Okay, one last chapter before the big finale! The Wedding and that'll also be the end of the story. So stay tuned for the end. And thanks for reading and reviewing so far.

I walked down the main staircase the next day, in a very good mood. Only one day until I would be married and I couldn't wait.

My good mood was chastened when I walked into the entrance hall and heard my sisters' voices again.

Kitty and Lydia were talking excitedly about something. And while walking closer I could make out the words.

"You will not believe how handsome he is…" I heard Kitty sigh and needed only a very short moment to understand who they were talking about. Obviously Henry, as Kitty had been quite obsessed with him for a while now.

"Then what does he want with Mary?" Lydia asked loud enough for me to hear. I wasn't surprised by those words. I knew I was plain and I didn't understand his interest in me myself.

"I don't know. But he loves her." Kitty answered which brought a smile to my face. That was right. He did. He had told me so and showed it to me with everything he did. I liked the fact though that his love for me was so obvious that even someone like Kitty saw it.

"Love? Love is overrated." I wasn't surprised to hear this from Lydia. Being married to Mr. Wickham must have done something with her view of the world.

I felt sad for her, that she wasn't as happy, as Jane, Lizzy or I. I just wanted the best for my sisters, no matter how much they annoyed me at times.

"Love is everything." Kitty answered, her voice strong. That made me smile. Maybe there was some hope left for my youngest sister after all.

I didn't want to interrupt this conversation, so I turned around and made my way out of the hall towards the stables.

After sitting on Henry's huge stallion, I had discovered my love for the big animals. I often went to the stables to have a look at them or pet them.

Henry had more than once offered to teach me how to ride a horse and I was sure that after our marriage, when my mother was gone. I would say yes to that offer.

I stepped into the stables and inhaled the strong scent of the horses.

With a smile I walked down the aisle in between the horse boxes and stopped in front of a slender mare. She was of a dark brown color with very intelligent eyes.

I stopped in front of her box and raised my hand to her big head.

"Hello Beautiful." I whispered, petting the head of the mare.

It didn't take me long to realize that I wasn't alone. I turned slightly to see who it was and bit back a groan when I saw the blond head of George Wickham.

He had seen me too and was now walking closer to me.

"Miss Bennet." he greeted me with a nod. But I wouldn't talk to him. Not after what he had done to my family.

So I ignored him, while continuing to pet the pretty mare.

He obviously didn't understand that I wasn't willing to talk to him. Because he stepped even closer saying:

"You know, I never realized how beautiful you are. Until now."

I rolled my eyes at that. He probably had some kind of plan to get money from Henry's family through me. But he should better not try that.

"Don't talk to me." I told him very seriously, which seemed to surprise him.

"Why not?"

"Because you are a horrible person. I don't want you in my home, I don't want you anywhere near my family and I don't want you anywhere near me. So just leave me alone." I told him with a huff. Surprised by my own forwardness. Usually I wasn't this outspoken, but he just edged me to do it.

"I am your sister's husband." he told me, obviously surprised by my words.

"I know that, but I don't appreciate how you became that. Lydia deserves someone better than you. Or just someone who is not you. Besides, I know everything about the lies you told Lizzy about Mr. Darcy, as well as what you tried to do to my friend Georgiana." I turned to glare at him. I had only once before felt this angry and that had been at the king's palace in the garden, where I had met Camille again.

Wickham stared at me, at a loss for words. Which didn't surprise me. He never appeared to be the intelligent type of man.

"How can you talk to me like that? How dare you!" he finally growled and made a step towards me. As he was almost one head taller than I, his size and obvious anger scared me.

"It is the truth." I answered none the less. Feeling very brave and acting very foolish.

"You are nothing but a common strumpet, how dare you speak to me like that. You think you are better than I, now that you are going to marry an Earl? But you are not. You will always be nothing. So don't forget where your place is."

I almost had to laugh at his words. It was strange, I didn't feel offended. I just saw him like he really was. An insecure, little man who was jealous of everyone who was happier than he was.

I almost felt bad for him.

"You can name yourself lucky that the Earl didn't hear you talking to me like that…" I smiled at the thought of that. Henry would have killed him.

"I will simply forget what happened here because I feel sorry for you. You will never be happy with what you have because you always want more. You are a greedy, sad little man and I am happy that after tomorrow I don't have to associate with you ever again."

Without giving him the chance to say something, I turned around and walked back to the main house. He was probably still standing wide eyed in the stables not sure what had just happened.

That thought made me smile again and lifted my spirits. It felt good to stand up for myself and I was sure that I had to thank Joana and Henry for that. Before I had met them, I would have never dared to talk to someone like that.

So, how'd you like this side of Mary? It was a lot of fun to write so I hope you like it and the Finale is going to be up as soon as possible. Until then...