Author's Note: Oh boy, guys! It's been awhile. Sorry, sorry! I'm such a jerk! *cries* Well, this is a long chapter, so I hope that makes it up. (Really long, so get comfy.)
But it kinda sucks, so sorry for that too! Haha! Hopefully it's not too disappointing after the long wait.
I don't think I've had any anonymous reviews except for ixi-shaj but I probably emailed you! But just in case, thanks for reading! And don't dislike poor Richard too much. All will be explain in due time!
Some of you might not even remember what's going on in this story, so if you don't want to reread the previous chapters here's a quick rundown of what's happened thus far (err, it's kinda snarky… :D ):
Previously on Humility and Perception:
Mary's life sucks cuz she's ugly and her family ignores her. Mr. Singleton loves her anyway. But Mary loves Mr. Collins. Oh noes! Mary thinks Mr. Collins is going to propose to her. Mr. Collins proposes to Charlotte instead. Mary is depressed. Mr. Singleton is Mary's only friend in the world. Mary starts falling for Sexy Singleton. Mary finds out that Mr. Singleton is responsible for Mr. Collins proposing to Charlotte instead. Mary hates Mr. Singleton. Mr. Singleton is sad. Mary ignores Mr. Singleton. Mr. Singleton is still sad. Lydia's a slut. Mary receives a letter from Mr. Singleton. Mary doesn't read it. Mary finally reads the letter and finds out that Mr. Collins is the scum of the earth and Mr. Singleton was just trying to protect her. Mary hates herself and loves Mr. Singleton. But, oh noes, Mr. Singleton left for London on business with Mr. Jenson and Uncle Philips before Mary could talk to him. Mary hates life and is emo. Jane and Lizzy get married to Hottie McHotterson 1 and 2. Kitty leaves to bug Lizzy at Pemberley. Mary finds out that some stupid chick from London is flirting with Mr. Singleton and Mr. Singleton isn't exactly ignoring her. Mary hates life and is emo…again. Mary sees that Mr. Jenson is back from London. Mary talks to Mr. Jenson to see if Sexy Singleton is back. Mr. Jenson is like "bug off, Mary! Your little Richie-poo stayed in London." Mary is depressed and thinks Mr. Singleton stayed in London to live a happy life with that hussy. Mary finds out that Kitty is engaged. Mama B wants to go to Pemberley to bug everyone. Mary "waahmbulences" how she is the only toilet in the world for life to take its dump on.
Life sucks, and then you die, Mary. Live with it.
At least your pretty…oh wait…
*Cough* sorry…I love Mary and don't think she's ugly, but snarking is fun and I love it more!
And here we are! Don't throw too many tomatoes!
It would seem that the proper thing to do would be to wait the week requested by the lady of the house until making the visitation. However, Mrs. Bennet cared not for propriety and Mr. Bennet was impatient to see his favorite daughter; he had already planned on dropping by Pemberley unexpectedly before summer. Mary was too preoccupied in depressing thoughts that she cared not when they went but rather that they did not go at all. The Bingley's, who normally follow the rules of propriety, were breaking them to travel with the three Bennets. Lizzy, who was half-expectant that such an urgent haste would be exercised by her mother, sent letter to Jane with particular requests. She was to stem the family from coming as long as possible or until the requested week—whichever came first. However, in face of inevitable failure (for Jane was a soft-spoken creature and her mother an impossible one), Jane was to come immediately with the family to be a source of peace for Lizzy's mind. Lizzy pleaded for this and requested for her to send letter as soon as possible so that Lizzy could be as prepared as she possibly could. Jane had proven to be faithful on all accounts. Before Mary had come home that afternoon, Jane had done her best to convince her mother to wait the week or at least three days. When all had looked hopeless Jane hurried home, spoke to her happily obliging husband, composed a quick letter, and sent it by express.
The next morning, just as Mary had suspected, her mother bustled her way into the room and woke her hours before she wanted to get up. A headache split its way through her temples as her mother forced her to getting ready for the departure. They arrived at Netherfield at half past six where they switched their transportation to the more comfortable Bingley carriages. The three Bennets and the two Bingleys climbed into one carriage while their luggage was piled into the other. Though tired, Mr. Bingley and Jane's dispositions were as pleasant as ever while Mrs. Bennet's excitement served to further irritate her husband's grouchy countenance. He could not, however, match Mary's gloom for on top of her exhaustion and headache she was depressed over the previous day's events and jealous of her sister's good fortune. The last of her desires was to be surrounded by happy people celebrating a happy event while she had nothing but despair thrust at her. Her mother's joy was enough for Mary to contemplate jumping out of the moving carriage. However, Mary was partially grateful for the approaching company of others. Her mother would now have more people to irritate other than herself—particularly the newly engaged Kitty. Mary groaned as her mother continued on about her joy for her soon-to-be wedded daughter.
"Oh, my dear, dear Kitty! Engaged! Oh, it is so wonderful to have a mother's wish fulfilled for her daughters!"
"But mama, Kitty is only courting Mr. Strafford. They have yet to be engaged." Jane corrected gently. Mary lifted her head from her sister's shoulder in confusion; looking over to her father revealed that this was news to him as well.
"Courting?" Mary said. "They are not yet engaged? Then why are we bothering going to Pemberley, and in such a rush as this?"
"Oh don't be silly, girls. Only courting? They are as good as engaged if you ask me!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. "And don't you be so critical, Mary! If you bothered to talk to men or at least worked on your appearance you might find yourself married one day as well."
Mary averted her eyes to the floor as her mother continued.
"However, now that Kitty is engaged perhaps we shall find a husband for you too while we are there. And if not, we can leave you there and Lizzy can work on securing one for you."
Mary sighed.
"But Mama, I do not want to stay at Pemberley,".
"Do not want to stay? Don't be so foolish girl."
"Mrs. Bennet, why don't we at least wait to see if Mary likes it at Pemberley," her father, to Mary's astonishment, defended her. "If not, she might come back to Longbourn and surprise us all by securing one of the few eligible men hiding away in Hertfordshire."
Mrs. Bennet tutted and Mary looked in confusion at her smirking father.
"After all, Mary, do you not find a certain chap agreeable?" he inquired.
Mary turned red and looked at her father in horror.
"Oh Mary, what young man is this?" her mother squealed.
"Why, that fourteen year old son of the Lucases you've been trying to set her up with," Mr. Bennet said, to Mary's relief. Mary wrinkled her nose and reclined back in her seat. Mr. Bennet smirked.
"Well, if he doesn't suit you then you might have to stay at Pemberley after all," her father said. He lifted his eyes. "Unless you have designs on someone else at home."
Her father smiled as Mary blushed and picked up her book to read, thus ending the conversation. She spent barely a half an hour in this occupation before she could do nothing but put it down. Her headache despised it, her mother's chatter refused it, and her thoughts had no interest for it. All she thought of was the terrible fate of losing Mr. Singleton forever. She could not comprehend, if he really loved her, why he would not return from London. She knew he thought all was hopeless; but wouldn't his love at least spark some hope of her forgiveness? Her only hope was that Mr. Jenson would pass the intelligence that she had inquired of him. That might clue Mr. Singleton into her missing him. Mary wondered if Mr. Jenson even had the ability to think of such an idea and remembered his irritation and inattentiveness the other day. This distressed her thoughts; she could only worry that both despised her for her actions and Richard had no intention of ever forgiving her. Perhaps Mr. Singleton never loved her and easily moved on to the "oh-so-perfect" Miss Clements.
Mary groaned and leaned her head on her sister's shoulder, trying to drown out her mother's words. Mr. Bennet and Jane, who had also been noticing her sister's odd behavior, exchanged looks of concern. Mr. Bennet, for once feeling sorry for her, told his wife to cease her chattering. She paid no heed and continued right on for half the trip frustrating Mary's headache all the more. Finally, Mrs. Bennet fell asleep allowing Mary to do so as well.
Jane's plans of waking Mary gently were all for naught as her mother, now awake and more excited than before, woke her third daughter mercilessly.
"Wake up, girl! We're here," she shrilled in her ear. Mary awoke bewildered and disappointed that her rare happy dream of Mr. Singleton was interrupted. As happy as her dream had been, having to wake up and realize it was not reality only made her more morose than earlier. She was also worse off physically than she had been before falling asleep. Her neck and head ached all the more from the awkward position she had slept in and she was fuzzy-headed and bleary-eyed. Her mother's continual prodding did not help her either and blameless Jane threw her an apologetic look. The four other carriage occupants climbed out while Mary followed them in a groggy stumble.
Mr. Darcy, Lizzy, Georgiana, Kitty, her beloved Mr. Strafford, and even Colonel Fitzwilliam were all there to greet their arrival. Hugs and kisses went around but Mary stood quietly behind the happy group. Mrs. Bennet attacked Kitty and her practically fiancé.
"Oh, my dear Kitty. I am so happy you are engaged to such a fine, young man!"
"Mama, we're only courting!"
Many questions flowed from the jubilant mother's mouth before the happy couple could even answer one.
"Hello Miss Bennet," Mary heard a voice say. She looked up to see the smiling Colonel.
"Oh, hello there Colonel Fitzwilliam," she said with a yawn. Fitzwilliam smiled. Mary blushed. "Pardon, that was rude of me."
"That's alright. I bet your trip was very long and tiring. All is excused."
Mary let out a small laugh.
"I bet it seemed even longer than it actually was," she said, stealing a glance at her mother. Just then a happy Kitty ran up to her, followed by her more composed beloved.
"Oh Mary! Is this not exciting?" Kitty chirped. "I still cannot believe the happiness bestowed on me."
Mary smiled as best as her jealously would allow and offered her congratulations to the beaming couple. Mary marked how well and happy Kitty looked. Though she was still small and thin she gained some weight and looked much healthier than usual. This contrasted with Mary's appearance. She appeared to be thinner, and more so than Kitty, and did not look very well. This was a fact that Lizzy, who had not seen her sister in quite awhile, noticed more than others. She hoped that her ill appearance was mostly due to the tiring trip and that after a meal and a good rest it would improve. Lizzy broke her younger sisters' conversation and greeted Mary with an embrace.
"We will be having supper in an hour," she informed Mary. "If you like we can show you your room and you can rest until then."
"Thank you, Lizzy, but I would rather not have my rest interrupted. I shall repose after supper. I would be quite pleased if I could wash before then, however, if it is no cause of trouble."
Lizzy assured her such would not be the case. The family then ventured towards the house and Mary took note of the grand estate and its surroundings. She walked towards the house in intimidated wonder while her mother squealed shamelessly. Mary continued into the house in such an astounded manner, forcing Lizzy to remind her that she requested a bath before supper. She was rushed quickly through bathing and proper preening to look appropriate for the meal. It was all a chore to her and eating would have been so as well had she not been so hungry. She ate as quickly as propriety allowed and then made her accepted excuses for a much-appreciated sleep in her designated quarters.
Mary awoke the next morning to look sleepily around the room, completely baffled as to her whereabouts. After a short moment or two she remembered she was at Pemberley. She did not notice much more than the exceeding comfort of her bed and, thinking of how she did not want to be bothered with current circumstances, buried her head deep into her pillow. But peace was quickly interrupted when her door was thrust opened and a figure flew into the room, flinging itself onto the foot of the bed. Mary started up to see a smiling Kitty bouncing there.
Kitty giggled.
"It's ten o'clock, silly goose. Why are you still in bed?" she asked. Mary answered with a grunt and pushed her head under the pillow.
"Oh, I am sorry Mary. I told her not to disturb you," Lizzy said, coming into the room. "Kitty, Mary had a long trip yesterday. Let her rest."
Mary sighed…was her whole family to come into her room?
"Oh pooh! She does not need to sleep all day!" Kitty replied to Lizzy's admonish.
"I recall you slept until noon your first morning here," Lizzy said.
"Well that was different; I was up very late the night before," Kitty said. "She's been in bed since seven o'clock last night!"
"There you are Kitty, I wanted to discuss—," Mrs. Bennet said, bustling into the room. She stopped herself and looked at Mary. "Mary, girl, why aren't you out of bed?"
"Mama, let her rest," Lizzy said.
"It's alright, Lizzy; I am getting out of bed," Mary said with a sigh, realizing all hope for sleep was lost. "Though it would be greatly appreciated if somebody could please close the door. I do not want to be exposed to the entire country!"
The other women consented blessing Mary with much wished-for privacy. She observed the room in wonder, for she hadn't the concern to do so the previous day. It was quite elegant and much bigger than most of the rooms at Longbourn. But it mattered not what her room looked like, for she did not want to be there, or anywhere at Pemberley. Her desire was for Longbourn, Mr. Singleton's return to Meryton, and their friendship restored.
The women spent the morning informing each other on the events that life bestowed on them. Jane and Lizzy had much to share on the occurrences of newly wedded bliss and spent much of their time conversing together in a corner of the room. Mrs. Bennet barraged Kitty with questions and advice. Mary had little to say on either subject and was grateful for the equally quiet Georgiana. Their discussion of music consisted of more playing than actual talking.
Georgiana eventually moved to discussion amongst the other females. She seemed comfortable around Lizzy and, to Mary's surprise, more so around Kitty. She seemed quite intimidated by Mrs. Bennet, though, but Jane could not frighten her. Soon, Mrs. Bennet forced Mary away from the pianoforte resulting in Mary's boredom. She schemed on stealing upstairs to read but the men came just as she thought to stand. Colonel Fitzwilliam crossed directly over to her and inquired on how she was faring. They soon fell in a discussion on books, to Mary's surprise, though their tastes were differing.
At two minutes shy of half past noon a boisterous racket was heard in the hallway.
"Oh, now where is my dear sister!" a familiar voice exclaimed. Another voice was heard, that of a male servant's, inquiring as to who this new visitor was. She seemed to pay the servant no heed, however, for the doors to the sitting room burst open and in flew Mrs. Lydia Wickham. Everyone stared at her in surprise; some baffled, others mortified, and one, her mother, excessively pleased. Kitty had written Lydia to tell her the news only for Lydia to reply that she would have to visit her some other time but not for many months. She had done similar for her eldest sisters' wedding and her lack of appearance prove her true to her word. Everyone thought that such would be the case this time as well. Mr. Darcy, Lizzy, and Georgiana seemed to tense upon her entrance.
"Oh Lydia! My baby!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, rushing over to her favorite daughter. "I did not think you would come!"
"Neither did I!" Lydia said with a laugh as she kissed her mama. "You know how we married women never have time for these things. But my dear Wicky insisted that I come spend time with the family. He is such a family man you know! He said not to worry about himself; he needed to go to town anyway on business of some sort."
At this intelligence some relief swept over Darcy, Lizzy, and Georgiana. Lydia rushed over to her favorite sister.
"Oh Kitty! What happy news!" she exclaimed. "You? Married? Oh, how very droll! Is this him? He is very handsome…but a clergyman? What a laugh, Kitty! Are you turning into Mary?"
Mr. Strafford looked slightly put off by this statement while most of those who knew Lydia's ways blushed.
"She always went on about how she would marry a red coat just like I did," Lydia informed Mr. Strafford. "Oh she was so in love with the idea! But it looks like she changed her mind. Oh well, I suppose that is the way things are. Well now, look at that; everyone is here. What a laugh. Hello there, Jane, my you look a bit plumper than usual. And Mary, you seem even plainer than before."
Lydia went on in such a manner to each of her acquaintance and was hardly tamer introducing herself to those who were not.
"Why, a red coat, Kitty!" Lydia said as she met Colonel Fitzwilliam. "There was one here all along! It's a wonder you did not go for him."
She turned to Georgiana, who could not lift her eyes from the floor, and eyed her critically.
"And you must be my new sister! Hmm, you are a pretty thing aren't you?" she said.
"Come now, Lydia." Lizzy said—she was the first to speak since Mrs. Bennet after Lydia's arrival. "Let me show you to your rooms."
Lizzy was able to pry the boisterous girl from the group and lead her to her rooms, followed by their mother.
"So that is Lydia?" Mr. Strafford said. Kitty looked to the floor and blushed.
"She seems very…" Colonel Fitzwilliam trailed off.
"Aggravating," Mary muttered. Everyone turned their eyes towards her in shock as she threw her hand over her mouth. Both her father and Mr. Darcy appeared to be smirking while Mr. Strafford was struggling not to for Kitty's sake. Colonel Fitzwilliam coughed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that." Mary said.
"Of course you did, girl. Otherwise you wouldn't have said it." Mr. Bennet replied, opening a newspaper. Kitty finally recovered and let out a small giggle.
"I-I think I'll go for a walk," Mary said. She was about to leave when her eye caught Georgiana who had yet to recover from her encounter with Lydia. "Georgiana, would you like to go with me? I do not know my way around very well."
"Oh, well I…" Georgiana said, stumbling over her words.
"I hope you two ladies do not mind if I join you," Colonel Fitzwilliam said, having compassion on his shy cousin. "I need a bit of fresh air myself."
Georgiana's tension lessened with this request so Colonel Fitzwilliam was quite welcome on their walk. Silence hung over the three companions at first but the colonel, being one for conversation, soon fell into discussion with Mary.
Lydia proved to be an irritation the first couple of days after her arrival. She consistently fed Kitty her "all-knowing" advice and tried to do so for her two eldest sisters as well; she had, after all, been married much longer than they. She also found great amusement from Kitty's choice of a husband.
"Oh Kitty! I still cannot get over how droll this is! You and a clergyman?" Lydia laughed as the women took tea one sunny afternoon. "You're turning into Mary! She's the one who would marry clergyman…supposing she is even able to marry at all."
Everyone looked at Lydia in surprise as she laughed at her joke. Mary's face reddened while her hands clenched into fists.
"Lydia!" Lizzy exclaimed.
"Oh, do not give me that, Lizzy!" Lydia said. "I am now married, and before you too. You cannot tell me what to do anymore. Besides, you know full well that it is true. She is too plain and dull to interest anyone. Let's not give her false hopes of anything. Why, even Mr. Collins didn't like her! Why else would he pick Charlotte instead of her?"
Mary stood up sharply, catching the attention of all, and glared at Lydia.
"There is plenty I could say about you as well, but I will have enough sense to hold my tongue," she said sharply.
Mary spun on her heel and walked out the door in full composure. It was not until she ascended the stairs and turned a corner that she fled towards her quarters. She reached her sanctuary, closed the door, and crashed onto the bed in a flood of tears. Lydia was right, she knew Lydia was right. It had been a miracle, and odd fluke that Mr. Singleton was ever interested in her. Now he had come to his senses and moved on to someone much more suitable and pleasing. No other man could find interest in her, for it was a strange twist of fate that Mr. Singleton ever had. Mary had cried for a few, short minutes before a soft knock was heard upon the door. Mary composed herself as best she could, splashed water on her face, and verbally invited the intruder in. Mary, expecting Jane or even Lizzy, was surprised to see a concerned Kitty enter.
"Are you alright?" she asked quietly, sitting on the bed.
"Yes, I am fine," Mary said calmly.
"No you are not, you have been crying."
"I have not. My face is simply wet from washing it."
"Jane and Lizzy are giving Lydia quite a lecture right now." Kitty said with no acknowledgment for Mary's defensive claim. "Pay no heed to silly Lydia. She has a propensity to put others down to feel good about herself. I think she is also resentful that her marriage is not as she thought it would be."
Mary raised her eyes in surprise.
"She is probably jealous because you still have a chance at happiness and she does not."
Mary could hold her composure no longer and promptly burst into tears. Kitty stared in shock.
"Mary, what is the matter?" Kitty said, placing a gentle hand on Mary's shoulder. "It is not like you to get so upset…"
Mary let out a sharp laugh.
"I do not remember the last time I wasn't upset!"
"What do you mean?"
The secret could no longer be kept as Kitty's question was so earnestly full of concern and Mary's desire for relief so strong. Not one detail about Mr. Singleton could be prevented from falling out of Mary's mouth. Kitty sat there for three quarters of an hour with her eyes wide and her jaw to the floor. After all was said Mary, though blushing at her confession and not completely without distress, felt a great relief sweep over herself.
"Mary, why have you not told anyone this?" Kitty asked.
Mary could only stare at the floor.
"I knew there was something between the two of you, but I never would have guessed all this..."
"You knew?" Mary asked, lifting her eyes to meet Kitty's. Mary sighed. "I suppose I am not too surprised. I had some suspicions."
"Well, I could tell he was interested in you and it seemed that you felt the same way…but I never realized all this was happening." Kitty said. She laughed. "And I thought you were such an idiot for your behavior towards him that one Sunday at church. I thought you were merely being prudish because of the Lydia incident."
Mary smiled a little at this. Kitty laughed again.
"And Lydia! Ha! She told me there was nothing between you two. She claimed you were in love with Mr. Collins, though I suppose she was right about that. I bet she simply refused to believe that you could secure a man's singular attention before she did. At assemblies he would always ask me where you were—but not when Lydia was around. She never told him. She always tried to divert his attention to herself. Fat lot it did her. He always seemed bored to tears with her talk of lace and bonnets."
Mary managed a small laugh.
"I could have teased you about it, but I did not want to. I was afraid Mama would find out and mess it all up," Kitty said.
"I wish you had told mama," Mary said. "She wouldn't have messed it up as much as Idid. In fact, she could have been helpful, considering how well I managed on my own."
"I really don't think you should pay attention to this silly Miss Clements rumor," Kitty said. "You're the one he's interested in. I just know it. I've seen the way he lights up in your presence. If that's not love—"
Mary interrupted to avoid silly, illogical thoughts from forming in her head.
"But Kitty, Aunt Phillips said…"
"Bother what Aunt Phillips said! Mary, believe me…I am proficient in the ways of gossiping."
Mary raised a brow.
"If there is one thing I know about rumors it's that they're hardly ever true," Kitty said. "It would not be out of Aunt Phillips character to embellish what Uncle wrote her. And it would not be out of Uncle Phillips character to misinterpret whatever is going on with that Priscilla twit. It is more likely than not that she is paying him all attention and flirtatiousness while he is merely being kind and pining away for you."
"Pining away for me?" Mary said with a skeptic brow raised.
"Yes," said Kitty. "Besides, you know how Aunt Phillips gets Mr. Jenson and Mr. Singleton mixed up. I wouldn't be surprised if she read Mr. Jenson's name in the letter, forgot who it was about, then later thought it was about Mr. Singleton."
"I doubt it."
"And I doubt it being otherwise. Trust me…you will see that I am right. It will all turn out well in the end."
"You are too optimistic."
"I am not. But Mary, you should not have held all this in," Kitty chided slightly.
Mary looked at the floor. Kitty sighed
"I supposed none of us really encouraged you," Kitty admitted. "Jane and Lizzy were always too mature for the rest of us." Kitty blushed. "And Lydia and I teased you too much—and for that I am sorry. If it were just me, I suppose I wouldn't have done it so much—but I find things too funny at times and Lydia would constantly make jokes and..." Kitty caught herself and hung her head. "I suppose, however, I only have myself to blame for my own sins."
Mary stared at Kitty in surprise.
"When did you grow up?" Mary asked. "You are not the Kitty I once knew."
Kitty giggled.
"I don't know, I suppose it started when Lydia left, I was able to become more of myself—I think knowing Mr. Strafford has helped too." Kitty explained. "I was never truly happy in Lydia's shadow. I did have fun, though, which is why I supposed I spent so much time with her. Jane and Lizzy were so close and so much older than I, and Lizzy seemed bothered whenever I tagged along. And you, well you were so much different that I was. I never disliked you; I just…didn't have as much in common with you as I did with Lydia. Though I probably should have spent more time with you. You would have kept my head on straight and I would have helped give yours a rest."
Mary smiled.
"I supposed I'm not innocent either," Mary admitted. "I could have spent more time trying to get along with everyone instead of shutting myself away in a corner—or relating to my sisters by means of lecturing."
"Well, what's past is past," Kitty said. "Now we have the rest of our lives to make up for our shortcomings. Mr. Strafford and I won't be married for some time and I will come back to Longbourn for a little while before then. Maybe you could spend some time here at Pemberley." Kitty then grinned mischievously. "At least until Mr. Singleton returns proposing passionately to you."
"Oh please!" Mary said. "I am sure he has completely tossed me aside."
"That is the problem! I am not too optimistic, you are too pessimistic!"
'I am not! I am reasonable, logical, and realistic. And besides, even if he does come back to Meryton how will I know if I am here at Pemberley?"
"You will write to Aunt Phillips constantly and ask her."
"Absolutely not! I do not want the entire country to know about this!" Mary exclaimed, scandalized.
"Fine, then." Kitty said. "If you are too cowardly, I will do it!"
"That would be worse! You would not use discretion!"
"Do not fret, I will casually ask if uncle and all of his clerks have returned," Kitty said. She smirked. "Like you do whenever you visit her."
Mary blushed.
"But what if uncle comes back and Mr. Singleton doesn't?" Mary asked.
"Oh, bother! You are giving me a headache," Kitty said. "If it comes to all that then you can go back when uncle returns and wait for Mr. Singleton then."
Mary stayed silent.
"Unless you want to go back now to await his return," Kitty teased.
"I do not see much point in that," Mary sighed.
"Mary, I really do think he loves you." Kitty said, placing a comforting hand over her sister's. "Pay no mind to this Priscilla girl. He will return unattached and waiting for you."
"Then why did he not just return when Mr. Jenson did, if he really loves me as much as you say he does."
"Well, he probably thinks you still dislike him and cannot bear to face you yet. Perhaps Mr. Jenson will be able to form a thought for once and inform him of your questioning after him."
Mary laughed.
"Then I suppose all is hopeless!" she exclaimed.
Kitty giggled, happy to see her distraught sister muster up some humor. She sighed.
"I must admit, all of my sister's romances have been much more interesting than mine."
"Would you like to switch?" Mary asked with a raised brow.
Kitty laughed.
"No, I suppose I do not," Kitty said. "Mine is more handsome."
Mary rolled her eyes.
"But don't fret! Mr. Singleton is pretty handsome himself."
"Oh, Kitty, I don't care about such things!"
"Oh come now, Mary. You must have noticed his nice physique."
"KITTY!" Mary exclaimed. She picked up a pillow and hid her face behind it.
"And you have noticed or you would not blush!" Kitty exclaimed. Mary threw the pillow forcefully at Kitty who fell off the bed.
"Well that wasn't very nice!" Kitty said, standing up and brushing herself off. Mary snickered but then stopped.
"I suppose I wish he weren't so handsome," she said. "Or at least that I was prettier. It would make more sense that he would like me and then I would not doubt so much."
"Oh bother! He loves you no matter what you look like," Kitty said. "I'm sure he thinks you are the most beautiful woman in the world, anyway. And I think you look fine. You need only smile more; you are pretty when you do that. And wear better clothing, colors that suit you better."
Kitty gasped excitedly and clapped her hands.
"I will help you!" Kitty said. "We will go to town tomorrow and visit the shops!"
Mary groaned.
"Oh don't give me that!" Kitty said. "You want Mr. Singleton to fall at your feet upon his return, do you not? I'm sure he will already, but a little sprucing up won't hurt."
"I don't really…"
"I will buy all your clothes for you."
"No, that's—"
"And any book of your choosing." Kitty broke in.
"Well..."
"And you may read any chapter of it that you like to me," Kitty said. "We will trade torture for torture."
"Make it two books and two chapters from each book and we have a deal," Mary said, crossing her arms firmly.
Kitty blinked at Mary.
"I will settle for nothing less," Mary said with a stubborn smirk.
"Alright, fine," Kitty said with an exasperated sigh. "You sure are difficult, you know that?"
"Not as difficult as you can be," Mary replied.
Kitty stuck her tongue out. Mary smirked once more but then her face grew serious.
"Kitty…" Mary started off. "Thank you for listening. I'm surprised at how much better I feel."
Kitty smiled and embraced her sister.
"Of course. I do care about you, you know. I just haven't always shown it."
"Yes, I suppose I have trouble with that as well," Mary responded.
"We all do," Kitty said with a laugh. "Now let's go. The others must be wondering where we are."
Awwww sisterly bonding! Sorry if it sucks! *sigh* I mean, I kinda like it, because I like it when Mary and Kitty bond but…I just don't know if I pulled it off well. The ending seems a little weak but I had to stop fussing over the chapter or I would never put it up. Lol. And we can't have that, now can we. You've guys waited over 9 months. Yikes! I didn't realize it was so long! Meh…I'm sure all my readers have lost interest in this by now. Oh please, somebody still be out there! lol
I have no idea when I'll update next, but hopefully it won't be 9 months from now. I want to get this DONE!