Wow, only 3 reviews last chapter. Lol. Did I make a wrong move making Richie-boy MIA for a while? I hope not, b/c I have a plot and I'm sticking to it. If I didn't, well, then I wouldn't have a story. Besides, you may or may not want to stick around for his return.:) I hope the story will still be interesting until then.
There's a wedding this chap!
The Bingleys and Darcys were joined in Holy Matrimony on the first day of December. It was a most happy occasion indeed, for all but Mary. It merely reminded her of what she might have had. Kitty, Mary, and Mr. Darcy's sister, Georgiana, all served as bridesmaids while two friends of Mr. Bingley and a cousin of Mr. Darcy served as groomsmen. Mr. Darcy's cousin was a colonel, which seemed to impress Kitty quite a bit. He wasn't handsome but decent looking and had enough to recommend himself. He was tall, well built, and very kind and cordial. Most importantly he owned a red coat.
Georgiana was a sweet girl, though very shy. Kitty liked her very much and Mary found she liked her as well. She was quiet, nonjudgmental, and very interested in music. The three girls found themselves talking together at the start of the Wedding Ball. Or rather, two of the girls found themselves listening to the other.
"I do not think I like Jane and Lizzy's idea much." Kitty said. "A double wedding? I do not know. I would much rather have the day all about myself."
"And your husband, of course." Mary said dryly.
"Oh yes. I suppose him too." Kitty said nonchalantly. She turned to Georgiana "That cousin of yours…Colonel Fitzwilliam? What are his prospects?"
Georgiana's eyes widened in surprise at Kitty's personal question. Mary hissed an admonition at her sister.
"I-I do not think he has any prospects at all," Georgiana said awkwardly. "If a lady is what you mean."
Kitty giggled, it had been exactly what she meant.
"I do think a Colonel would make for the best husband." Kitty said. "I would not want someone stuffy and boring, like a clergyman."
As Kitty said this, a young man walked past them and cast her a bemused smirk. He gave a nod to Georgiana who returned it, slightly amused. Kitty's eyes flew open as she watched the young man's retreating figure. He was tall and dashingly handsome. Kitty turned to Georgiana.
"Oh my! Who is that?" she asked. "Is he of your acquaintance?"
"That is Mr. Strafford; he is good friends with my brother." Georgiana said softly yet managed to give Mary a small smile. "He serves as clergyman at the rectory of Pemberly."
Kitty's face reddened as her eyes widened further. Mary choked on her punch.
"And his prospects?" Kitty asked in a small voice, still staring at the man.
"None," Georgiana said, exchanging another smirk with Mary.
Kitty burst into a fit of giggles.
"I thought you didn't like clergymen?" Mary asked.
Kitty merely continued giggling. Mary sighed and turned to Georgiana.
"Could you introduce us?" she asked tiredly.
Georgiana smiled and nodded. The two girls, along with a giggling Kitty, made their way over to the young man who was now talking with Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"Mr. Strafford?" Georgiana said, and the young man looked towards them.
"Good afternoon, Miss Darcy." He greeted her.
"I do not believe you have met Lizzy's sisters." Georgiana said. "This is Miss Mary…well, I suppose she is Miss Bennet now."
Mary curtsied and tried not to wince. Georgiana was right, she was Miss Bennet now. She did not like the sound of it, for it only reminded her she was single and why she was so.
"And this is Miss Kitty."
Kitty, forgetting to curtsy, burst into another fit of giggles. Mr. Strafford looked at her completely befuddled. Georgiana smiled apologetically at him as she continued her introductions.
"Miss Bennet, Miss Kitty this is Mr. Strafford."
"I'm delighted to meet you." Mr. Strafford said shooting an awkward glance toward the snorting Kitty. Mary, realizing Kitty was currently useless, blushed, and asked him about his service in the church. He, slightly relieved, answered passionately about his profession. He seemed to be a good sort of man, nothing like Mr. Collins. At one time Mary might have had interest in him but now her heart was only for Mr. Singleton. Besides, Kitty seemed to lay claim on him, at least that's what Mary interpreted her pig imitations to mean. Mary found it amusing that a clergyman had turned her sister's mind away from the only redcoat in the room. However, Mary was pleased to see her sister find interest in a respectable man for once, though Mary suspected his only virtue Kitty cared about was his chiseled appearance. After a short time, music began to play.
"Ooh! Dancing!" Kitty squealed.
She batted her eyelashes at Mr. Strafford but he was already offering his arm to Georgiana.
"Miss Darcy, may I have the honor of the first set?"
Georgiana smiled apologetically at Kitty and took his arm.
"Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Strafford."
Kitty frowned dejectedly as the two walked off. Mary felt very sorry for her and it appeared the Colonel did as well.
"Miss Kitty, may I have this dance?" He asked, holding his arm out to her.
Kitty sighed.
"I suppose so." She said disappointed, taking his arm. The Colonel frowned as the two walked off. Mary watched them walk away and looked around.
"Alone, how unusual." She muttered. Mary stood alone without any occupation or entertainment for quite some time. Her thoughts traveled to Mr. Singleton. His presence would have assured a decrease in the dull state of her mind. She hadn't even brought a book with her to pass the time. She thought sadly of him until she spotted someone who she was very happy to see.
Uncle Philips! I do hope that means Richard is back. Mary thought. However, the thought that he was present merely because of the wedding did not escape her.
Mary hastened to her Uncle who was in conversation with an acquaintance.
"Hello Uncle Philips." She said, her excitement a little too strong.
"Oh. Hello there, Mary." Her Uncle said disinterestedly and turned back to his conversation. Mary, not wanting to be rude, stood there awkwardly until the opportune time came to speak to her uncle. She waited for a while before her uncle could ignore her no longer. He sighed begrudgingly and turned towards her.
"Yes Mary? How may I be of assistance?" he asked her.
"Well I…I heard you had gone to London on business. I was just wondering how it went." She said. "Are you completely finished?"
"No, I just came down for the wedding." He replied.
"Oh." She said in disappointment. "How long are you planning on staying in London?"
"I don't know. A few months I suppose." He answered shortly.
A few months? Mary thought, frowning forlornly. Mr. Singleton might not be back for a few months? She pulled herself out of her misery to continue her questioning.
"I see. Where exactly are you doing business in London?"
"Mary, I do not remember the street at the moment. Let's not talk of business right now." He said irritably.
With that he turned around and continued speaking with his friend. Mary sighed and walked away. She was startled out of her thoughts when she almost ran into Mr. Collins, who appeared suddenly before her.
"Hello, Cousin Kitty!" He said cheerfully.
Mary winced.
"It's Mary." She said.
"Oh, yes, yes…of course of course." He chuckled. "Isn't this a grand, fine wedding? A grand, fine wedding indeed!"
He went on to speak of how weddings were such "grand, fine things" and began to ramble about his own wedding. Mary had no interest in hearing about it, especially since it might have been her own. She pretended to listen and tried to plan her escape. This was unneeded, however, for soon a tall, dark shadow fell over them. They looked up to see Colonel Fitzwilliam who had recently finished his dance with a moping Kitty.
"Miss Bennet, may I have this dance?" he asked politely. Mary's eyes widened in surprise. She was in a dilemma; she had not the talent to dance at all. However, as she looked to her alternative companion she could only make one choice.
"I'd be delighted, Colonel." Mary said and left the offended Mr. Collins.
"Thank you." Mary muttered to the Colonel.
"For what?" he asked in feigned confusion, but a slight smirk gave way to the fact that he had noticed the lady's distress. The dance had, overall, been a disaster but the Colonel was a good sort of gentleman and pretended not to notice. He was a friendly fellow and Mary managed to maintain a decent conversation with him, no matter how flustered it may have been on her part.
After she finished her mortifying dance with him she set out for a glass of punch. She stood pathetically by the appetizer table and looked dully around the room. She spotted Mr. Strafford a little ways off, who appeared to be in a similar state of mind. He looked up and, catching her eye, smiled and made his over to her. Unfortunate for him he did not venture very far.
"James T. Strafford!!!" a familiar voice exclaimed incredulously. "Mr. James Thaddeus Strafford!"
Thaddeus? Mary thought. She tried not to snicker as both she and "James Thaddeus" looked over to the owner of the voice. It was Mr. Collins who was beaming in happy surprise at the other clergyman. Mary, looking over, noticed Mr. Strafford was just as surprised, though perhaps not as happy.
"Mr. James T. Strafford." Mr. Collins exclaimed happily as he approached the thrice-mentioned gentleman. "Why, it hasn't been since university since I last saw you. You do remember me, do you not?"
Mr. Strafford shook himself out of his shocked state and smiled.
"Of course Mr. Collins, I do not think I'd be able to forget you."
"What have you been up to since? I have been serving as clergyman at the rectory of Rosings for Lady Catherine DeBourg."
Mr. Collins proceeded to tell Mr. Strafford the details of his life since they had last seen each other. Mr. Strafford mustered all the patience he had and listened to the man who did not let him answer the question he had asked. Mary felt very sorry for him, yet couldn't help but turn her head and snicker at the poor man. Mr. Collins eventually came to the part of his life where he came to visit the Bennets. He explained how he was to inherit their estate.
"Such a dreadful thing for them but I had done all I could to remedy the situation. I tried to make amends with them but it was of no use. I would have married the eldest but she was to marry Mr. Bingley. I could not impose upon the lady to break her engagement with another man."
Mary snorted into her drink.
"I might have a considered the next eldest but it was unfortunate that she would not have made a proper clergyman's wife. She's a virtuous girl but a bit too headstrong. It would not have done at all. Unfortunate for her; I could have made her very happy. She's the one who married my patroness' nephew, Mr. Darcy over there."
Mary mustered all the effort she could not to laugh uproariously. Mr. Strafford, she noted, was biting his lip as well.
"I had also thought of marrying the middle one, but I suppose there was a bit wanting in her too. She's a very devout girl, but a little more humility would be of help. She could use a little improvement on her accomplishments as well. It's a pity, too, that she is fairly plain."
Mary's eyes flew open as did Mr. Strafford's. Mary slunk away slowly and out of the ballroom. She wandered agitatedly around the halls of Netherfield, and thought of Mr. Singleton's letter; it matched up with Mr. Collins' words very well. Mr. Singleton had been right: Mr. Collins was a dreadful man who never had any regard for her. She was eternally grateful to Mr. Singleton. To think, she could have been married to that...that toad! She could not believe how she behaved towards her dear friend, all because of Mr. Collins. Now she might not see him for months, maybe longer, and she had no way of contacting him. It was all because of her stupidity for the dreadful man she had foolishly been infatuated with. She cursed herself for her unforgiving heart. Mary truly felt the consequences of her actions.
Lol, there's a lot of "eye-widening" in this chapter. I don't know if girls would even introduce girls to young men, but oh well. What I have planned for next chapter should be exciting. ;) It should hopefully be up in about a couple of weeks.