Chapter 17

Cinching the girth of his horse, Michael leaned his head on the animal's body and blew out a breath. He knew he was making the right decision leaving Mary with her family while he was fighting across seas, but now that he was leaving, he was wondering if he was doing the right thing. She is going to be safe here and out of harm's way! He mind screamed to him over and over again, but his heart wanted her there with him. A nicker from a nearby stall made him raise his head. Looking down the row of stalls, he smiled when he saw Thunder shaking his head at him and pawing the stall door.

Walking over to the impatient horse, he let out a chuckle. "I am sorry boy, but Mary will not be going for a ride with me today. You will be able to see her soon I promise," he said laying a hand on his muzzle. The bay gelding had taken an instant liking to Mary, much the same way that Michael had. "Keep her safe for me Thunder. I do not know when I will return home," he replied swallowing the lump in his throat.

Striding back over to his own mount, he did not glance back. Less he see the hurt in the gentle horse's eyes; much like he would see in Mary's when he took his leave of her. Leading Juniper out of the stable, he quickly swung into the saddle, and pointed his mount towards Loughborn. As he rode along the road, he took in the beauty of the snow covered landscape. This had always been his favorite time of year, as Mother Nature put the country into hibernation. It had always been a past time of his family's to find a Christmas tree that would rival the one from the past year.

They would spend the majority of the night before decorating it and the house for Christmas and the coming New Year. This year he would miss all of that, but he would be going into the near year with the promise of a life with the woman he loved. Whistling a happy tune as they rode along, his hand absently moved to touch the little box in his pocket. He had wanted to give Mary a ring when he had proposed, but he had been in such a hurry that he had left it at home. Now in this box was the engagement ring that would remind her of him when he was away, along with another little trinket for her to hold onto.

Turning Juniper in to the drive of Loughborn, Michael smiled when he saw Colonel Fitzwilliam's horse already there. Shaking his head, he laughed. That man wasted no time at all when he finally found something to come home to. For as long as he had known Richard, all of the men had said he was a set bachelor and never intended to be tied down to a woman. Michael could not wait until the other men heard Richard's news. If Richard did not share it then he would gladly bring it up when he shared his own news.

Tying Juniper next to Richard's mount, Michael checked his pocket again, before striding up to the front door. Knocking gently he waited for someone to answer. The door opened a few seconds later and he found himself staring into the eyes of Mr. Bennet. Bowing to his future father in law, he gave the older gentleman a smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Bennet. I am here to see Mary, sir."

Giving the young man a smile, Mr. Bennet stepped aside to let him enter and get out of the cold wind. "The ladies, along with your friend are in the parlor. I will be in my bookroom if you need anything," he said with a slight chuckle.

Michael shook his head slightly as he watched Mary's father shut the door to his study. Most fathers' would have bid their betrotheds a farewell and wished them a safe journey, but not Mr. Bennet. Shaking his head again, he made his way to the parlor. Standing in the doorway, he grinned at the spectacle before him. Mrs. Bennet had somehow cornered the Colonel and was chatting excitedly about his wedding to Jane. Michael noticed that Richard kept shooting pleading looks for help at Jane, Mary, and Elizabeth, but the ladies were having too much fun watching the scene.

Jane had her hand over her mouth trying to hide her laughter, but Mary and Elizabeth were not taking any measures to hide their mirth. Folding his arms, he leveled his gaze on Mary, hoping she would sense that someone was watching them. It only took a few seconds for her eyes to drift over to where he was standing. As she took in his stance and frown of disapproval, Mary's smile faded and she quickly nudged both of her sisters.

Elizabeth and Jane glanced at Mary and then up to the doorway where she was staring. Both ladies gasped quietly when they saw him, but he swore he could still see amusement dancing in three pairs of fine eyes. Nodding his head slightly in the direction of Mrs. Bennet chatting the ear off his poor commanding officer, Michael watched as three pairs of heads nodded in agreement quickly, before Jane and Elizabeth rose to their feet to save the poor soldier.

Watching for a few moments to see if they had the situation under control, he strolled across the room. Taking a seat next to his betrothed, Michael kept staring straight ahead as he started speaking. "How did Richard get cornered by your mother and you and your sisters were silently sitting over here?" he asked and Mary saw the slightest raise of his left brow.

Pondering the answer for a few minutes, Mary wondered how best to answer the question. They had not meant to leave Colonel Fitzwilliam along with their mother, but Mrs. Hill needed all three ladies input on something, so they had excused themselves, promising to be back soon. When they entered the parlor not even five minutes later, their mother had the soldier cornered on the sofa. She had not noticed that they had arrived, back so Elizabeth had decided just to take a seat. She and Jane had no other option but to sit as well and wait for one of them to notice they were back.

"Mary?" he asked after she had been quiet for a long time.

Glancing up at Michael, Mary smiled, "Mrs. Hill needed all three of us for our input of something so we had no choice but to leave mother and Colonel Fitzwilliam alone. You can fill in the blanks on what happened while we were away."

Chuckling, Michael gave Mary a smile. "I think I can imagine what happened. Where is Lydia, Kitty, and Emily?" he asked when he did not see them in the parlor.

"They are upstairs remaking some old bonnets. None of us wanted to join them so we decided to come down here instead." Glancing at the old grandfather's clock, she asked, "When do you leave?"

Turning his full attention to her, Michael gently lifted her left hand, and placed a quick kiss to the back. Watching the color rise to her cheeks, he wished he could kiss those lips smiling up at him sweetly. "We plan on being on the rode in an hour. Is there somewhere we can talk privately? I have something I would like to give you.

Mary knew they should not break the bounds of propriety, but when he looked at her with those eyes begging her to agree, she found herself agreeing. "Yes, but we cannot stay long."

Standing to his feet, Michael held out his hand for her to take. Helping her to her feet, he shot a quick glance at Elizabeth when he noticed she was watching them. Once he saw her slight nod of her head, he knew they were safe to leave the parlor alone. Leading Mary to the little bookroom where he had asked her to marry him, he led her in. shutting the door behind them; he pulled Mary into his arms. Leaning his forehead against hers, he breathed in her scent. "I know we should not be doing this my darling, but I need to hold you for a few moments."

Impulsively Mary wrapped her arms around his waist and burrowed her head into his shirt. Her mind was screaming at her to let go and open the door, but her heart had other plans. She smiled against his chest, when she felt his lips brush the top of her forehead. Pulling back slightly, she gasped when his lips captured hers in a desperate kiss.

Michael pulled her closer when he felt her lips move hesitantly under his; once he felt her relax, moved his lips slightly until he felt her match in rhythm with his. He knew he was jeopardizing a lot kissing her like this, but he needed something to keep with him while he was over their fighting a battle. Pulling away slowly, he released her lips, and heard her whimper quietly. Chuckling quietly at her reaction, he watched her eyelids flutter open. Her blue eyes gazed up at him, filled with so much emotion for him. "I know I should not have done that Mary, but I could not resist myself."

A small smile tugged at her lips as she listened to his apology. Putting a finger to his lips, she said, "There is no need to apologize Michael. I must confess that a little part of me was hoping you would do that." She blushed slightly at the last part and he grinned at her.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the box that held her engagement ring. Opening it, he took the ring out, before putting the box back in his pocket. Grasping Mary's left hand, he slid the little gold band onto her ring finger. Lifting her hand, he placed a quick kiss to her knuckles, before lifting his face and gently grazing his lips across her cheek. "I love you Mary Bennet," he whispered huskily.

Mary lifted her eyes to his and smiled, "I love you Michael Lucas," she said with a laugh as she reached up and kissed his cheek. His beard tickled her cheek, making her laugh harder. "I will miss you while you are away," she said after a few moments of silence. She let out a little squeak as Michael pulled her quickly into his arms. Burrowing her head deeper into his chest, she breathed in his scent, and sighed.

"I promise I will write you when I have the chance. It will take longer for mail to get across the ocean, but please do not worry if it is a few weeks before you receive a letter. Darcy promised me that he would keep an eye on you and your sisters while we are overseas. I will miss you too Mary," he whispered as he brushed a kiss to the top of her head. Pulling back slightly to look into her eyes, he kissed her one last time. "We should get back to the others. Colonel Fitzwilliam and I need to be leaving in a few minutes."

"Of course," Mary said as he led her back to the parlor where the others were getting ready to say goodbye to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Grabbing Mary's clock, he settled it around her shoulders. His hands gently brushed hers as she tied the strings. Following the party outside, Michael grabbed Junipers reins and led the horse over to them. They did not have much to say goodbyes since they had to be on their way.

Hugging each of the Bennet sisters' goodbyes, Michael and Colonel Fitzwilliam promised they would write when they got settled. Watching Colonel Fitzwilliam kiss Jane quickly, he laughed when her sisters all giggled. Richard had always been a man of action, but he was glad he had said goodbye to Mary in private. Buttoning his coat higher, he realized that he had forgotten to give Mary his other present. Grabbing the little box out of his pocket, Michael walked over to her and quickly pressed the box into her hands.

Turning him quickly mounted Juniper and turned the horse down the lane. Nodding his head to Richard that they had to get going, his commanding officer quickly nodded back. Glancing over his shoulder, he gave Mary a brief smile, before turning his attention back to the road in front of him. Clucking to Juniper to get him to move forward, Michael and Colonel Fitzwilliam set out for their next battle together.

Mary huddled near Jane and Elizabeth as they watched the two men ride down the lane. Turning the box over in her hand, she glanced down at it. Carefully opening the box, Mary gasped as she gazed at a beautiful locket. Pulling it out, she opened the locket, and found herself staring in to the face of her intended. Lifting her gaze again, she felt tears run down her cheeks as they rode out of sight.

0000000

"Charles is you mad!" the red head screeched at her brother as she watched him pack his trunk. She stomped her foot as he kept throwing clothes haphazardly in the trunk without bothering to fold them and see what he was throwing in there. "There is nothing for you there. I am sure that Darcy will be back in a few weeks," she said folding her hands over her chest.

Looking up from his trunk, Bingley sighed. "I am leaving London and traveling back to Netherfield. I need to make things right with Jane Bennet. I know I love her and I want to make her my wife," he said with a huge grin.

Caroline looked at her brother for a few minutes before throwing her hands up in the air and walking out of his chamber. She knew there was no sense in trying to talk her brother out of this, but she also knew that he would probably make a fool of himself. It had been months since they had moved back to London and Jane Bennet probably already had someone knew.