It all happened at Hatchard's

Georgiana Darcy was over her false romance with George Wickham, but he was not over his true passion for her dowry. When he sees her entering Hatchard's book store, he believes that he has a way to get what he wants... until another young woman intervenes.

Enough is enough!

Mary did not know whether to be relieved or furious. She was not one who listened at doors, but she was trimming her own little garden plot outside of the morning room and the window was open when Mr. Collins informed Mrs. Bennet of his intention to marry one of her daughters. For the briefest of moments, Mary had a thrill because she had always wanted to be in ministry. Marriage to a parson was surely the best avenue for that, correct?

Of course this particular minister left much to be desired. He seemed to have only the most passing of acquaintances with hygiene, for one thing. He also seemed to quote his "most noble patroness" much more than he quoted his Bible. He had quoted Fordyce several times, but Mary could not help but notice that he used it more like a bludgeon to force women into submission than to uplift them. Perhaps Lizzy was right in her assertions about Fordyce after all?

It came as no surprise when the Mr. Collins expressed his interest in Jane first. Every man who ever entered this community for the past seven years at least focused first on Jane. She was more beautiful than anyone else Mary had ever seen. And to be fair her heart was just as beautiful... if also a little naive.

Naturally Mama turned the man away from her Jane by presenting the fiction that her eldest daughter was soon to be engaged. She then offered the man his choice of the other four. Mary was still uncertain about her own feelings on the matter, but in this she wanted at least to be considered. And of course, despite her spending the day in an effort to attract the man's attention, he instead fixated on her sister Elizabeth.

Lizzy was a wonderful person and a fine sister, but she would never, even for a moment, consider marrying a man like Mr. Collins. She thought herself far to clever for such a man for one thing. And she would never suit such a life for another.

Mary should have resigned herself, but as the day wore on and she continued to be invisible to both Mr. Collins and her parents, she began to become angry. And for her anger she needed an outlet. That outlet, of course, was the family pianoforte. Lizzy had always tried to help her to play with more emotion... well she was playing with emotion now!

It was a rare moment indeed when her father, Mr. Bennet, emerged from his study. He had specifically sent Mr. Collins into Meryton with four out of the five Bennet girls just so that he could enjoy his peace and quiet. But on this afternoon his middle daughter's pounding on the instrument was acting like a hammer to his head. Finally he bookmarked his dog-eared copy of Socrates and went out into the drawing room.

"Mary... MARY! I think that you have entertained me quite enough for one aftern..." Mr. Bennet stopped his scolding when he saw the tears rolling down his most phlegmatic daughter's face. Mr. Bennet could not be called a good father by any stretch, but he did love all of his daughter's in his own way. He took a seat beside her on the bench and softly asked, "What troubles you, Mary?"

"I will never be first! I am hardly even noticed!"

"That is not true..."

"Yes it is! Do you know anything about me other than that I read Fordyce and cannot play well no matter how hard I practice? Anything? No! Mother has her favorites. You have your favorite. At least Kitty has Lydia, as questionable a blessing as that is. But I may as well not exist. Even Mr. Collin's, who is not a person others would seek out, has fixated on Elizabeth for his bride, with Mother's blessing!"

Thomas Bennet looked alarmed and began thinking, but Mary interrupted his thoughts, "You See! As soon as I told you that, you forgot about me and began planning on how to redirect Mr. Collins away from Lizzy! Papa, I need to get away from here!"

"What do you mean?"

"Jane and Lizzy always to London and the Gardiners. May I go to London?"

Mr. Bennet felt guilty because Mary had caught him out. He had immediately begun worrying about Elizabeth. "Mary, I am sorry that you feel this way, and I admit that much of it is my fault. If you wish, I will send an express to your aunt and uncle. If they agree, I will send you by carriage for as long as they agree. A change might just do you good. I know that I can always trust you, even as far away as London."

When Mrs. Bennet was informed of this on the following evening, her only comment, after the briefest of hesitations, was that it was a good idea, "It is not like Mary has any suitors here. Imagine, a month full without her pounding away that terrible pianoforte! Let her go, of course. She will be in nobody's way in London."

~oOo~

Mary could not understand now why she had always been so resistant about leaving Longbourn, even to the point of refusing invitations to visit the Gardiners when it was her turn. How many opportunities had she missed? How had she not known how different, how welcoming, and how peaceful the Gardiners home was in comparison with her own. Was this why her older sisters, Jane and Lizzy, were so much different than the younger sisters... even, she admitted, herself? I have been a fool!

First, her Aunt Maddie had taken her to her modiste and had her fitted for several modest but much more stylish dresses. Then her aunt had made her sit down with her personal maid to allow the woman to "show you how pretty you truly are." The result, an hour later, left Mary almost gasping. She recognized herself in her mirror, but the person looking back was pretty! In fact, she looked more like her sister Elizabeth than she had ever realized... but with a touch of Jane thrown in. It was... it was both disconcerting and thrilling!

Then there was the conversation that she had with her aunt just the previous day:

"Mary, I want you to know how much I, young Uncle, and our children have been enjoying your visit so far," Mary tensed, suddenly afraid that this was a prelude to being sent away. That fear was dispelled with her next sentence, "And we would like you to consider extending your stay for a longer period... perhaps even into the New Year? You seem much happier here..."

They want me? They want me to stay? The tears came without permission. In fact, Mary was too overwhelmed to even feel their paths down her cheeks until her kind aunt reached up and gently brushed them off her cheeks. Mary could not speak. Instead she threw herself into Aunt Maddie's arms and sobbed in gratitude and happiness.

Mary was eventually tucked in bed to recover from her emotional exhaustion. When she did arise and she sheepishly appeared downstairs, she was greeted warmly by one and all. Nobody in the household ever mentioned her embarrassing breakdown again.

The couple did, however, sit Mary down and speak with her about important matters, such as lessons, masters, and reading material. Mary was overjoyed at the idea of a music master, but less receptive about the other lessons. She relented quickly, however, first for fear of losing her welcome, but then because it was the first time that anyone other than her two big sisters ever offered to teach her anything.

The question of reading material was a more contentious issue. Her father had teased her about Fordyce. Her mother and younger sisters had ridiculed her about it. Jane was distantly supportive. Elizabeth had tried in vain to introduce any number of other reading options. Mary had resisted them all. But when kindly Uncle Edward took her into his library and began to gently direct her reading focus, her resistance was only token.

Oddly enough for a girl who had been so reluctant to pry herself from the confines of Longbourn and Meryton, the subjects which captured her attention the most were geography and travel. Suddenly, for the first time in her life, she felt the confidence to dream about going to new places, meeting new people, and seeing the wonders of the world.

When she wasn't reading about new places or poring over her uncle's maps and atlases, she was listening to his stories. As a young man, instead of attending school he had been apprenticed as a clerk to a man who represented a large import/export business. By the time he was eight and ten he had visited many different countries on the continent, on the coasts of Africa, and even once in the New World, shadowing the agent and recording every transaction.

It was only natural that when he was of-age, he became a purchasing agent himself. It was also only natural that he took the opportunity to begin his own trading house as soon as he could find the funds and the investors to support him. Mary was fascinated to hear all that he had done and bewildered that anyone should look down on such a man for conducting honorable business dealings. She also finally understood why her sister Lizzy took every opportunity to travel with her aunt and uncle on their vacations. She only wished that the warmer days of spring and summer would arrive so that she could do the same.

Until then she would read and study and practice and learn and... most of all... dream.

~oOo~

Georgiana Darcy was stretching her boundaries.

For a year after Ramsgate she had hidden herself away like a frightened, scolded child. She had become skittish around everyone, especially men, and even her own brother. She knew that he had tried to reach her, to recover their lost relationship, but for some reason her melancholy would always take her and she would pull away again.

On this day, however, she was determined to spread her wings and prove to herself that she was strong again. Mrs. Annesley was off visiting her daughter. The daughter had stopped off with her husband and infant girl with relatives even though Georgiana had tried to insist that they stay at Darcy House. Neither Mrs. Annesley nor her daughter's family were willing to impose, however, so Georgiana's companion was away for two days.

It was expected, perhaps even implied, that Georgiana would remain locked away at Darcy House... but it had never been clearly stated. The Matlocks, so far as Georgiana knew, were already wintering at their country estate. Her brother was visiting his friend at his new estate in Hertfordshire. And her other guardian, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, was off on training maneuvers somewhere in the south part of England. The end result was that Georgiana was without adult supervision. But she was an adult, was she not? Her brother and cousin wanted her to grow up, so why not prove to one and all that she was ready?

~oOo~

George Wickham was actually glad to be away from the cloying smallness of Meryton and the _shire Militia for a day or two. Certainly, he could have attended the ball at Netherfield Park without fear. After all, Darcy had already made a poor name for himself even before George set about completely assassinating the man's character. If any confrontation had taken place, the good people of the community would unquestionably take his side. It was delicious irony.

And yet as the date of the ball drew near, he had decided that discretion was almost certainly the better part of valor. Darcy would be angry if he attended. He would be doubly angry if Miss Elizabeth Bennet paid George all her attention. George had seen that look in his enemy's eyes when he looked at the toothsome young woman that first day; just before Darcy had seen him and almost suffered an apoplexy. To show up at the ball and take liberties with the wench that Darcy desired... that would be marvelous indeed.

But Wickham could never forget the one time that his former friend had all but dragged him onto the floor at 13 Bond Street, Gentleman Jackson's boxing school. As children they have often engaged in all manner of martial sports and George had always come out on top. Once Darcy outgrew his awkward years, however, George had conveniently withdrawn from such childish activities. But he was still certain that he could best the man now.

It was only after he stood on the floor facing his opponent that he learned that Darcy had discovered his latest scheme. He had seduced the daughter of a jeweler by using Darcy's name and promising marriage. It had been a fine time and the chit had gifted him with several salable trinkets from her father's shop before the foolish light-skirt had become with child. It was obvious now that her father had sought out Darcy.

By the time they carried George off the floor that afternoon, he knew that his days of dominating his god-brother were well and truly over. He also knew that his dislike of the uptight and moral boy had now turned into pure hatred for the man. Fear can do that, after all. It was not the last time that George used his enemy's name, but it was the last time he did it within reach of the man.

Last summer he had almost succeeded in binding himself to the Darcy fortunes forever by eloping with foolish little Georgiana. Then the bloody man had showed up two days too soon, ruining everything once again! George had fled, but he vowed revenge... and now he had taken back at least a small portion by soiling his enemy's name and stealing the man's love interest. It was not enough, though! It would never be enough till Darcy was penniless and HE was Master of Pemberley!

On that particular morning he was seated outside of a corner cafe, sipping a too-expensive coffee while watching for suitable prey. It had been easy enough to secure the role of post rider by claiming he was needed in London anyway. Since the others wished to attend the ball, he was chosen. Now he was in mufti instead of his lieutenant's uniform. In Meryton the uniform got him noticed and even earned him a few private favors from the foolish country girls. In London soldiers, even officers, were a ha'penny a dozen unless they were colonels or generals. Besides, if he intended to desert, then being seen first in uniform was a poor strategy... and he would need to desert soon.

He had been so welcomed in Meryton and so trusted by the foolish shopkeepers that he had already managed to overextend. Usually he tried to be careful so as to stretch out his stay at any one location for long enough to find a new location. But this time he had already amassed enough debt, both from shopping and from debts of honor, to place himself into serious danger. It was time to find a new situation. That was why he was shopping for a rich widow or a bored, wealthy wife to entertain.

But lo and behold, the richest quarry of all was walking into Hatchard's, just across the street... and all alone...

~oOo~

Hugh Fitzwilliam, Viscount Atherton, was just returning from solicitor's office after purchasing a choice piece of property which adjoined his own estate when he saw a footman in Darcy livery being admitted into his parent's town home. Darcy's out of town, but Georgie's there. I wonder what she wants? His cousin had been almost frighteningly withdrawn for the past year. She had always been a shy girl, but now she was almost a recluse. If she was reaching out, Hugh wanted to help. He hurried up the steps.

Five minutes later he was rushing out again. Oh, you foolish girl! What can you mean going shopping without anyone to watch over you? Hasn't your brother made it clear enough how dangerous it is for a beautiful young heiress to be unprotected! Lord, I hope she did go to Hatchard's after all!

~oOo~

Mary shook her head at her uncle in fond amusement as he engaged in a lively exchange with the proprietor of the most famous bookstore in London. Uncle Gardiner had the good fortune be personally approached by a long-time friend to help in the disposal of the furnishings, trinkets, and other items inside an otherwise condemned estate passed on by a distant relative. The deceased, a widower of many decades, had withdrawn from society completely, but had exercised his wealth to fill his lonely estate with whatever might tickle his fancy... and the items which tickled his fancy the most were books.

Mary had assisted her uncle for the past week in cataloging everything, and now she was accompanying him in his efforts to find the best buyers for the various collections. Mary's first thought was for her father, whose love of books was also legendary. Her aunt's firm words dispelled that notion entirely, "Your father needs to concern himself with security for your mother and dowries for you girls. He does not need more books until he has done what is right and proper for his family." Mary had been startled to hear the words, but soon saw the rectitude of the assertion.

So instead she and Uncle Edward were at Hatchard's, where the proprietor was vacillating between drooling over the list of books and haggling her uncle down for the best price. Since her uncle and Mr. Hatchard were actually good friends, their haggling was more entertaining than heated. Meanwhile she was in the most famous bookstore in England, so she wandered off to browse.

Hatchard's was not only stylish and well-ordered, but it was also huge. It was larger in square footage than Longbourn in fact, and spanned three floors. She had her own money, partial payment for her help over the past week. First she went to the geography shelves, where she found an atlas that she had previously drooled over. It was large and unwieldy, but it was also comprehensive and beautifully illustrated. Having secured that treasure, she then headed towards the music section.

It was as she approached those shelves that she heard a young woman's fearful yet defiant voice, "Go away, Mr. Wickham, and leave me alone. I am no longer a little child, fooled by your lies. My brother has not only filled me in on the full catalog of your sins, but I also heard enough from your own mouth when he confronted you. So leave, now."

"Georgie, Goergie, you know how much I love you. We are meant to be together. You were ready to elope with me just a year ago."

Mary stepped around the corner silently to see if help was required. She had read about women being importuned, but until this moment she had never been witness to it. What should I do? If I run for my uncle, it may be too late. If I summon a clerk, a scene will ensue and the poor girl's reputation will be ruined.

"No, Mr. Wickham. I was young and incredibly stupid to believe the lies of a childhood friend I thought I could trust. But I know what you are now. You are the worst sort of scoundrel and rake. Now leave before I scream and have you arrested."

"Now, now, Georgie, you know perfectly well that if you scream, it will be your reputation that will be ruined. Then you will have to marry me anyway. That works in my favor, so..."

George Wickham started to move forward as Georgiana began to move back, but she was trapped against a wall between two tall bookshelves. How could I have been so stupid!?

Wickham, seeing her fear and desperation, smirked. But then something rectangular, large, and very heavy came crashing down on the man's head. As Georgiana watched, Wickham's eyes rolled back and his tall frame crumpled to the floor. She looked up to see a girl of her age, maybe slightly older, torn between shock, mortification, and satisfaction. Then the girl surprised her by letting out a small cry of dismay, "Oh dear, I've broken the binding!"

Behind her a male voice chuckled and said, "I believe that atlas has rendered good enough service to earn it's price. I would be happy to replace it for you."

Both young ladies looked at this new character in their little play. Georgie rushed forward, "Cousin Hugh! I'm so sorry! I wanted to prove that I wasn't frightened anymore and instead all that I have done is prove what a fool I truly am. If it hadn't been for..."

Mary had been moving her sorrowful gaze between the broken atlas and the handsome man, but hearing the girl's unspoken prompt, she furnished, "My name is Mary Bennet, of Longbourn in Herrtfordshire." Not knowing what else to do, she attempted a curtsy, though the weight of the atlas almost overset her.

The curtsey was returned, "Pleased to meet you, Miss Bennet. My name is Georgiana Darcy and this is my cousin, Hugh Fitzwilliam, Lord Atherton."

For his part, Hugh also bowed, "I am prodigiously pleased to meet such a stalwart young lady, Miss Bennet. And while I wish to thank you profusely for your part in my cousin's safety, I fear that we must first deal with the matter before us," he gestured to the body sprawled on the floor between the shelves of music. "This is a popular section of the store and it is only a matter of time before others come to peruse these treasures."

Neither Mary nor Georgiana were the most self-confident of ladies, but Mary's recent exposure to the Gardiners had done much to show her the benefits of decisive action. "Lord Atherton, if I might..."

Both Hugh and Georgiana looked to her expectantly, "My friend, Miss Darcy, and I have looked over these shelves and seen little new to our liking. I think it best that we return to my uncle at the proprietor's desk where he has most likely concluded his business with Mr. Hatchard. I understand that you still wish to browse, but if you would care to collect your cousin when you have completed your perusal, you could collect her from my uncle's house...?"

Hugh was already impressed with what this pretty young lady had done for his cousin. Now he was even more impressed with her intelligent solution to removing Georgiana from the scene of a potential compromise. He looked to Georgiana, who actually seemed shyly enthusiastic. When she nodded, he turned back to Miss Bennet and met those chocolate eyes, "I thank you for your understanding. Some of us require more time to browse, being of a more indecisive sort."

He grinned and Mary felt something happen inside of her that was both thrilling and uncomfortable, perhaps even frightening. He was a very handsome man... but he was also a peer. She might admire him from afar, but that was as far as it could go. I am grateful that my mother is not here now. She would have shoved me aside to push Jane or Lydia at him. "Very well, Sir. I think it best that Miss Darcy and I remove to the first floor, but Mr. Hatchard will have the address waiting for you."

The girls left and Lord Atherton summoned a clerk to alert him to the body of the man blocking the music shelves. He suggested that it might be best to have the constable sent for, "There is something suspicious about this man. I would recommend confining him until you know his true identity. There has been a rash of thefts lately and in the reports the culprit bears more than a passing resemblance to this man in height, build, and appearance."

"Certainly, My Lord," the worried clerk answered before rushing off to send for assistance.

When Hugh presented himself downstairs at the proprietor's desk, the older man smiled at him and handed over the written address, "Good day, Lord Atherton. I was not aware that Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet were friends. Miss Bennet is a fine young lady and a good choice for your cousin to spend time with. Here is the address."

Taking the paper, Hugh was startled to note the address was in a less than prestigious neighborhood. He knew from her introduction that the pretty Miss Bennet was the daughter of a landed gentleman, "I have met Miss Bennet, of course, Mr. Hatchard. What can you tell me about her uncle?"

Mr. Hatchard spoke freely about Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. He provided a very warm recommendation indeed, which allayed most of Hugh's worst fears even before he stepped up to the door of a very fine, respectable looking house. What he found once he was admitted only served to please him more. The Gardiners everything that was respectable, well-spoken, and genteel; completely the opposite of what he had heard to expect from people in trade. The house was well-kept, well-ordered, and welcoming. The servants, those he saw, were well-trained and efficient. In summary, he could place this home in the middle of Mayfair and it would not suffer by comparison to its neighbors.

More importantly, his cousin, though she had gone through a harrowing ordeal only an hour before, was now sitting with the pretty Miss Bennet, perusing music scores and attempting duets. Hugh knew that he would have to have a long talk with his young cousin, but it could wait. For the moment his eyes seemed determined to fix themselves on Miss Mary Bennet.

Mary was aware of this and her eyes seemed just as determined to stray from her new friend and the music to fix on the handsome lord. She knew now that Georgiana's cousin... they had already agreed to be on a first-name basis... was a viscount, heir to an earldom. As if that was not discouraging enough, he was also ridiculously handsome, with blond, curly hair, a chiseled face, and blue eyes. He was also tall, with broad shoulders and a trim waist. In essence, he was all that a man should be... which meant that he would never consider her. Mary was startled to have such a thought, since she had never seriously considered any man except for Mr. Collins as a potential marriage partner... and even that man had not given her a second glance.

But Lord Atherton was giving Mary more than a second glance. In fact, by the end of their impromptu visit, he had engaged in several interesting discussions with her. He learned that she was the middle of five sisters. He learned that she was of a religious bent, but had lately found a new interest in geography... hence the large atlas which had served so well. And he learned, through reading between the lines, that Miss Mary Bennet considered herself the most disregarded of the Bennet daughters.

Georgiana returned to Matlock House that evening instead of Darcy House, where she endured a very thorough scolding followed by the first of many honest and open conversations with her older cousin. In the past, due to their age difference and Hugh's responsibilities, the two cousins had not been very close. By the end of that evening they had begun a closeness that would endure for the remainder of their days. Two agreements had come from their discussions: Georgiana would never do something that foolish ever again and Hugh would intervene between Georgiana's brother and companion when both returned. So far as anyone else knew (except the Darcy housekeeper) Georgiana had spent a pleasant day with her cousin.

To add veracity to this story, the two cousins did in fact spend many happy days visiting. Once Mrs. Annesley returned to their duties, these daily visits also included the exchanging of visits between Matlock House, Darcy House, and Gracechurch Street. Fitzwilliam Darcy was not best pleased with this situation when he arrived, but when he saw his withdrawn sister's new liveliness, he could not make himself intervene.

The visits with Georgiana were not Hugh's only visits to Gracechurch Street. As much as he came to like and respect the Gardiners, he found himself more and more drawn to Miss Mary. She, in turn, had to suspend disbelief as the handsome peer continued in his attentions to her. Whenever she began to doubt the situation, her dear aunt was there to help her overcome her almost crippling fears. Yet Hugh continued to visit and she continued see him at Darcy House or Matlock House right up to the day that he asked for her hand in marriage.

It is not the purpose of this story to relate all of the different and varied characters who entered, left, or tried to interfere with this quiet courtship. It is apropos to present two important meetings:

Though the Earl and Countess had already withdrawn to their estate for the winter, when they learned of their eldest son's romantic interest, they made the return journey from Derbyshire to London. Mary had fully expected this meeting to result in the end of any relationship between her and her wonderful suitor, which had her near to tears. Instead Lady Matlock, who had despaired of ever marrying off her sons, welcomed the girl with open arms. The Earl, who had perhaps hoped for a more illustrious marriage, saw the writing on the wall and added his own welcome. Once he made that decision, he quickly came to like the quiet young woman who finally made his son smile.

The second meeting was instructive, not for Mary, but for her sisters Elizabeth and Jane. The Matlocks descended, en mass, on Longbourn, accompanied by the Gardiners. Since Bingley had yet to assert his own will and return, Darcy was able to easily convince him to allow the Matlocks to re-open the house (Miss Bingley was not notified of any of this, since Charles had chosen to remove to Whites for the duration of his stay in London).

Elizabeth, in a private meeting with Mary and her dear friend Georgiana, learned some home-truths about George Wickham. She also began to see a new Mr. Darcy with his sister and his relatives. He, in turn, realized that his cousin's betrothal to Miss Mary removed many of the impediments that initially sent him away. Forced together by circumstance, the couple began to overcome their rocky beginnings. Theirs was not an easy courtship, but eventually they moved beyond mutual attraction into something which eventually led to love. The rest of their two families chose to step back and watch the pair with amusement. Even Mrs. Bennet, the consummate matchmaker, chose to keep her hands off that particular situation.

Jane had her own moment of revelation when she met a true man in the person of Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. Where Bingley was amiable, Richard was personable. Where Bingley was ebullient but vapid, Richard was amusing, but with a depth of character which spoke to Jane. And where Bingley was somewhat puppyish, the Colonel commanded respect naturally wherever he went. Most of all, where Jane had difficulty in displaying her interest and affection to Bingley, she found it impossible to hide her fascination and deepening feelings for the good Colonel.

Lady Matlock found most of the quirks of the Bennet family to be more amusing than concerning. She did, however, impose her considerable force of personality towards seeing both of the youngest Bennet girls sent off to a proper school. But she also personally sponsored both young ladies to the school, helped them with their wardrobes, and demanded regular reports. As the carrot she promised to also personally sponsor them for their coming out for a Season in Town with Georgianaa if they behaved and applied themselves to their lessons.

Happy was the year that the Countess of Matlock married of her two sons in marriage to two of the Bennet girls. Almost equal was her joy when she married off her stubborn nephew to his equally stubborn bride. The Ton watched on in amazement and dismay when this unknown family managed to remove three of the most eligible men from their ranks. It is only natural that they watched with equal interest and dismay when two more beautiful Bennet daughters had their coming out with Miss Georgiana Darcy. All three followed the leading of their older sisters, who still maintained that love and respect were the only true meters by which to judge the efficacy of a marriage.

It is necessary at this point to take a moment to write of George Wickham. After his unexplained accident at Hatchards, he never returned to Meryton or the militia. It seems that the vigorous application of an overly large and hardbound atlas to the head may result in chronic headaches and occasional vertigo. When no charges were brought against the young man, he was released to return to his unit. Sadly a bout of vertigo caused him to step out in front of a fast-moving coach and six. The result was... unpleasant... and rather final. Of course the only people who mourned his passing were all of those who still held unpaid debts.

In epilogue...

As this tale is about Mary, the historian will take a moment to write concerning the decades which followed. Mary Fitzwilliam, nee Bennet, became the Viscountess Atherton at the age of eighteen. Though the Ton was not welcoming initially, the unwavering love and support of her Matlock parents made it difficult, if not perilous, for her detractors to do much against her. Over time the support of her loving husband, the Matlocks, Darcys, and Gardiners gave her the self-confidence to withstand all of the slings and arrows that others might aim in her direction. It was, quite thankfully, many years before Mary assumed the title of Countess of Matlock. By then there very few who would dare to question her suitability for the role.

Mary's passion for travel was shared by her loving husband and later by their children. With the end of the war on the continent as well as the war between Britain and the U.S., the couple was free to travel the world. Sometimes they made those journeys at the behest of the Crown and Parliament, as ambassadors or representatives. More often they made their journeys for the pure love of going to new places. Their first son was born in Cairo. Their first daughter was born in Rome. Their second daughter was born in Jamaica. Their second son was born in Sydney. Then, just for novelty, their final child, a daughter, was born at their country estate.

Though Mary kept in contact with her sisters, the bulk of her correspondence and visits were with Georgiana. They maintained a deep and abiding friendship till their final days. Mary also kept up a somewhat distant relationship with her parents until their passing, but both she and Hugh would always think of Edward and Madeline Gardiner as her true parents of the heart.

Whenever people tour the Matlock estate, one of the most prominently displayed items is a large, ornately illustrated atlas listed as being the personal property of Mary Fitzwilliam, the Fifth Countess of Matlock. Everyone who knows of the globe-spanning travels of the couple assumes that it represents her travels. Only the family knows of the true and valuable service that the atlas rendered.