Chapter 19

Winter soon faded away quickly for the residents of Loughborn and with it came the promise of new life that spring. Pulling her bonnet further down to try and keep the sun from burning her face, Mary walked quietly to her little hidden spot in the meadow. Running her fingertips along the newly blossomed flowers, she breathed in the fresh air. It had been a long winter for her and Jane, wondering each day how Colonel Fitzwilliam and Michael were faring overseas. They each had reserved one letter a few weeks after they had left, stating that they had arrived safely and that they loved them. She knew that it would be hard for them to write back and forth since it took so long for letters to travel across the ocean.

Finding a quiet spot under a tree, she opened her book, but the words just blurred together in front of her. Ever since Michael had left, she found that it took longer to finish a book, as her thoughts were always straying to her intended. Elizabeth had tried to cheer Mary and Jane up when she noticed they were down, but most days it had not worked. They had spent the winter ice skating, knitting blankets for the tenants of Loughborn, and learning how to handle the household accounts.

She loved what her sister was trying to do for them, but Elizabeth had Mr. Darcy nearby, while their intendeds were fighting overseas. Setting the book down beside her, she wondered what married life would be like married to a soldier. She knew that they could possibly be stationed anywhere in the country but she hoped it was only a few days travel from Loughborn. Wages were limited with the job, but she did not need an excess amount of money. Just enough to live comfortable and she would be happy.

Would Michael consider a different occupation, she wondered. Mary remembered from childhood how he had always said how much he loved horses and perhaps one day he would own a breeding stable and sell mounts to the military. He always said that they needed more quality bred mounts. She knew that that was his dream and she hoped one day he would be able to full fill it and be happy.

Leaning her head against the tree, she closed her eyes and sighed. Even though Michael was far away overseas, Mama was pushing her to get her wedding dress made. Mary had tried to reason with her mother that it might be months before he returned home but her mama still persisted. They had spent the last few days planning a trip to London to visit her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Mama had somehow convinced Papa to take them all to London for a week at the end of May.

Her mama may be excited to be traveling to London for a few days, but Mary was only excited to visit some bookstores. The bookstore in Meryton did not have all of the newest books and she wanted a few new ones to pass the time till Michael came home. Opening her eyes, she pushed herself away from the tree and got to her feet. Picking up her discarded book, Mary decided that she had spent enough time in her favorite meadow and her Mama would be searching the house for her to go over wedding lists.

Walking back to the house, she decided to focus on trying to keep her Mama from trying to run her wedding, maybe it would help her keep her thoughts off Michael for a few hours. Opening the front door, she was surprised when she saw Lydia running down the stairs, soon followed by Kitty.

"Lydia, give me back my pin money! I know you took it," Kitty shouted as she raced after Lydia.

Laughing over her shoulder, Lydia headed in the direction of the drawing room. Mary watched Kitty's face and noticed that her sister was set on getting her pin money back no matter what it took. Shaking her head, she decided to see if she could find Jane. Peeking her head in to the parlor, she found her Mama and Papa. Quickly retreating, Mary hoped they had not seen her. Heading in the direction of the kitchen, she soon found Jane and Elizabeth bent over the work table, labeling the perfume they had just finished making.

Clearing her throat, she smiled when Jane lifted her head and motioned her over. Glancing at the labels, she noticed that they had made rose, lavender, and rosemary scented perfume. "How did they turn out?" she asked picking up a bottle of the lavender and inhaling the scent. The sweet aroma brought her back to when Michael picked her the vase of wildflowers after he had returned home.

Putting the last label on the bottle she was holding, Elizabeth gave a bright smile, "The lavender is for you Mary, while the rosemary is for me, and the rose scented perfume is for Jane. Mr. Darcy says the rosemary scent reminds him of the rose garden at Pemberley. He has invited me to tour the estate next month, too see how I like my future home," Elizabeth blushed as Jane and Mary threw their arms around her.

Hugging her sisters tightly, Mary was happy for her older sister. She had seen how much Mr. Darcy loved her sister and how much her sister loved him in return. They were perfectly suited for each other. "I am so happy for you, Lizzy and I am sure you are going to love Pemberley. Does the rest of the family know about your understanding with Mr. Darcy?"

Handing the perfume bottle to Mary, Elizabeth shook her head, "We plan on telling everyone at dinner tonight. I wanted my two favorite sisters to be the first to know." Picking up her own bottle, she made her way out of the kitchen, heading in the direction of her room.

Uncorking the perfume bottle, Mary inhaled the perfume scent one last time as her thoughts drifted to Michael. Snatching up her book, she made her way to the drawing room, hoping no one else would disturb her.

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Setting the maps in front of him, Colonel Fitzwilliam tried to study the crudely drawn maps of the land that lay before him. They had been fighting over in the Americas for almost four months now; the coldness of winter had soon turned into a warm spring. He had met with the other commanding officers and they had been working on a strategy for his men. Even after being over here for a few months this terrain was still foreign to them. They met with unexpected obstacles ever day it seemed.

"You cannot make the paper disappear just by glaring at it."

Glancing over his shoulder, he chuckled when he saw Michael standing in the doorframe. He was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and a smile on his face. the sun had turned his skin dark brown and he could see that some of his hair was also starting to turn. "Your woman back home will not recognize you if you keep spending so much time in the sun."

"I would like to see what Jane thinks of you when she sees you. We both have changed in the few short months we have been here. What are you working on?"

Turning back to the map in front of him, he frowned, "I have been studying this map for hours, but I think I know the best way for us to take them by surprise. Come and take a look at this." Motioning to the map, he waited for his comrade to make his way over.

Leaning over the map, Colonel Fitzwilliam showed Michael the route he thought would be best. Discussing it back and forth for a few minutes, they both came to an agreement. Straitening back to his full height, Michael glanced back out the door of the little cabin. "The boys wanted me to come and see if you wanted to play cards tonight. Some of them are getting homesick."

Nodding his head, Richard did not miss the wistful look that flashed across Michael's face when he mentioned the boys were getting homesick. He would be glad when he could finally see his Jane again. Clapping a hand on the young man's shoulder, he steered him outside. "We will be home soon and then you can see your lady love."