Passion and Prudence

by Eliza Donelittle

Mary Bennet has decided to marry well but her resolution wavers when she meets Mr. Dane until an overheard conversation. Then she goes to Pemberley where Sir Eustace Watkins proposes to her. She accepts but will happen next?

7. Chapter 7 Reaction to the Engagement

Chapter 7 Reaction to the Proposal

Jane and Charles arrived that afternoon, as the Wickhams had finally departed. Mary was led away by Elizabeth and Jane not long after, to a quiet room where they could quiz her about her engagement without fear of being disturbed.

Elizabeth interrupted Jane's congratulations by asking, 'Are you sure about this, Mary?'

'I knew it!' said Mary. ' I knew you were not happy about my engagement.'

Jane tried to soften the blow. 'It is only that we are concerned for your future happiness, Mary.'

'Why should I not be happy?' Mary asked defiantly. 'Sir Eustace is the same as your husbands, he is respectable and wealthy.'

The two older sisters exchanged glances.

'Yes, Sir Eustace is respectable and wealthy,' Jane agreed.

'However, he differs in several respects from our husbands,' Elizabeth said.

'Yes, he has a title,' Mary said, being deliberately obtuse.

'I was thinking more of the fact that he is considerably older than you, Mary.'

'And has two daughters already,' added Jane.

'And talks constantly of his need for an heir.' Elizabeth said.

'What of it?' Mary asked.

'Have you considered, Mary, what his reaction might be if you were not able to give Sir Eustace his heir?'

'No,' Mary admitted but then rallying, said, 'I am young and healthy, why should I worry about that?'

'I am sure,' Jane said, 'that if Mr. Bingley and I had not been blessed with a son but with a daughter, and no sons were to come in future years, no reproaches would ever pass his lips.'

'Can you be sure of that with Sir Eustace?' Elizabeth demanded.

Mary, now she thought of the issue, was not at all sure, and answered the question by flying into a rage, most unlike her normal, rational self.

'You are jealous, Lizzie,' she accused. 'You thought that you had won the greatest matrimonial prize and you cannot bear it because I will be more important than you. And you, Jane, you are unhappy because you will no longer come second.'

Jane and Elizabeth stared at her with expressions of shock and dismay.

'You cannot believe that,' Jane said.

'Why should I believe that you have my best interests at heart? Neither of you have ever shown me any sisterly affection. Why should you start now?'

'That is not true,' Elizabeth protested.

'Oh! Yes, it is. It has always been Jane and Lizzie, and Kitty and Lydia, with myself always alone,' said Mary, spilling out the resentment of years. 'Even during the terrible time when Lydia ran away and disgraced us all, you two wanted no comfort from me and offered none.'

The two older sisters looked at each other, aghast.

'I am very sorry, Mary, that you feel that we did not comfort you during that time,' said Jane, 'but believe me, I am very fond of you and wish you to be as happy in your choice of husband as I am in mine.'

'I find that hard to believe. I am never invited on my own to Pemberley or Humberton, whereas Kitty is invited constantly and encouraged to stay as long as she wants. You both know that I love a good library but where have been my invitations?'

'I am sorry if you feel that you are not welcome, Mary,' cried Elizabeth. 'Perhaps, we have not been as forthcoming with our invitations as you would wish but we invite Kitty to soften the influence of our mother and to keep her from visiting Lydia. You are too sensible to need such interference.'

'I wish I could believe that," Mary muttered, and turned away and left the room, too full of emotion to speak.

Her father saw her passing by and called her into the library.

'I just had an interview with that Sir Eustace. He tells me that he wishes to marry you. And you, Mary, what are your feelings on the subject?'

Her father looked at her over his glasses.

'Sir Eustace is a most eligible match,' she replied stiffly.

'So he is, so he is,' Her father repeated, nodding his head, 'but is he a suitable match for you?'

'Why should he not be?' Mary questioned.

'Well, if you are determined to have him, there is no more to be said on the subject,' replied her father.

He assumed Mary was marrying Sir Eustace for his title and hoped that she would find him amusing enough to entertain her in the years ahead, but he was far too indolent to put any obstacles in Mary's way.

The visit to Pemberley had come to an end. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and Mary departed for Longbourn, waved off on the steps by Elizabeth, Darcy, Kitty and Sir Eustace. He had insisted he would visit Mary within a few days or so, going straight from Pemberley to Longbourn and stay at least a fortnight.

'But are you not anxious to spend some time with your children and give them the news?' asked Mary innocently.

'Your warm heart does you credit, my dear, but my little ones, I am sure, would rather that their father found a new mother for them, as soon as possible,' was Sir Eustace's firm reply. 'I always leave them in good hands and in any case, will write to inform them.'

He was anxious for the courtship to be as short as possible and was already talking of wedding dates. He did not want Mary to have time to reflect and possibly change her mind.

Mrs. Bennet was somewhat vexed by this as she would have liked more time to prepare before admitting so distinguished a guest to her house. She said so loudly at the start of the journey.

'I'm sure, it's very flattering to Mary that he wishes to dance attendance upon her, but I do wish that he had left it for a week or so more. That would have given us more notice so that I could prepare properly for his arrival. I must speak to Hill the moment we arrive home.'

Mrs. Bennet talked of nothing but Sir Eustace's proposed visit to Longbourn as they jolted along in the coach.

'Does Sir Eustace prefer beef or lamb, my dear Mary? We must have at least two courses, nothing else will do...' until Mr. Bennet bade her stop.

She then, much offended, lapsed into a sulky silence, which Mary was grateful for. She would have never believed she could tire of hearing she was a clever girl, but it had proved to be so. The only consolation was that the news of the engagement had raised her mother's spirits so much, she hardly made a complaint on the journey home.

On arrival at Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet scrambled down out of the coach and hurried towards Hill, their long-suffering housekeeper who was waiting for them at the entrance.

'Oh! Hill, I have such news. Miss Bennet has become engaged to a titled gentleman, a baronet, no less. She is such a clever girl.'

Mary blushed that her mother would talk so to a servant even one who had served the family for as long as Hill had.

'We have only a fortnight to prepare before he arrives.'

Mrs. Bennet disappeared into the house still talking, followed by Hill.

'I fear my girls that it will be a long fortnight,' Mr. Bennet prophesied.

Mary had looked forward to visiting her aunt Philips and the announcement of her engagement. Her mother had not been within the walls of the Philips' home for more than a few moments before saying to her sister, 'You will never guess what has happened, my dear sister, I am sure,' and then before Mrs. Philips had even a second to speculate, continuing with, 'My clever girl, Mary, has become engaged and to a baronet, no less. What do you make of that?'

Aunt Philips was all joy and curiosity and Mrs. Bennet thoroughly enjoyed giving her all the details as far as she could. Mary had firmly refused to give details of the actual proposal, murmuring, 'That is between Sir Eustace and myself, Mama.'

This had momentarily irritated Mrs. Bennet, but she soon forgot it in the pleasure of spreading the news amongst those gathered there. Mary pictured Mr. Dane, on being told, turning pale and unable to speak for a few moments before stumbling away to mourn in private.

Mary didn't remember the book he had sent her until she came to her room the evening after their visit to the Philips, and noticed it lying on the chest, where she had tossed it. The servants had not tidied away in her absence, she noted. The sight of it reproached her for leaving a book disdained and out of place. She took it up, intending to put it with the row of books kept in her bedchamber. However, the book slipped out of her hand and a document fell out.

Once Mary had picked up the document, she examined it, turning all sides over in her hands. She was sure that it was a letter for although there was no envelope and the pages had been folded over, on the blank side an unfamiliar hand had written "To Miss Mary Bennet".

She unfolded the document and began to read.

'Dear Miss Bennet,

Forgive my offence of writing to you but at our last meeting you made certain assertions about my character and my motives, which I feel were made on the basis of too little information. Therefore, I wish to have the opportunity to present the full facts to you.

When you refused my proposal of marriage, your grounds for refusal were that you had heard from a third party my reasons for the proposal were wholly mercenary. This I absolutely refute. I had not taken Mr. Sutton into my confidence and he made his assertions based solely on his opinions and not mine. I will add, I have been deeply disappointed in Mr. Sutton and intend to see far less of him in future.

I wish to be as frank as possible. I did not make my proposal from totally disinterested motives. That your uncle is my employer, was something to consider.

However, it was not and never would be the major reason why I proposed to you. I would never have considered marriage if I did not think you a suitable wife and one likely to promote my happiness and well-being. I do have feelings of fond regard for you and I am sorry beyond words that I have lost your trust and your friendship.

Yours faithfully

Robert Dane'

Mary folded up the letter and sat, staring at the bedroom wall but not seeing it at all. He had explained everything, and she realised how impetuous and hot headed she had been. Why had she not given him a proper opportunity to explain himself? It was now all too late. She had plighted her troth to Sir Eustace and could not go back on her word without dishonouring herself.

She next met Mr. Dane at an evening gathering at his uncle's. However, the encounter was not as satisfying as she hoped. Mr. Dane bowed to her when he came across Mary.

'My felicitations on your engagement, Miss Bennet. I hope you and your intended will be very happy.'

He then moved on, leaving Mary to bite her lip and ruminate on Mr. Dane's composure, and the difference between the imagined encounter and the reality.

The two days before Sir Eustace's arrival passed quickly, too quickly for Mrs. Bennet's liking, and Sir Eustace duly arrived. During those two days, Mary had thought herself into, if not love, then a very positive liking for Sir Eustace, and his appearance as he descended out of the carriage was a little shock for her.

Sir Eustace was larger and taller than she remembered, and much louder in voice. She saw with dismay that he wore a very fine coat and waistcoat that were a little too tight for him and many jewels that flashed and sparkled in the sunlight. Sir Eustace immediately advanced to her and shook her hand vigorously.

'My dear Mary, it is a very great pleasure to see you again.'

Turning to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, he added, 'And a great pleasure to see you again also, of course.'

Then he turned back to his manservant who had accompanied him and ordered him to make sure that his boxes and cases were delivered straight to his chambers without mishap or loss.

Mary could see that Sir Eustace was doing his best to be as charming and as polite as he could, which was not always as much as could have been wished for. On being shown Longbourn's grounds, he murmured some pleasantry then immediately mentioned that the grounds at Queen's Stratton were twice as large and three times as pleasant. However, he found no fault with the food and showed his appreciation by eating everything that came within his sphere of operation at the table.

Mary found that within a few hours of the arrival of Sir Eustace, she was dreading the meeting of Sir Eustace and Mr. Dane instead of looking forward to displaying him to her neighbours, For, although to most, he would seem a most distinguished person, she feared Mr. Dane's discerning mind.

At length, the meeting she had dreaded took place at a dinner given by the Lucases in honour of Mr. and Mr. Collins who, along with their little daughter, were gracing the neighbourhood.

Mr. Collins was all effusive praise on meeting Sir Eustace and even more so when he learnt that they were soon to be related by marriage. Sir Eustace became expansive in the light of the compliments paid by Mr. Collins. Mary heard Queens Stratton mentioned even more times than the names of Lady Catherine De Bourgh and Rosings, if that were possible.

It would have been amusing if she had not been aware of Mr. Dane nearby. She blushed and looked across to where Mr. Dane stood. He was looking steadily at Sir Eustace with a grave, thoughtful expression on his face.

When Mr. Dane was introduced to Sir Eustace, the former on learning his profession, sneered, said, 'And very useful to your employer, no doubt,' before immediately turning away and engaging Sir William in conversation. Mary felt his want of manners most acutely. But everyone had thought Mr. Darcy proud and disagreeable when he first came to Meryton, and they had later discovered him to be amiable, she reminded herself.

Mary stepped forward to speak to Mr. Dane and ease the awkward moment when Sir Eustace turned his head and barked, 'Mary, come here. Sir William is telling a most interesting story.'

Mary blushed, gave Mr. Dane an apologetic glance at this blatant tactic, and went to Sir Eustace's side.

Mary's agony continued at the dinner table. Her mother was most anxious to display the latest prize captured by one of her daughters. She spoke of nothing else but the wedding and encouraged Sir Eustace to talk about his home, his wealth and his possessions.

'I believe that, a lady of your exquisite taste must possess a fireplace as excellent as the one at Rosings,' said Mr. Collins.

'I have not had the pleasure of visiting Rosings, but I am sure that the fireplace at Queens Stratton must be as fine.'

'When will you be holding the marriage?' asked Lady Lucas.

'Very soon, I trust. My poor, fatherless boys are in need of a new mother and Queens Stratton needs a new mistress.'

'Is Queens Stratton near any sizeable towns?' Lady Lucas asked.

'No, it is quite remote. The nearest town is a good day's ride away.'

'Oh, that is a pity,' Lady Lucas said. 'What will you do without a circulating library, Mary?'

'I'm sure that there is a fine library at Queens Stratton,' Mr. Collins said, nodding at Sir Eustace.

'There is indeed. But Mary will have no time for books. Her household duties and care of the children will leave her no time for that,' Sir Eustace replied firmly. Then he added, 'Besides, I cannot say that I approve of women reading. I believe that it the cause of much spoiling of character. It gives them ideas above and beyond their capacity for reason. I believe that it the cause of much spoiling of character. Fiction, those Gothic novels especially, are very bad for women, they overstimulate them.'

Mary could not deny that she was troubled by Sir Eustace's remarks. The glittering prospect of being a baronet's wife did not seem as tempting when she thought of a life without books. She could not bring herself to look at Mr. Dane and kept her gaze fixed on the dining room table.

Charlotte Collins came with her little daughter to visit the Bennets the next day. Sir William was going with Mr. Collins on a tour of the neighbourhood and asked Sir Eustace if he wished to join them. An offer that he accepted with alacrity to Mary's relief; his constant, hovering presence was becoming something of a trial.

'Mr. Collins finds long walks good for his health, so I encourage him to walk as often as possible,' Charlotte said, looking after the group as they departed. 'I encourage him to garden for the same reason.' She asked, 'Is Sir Eustace fond of gardens?'

Mary looked at her. 'I don't know.'

After Elizabeth had returned from her stay at the parsonage, she had told them, laughing, about Charlotte's ploy to avoid her husband by choosing the less favourable room as her parlour and ensuring that he spent plenty of time outdoors.

Charlotte's question made her wonder whether it might be a useful tactic to employ with Sir Eustace and was horrified with herself first for thinking it at all and then so soon after the engagement.

But did he even like gardening. Would it be beneath his dignity? There was much she did not know about Sir Eustace. Panic gripped her and then she remembered what Charlotte had said to Elizabeth.

'Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. It is better to know as little as possible the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.'

Elizabeth had thought this very poor advice and had advised her younger sisters never to follow it. But Charlotte seemed happy enough with Mr. Collins.

Mary was walking in the lane to gain some much-needed time alone with her thoughts when she met with Mr. Dane striding along.

'Forgive the intrusion, Miss Bennet but I wish to speak to you alone.'

Mary's heart beat a little faster.

'Why?' she asked.

'This is a matter of some delicacy, but I feel I must speak. Miss Bennet, do you truly intend to marry Sir Eustace?'

'I am engaged to him,' Mary pointed out, half smiling.

'But are you serious in your intentions?' Mr. Dane persisted.

Mary's half smile vanished. 'Why should I not be?'

'Because it is beyond my comprehension as to why you wish to marry him. I cannot see that there is any compatibility of interests or principles,' burst out Mr. Dane.

Mary coloured. 'You go too far!' she exclaimed. 'What is it to you who I marry? You who said that I was nothing to you.'

'Miss Bennet, I never said that. Did you receive my letter?'

'Yes.'

Mr. Dane's face fell. 'I assumed you had not received it. Then you must know whatever you heard the night of the ball were not my words but those of my friend Sutton. I did think that it would not harm my prospects to marry you and perhaps I placed too low a value on you and your friendship at that time and I am ashamed of myself. However, believe me when I say that I am your friend, your good friend, I hope. As a friend, I feel that it is my duty to warn you if I see you making an error in judgement. I am persuaded that you will not be happy with Sir Eustace.'

Mary was almost too angry to speak. 'I do not see how you can pass judgement on Sir Eustace when you do not know him, you have only met him for a few hours, at most.'

'A man of discernment can discover much about a person through a few hours of conversation and observation. I believe that a woman can too, which is why I am so surprised at your engagement. Sir Eustace may have a title, but he is not the right match for you.'

'You are presumptuous, sir!' Mary cried. 'I will not listen to you.'

'I beg you to do so. How can you be happy with a man who does not appreciate your character and seeks to change it? How can you be happy in the contemplation of a life without books? I may have not known you very long, but I do believe that for you, books are not an entertainment but a necessity. Will you be able to meet Sir Eustace's demands? Can you contemplate never reading a book again? Will all the money in the world and a title make up for that?'

With Mr. Dane asking so many questions. Mary felt as if she were facing a line of soldiers, all firing their muskets at her. Mr. Dane's questions only raked up doubts that she had been struggling to subdue. She had been wondering about life with Sir Eustace if she were not permitted to read books. Mary had begun to feel that there was a very great difference in temperament between the two of them. That Mr. Dane should be harbouring doubts as well was intolerable. She had wanted Mr. Dane to be jealous, to see how great a matrimonial prize Mary could achieve, not to be scornful of her selected spouse to be.

'Once again, it is not of your business,' she repeated.

'None of my business? You rebuked me for wishing to marry to advance myself, without respect or affection when you are now prepared to do the same? You received my letter explaining my position and it made not the slightest jot of difference to you. I see you about to make a marriage to a man that you can only be considering for the worldliest of reasons. Tell me that you love Sir Eustace or at least, respect and admire him. I have not seen any evidence that you do. I can only suppose that you are marrying him for his money and his title.'

'You go too far!' cried Mary. 'I will not listen to you anymore. Good day, Mr. Dane!'

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, almost running back along the paths to her house.

When she reached her empty bedchamber, she allowed herself the consolation of noisy, angry tears.

How dare Mr. Dane presume to tell her who to and who not to, marry? His relentless questions had set off an avalanche of doubts that had been poised at the top of the mountain. She admitted to herself her doubts were growing ever stronger about Sir Eustace.

But also, did this not prove that Mr. Dane still entertained some affection for her? Would he have been so anxious to warn her against marrying Sir Eustace if he did not feel anything for her. Mary found herself warmed by the idea. Or was he simply being, as he said, a good friend to her?

His comment about his letter tormented her. Should she have told Mr. Dane she had only received his letter on her return to Longbourn? But what difference could it make now? She was engaged to Sir Eustace, and to break a solemn promise to marry was a very serious undertaking indeed.