Mary consulted the list of improvements in the privacy of her own room and marked them according to what progress she felt she had made.

Item 4, apparel - new clothing purchased.

Item 2, the improvement of my hair – styled.

Item 3, the improvement of my figure - implement a regime of walking daily to Meryton.

Item 1 improve my complexion - not accomplished.

Mary looked in her mirror and to her horror, spotted two or three pimples. She did not wish Mr. Bradley to see her with those. She had always ignored the advice of Mrs. Bennet and her sisters about her face before, considering it unworthy, worldly vanity, but perhaps it was time to reconsider.

Accordingly, she went into the parlour where Mrs. Bennet and Kitty were seated, both engaged in reading ladies' magazines.

'Mama, which lotion would you recommend to remove these?' Mary asked, pointing to the pimples.

'Oh! Gowland's Lotion, without a doubt. It is much the best remedy, but you must only use it for a few days at a time.'

'And to improve my complexion?'

'Bloom of Ninon. It has worked wonders for mine,' Mrs. Bennet said.

'No, No, Mama! Not Bloom of Ninon. I read recently an article saying some of the concoctions used by ladies are quite dangerous. It advised against the use of lotions containing lead, and that is the main ingredient of Bloom of Ninon, you know. It said it is most ruinous to the health if applied too often,' Kitty said.

'What nonsense!' cried Mrs. Bennet. 'Why, I use it regularly and it has never had any adverse effect.'

'Perhaps, Mama, we could go into Meryton today to visit the apothecary?' Kitty suggested.

Mrs. Bennet considered this. 'I cannot go as I am far too busy with Hill and the linens, but you may go if you wish. You cannot have the coach though; your father will not allow it.'

'We will be happy to walk.' Mary answered quickly before Kitty could argue with their mother. 'The exercise will be good for us.'

'And you may as well bring me back some more Bloom of Ninon, oh, and Rigge's Liquid Bloom and a pot of Pear's Liquid Blooms of Rose.'

'Which shade ofrouge, do you want, Mama?'

'Rouge?'

Mary was shocked. She had heard and read many sermons moralising about the evils that lay ahead for women who painted their faces. Surely her mother, a lady, did not wear rouge?

'No need to pull that sour face, Mary. It is permitted for a lady of a certain age to use a few enhancements. I would like Petal Pink, if you please, Kitty.'

There were two apothecaries in Meryton.

'Paynter's or Greenland's?' Mary wondered out loud.

'Mr. Paynter, without a doubt,' Kitty said.

Mary had no reason to disagree, so they entered the shop. It soon became obvious why Kitty wanted to patronise this establishment. Mr. Paynter was a stout, middle-aged man with a respectable air, but the young man next to him had youth, good looks and a fine figure. Mr. Paynter was attending to a customer, but the young man stepped forward to deal with them.

'Good morning, Miss Kitty,' he said, bowing slightly. As he straightened up, he winked at Kitty, to Mary's consternation and distaste.

Kitty giggled. 'Good morning, Mr. Paynter.'

He turned to Mary. 'And I believe I have the honour of addressing Miss Bennet.' He bowed again.

This then was Mr. Paynter's son, the recipient of many admiring glances from the other female customers, apparently browsing. Mary had not had much contact with him before. He was certainly good looking, but his want of manners disqualified him from Mary's favour.

'What can we do for you today?' he asked.

Mary hesitated. She would have preferred to deal with Mr. Paynter. She did not relish telling this handsome young man the reason why they had come to the shop. Kitty stepped into the breach.

'Mama has commissioned us to fetch her some more of your excellent Milk of Roses, and a bottle of Bloom of Ninon, Rigge's Liquid Bloom and a pot of Pear's Liquid Blooms of Rose in Petal Pink,' she said.

While he attended to this, which took some time, Kitty helped Mary choose from among the many bottles on the shelves.

As they left the shop, they saw Mr. Dane just a few paces away, coming towards them. Mary's first thought was to compare him to Mr. Paynter, Mr. Dane seemed so much more the complete gentleman, even if his looks did not match those of the apothecary's son. This was a first for her. She was not in the custom of considering the attractiveness of men.

Her second thought was horror at meeting him with the guilty evidence of their purchases. He could not possibly discern the nature of the brown paper packages in the bags dangling from Mary's hands, still Mary's cheeks burned with shame. At that moment, she had no need of the rouge so highly recommended by her mother.

Mr. Dane halted when he saw them.

'Miss Bennet, Miss Kitty, to what do I owe the pleasure of this encounter?'

Was it Mary's imagination or did she hear a warmth enter his tones when he addressed her? Mr. Dane looked at her, expectantly.

'I, we, ...' Mary stuttered. She never lied before, but she had no desire to tell Mr. Dane the truth. Mr. Dane quirked an eyebrow.

Kitty came to her rescue again.

'We have been carrying out some commissions for our mama,' she said. 'Where are you off to, Mr. Dane? Finding an excuse to leave the office? I cannot blame you on a fine morning such as this.'

It seemed to Mary that Mr. Dane stiffened slightly at this suggestion.

'I am on a commission of my own.' He bowed. 'I bid you good day, ladies.' He strode away.

'He doesn't need to be so mysterious,' Kitty said.

'I think he shows a proper sense of discretion,' Mary said.

A few steps on, Kitty remarked, 'I believe Mr. Dane should buy some Milk of Roses. It might help with his freckles. He would be quite tolerable were it not for those freckles. Oh, and his red hair. A pity he can do nothing about the hair.'

'As if a gentleman would ever use such lotions. I thought you had learnt better Kitty, than to judge only by outward appearances,' was Mary's rebuke.

Mr. Dane was duly invited to dinner and came. When he saw Mary in her new violet dress, he looked surprised and raised his eyebrows before complimenting both Mary and Kitty on their dresses. Mary hoped that meant he approved of the alteration in her appearance. She especially wanted this to be the case as she had had to endure an hour of Kitty with the hot curling tongs before her hair had been restyled to Mrs. Bennet and Kitty's satisfaction.

Mr. Dane was the perfect guest.

'May I compliment you on the excellent dinner, Mrs. Bennet.'

Mrs. Bennet preened and said, 'Thank you,' but then spoilt it by saying to Kitty in a loud aside, that he was probably not used to such fine food.

Mary was pleased to see he had the manners to ignore the comment.

'I have been told many complimentary things about your library, sir,' Mr. Dane said.

'Indeed, and what do these compliments consist of?' asked Mr. Bennet who was perfectly willing to look a gift horse in the mouth.

'That you have the finest library in the district,' Mr. Dane promptly replied.

Mr. Bennet said, 'If you knew this district, you would understand why it is not the greatest compliment you could pay either myself or my library.'

'I am also told you are a great scholar.'

'I believe any gentleman who has more than half a dozen books will be accused of that failing.'

Mary wished that her father would be a little more gracious even if, perhaps, Mr. Dane was trying a little too hard to flatter. However, Mr. Dane must have impressed her father to some degree as, after dinner, he had the signal honour of Mr. Bennet inviting him to visit the library.

When they finally reappeared, Mr. Dane was holding a book. This was a great sign of approval; Mr. Bennet rarely allowed his books to be taken out of the house by visitors.

Mr Dane was invited to sit next to Mary while tea was poured.

'I believe your father does himself a disservice when he disparages his library. It has some very interesting books and some fine rare editions.'

'Which are your favourites?' asked Mary eagerly but before he could reply, Mrs. Bennet interrupted with 'How do you like Meryton, Mr. Dane?'

Mary managed, with extreme effort, to stop herself from scowling at her mother.

'Very well,' he replied. 'It is an agreeable place.' Thereafter, he engaged all three ladies in conversation as undemanding as it was unobjectionable until it was time to go.

'When you have finished that, you may return for another,' was Mr. Bennet's way of granting Mr. Dane permission to use the library.

Mr. Dane said his goodbyes with equal politeness to each lady.

'I like him well enough,' said Mr. Bennet after Mr. Dane's departure, 'not as foolish as many of the other young men and therefore less entertaining but I like him well enough.'

Mary thought Mr. Dane improved on further acquaintance and would be pleased to converse with him regularly. She knew that her mother was already considering him, as a potential husband, and she hoped that this would not hinder their friendship. She thought it unlikely that Mr. Dane was himself considering her as a prospective match and for herself was unsure about the idea of Mr. Dane as a husband. She liked him very much she admitted to herself but to be only married to an attorney's clerk! Could she not do better than that?

Later, in the privacy of their bedchamber, Mr. Bennet commented to his wife, 'He seems a pleasant enough young man, but too sensible to be interested in our silly Mary.'

'Oh, Mr. Bennet, will you never tire of calling your girls silly! I am sure that there are much sillier girls around than Mary and Kitty.'

'Name them,' Mr. Bennet said.

'He was just as polite to Kitty as he was to Mary,' said Mrs. Bennet. 'Not like Mr. Bingley. Do you remember how he couldn't take his eyes off Jane?'

Mr. Bennet made no reply.

Mrs. Bennet continued, 'I did see him looking at Kitty once or twice during dinner. I hope he will not decide to pursue Kitty rather than Mary. That would not do at all. I think Kitty can do better than an attorney's clerk. Perhaps I should drop a hint to Mr. Dane.'

'I think you had best leave well enough alone. I did not see that he had any particular interest in Kitty,' Mr. Bennet advised although without any real hope that Mrs. Bennet would follow his advice.