a/n: Well, here you go! Another update. Thanks again to all who reviewed, even though I thanked all of you personally (sorry if I missed anyone!), and I also want to thank those who Favorited or Alerted my story since I haven't thanked you personally. I like this chapter, I hope you like it too. I hope Mary doesn't seem too OOC around Richard. I don't know about you, but I personally behave differently around different people. I like to think Richard and Mary's friendship helps her to come out of her shell a little bit.
Also, since Eleniel Cullen, one of my amazing readers, finds the numbers after quotes annoying I will discontinue doing so. Rather, I will just list the quotes I use after the story. Also, instead of giving the page number, since we all have different printings of the book, I will just put the Chapter and Volume number. But who reads that part anyway!
The days wore on. News of the regiment being in town excited Mary's two younger sisters, while an invitation for Jane to dine at the Bingley's excited her two elder. Both occurrences excited their mother. Unfortunately, Mr. Bingley was not to attend the dinner and so Mrs. Bennet made Jane go on horseback in hopes she would have to stay the night at Netherfield. To Mrs. Bennet's delight, Jane fell ill and had to stay at Netherfield longer than planned; Elizabeth walked to Netherfield to take care of her. Mary thought this to be quite silly. Why walk all the way when she could go by horse? She wondered how her father thought Elizabeth to be the smart one. Of course, that was Elizabeth for you, always playing the hero. While her two elder sisters were away, Mary tried to engage Mr. Bennet in conversation but he seemed rather bored to be a part of it. But to his delight, Jane and Lizzy finally came home from Netherfield. All in all, everything was rather dull for poor Mary, though she did feel concern for Jane. Little did she know, however, that her life was about to become more interesting than she had ever expected, for a letter arrived that would change her life forever.
They were all at breakfast the day after Jane and Lizzy came home when Mr. Bennet announced they would have an addition to their family party that very day.
"Do you think Mama is going to have a baby?" Mary heard Kitty whisper to Lydia. Mary choked on her juice.
"Kitty, you idiot!" Lydia whispered back. "Why would papa know, and not Mama?"
Mr. Bennet announced it would be Mr. Collins, his distant cousin who was to inherit the estate and turn them all out upon Mr. Bennet's death. Mrs. Bennet, of course, was not looking forward to the arrival of this man as she couldn't help but express. Mr. Bennet read the letter he had received from Mr. Collins a month ago.
In his letter it was expressed that Mr. Collins was quite sorry for the argument that occurred between Mr. Bennet and his father. He went on to say he was a clergyman for a parsonage and he was coming to make amends to Mr. Bennet's daughters for entailing the estate.
Mary was quite struck with this letter. He sounded very humble, amiable, and apologetic and expressed this all in very intelligible composition. And he was a clergyman! Mary always thought she would marry a clergyman if anybody. And he wanted to make amends to his cousins! Mary wondered if perhaps he meant to seek a wife amongst them. Mary was quite shocked at these thoughts and wondered where they came from. Perhaps she was as silly and romantic as her two younger sisters. Oh, but what did she expect? That he would pick her? Mary mentally berated herself for being so silly. She briefly complimented him on the composition of his letter. She wasn't sure what she was saying but she knew she couldn't express her other thoughts.
Mr. Collins arrived in due time. He wasn't very handsome but Mary hardly cared. He carried himself very formally and properly, which Mary mentally commended him for.
Mr. Collins surveyed his cousins before turning to Mrs. Bennet.
"Mrs. Bennet, I must say how struck I am with your young daughters. I have heard much of their beauty, but fame has fallen short of the truth-"
Mary heart sunk. She knew he meant her, she was very plain. He must have expected them all to be beauties.
"They are all very handsome and more so than I expected. I am sure in due time they will all be well disposed in marriage."
Mary lifted her eyes up in surprise. He had said they were all handsome. That included her! Many people complimented Mrs. Bennet on her daughters' beauty, but it was always said that she "had beautiful daughters" with an odd look toward Mary. But there was no odd look, and he had said all!
Mary didn't understand what was wrong with her. She never felt this silly about a young man before, especially not one she first met. She really was behaving like her younger sisters...and yet she didn't mind.
Mary spent dinner with her mind in a fog, but hung on Mr. Collins every word. He spoke quite beautifully and eloquently and had nothing but compliments for those he spoke to and about. He seemed a very cordial sort indeed. After teatime he wanted to read to his cousins. This put a very good impression on Mary; he seemed to enjoy reading as much as she did! Not only that but he rejected a silly novel that Mary herself would have never touched, for Fordyce's Sermons which happened to be her 3rd favorite book to read. Mary suddenly felt as if it was her favorite overall.
Mary was enraptured with the reading until Lydia interrupted.
"Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Philips talks of turning away Richard? And if he does Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town."
Mary, though quite irritated with Lydia's interruption, looked up in surprise. Poor Mr. Singleton! It couldn't be! Whatever could have happened? Mary joined her mother and sisters in apologizing for Lydia's behavior, then spent the evening in admiration of Mr. Collins and regret for her friend Richard.
The next day brought forth discussion on their walk to Meryton. Lydia loudly asked at breakfast who was going to go with her. Kitty, Jane, and Lizzy all expressed a willingness to go. Mary, hoping Mr. Collins would answer before she was specifically asked, was not disappointed.
"Mr. Collins, you should go with them. It will give you a chance to see the town." Mr. Bennet, annoyed with his pompous, talkative cousin, quickly offered.
Lydia and Kitty frowned; Jane and Lizzy forced a polite smile. Mary looked at Mr. Collins expectantly.
"Oh no, no!" Mr. Collins said. "I have many plans to join you in the study, for you have exceedingly interesting folios to look through and a clergyman can never have too much to study. Why I-"
"Are you coming too, Mary?" Lydia interrupted Mr. Collins again.
"Huh? Oh." Mary, who was lost listening to Mr. Collins and was startled by Lydia's question, said. "No, I plan on staying home and studying as well." She looked at Mr. Collins. "For I enjoy studying very much and think I myself can never have too much to study either. No one can, for it is a grand thing to broaden one's mind."
This response was ignored by Mr. Collins, who was looking at Lydia in offense, and then turned his attention to the pancakes that were placed on the table. Lydia herself tuned Mary out after she said "No." and the rest of the family had barely listened in the first place. Mary sighed and decided to pay attention to the pancakes as well, until Mr. Collins spoke again.
After breakfast Mary headed off to her room. She would have liked to join her father and Mr. Collins in her father's study but never felt quite welcome there. Besides, Mr. Collins made her very nervous. She wanted to talk to him, but had a hard time doing so. At breakfast she had opened her mouth two or three times to ask him what his favorite book was, or his favorite sermon in Fordyce, but ended up sticking a piece of pancake in it instead. Mary lay on her bed looking through Fordyce, trying to pick out a sermon she could discuss about with Mr. Collins or perhaps a passage she didn't understand to ask him about. She flipped through the book nervously, having a hard time concentrating. She finally laid her head down in frustration.
Two or three hours later she woke up realizing she was late for lunch. She hurried down the stairs, hoping to catch Mr. Collins still at the table. When she arrived Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were just finishing up. She quickly apologized for her tardiness and sat down. She looked around the table and asked:
"W-where's Mr. Collins."
"He went with your sisters to Meryton." Mr. Bennet said unconcernedly, flipping through a newspaper.
"Oh, I thought he planned on staying. I had a question for him from Fordyce's Sermons."
This statement was brushed off. Mary hurried through her lunch and stood up quickly.
"I'm going to go to Meryton." she announced to her father, who was still at the table, engrossed in his paper. "To the...bookstore. I might meet up with my cousin and sisters later if they're still at my uncle's."
Mr. Bennet looked up at his daughter.
"I thought you abhorred walking. I do recall you recently saying in reference to it that 'every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason.' and 'exertion should always be in proportion to what is required'."
Of all things he listened to, he had to listen to that! Or perhaps he always listened, and only responded when he could point out something silly about what she said.
"Oh, yes, I did say that." Mary said. "But this time, of course, it's quite proper and the exertion is greatly justified, for I am in pursuit of an object of...interest."
"Ah yes, your books. Well I suppose I shant be surprised. Be back by supper."
Mary curtsied and left the house quickly.
She, of course, was not in pursuing the bookstore but was in pursuit of her cousin and sisters, specifically the former. She did, however, plan on deterring to the bookstore, for she did want to see if there was anything new and she didn't want to lie to her father. She just didn't plan on staying at the bookstore for as long as her father probably assumed she would.
Upon arriving in Meryton she was knocked over by a young redcoat who wasn't paying attention to where he was going.
"Oof!" Mary proclaimed as she fell on the ground, dropping her purse. Mary glared up at the young man. "Watch where you're going."
"Oh, miss, I'm very sorry!" the handsome young man said, offering his hand. Mary "humphed" and took the proffered hand, standing up. The young man smiled, picked up her purse and handed it to her.
"I must apologize again, for knocking over such a handsome, fine young lady such as yourself."
Mary "tutted" and snatched her purse from him.
"I must introduce myself," the redcoat said, extending his hand. "I am Mr. Wickham."
"Mary Bennet." Mary said, disinterestedly still scandalized.
"Ah Bennet! Yes, I met your sisters not too long ago. Quite handsome young ladies, such as yourself."
Mary sniffed, perturbed.
"Wickham! Quit flirting, let's go!" a voice called behind them. Mr. Wickham and Mary looked behind him to see a group of soldiers going elsewhere.
"Let me apologize again for my previous rudeness and my abrupt departure." Mr. Wickham said, taking Mary's hand and kissing it. Mary snatched her hand from him and said a disinterested farewell. Mr. Wickham left and she stared after him.
"Humph!" Mary proclaimed. "Overly gentlemanly, a sweet talker, and a reputation for flirting. A scoundrel if I ever did see one!"
And so, Mary gave one last "humph", turned on her heel, and charged off to the bookstore, nose in the air.
Upon entering the bookstore Mary came across the very person Lydia and her aunt might have been discussing that very moment. Richard was standing at a shelf, looking distraught and absentmindedly flipping through a book.
"Mr. Singleton!" she exclaimed. He looked up and his face lit up slightly.
"Hello, Miss Mary." he said, stressed.
"How are you? I heard my uncle was thinking of letting you go."
Mr. Singleton's face dropped.
"Oh Mary, I made a right mess of things!" he exclaimed. "I had the audacity to lose a very important document I had been working on, one that would make or break a very big case."
Mary gasped, throwing her hand over her mouth.
"Oh no!" she said. "How did you lose it?"
"That's what's so strange. I took it home with me to work on because it was getting very late. I placed it on my desk and when I turned around it was gone!"
"Do you think Rascal got to it?"
"No, I saw him walking past in the hall just when I placed it down. He's a sneaky cat, but not that sneaky. I looked all over my study trying to find it, wondering if I placed it somewhere else, but it was nowhere to be found. Your uncle won't let me back to work until I find it, and if I don't find it the day after tomorrow he will turn me away."
"And so you're here, goofing around in the bookstore?" Mary asked with a smirk.
"All I've been doing is searching for it for the past few days, I need a break. And this is not a laughing matter, Mary; it's a life or death situation!"
"Life or death?"
"Yes, if Mr. Philips fires me I'll have to work for the regiment, and I'll die out there!"
"You don't have to work for the regiment."
"I know, but where else will I work? Sure, I inherited a little from my father but not enough to sustain me through my whole life. Oh Mary, I don't want to work in the military! I don't want to shoot people, I'd much rather assist in locking them up!"
"I thought this wasn't a laughing matter."
"And besides, I have too much here in Hertfordshire that I don't want to leave," he said, giving her a weird look.
"And you're sure you placed it on the desk?"
"Oh, I don't know anymore! I've been very distracted lately, I could have put it anywhere."
Mary bit her lip to keep from laughing. Her friend was very smart, but a bit absentminded at times.
"Mr. Singleton, what on earth could distract you so much that you would lose a very important document?" she said, trying not to smirk.
Mr. Singleton gave her another odd look and they stood there for a few seconds looking at each other. Mary found this a bit awkward and averted her gaze. A second later she looked up at Mr. Singleton, this time without hiding her smirk.
"At times like these, Mr. Singleton, there is only one solution," she said.
"What's that, Mary?" he asked confused.
"One must always remember to check their pockets."
"My pockets?" he questioned, looking down at one of his coat pockets. Sure enough there was a rolled up document in there. He pulled it out of his pocket with a confused looked. "What is this and how did it get there?"
He unrolled it and Mary looked over his arm at it, biting her lip.
"AHA!" he exclaimed, slapping the document with the back of his hand.
"Is it the document?" Mary asked.
"Is it the document? Of course it's the document!" Mr. Singleton exclaimed, giving Mary an admiring look. "Oh Mary, I love you!"
Mary laughed nervously.
"Mr. Singleton, keep your voice down or people will get the wrong impression."
There wasn't much need to say this for the only other two people in the store were old Mr. Jefferson and the storeowner. The former was completely deaf and the latter cared not for others affairs or declarations of love, as long as they weren't proclaimed loudly in his store. Mary caught his grouchy eye and smiled sheepishly as he grunted at them. They were in no danger of being thrown out, however, for Mary and Richard were two of his best customers and normally knew how to conduct themselves. Besides, he had always thought they would make quite a pair.
"Sorry about that, Mary." Richard said, blushing. "I-I'm just really happy..."
"That's alright."
"Well, I suppose I should go on over to your uncle's and let him know the good news."
"Oh, I'm going there very soon myself. I just wanted to see if there was anything new."
"Alright then. For you, Mary, I will wait."
Of course, very soon turned into a very long time for Mary got lost in her books, forgetting about her main goal for the day. Mr. Singleton lost track of time as well, for he was going over the document trying to figure it out. It was a very hard document to work on; nobody else in the office had been able to figure it out. Finally, however, Mary was snapped out of her little world at another one of his exclamation.
"Got it!"
Mary looked up.
"I did Mary, I finished it!" He said, shoving a quill into his pocket.
"Oh, that's wonderful Mr. Singleton!"
"Now, I can take it to your uncle, found and completed."
"My uncle? Oh I quite forgot! Mr. Collins!"
"Mr. Collins?" Richard asked, confused.
"Oh, he's sure to have left by now! Perhaps not, but we must hurry!"
"Al-alright." Mr. Singleton said, confused.
"Come on, let's go." Mary said, as she rushed towards the door. She turned her head to the storeowner while exiting. "I'm sorry, Mr. Morrison. I promise we'll be much better behaved next time!"
Mr. Morrison "harrumphed" at the two as they left the store.
"So, who is this Mr. Collins that has got you all in a fuss?" Richard asked as they walked quickly to the Philips' house.
Mary sighed and gazed off in the distant, a smile upon her face.
"Mr. Singleton, can you keep a secret?"
"Of course, as long as it's not harmful."
Mary gave a dreamy sigh.
"Oh Mr. Singleton, I don't know why I'm telling you this but I need to tell someone. I think I'm in love."
Mr. Singleton paled.
"In love?"
"Yes." she sighed.
"W-with whom?" He asked."
"With Mr. Collins of course!" she giggled.
Richard's face dropped.
"And who is this Mr. Collins?" He asked, with a hint of defense that Mary didn't detect.
"He's my father's distant cousin." she said. "He just came to stay with us for a little over a week. He's the one to entail our estate."
"I see."
"Oh Mr. Singleton! Mr. Collins is the most wonderful man God ever created! He's a clergyman, he's very amiable, humble, and knowledgeable, and he enjoys Fordyce's Sermons! I am sure he is the perfect match for me!" Mary sighed as she walked along.
"Sounds like a winner." Mr. Singleton said with disappointment. "But why are you going to your uncle's?"
"Oh, because he went there with my sisters. I thought he wasn't going to, but when I came down from my room for lunch he had already gone with them. I had hoped to discuss Fordyce with him."
"I can discuss Fordyce," Richard muttered quietly, kicking a rock.
"What?"
"Oh, I was just wondering why you were in your room instead of discussing Fordyce with him."
Mary blushed.
"I suppose I was a little nervous to start the conversation, but I did go upstairs to find the perfect passage to discuss with him. I had fallen asleep however."
Richard gave a little smirk and then sighed.
"Are you alright, Mr. Singleton?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, I suppose I'm just a little nervous about meeting with your uncle."
Mary gave him a reassuring smile.
"Oh, I'm sure it will be alright. He gave you till the day after tomorrow to find it, and you're turning it in today found and completed." Then she added in a teasing tone. "But if you do get stuck in the regiment, I'll write to you every week."
Richard winced.
"Something I will look forward to, Miss Mary, but I much rather talk to you in person."
Mary chuckled.
"Oh here we are!" She said. "I wish you luck! I'm sure it will go well."
"I hope so."
Mary knocked on the door and a servant let them in. Mrs. Philips was just passing by in the hall as they entered.
"Mary! Mr. Singleton! What brings you two here?" she said, giving them a surprised look.
"I was coming to speak to Mr. Philips." Richard said.
"And I was at the bookstore and I ran into Richard. I had planned on coming here to see if my sisters and cousins are still about so I can walk home with them."
Mrs. Philips thought nothing of it, for she knew Richard could have nothing but innocent friendship in his head for simple Mary.
"Mr. Philips is in his study, Mr. Singleton."
Richard thanked her and headed off down the hall.
"Mary, I'm afraid your sisters and delightful cousin left a long time ago. You must have been at that bookstore for quite some time," Mrs. Philips said disapprovingly.
Mary winced at the critique of her habits and then frowned. She had missed Mr. Collins!
"Yes, well, I find that reading is key to the enhancement of one's mind." Mary said proudly.
"Yes, well..." Mrs. Philips trailed off in response to her niece's boasting. "We are having a dinner tomorrow night with your sisters. You must come Mary. We are inviting the young soldiers in town. It will give you a chance to socialize and break away from those books of yours."
Mary forced herself not to sigh. It didn't really sound like her idea of an enjoyable evening. Forced to watch her sisters flirt with every soldier while she sat there, bored and alone, wishing for a book or a piano forte for company.
"And that nice cousin of yours is invited as well."
Mary's face lit up.
"Far be it from me to turn down such an invitation." Mary answered, giving off an air of conceit trying not to sound excited. "For socializing is an important part of life. Conversation is the most basic element of acquainting oneself with another and one can never live without having others in company."
Mrs. Philips gave her an odd look. Mary blushed. She knew she sounded silly, but had a hard time talking to most people, outside of Mr. Singleton. The more she felt she was criticized the more she slipped into her bookish demeanor.
Just then Mr. Singleton came out of her uncle's study and Mary felt a wave of relief wash over her.
"Well Mary, the sun might set soon and I'm afraid our carriage is not here at the moment," Mrs. Philips said. "Mr. Singleton, do you mind accompanying her home in your carriage so she won't have to walk alone in the dark?"
"I do not mind accompanying her home, but I'm afraid my carriage has a loose wheel. We can go by horseback though, and we might be able to beat the sunset."
"Oh but-" Mary started off.
"That would work just fine, thank you Mr. Singleton," her aunt answered.
"It's my pleasure," Richard answered with a blush. Mary and Richard said their farewells and quit the house.
"Mr. Singleton, there is just one problem," Mary said, nervously. "I cannot ride a horse. I am much too afraid of the animals."
"Oh," Mr. Singleton said, dumbfounded. Then he added with a blush, "I suppose we'll have to share a horse then."
"Yes, I suppose that will have to work." Mary said with a nervous sigh. "But tell me, how did it fare?"
Mr. Singleton's features fell and he sighed.
"Oh, Mr. Singleton, don't tell me it was that bad."
"He was very happy to see I found it, and quite impressed that I had completed it already," he said, smiling.
"Mr. Singleton, that is wonderful!"
"'Richard, M'boy' he said, 'You are a dunderhead and blithering idiot for losing it the first place. But you are an irreplaceable, valuable employee who figures out documents in half the time the rest of the idiots I call staff do.'"
Mary snickered at his mimicry of her uncle.
"And then he fired me."
Mary gasped.
"Nay, he happily announced my continual employment," he laughed. Mary gave him a relieved smile.
They continued walking and a mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Tag!" He exclaimed, tapping her on the shoulder. He ran off laughing. She stood still, hands on her hips, staring after him. He stopped and turned around to see her refusing to come after him.
"Come on, Miss Mary! Don't you know how to play tag?" he called.
"Mr. Singleton, I am not chasing after you like a silly buffoon!"
"Or perhaps you're a silly buffoon for not knowing how to run," he responded.
Mary's arms fell to her side as her jaw dropped.
"Richard Singleton, you're going to eat your words!"
She ran off after him as he raced away. She, of course, was not able to make him "eat his words" for he had a head start and was a much faster runner than she was. They reached his house, laughing and gasping for breath.
"Well are you satisfied!" She said between gasps. "You succeeded in making me run across all of England like a child."
"We didn't run across England, just Meryton. And you are a child." He teased.
"I most certainly am not!" She said in offense. "I may be six years your junior, but I am eighteen and out in society!"
Richard chuckled at her offense.
"You're not even supposed to be out until your older sisters are married."
"Oh do shut up and get your horse."
Richard laughed and walked off to his stable. Mary saw Mr. Singleton's cat, Rascal, and picked him up. She sat on a rock and looked around at Richard's house and the few acres of land that surrounded it. He had inherited it, and a little money, from his late father. It was quaint little house, a little smaller than the Bennet's. Mary liked it very much and could see herself feeling quite at home in it. It wouldn't be much for a big family, but after living in the midst of decent sized family she'd much prefer a smaller one when she married. Mary wondered where these thoughts came from and attributed it to her head being in a fog over Mr. Collins.
"Alright, Miss Bennet, your chariot awaits!" Richard said, coming up with his horse. Mary placed Rascal on the ground, stood up, and gave the horse a wary eye.
"It'll be alright, Miss Mary. Duke is a very tame horse."
Mary bit her lip and approached the horse.
"And how do I get on it without falling?"
"Here, I'll help you up."
Richard, blushing, grabbed Mary by the waist and lifted her up, placing her sidesaddle on the horse.
"There! Now all I have to do is get on."
This proved very hard for Richard. He was trying to get on the horse in front of Mary, without kicking her in the head. After several attempts, several bottom imprints in the dirt, and much laughter from Mary at the poor law clerks expense he finally succeeded.
"And off we go!" He said gallantly.
"Are you sure I won't fall off." Mary said.
"I'll make sure the horse doesn't go to fast." Mr. Singleton said. With a blush he added, "Just hang on...tight."
Mary bit her lip and wrapped her arms around Richard's waist tightly. Richard blushed deeper, glad he wasn't facing Mary.
"Oof! I can't breath, a little less tight." he said, realizing his air was being cut off.
"Oh, sorry," she said apologetically and loosened her hold a bit.
"Quite all right. And off we go!"
It didn't take too long for Mary to calm down. Riding the horse wasn't too scary, and she ended up spending her time laughing at Mr. Singleton for placing the document in his pocket and not realizing it. He had to admit it was rather silly of him and joined along.
About three quarters the way Mary gasped.
"Oh Mr. Singleton, stop and look. The sunset is most beautiful this evening."
Mr. Singleton stopped and turned his head to look at the glorious wonder in the sky.
"Very lovely," he said, looking at Mary. Mary smiled serenely at the view.
"It's very romantic. Fancy the two of us, riding off in the sunset together like Cinderella and her prince." he said jokingly.
Mary snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Just ride on, Prince Doofus." she responded.
"Your words cut like a knife, Miss Mary," he teased, and continued on.
They reached her house before the sun disappeared beyond the horizon.
"Would you like to stay for supper?" Mary offered. "I'm sure mamma won't mind. It's the least we could do since you brought me home."
Richard smiled.
"And you can meet Mr. Collins!" Mary added.
Richard's face fell.
"Oh no, it's quite alright," he said. "I'm getting a bit tired, and your cook might not have prepared enough for an extra mouth."
"Oh, alright. Well if you're sure." Mary looked down from the horse. "Oh dear, now how do I get down?"
Richard rolled his eyes and feigned an irritated sigh.
"I suppose I'll have to help you again," he said in mock exasperation.
Richard, trying yet again not to kick Mary in the head, scrambled off the horse and fell onto the ground for the seventh time that evening. Mary laughed.
"My dear Miss Mary, how many times must I fall for you?" He joked.
"Just help me down, you ninny," she laughed.
"Yes, your majesty." Richard reached up and grabbed her by the waist, as she placed her hands on his shoulders. He helped her down, but she slipped and fell into his arms.
"Oh!" she exclaimed falling, and they both looked into each other's eyes for a moment or two. Mary finally broke the silence.
"I thought you were going to help me down, not yank me off the horse." she teased, trying to relieve the embarrassment.
"I was until you crashed into me," he joked along. And yet, they didn't pull away from each other.
"Um, Mr. Singleton, c-can you put me down?" Mary asked.
"Oh, yes, sorry." Richard said blushing and released her.
"Well, thank you for the ride home." she said, blushing a little herself.
"Yes, of course. It was my pleasure." He said, standing there stupidly.
"Well, bye." she said.
"Goodbye." he said.
Mary walked stiffly off towards the house. Richard clambered up his horse again, falling one more time before he successfully sat on it. Neither noticed the pair of eyes watching from the window.
a/n: Yep! I'm so going along with the "Mary's in love with Mr. Collins" thing. I'm not sure if "Got it!" was something they said back then, actually I doubt it, but oh well. Lol. As for Mr. Wickham, I don't think he'll become a big part of the story, I just wanted to write her perspective of him. Funny, she has the right perspective of Wickham while everyone has the wrong one, and wrong perspective of Collins, while everyone has the right one. I suppose it's a bit of a trade off.
And sorry for making Kitty stupid. She was just the best candidate for that quote.
Anyway, it's time to give credit where credit is due:
Quotes taken from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (NOT in order of appearance):
"Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Philips talks of turning away Richard? And if he does Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town." Volume I, Chapter 14.
Yes, this is from the book. I wonder how many people noticed, or if anyone might have thought Richard was the same Richard from this quote. This is the quote that pretty much sparked the idea for this story. Since I heard that Jane Austen later mentioned that Mary marries one of her uncle's clerks this quote pretty much got the wheels turning. Lydia gave me a bit of trouble though. I didn't understand why she called him by his first name, so I thought perhaps it was his last name and she just dropped the "Mr." part. But it just irritated me because it was a first name. So, I decided that perhaps he'll just be a long time friend of the family and that Lydia wasn't one to always follow propriety anyway. Or, maybe she just calls him Richard because she feels he's beneath them. I don't know! Stupid Lydia, confusing everything. j/k no offense Lydia fans.
On to the rest of the quotes.
"Mrs. Bennet, I must say how struck I am with your young daughters. I have heard much of their beauty, but fame has fallen short of the truth. They are all very handsome and more so than I expected. I am sure in due time they will all be well disposed in marriage." Volume I, Chapter 13
Not a direct quote, (and not actual dialogue in the book) but it retains most of the wordage. Here's the actual quote from the book:
"He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage." Volume I, Chapter 13
'every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason.' 'exertion should always be in proportion to what is required' Volume I, Chapter 7
Two mini-quotes taken from the bigger quote of:
"'I admired the activity of your benevolence,' observed Mary, 'but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.'" Volume I, Chapter 7