Thank you for coming back to read. Good luck on everyone's exams.

To My Reviewers:

RafeDurk: Mary was at a fragile point A "rebound" in modern terms. Wickham was just at the right place and at the right time.

Bonbonnett: You are right about Mr. Collins leaving. That was what made him more ashamed and Mary more saddened.

Lacrymosa-light: Thanks for reviewing. Hopefully Mary will get away. Wait, I have control over that, don't I? *evil smile* Just kidding.

Wildeyes13: I felt the same way when I really got into Mary/Collins. It's hard to believe, right? Keep reading and reviewing.

Jiang Quig: Mr. Collins ran away because he is not sure what he is feeling right now and he is a bit scared. Mary is attracted to Mr. Wickham because opposites attrach, no?

Spanish Sunrise: ^^ I figured that would be something that Mr. Bennet would really say about the early years of his courtship to Mrs. Bennet.

can't think: I do not think that Mr. Bennet will listen to you. ^^

Chapter Seven

Mary turned to the sound of the voice and saw her father in the armchair, enjoying his brandy.

"About what, Papa?" Mary whispered as she looked at him.

"About you," He said, smirking softly.

Mary approached her father, "Alright, Papa."

Mr. Bennet said, "My dear, I could not help but notice that you were dancing with Mr. Wickham."

Mary shrugged, "What of it, Papa? He asked me to dance and we danced. It means nothing."

Mr. Bennet sipped his brandy, "It is bad enough that Kitty and Lydia go around town, acting like unguarded harlots. I can't have you doing that. The whole family is a laughing-stock already."

Mary then said, irritated, "That is none of my concern, Papa. I do not care what people think about me."

She turned her back to him and asked, "If there is nothing more, I should be going back to my room now."

It was then that her father stood up.

"Don't you dare think that you can turn your back on me."

It was then that Mary turned around to see that her father was taking off his belt.

"No…" Mary pleaded as she looked at her father with pitiful eyes, "Don't."

Mr. Bennet smirked, "What makes this night so out of the ordinary? You usually take the belt with that mocking look of indifference on your face."

Mary realized that he was right. She did take the belt with as much pride as she had.

Mr. Bennet then laughed, coldly, "Oh, I understand now…"

He walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder, "You are under the impression that Mr. Collins is going to ask you to marry him. God knows why. And that it would be one thing if you were as plain as you are, but if you were scarred up and he would to find this out on your wedding night, then he would have the marriage annulled and leave you."

Mary then snapped, "No! You are lying. Mr. Collins would never do that."

Mr. Bennet then slapped her, "Foolish child. You are blinded by infatuation, not love. He would never want you as his wife."

Mary then whispered under her breath, full of untapped emotion, "I hate you."

Mr. Bennet smirked as he grabbed her chin, "Oh, what was that now? You hate me?"

Mary nodded, slowly succumbing to her fear.

"Mary, my sweet little daughter, you do not know the meaning of hate," Mr. Bennet said as he flung Mary into an end table.

Mary cried out as she hit the wooden desk and toppled it over. A white vase fell off the end table and made a crashing sound as it broke into many pieces.

Mr. Bennet grabbed the disoriented Mary's hand and pulled her up as he heard footsteps running down the staircase.

Elizabeth went into the pallor room, "I heard something break, is everything alright?"

Mary nodded, "Yes, I tripped and fell."

She then forced a fake laugh, "I am glad I did. I hated that vase. It was ugly as sin. It is not one of Mama's prize winning choices in design."

Mr. Bennet glanced at his middle daughter, slightly grateful that he did not have to come up with a convincing story.

Elizabeth nodded, "Okay…I just wanted to see if everything was okay."

Mary smiled slightly as she felt the impact of the fall cause the aches, "Yes, we are fine."

Elizabeth smiled at them before saying, "You better rest, Mary, you don't look so well."

"I will retire in a moment. I just need to finish talking to Papa," Mary said.

Elizabeth went to the stairs, "Alright. Goodnight, Mary. Goodnight, Papa."

"Goodnight, Elizabeth," Mr. Bennet and Mary said at the same time. They watched Elizabeth walk up the stairs and to her bedroom.

"Now, where were we?" Mr. Bennet said as he grabbed her wrist.

Mary pulled away, ripping his hand off her wrist. She wanted to stand up for herself, "Let me go."

Mr. Bennet, furious at this retaliation, slapped her once more. He then kicked her to the ground.

Mary tried to get up, but found herself collapsing when she felt the sting of the belt on her back.

She took each lashing, not bothering to cry out or ask her father to stop. He had never stopped before. Why would he be merciful to her now?

Sometimes, Mary had dreams of her father dying. They were unsettling, but they also gave her something.

Hope.

When her father was finished, he helped her up. He kissed her forehead, "Now, go on to bed."

Mary nodded, "Goodnight, Papa." She went upstairs, wincing in pain. Luckily he had not used the belt buckle. She was not bleeding, but she would probably have welts.

Mary went into her room and got into the bed, wondering how her father would die tonight.

The next day, Mary was in her room, writing a short story in her book. It was about a man being hanged. Mary was very careful in her details and the story itself was very descriptive.

She had not left the room, not even for breakfast. She was not hungry and she did not want to see anyone.

However, she finally left the room, deciding to go to the library. She was on the staircase and noticed that in the pallor room was Mr. Collins, Elizabeth, and Charlotte Lucas.

Mary stayed on the staircase, wondering why Charlotte was there.

Mr. Collins went into the library and Charlotte and Elizabeth were talking.

"I must thank you for spending so much time with my cousin. It certainly keeps him preoccupied," Elizabeth said.

"Well, Mr. Collins and I are engaged," Charlotte pointed out.

In all Mary's life, she had heard hurtful things. But that…that made her literally collapse.

Mary nearly fell down the stairs, she held on to the railing for support. She started to breathe heavily, whispering, "No…No…No…No…"

It was then that Charlotte noticed her, "Oh, Mary." She stood up from the chair and curtsied, "How are you today?"

Mary stared at her for a moment and did something that no one would ever think she would do.

She had just run down the stairs and out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

She didn't even get a bonnet or her gloves. She went out to the garden and sat on a bench.

It was then that she realized that she was crying. Tears ran down her cheeks and she started making sobbing sounds. It was completely unlike her to cry like this.

Mary just did not understand. Mr. Collins had kissed her. Why did he kiss her if he was planning on marrying Charlotte?

Mary was so frustrated. "Why does nothing ever work out for me?" She asked, not expecting an answer.

"What are you talking about, Miss Mary?" Was her answer.

I wanted to do this again, because last time was far too easy. *smiles evilly*