the sense not to try and invite her and her other daughter along.
Elizabeth then had another idea, "Sometimes my sisters and I enjoy a sort of game, where we try and wear similar colors. I think it would be delightful to do so for our outing, what do you think Miss Clark, would purple be a fun color for us to wear?" Everyone was keyed into the conversation now, and purple was not in fashion at the time, but Elizabeth thought it would look well on the young woman. "I know Miss Darcy just had a lovely lilac day dress just made, and I have been dying to see her in it."
She thought the color would be most becoming on the young lady, and would not be surprised if Miss Clark had a new lilac dress made for her within the next few days. She hid her smile behind her tea cup, practically seeing the mother taking notes. "I shall send you the date and time when we decide to go."
Visiting hours ended shortly after that, Elizabeth having no idea as to when the Baron made his exit.
The ladies of the house had just sat down to work on their stitching project for the tenant children, while Fitzwilliam read, when Mrs Wilkes came bustling into the room. "Pardon me Madam, there is a young woman here claiming to be your sister. Said she was sent by your parents, but was not dropped off by a carriage, and had no maid or footman with her."
"She arrived alone!" Elizabeth gasped as she stood, Fitzwilliam on his feet as well, following her as she rushed to the entry way to find Mary sitting in a chair, sobbing into her hands.
"Wilkes, have the carriage ready at first light" the butler nodded, "Mrs Wilkes, please have the room next to Georgiana's prepared for Miss Mary, and the room next to Miss Catherine's for Miss Bennet, I will be retrieving her tomorrow."
Elizabeth gave her husband a grateful smile, while continuing to try and calm her younger sister down, as Mary sobbed in her arms, clinging to her for dear life. "Mary dear, you're soaked, and shivering. Come, let's get you changed into something warmer." She hoped that getting Mary alone would help her calm down and open up to her. "Would you please tell the girls we will be down in a bit." Her husband nodded before turning to return to the parlor with Kitty and Georgiana.
She lead Mary up to her room, and pulled a pale blue dress from her wardrobe. She called Emma while she waited for her sister to change, and before long Mary was looking much better, and seemed to have collected herself.
"Now, what has happened?" She asked once Emma left, and was disappointed to see Mary's lip tremble.
"Oh Lizzy, I'm such a failure." She burst into tears again, and Elizabeth pulled her into her arms to comfort her.
"I am sure you are no such thing." She said gently, "Why don't you tell me what gave you such an idea."
"Mama told me to make sure I was the one to catch Mr Collins since Papa sent you and Kitty away." Mary began, and Elizabeth held her close as she spoke. "I swear I did everything I could to engage him, but he flat out refused me, saying Papa was being most unfair to him, sending his pretty daughters away and trying to force his only ugly daughter on him."
"I hope Papa put him in his place." Elizabeth said, fully expecting their father to stand up for his children against such a slight.
"Papa said that if I didn't suit he could marry Lydia, he cared not which daughter the man took." Mary broke down sobbing, and Elizabeth felt her anger at her father turn into full on rage. That a man could be so callous of his children, just to maintain his idleness was unpardonable.
"Mama flat out refused Lydia, and continued to try and force me on him. He started dining with the Lucas's just to avoid her." She sobbed a bit harder, and Lizzy knew they were getting to the worst of her tale. "When he announced he would marry Charlotte Lucas, Mama was incensed, she told me I had failed my family. She told me that if I could not do my duty and secure Longbourn, that I should go to you and be a drain on your household. Said that at least this way more money could be spent on Lydia so that she will catch an Earl or Duke. She sent me on the post this very morning, and here I am."
"She didn't send a maid or footman with you?" Lizzy asked.
"Said she didn't have any to spare, and who would care to look twice at such a plain creature."
"You will get the idea that you are plain or ugly out of your head right now." Lizzy said as she drew her sister over to the seat at her vanity. "Look in the mirror and tell me what you see?" She asked, crouching down just enough so that her face was next to her sisters.
When Mary didn't have an answer, Elizabeth supplied it. "I see a young woman who looks very similar to how I looked at her age, and who looks like Kitty will when she reaches that age." It was true, Emma had styled Mary's hair in a way similar to Elizabeth's. With the blue dress, instead of Mary's normal drab colors, Elizabeth really saw a version of her younger self. "I see a young woman who is kind and has a big heart, though who is afraid to put herself out there, even to her family, as so many have hurt her."