Hi everyone... it's Friday... again... wow... this week went by very fast!

And as always, here is my newest chapter! I hope you enjoy it and don't forget to R&R

Thanks, have a great weekend :D

"Are you coming?" Henry interrupted my thoughts and I nodded, smiling up at him, as there was no reason to be jealous, he would, after all, marry me.

"Yes." We both followed the others to the table and when a few maids brought the first course, my mother decided to address Joana.

"We are very grateful for you generous offer to let us stay here until my dear Mary is married." Dear Mary? Since when, I asked myself, but knew the answer only moments later, since I was engaged to an Earl.

"You don't have to thank us Mrs. Bennet. We are happy to have you here." She was really good with being polite and if I didn't know any better I would say that she actually meant what she said.

"I still cannot believe it, that my Mary is marrying an Earl. I always thought Jane would be so lucky, but in comparison to your house her mansion looks rather small. I think it is really astonishing and may I ask you the question why, as I still don't understand it." She continued and I blushed dark crimson. Sure I had asked myself that question hundreds of times, since we left Hertfordshire. But I had been too scared to ask, somehow I still expected an answer like the one from Mr. Henceforth. That he liked the fact that I was plain or something similar.

"I am surprised that you even have to ask that Mrs. Bennet. You of all people should know about Mary's assets." Henry replied and I had to smile at that. He was really good, telling my mother what she wanted to hear, without actually telling her something. I was a little disappointed though, because I had been really interested in his answer.

"Of course…" my mother replied with burning cheeks and I was sure that she was asking herself over and over again, what my assets were.

"So, how do you like the mansion?" Joana changed the subject when the second course arrived. I took a bite of the fish on my plate and sighed. It tasted really good.

"It is beautiful… I have never seen anything like this!" Kitty replied, her mouth full of fish. I sighed deeply, getting more and more annoyed with them by the minute.

Henry who sat to my right, obviously saw my discomfort and placed his hand on my knee, squeezing it gently. I smiled up at him, grateful for his effort, while enjoying the sensation of his touch.

I heard that my mother said something, but I couldn't understand it, as I kept looking into Henry's blue eyes. I loved his eyes.

I winced in surprise when a maid placed the dessert in front of me, that ended the moment between Henry and me. He also took his hand off my knee. I turned to look at the chocolate cake on my plate and smiled. Chocolate was my favorite dessert, but my parents said that it was too expensive, so we didn't eat it as often, as I would like.

So I started eating and sighed happily, the chocolate cake was delicious.

"It seems you like the cake. One thing we have in common then." Joana smiled brightly and I blushed a little.

"Yes, I really do. The dinner was wonderful." I replied and for the first time my mother and I were in agreement about something, because she said:

"Mary is right, the food was very delicious."

"Thank you very much." Joana replied and got up, we all did the same and I was relieved when Joana continued:

"I am sure everyone is very tired from the travel and the next few weeks will be hectic with the planning of the wedding, so I think it would be a good idea to retire for today." That was actually a very good idea, because I couldn't take much more of my family and wasn't quite sure what to make of the silence of my father. During the whole dinner, he hadn't said a word, which worried me, maybe it would be best to ask him, as soon as we had some time alone.

"That is a wonderful idea." my mother smiled brightly, which didn't surprise me at all, she would probably agree to everything Joana said, just because of who she was and how much money her family had, though there was so much more about this family. I knew that, even though I had yet a few things to find it out myself.

"Then it is settled, Mary I would like a word with you, so would it be alright, if I accompany you to your room?" Joana addressed me and I was surprised, but I had of course no objections. So I nodded, though I smiled a little about Henry's facial expression. It was obvious that he didn't like his mother taking me back to my room, but he didn't argue, though I was sure that later on he would tell his mother what he thought of her actions. That was how Henry was, always speaking his mind.

"Henry, I am sure you will be so kind to bring Mary's family to their rooms." Joana continued, walked around the table and took my arm. Then she led me out of the room without giving Henry a chance to object.

As soon as the door of the salon closed behind us, I couldn't stop myself. I looked curious at Joana, who still held my arm and asked:

"What do you want to talk to me about?"

"Your father talked to me this afternoon and he expressed his worry regarding your decision to marry Henry."

That surprised me, he had talked to Joana and what exactly had he said?

"His worry?"

"Well, he told me that he wasn't sure about your intentions. He said that he thinks you only want to marry Henry because of your mother and her influence on you and that he wants you to marry the man you love."

"What no…! I told you that I really have feelings for him. You have to believe me… I…" I began, worried that she actually listened to what my father had said. But before I could say more she interrupted me.

"Don't worry my dear. I don't doubt your intentions. I just think that you should talk to your father about his worries."

"I will. As soon as possible, I promise!" I answered which made Joana smile.

"I think that can wait until tomorrow. I am sure you are tired too." And as a matter of fact I really was, so I would wait until the next day to talk to my father. We then reached my room and I said to Joana:

"Thank you for telling me and for not believing my father!"

"How could I after getting to know you a little. As I told you before, it is obvious that you want to marry Henry for all the right reasons. But it honors him, that he wants his daughter to be happy and doesn't care about Henry's title, as long as he isn't sure if you really do what you want!"

"I know." I mumbled and was close to tears, it still felt strange knowing that my father cared so much about me, while not even a year ago I had thought that he didn't care at all.

Joana obviously saw my tears and wanted to give me some space to calm down, because she said:

"I will retire too. This has been a rather stressful day. I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night!" I answered and watched her walk down the corridor, before I entered my room. I knelt down beside my chest and took out a simple cotton nightgown. Carefully I took off the beautiful dress Joana had given me and folded it before putting it away. I pulled the remaining hairpins out and then put the nightgown on. Yawning I walked over to my bed, grateful for the fire in the fireplace that shed enough light for me to see somehing inside the room. I slipped under the covers and sighed a content sigh, the bed was amazingly comfortable. Within moments I was asleep.

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