Yay! An update!!! Sorry I took forever! It's been almost two months! Yikes! I bet you were thinking last chapter was legit. No, it's merely an April Fools joke. (would I REALLY conclude the story like that? Well, maybe…it's not like you guys know me or what I am capable of, MWAHAHA) This chapter takes place right after the chapter before last, the wedding of the Bingley's and Darcy's. We left off with Mary over hearing Mr. Collins rude comments about her.
Also, sorry if I have been spelling Pemberley or Philips wrong. But now I know how to spell them correctly, so I shall hopefully do so from now on.
I don't really think there were honeymoons back then, but I think Jane and Bingley should get one so they have some time in their early-married life away from Mrs. Bennet.
Not the most interesting chapter, but hopefully a few scenes will be amusing.
The next morning the remaining Bennets said good-bye to the two eldest daughters; they, with their husbands, planned on vacationing in town for a week or two. Mary thought this very detrimental to Jane and Bingley's happiness. Netherfield was close enough to Longbourn for Mrs. Bennet to visit every day and the couple deserved some time of wedded bliss before such an intrusion.
Mrs. Bennet's good-byes were full of rapturous joy while her father's damp eyes did not escape Mary's notice. Kitty petitioned for balls at Netherfield and a chance to stay over a few nights. However, Kitty's pleas were even stronger for Pemberley. Mary gave her quiet good-byes and was truly sad to see them depart. All she had left were a nonsensical mother, an unconcerned father, and a silly sister…though she supposed Kitty was improving a bit. Mary watched the two carriages leave and marveled at how fast it all came about. Less than three months ago they had no hope of ever seeing the two men again and now Jane and Lizzy were married to them. So much had happened in the past year and Mary wondered how much more was waiting for her. Her life was changing and she didn't know if she liked it. So far it hadn't promised to be a good change.
Mary's thoughts were broken as Kitty giggled beside her.
"I suppose our turns are next, Mary." She said. Kitty skipped off and Mary turned her gaze back to the carriages disappearing over the horizon.
"If I haven't missed mine…" she said quietly. She enviously watched her sisters' voyage to the life she wished to have and the place she wished to be.
Her parents continued to prove as uncompanionable but Kitty wasn't so terrible. She did not mind so much being around Mary; though Mary was a little put out that Kitty only spent time with her because no one else was left. She was appeased, however, that Kitty did not mind her presence. Unlike Lydia, she did not refuse Mary's company—nor was she embarrassed by it like Lizzy. At worst Kitty seemed a little bored that she was left with her dullest sister. But Mary agreed to go on a few walks to Meryton, especially in hopes to hear of her uncle's stay in London; unfortunately that endeavor proved to be futile. However, Kitty also enjoyed spending time with Maria Lucas, who did not seem to like Mary's company much. Mary had no desire to force her presence on one who did not want it and, in light of her fruitless visits to her aunt's, began to withdraw back to her studies. Meanwhile, Mary attempted another trip to Mr. Jenson's and Mr. Singleton's to see if the address had been located; that only turned out pointless as well.
The Bingleys returned and Mrs. Bennet desired to intrude the very next day. She brought along a giddy Kitty and dragged along a reluctant Mary. The Bingley's seemed unsurprised to see them, though perhaps a little disappointed—but hardly at all considering their temperaments. Mary tried to persuade her mother to leave in a timely manner claiming that she had reading to be done but her mother paid no heed. In the meantime, however, Mary was happy to question her sister if they had caught sight of their Uncle Philips in London.
"No, we did not see Uncle Philips at all." Jane answered. "He must have been in another part of town."
"Oh." Mary said, trying to hide her disappointment.
"What of his two clerks, Mr. Singleton and Mr. Jenson?" Kitty asked with a giggle. Mary stared in astonishment at Kitty, who had asked the very question she wished to, but concluded that she was probably asking for Maria's sake. Jane's answer, unfortunately, was to Mary's disappointment. As with their uncle, they hadn't caught sight of either man.
"That is the right perspective!" Mrs. Bennet praised Kitty. "Such interest in young men! You would do well to follow in your younger sister's footsteps, Mary."
Mary averted her gaze to the floor and Kitty burst into a fit of giggles.
Seeing that the Darcy's were home as well, Mary wrote her sister to ask about London and if she happened to see Uncle Philips. Lizzy told Mary many things about London that Mary cared not about and, to Mary's chagrin, that she hadn't caught glimpse of Mr. Philips. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty interrogated in their letters as to when the remaining Bennet daughters were to visit Pemberley. Lizzy denied their request, stating she needed time to adjust to Pemberley herself. Mrs. Bennet's complaints to her ungrateful daughter did little to faze her. Finally, Lizzy explained that she needed better acquaintance with the young men of Derbyshire before she could ever introduce them to Mary or Kitty. Mrs. Bennet finally ceased her petitions for the time being and satisfied herself with dragging her two unmarried daughters to Netherfield. Mary tried to avoid these visits as much as possible, but on her occasional visits spent a good portion of time in the library. Mary was disappointed to see that, though more spacious, it was less impressive than Longbourn's.
Kitty wanted to spend a few nights at Netherfield and Jane extended the invitation to Mary. She was a bit embarrassed to intrude but desired freedom from her current living arrangements and so agreed to stay a night.
During this night Kitty welcomed herself into Mary's temporary bedroom. She flopped herself annoyingly onto Mary's bed which had already been occupied by its current user.
"What is it, Kitty?" Mary sighed.
"Oh nothing, I'm just incredibly bored." Kitty said. "It is too late to go anywhere so I've decided to see what you're up to."
"Reading, so I suppose you would find more entertainment playing with sock puppets in your own quarters."
Kitty stared at Mary a moment or two and then burst into giggles. After this fit, Kitty stared quietly at the ceiling for an unfortunately short amount of time.
"Mary." She finally said turning to her. Mary raised her eyebrow and looked at Kitty.
"You're still here?" she asked.
"What is your type of man?" Kitty asked with a giggle. Mary sighed and closed her book.
"I suppose I have particular fondness for anyone who does not bother me while I am reading."
"Oh bother!" Kitty exclaimed. "Then no one would have opportunity to speak to you at all."
"And yet they never cease to manage to." Mary muttered.
"Oh come now, Mary. There must be someone you have an interest in." Kitty teased. Kitty's smirk discomforted Mary.
"Well I do not! And if you're so interested in men, then what is your 'type of man'?" Mary snapped, turning the attention away from herself. "A red coat?"
"Oh, I don't know." Kitty sighed, flopping on her back and staring dreamily at the ceiling. "Dark hair, green eyes, tall and well-statured."
Kitty burst into giggles. Mary thought her description sounded very much like a recent acquaintance. Mary's thoughts were further encouraged by Kitty's next statement.
"Oh, I do wish we could go to Pemberley soon!"
"I hope not to go to Pemberley at all." Mary muttered unthinkingly.
"Yes, I suppose London would be more to your liking." Kitty said, smirking at the ceiling.
"L-London?" Mary stammered.
Kitty turned to her and giggled.
"Well, it's obvious, isn't it?" Kitty said.
Mary blushed.
"What is?"
"Oh come now, it's not that hard to figure out."
"I-it's not?" asked Mary in a sweat.
"Nope, any idiot could see." Kitty said, smiling slyly.
"They-they could?"
"Yes. London boasts of many Libraries and you would easily find an intellectual type there." Kitty said. "Well, good night."
Kitty gave her an irritating kiss on the cheek and scampered out of the room in yet another fit of giggles. Mary stared at the door in confusion.
About a month after the Bingley's return Mrs. Bennet sent another letter to Lizzy, requesting for Mary and Kitty's stay at Pemberley. Lizzy finally replied that in one week's time they would be welcome to come for a month or two.
"Oh! What a fine thing for our remaining girls, Mr. Bennet!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed at dinner. "To go to Pemberley and meet with young men. I have just gotten a letter from Lizzy and she will finally have them!"
Mary's fork descended abruptly to her plate. Pemberley? She could not go to Pemberley! Not now. Mr. Singleton had been gone for over three months; though she had not heard word of his returning she couldn't help but hope he would be back soon. Now was not the time to go to Pemberley!
"I'm not going." She said, voice wavering. Her parents and Kitty looked at her.
"Well of course you are going, silly girl!" Mrs. Bennet said. "Where else will you meet young men?"
"I was unaware there are no young men here." Mr. Bennet quipped dryly.
"Of course there are, but hardly any rich. Besides, they've all seen her and are bored with her." Mrs. Bennet said. "No, it will not do! You are going to Pemberley."
"Can't I go some other time?"
"Some other time?" Mrs. Bennet said. "What in heavens name for?"
"I-I'm just not up to it."
"Not up to it? Oh come now, I will not have you fritter away your few remaining eligible years with those books of yours."
"I'm nineteen!"
"Precisely. You need all the time you can get. The more youthful you are the better luck you will have."
Mary opened her mouth to protest once more but the voice that was heard was not her own.
"Mama!" Kitty whined. "Why does Mary have to come? Would it not be better if just I go, that way all attention will be on me?"
Mary rolled her eyes. She wondered if this had anything to do with a certain clergyman and the fact that Mary had an easier time talking to him.
"Oh come now, Kitty, Mary is hardly competition for you. What are you so worried about? Rather you will be more competition for her and Lizzy will have to spend all her time catching Mary a husband. In fact, now that I think about it, you should stay home and only Mary will go! That way all that the young men will have to choose is her."
Mary and Kitty both began to protest but Mrs. Bennet continued speaking.
"However, I do not know how long it will take for Mary to catch a man. It may be years and you will run out of time to get one yourself. Rather, you will only take a few months and then Lizzy will have all her time to focus on Mary. No, Mary, you must not go so Lizzy may spend all her time on Kitty."
The other occupants of the table looked at Mrs. Bennet in astonishment. Kitty sighed with relief as did Mary, though she was slightly irritated with her mother's criticism. No wonder she had little confidence in attracting the opposite sex. She had finally attracted one member and she completely messed that up! If only her mother understood her real reason for staying.
As Kitty got ready for her trip Mary realized something she wished she had thought of sooner. It was only logical to write her Aunt Gardiner to see if they had spotted her Uncle Philips in London. If so Mary pondered the possibility of spending some time with the Gardiners. Mary wrote a letter to her aunt questioning such information.
Dear Aunt,
How are things faring? Are the children well? I believe you have heard of all that's been happening here at Longbourn. Mr. and Mrs. Bingley returned a month ago and are well settled and very happy. Lizzy has agreed to have Kitty and me at Pemberley for a month or two. Only Kitty will be going this time, I have decided to stay home for now.
How is London this time of year? Have you seen my Uncle Philips at all? I believe you have heard he's in London on business. I suppose I might like to go to London someday. I hear there are many Libraries. I must be going. Mama wants me to help Kitty with her packing. I do hope to see you again soon.
Sincerely,
Mary.
Mary read her letter, wincing at how silly, short, and awkward it was. The Gardiner's were a little easier to converse with than most of her family but they were by no means as easy as Mr. Singleton. Mary did not want to outright ask the Gardiners if she could stay with them, but she hoped she hinted enough for them to offer. Mary sighed and sealed the envelope, it would have to do. Mary put her letter down in regret as she heard her mother calling from Kitty's room.
The day finally arrived for Kitty to leave for Pemberley. Mr. Bennet, who was going with her, planned to spend two weeks there as well. He gave his disinterested good-byes and climbed into the carriage. Kitty hugged her weeping Mama and then turned to Mary.
"Well, Mary, I wonder if either you or I will be engaged by the time I get back." She said with a giggle. Mary looked at her in confusion as she climbed into the carriage. Kitty giggled and waved goodbye to her mama who told her to "catch a fine husband". The carriage soon pulled away and Mary stared after her retreating sister in confusion.
"What is she on about?" Mary muttered.
"What are you muttering for, silly child?" her mother exclaimed. "How shall you catch a man if you are continually muttering to yourself like a silly nincompoop?"
Mrs. Bennet walked towards the house, muttering to herself about the nincompoopery of her daughter. Mary stared at her in regret. They would be each other's only company for the next two weeks until Mr. Bennet's return. Plans of hiding away in her room quickly flooded her mind. Mrs. Bennet turned around and looked at Mary impatiently.
"Well, come along child! We have much to do today!" Mrs. Bennet said. "Now don't look at me like that! You weren't expecting to be holed up in that room of yours, reading those pointless books? No, someone must walk with me to Meryton on my visits; seeing as you are the only one left you must go!"
Mary sighed and reluctantly followed her mother. She would not be looking forward to the next two months with joy and would count the time until Kitty returned, a task she never thought she would do.
I'm not sure the exact direction I'm going to take in some of the next few chapters, so it might take me a little while longer to update.
A few things on grammar and whatnot:
"Lizzy has agreed to have Kitty and me at Pemberley for a month or two."
I am certain this statement is correct, that it should be "me" and not "I". The way to tell is to eliminate the other person and see whether "me" or "I" sounds better.
"Lizzy has agreed to have me at Pemberley for a month or two."
Sounds better than
"Lizzy has agreed to have I at Pemberley for a month or two."
Uncompanionable is not an actual word, but considering that Austen used the actual word in Pride and Prejudice I think I can take the liberty of using it as well. Neither is nincompoopery but it's too funny, imo, not to use.
I have no idea when sock puppets first came about. I just thought the picture of Kitty playing with sock puppets in her room was funny as well.