Mary thought about her options and decided that of all her sisters Jane would be the most understanding. Either Kitty or Lizzy would agree to accompany her if she requested it and would keep the intelligence from both their mother and Lydia. But the thought of Lizzy listening to her request, putting the pieces together instantly and the arch of her brow as she thought of a dozen teasing things to say to John the next time she saw him, was too much.
Kitty would be delighted to help and be included, but Mary felt that she needed guidance on how to proceed, and in this, Kitty had no more experience than herself. Calmer heads would be needed. Jane was the only option.
Mary had pondered over the conversation she had had with John for the rest of the day. Her fingers moved on muscle memory alone as she sat at the pianoforte for her practice. She could not quite believe it herself, but really, there were not too many ways in which one could take the meaning of his words. He was looking to his future wife's happiness, he was not courting anyone else, and he wanted her opinions. Truly, she judged, she must be considerably duller than she had ever thought herself to be not to have understood his meaning at the time. She would have to wait and consider what she should do or say upon their next meeting.
For now, she had to find her elder sister and broach the topic. She lifted her meandering fingers from the keys and tidied away the sheet music she had not been using. Bracing herself Mary took a breath and went looking for Jane.
She found her in the parlour reading in the window seat. Upon her entry Jane lifted her face closing her book. "Mary, does Mama need something?"
Mary crossed the room perching on the edge of the window seat. Jane who had brought her feet up on the seat shifted to make more room but stilled when Mary gestured her to. "I do not mean to disturb you. I wondered, perhaps, that is. I need your help." Mary stumbled out.
"Of course," Jane said with a smile. "Will you tell me what it is you need my help with?"
Mary fought internally, the doubts about her summarisations growing. Feeling like a fool she bit her lip.
Jane lifted her feet to the floor and moved closer, wrapping an arm around Mary's shoulders, quietly waiting.
"John. John Lucas," Mary clarified. "He has asked to introduce me to Mr Horace at the Lucas's when we are to dine with them again."
"Mr Horace? Is he a friend of John's from London?"
"No, he owns Claret House."
"Oh," Jane said puzzled. "You wish to avoid the introduction? I do not believe I have been introduced to Mr Horace, though he has been in the neighbourhood for many years. He is a widow I think is he not?"
"Yes," Mary agreed. "But John does not wish to introduce me as a potential wife to Mr Horace, rather he wishes to introduce me to Mr Horace as his potential wife."
Jane stilled next to Mary; Mary lifted her eyes which had been firmly on the carpet to her sister's face. "Jane?"
"I did not know that you and John had an understanding-."
"We do not." Mary interrupted. She could see the confusion this statement caused so endeavoured to explain. "John has spoken to me, yesterday when he visited. He shared his plans and asked me for my opinion. Though perhaps you are correct, and he does not mean me, he looked at me most keenly when he said he was not courting another, and he wished to know of my opinions. But that is for nought for he wishes for me to meet Mr Horace and I do not know what to do, I have never been introduced as someone's something or even a potential something before.
Jane squeezed Mary's shoulder allowing her to take a breath, her words had fallen out of her mouth on the heels of each other and the breath she took was more of a gasp.
"Then, if I am to understand, you wish for John to make his addresses to you and this meeting with Mr Horace is of some import."
"Oh yes! John is caring for Mr Horace's lands along with his father's. They have been working together for some time. I believe that in Mr Horace John has some sort of confidant."
"Very well, I shall do all that I can to help you. Do you wish to select a dress from either mine or Lizzie's wardrobes? I can certainly help you with your hair."
"Oh yes to all of that," Mary said. "But what shall we speak of? I will have to have some conversation will I not?"
Jane smiled gently. "The usual course of conversation is the weather and the state of the roads. Books too. Though I suspect that if it is as you suppose, John shall introduce topics of conversation that you and Mr Horace are both able to contribute to. It would be to his advantage, especially if he cares for you."
"We have always been such good friends," Mary agreed. "Will you stay with me, just until I am introduced? I do not mean to curtail your evening nor take you from Mr Bingley, but I would feel much calmer if you would."
"I shall of course. You need not concern yourself."
"Thank you, Jane."
Once Mary had calmed herself and left Jane to her novel with profusions of thanks, Jane sat for a moment before making her way to the sturdy oak door of her father's library. Her knock was answered, she pushed the door open, stepped into the room and swept her eyes around the space searching for Lizzy.
"Lizzy is not here," her father informed her from behind his desk. His ledgers were tidied away to one side, and he held a book in one hand.
"That is as well," Jane said closing the door and crossing to the chairs in front of his desk. She sat folding her hands demurely in her lap.
Her father looked at her over the top of his spectacles. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company my dear? Have you decided to end your courtship early?"
"No," Jane said with a small smile. "It is not for me that I wish to speak to you, Papa."
"Huh," he said leaning back in his chair. "I shall not listen to another entreaty for your mother to be granted more funds for lace. She has spent her allowance at the modiste twice over this quarter."
Jane could not stop the flash of worry at that news. She was quite sure that when her mother did find out about her courtship and Lizzy's, for whatever her sister might say she did enjoy Mr Darcy's attention and Charles had assured her that he was not known for being this taken with any lady of his acquaintance, so it was simply a matter of waiting for them both to come to the realisation themselves, -her mother would be most insistent on going to the modiste for new gowns for all of them.
"Well Jane," her father interrupted her thoughts. "I see your mother has not sent you to entreat me, so what is it you require of me?"
"It is Mary, Papa."
"Oh?"
"I noticed that John Lucas spoke to you privately yesterday before he and Charlotte left, and I have just had a most interesting conversation with Mary."
Mr Bennet's eyebrow rose in surprise. "Well. Mayhap then, if you would be agreeable to keep your council, we could have an exchange of information of sorts."
Jane smiled serenely at her father. "Not at all Papa, you have quite relieved my mind on the matter."
"Now Jane, that is not at all fair. John Lucas assured me that he had not spoken to Mary of his feelings or his intentions."
Jane kept her smile serene, and her mouth closed.
"You are quite the cruellest of all my children," her father huffed, his eyes twinkling. "Begone then if you shall not deal fairly with me."
Jane relented as she had always intended. "Mary confided that she has inferred from the conversation she and John shared, that he was making plans to enable him to take a wife and was not looking to court anyone else. He also asked her opinions on these plans. She has taken this to mean he has intentions towards her. I only wished to know if Mary was correct and if John was in earnest. I should not wish the repeat of the pain she so recently suffered."
Mr Bennet nodded. "John Lucas has had a tendre for her since she turned fifteen and your mother brought her out." He waved off her surprise. "He and Lizzy have always been thick as thieves I grant you, but it was that friendship that offered him concealment. He is very well settled; his plans seem sound and I would have no qualms if she chose to accept him."
"I do think she would. Lizzy loves John as a brother, but Mary has never treated him as such. A friend to be sure and from there with the right encouragement."
"There is no need to matchmake," Mr Bennet cautioned. "If she will have him, let her come to it herself. If she wishes another year I shall not repine."
Jane smiled fondly at him. "It shall be as you say. I shall offer no more encouragement than she wishes of me."
"You're a good girl Jane."
Jane rose, stepping around the desk to lay a sweet kiss upon her father's whiskered cheek. "It is a father's nature to be capricious I am sure," she said as she left the room.
The Bennet party arrived in good time at Lucas Lodge. Upon greeting their hosts, the party split apart dispersing into the gathered crowd. Lydia as had become her wont, immediately left her family party to join that of the Goulding's where she and Evangeline bent their heads together in conversation. Elizabeth as agreed with Jane earlier that day dutifully followed her mother to greet the rest of their neighbours. It was a request that Jane had had to make of her sister without fully explaining herself which had done nought but aroused Lizzy's curiosity but had granted her immediate agreement. While she, Kitty and Mary remained together a little out of the way waiting for the Netherfield party to arrive.
Mary dressed in another of her sister's gowns fidgeted, nervously running her hands down her sides.
"Hush Mary," Kitty chided gently. "You look lovely."
"Yes, you are fortunate indeed that your colouration works so well with such a wide selection. I do hope that when we visit the modiste next you will look to expand your wardrobe," Jane added encouragingly.
Mary stilled her hands with a sigh. "I feel most conspicuous."
"You look most charming my dear Mary," a warm voice spoke from behind her.
Mary twisted to see John Lucas standing behind her, a blush raced to her cheeks and her eyes dropped to the floor, suddenly shy. "Thank you," she replied softly.
"There," Jane said encouragingly. "John has never been one to pay a false compliment, you shall feel more settled presently and you are among friends here. You do not need to worry."
"Indeed," John added as he joined their party fully, taking Mary's hand and tucking it into his elbow. "You note how I have paid neither your sisters a compliment."
"I shall take mine from your compliment to Mary," Kitty replied pertly. Jane saw Kitty take note of John's actions and she wondered if Kitty saw it as Jane would have seen it before her conversation with Mary and her father. As the actions of a well-known friend and neighbour offering comfort to an injured party, or if Kitty would see more. Jane made a note to speak to Kitty about it later when privacy could be assured, and Mary would not be mortified by having the topic discussed. She would need to offer Lizzy some fuller explanation, and Mary might wish to share with her sisters if her evening went well. Jane truly hoped her evening would go well.
"I could not imagine you were not instrumental in such sartorial choices," John teased Kitty. "It is everything I expected of you, to be bossing your sisters in such a way."
"I shall take mine from Mary's as well," Jane added covering her lapse in attention to the conversation. "Having had such good sense as to choose a gown so better suited to my sister than myself."
"Well," John said. "To ensure that you shall not steal all of Mary's complement, I shall have to add to it."
"That shall not be necessary," Mary reproached gently. "I am content with that which I have already received and am happy to share with my sisters, as it is indeed on their part that I have earned it."
"That will never do," John protested with soft earnestness. "You are far too generous. You are truly beautiful, and it is not a gown and ribbons that make it so."
Mary glanced away as she blushed once again. "Has Mr Horace arrived? You wished to introduce us."
"He has," John answered. "If you would excuse us," he added to Jane and Kitty.
Jane nodded and smiled. "We shall be just fine. I see that the Netherfield party has just arrived."
John and Mary crossed the room to a small settee in the corner upon which the Reverend Rufford was sat with an older gentleman Jane took to be Mr Horace. Her attention was diverted from further consideration by the approach of Mr Bingley and the Darcy siblings. Georgiana was peering around, surveying the room, looking for someone.
"Mary is over there," Kitty said pointing. "John has just taken her off to introduce her to someone. He complimented her gown though and told her she looks beautiful."
"Oh, how good for Mary," Georgiana replied releasing her brother's arm to link arms with Kitty. "I am excessively glad that someone has said something, for I know she has been so very nervous about wearing such different styles. She looks extremely handsome in it."
"Lizzy got Sarah to do the ribbons in her hair as you suggested, I think they were a very good suggestion."
"Good evening, Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy," Jane greeted the gentleman as Mr Bingley came to stand at her side.
"Good evening, Miss Bennet, Miss Kitty." Mr Darcy replied, echoed by Mr Bingley. "I hope the evening finds you both well?"
"Perfectly so, I thank you," Jane replied.
"Shall you sing this evening, Miss Bennet? Georgiana has told me that you have done so in the past at Lady Lucas's gatherings." Mr Bingley asked.
Jane blushed. "I shall if it is requested of me and one of my sisters would accompany me. Would you allow Georgiana to play a duet with Mary, Mr Darcy? I know that they have spent a great deal of time practising together and Mary has much improved under Georgiana's instruction."
"I am not certain that it would be suitable for Georgiana to exhibit."
"It would not be a very large breach of propriety," Jane offered. "She will be playing with Mary, not alone. A performance in front of a small gathering of three families and a few guests would go a good way to reducing her nerves of having to display when she is properly out if she could practice in friendly company, do you not think?"
"I should like to play with Mary if you would allow it, brother," Georgiana said eagerly, having been silently attending the exchange. She had made the request of both Jane and Lizzy to broach the topic with her brother. She had not felt equal to it but had dearly wished to play with Mary. "Jane is correct that I should feel much less nervous if I was not alone, and it would be good practice."
"Very well," Mr Darcy said after a moment's deliberation. "It shall be only one piece and only as a duet with Miss Mary."
"Thank you, brother," Georgiana said with a smile.
"Oh look, there is Maria, come Georgiana. You will excuse us?" Kitty asked of the company.
"Yes of course," Jane replied. Kitty and Georgiana left arms linked to join Maria on the settee, they bent their heads together and were soon chatting merrily.
Jane turned back to her companions as the silence began to grow between them. "Tell me how things are at Netherfield, has Mr Baker run you off his fields yet?"
Mr Bingley's expression showed surprise then he smiled with a burst of mirth. "I confess that he has. Darcy and I were most perplexed. I see that you have some knowledge of his behaviour. Would you care to inform us as to the cause of his hostility?"
"Mr Baker's family have held the tenancy of that farm for oh, six generations. The only person he will listen to is Papa, as the Bennets have been at Longbourn seven. Mr Morris has held the ownership of Netherfield for a mere three generations. Practically cits! If you would ask it of her, I am sure that Lizzy would accompany you next time you wish to call, she is the only other to have had a small measure of success in speaking to him," Jane explained.
"Do you think she would agree?" Mr Bingley asked. "It would be jolly good of her. We do need to lay the topmost hedge and his cooperation would make it much simpler."
Their conversation meandered across the topics of Netherfield and Longbourn and settled comfortably into a discourse of books. From their corner of the room, Jane kept an eye on Mary who was sitting with the party of John, the Reverend and Mr Horace. She displayed no obvious signs of distress and seemed engrossed in the topic of conversation. She watched as John stood behind Mary just out of Mary's immediate view. The expression on his face allayed any fears she might have that Mary might suffer another painful disappointment.
"Are you quite well Jane?" Mr Bingley leant in close as Mr Darcy was distracted scanning the room for his sister.
"Oh yes, Charles quite well."
"You seemed a little distracted just now. Is aught amiss?"
"Forgive me, I am sorry, I have been watching Mary. She was quite nervous about this evening, and I should not wish her to become uncomfortable."
"Do you wish to go to her?"
"Oh no," Jane smiled up at him with gratitude. "You are kind to suggest it though. But look, Lady Lucas is lifting the piano lid. Lizzy will be called upon to play, then I believe Mary and Georgiana shall give their duet. Come, shall we find a seat? I should like to listen to my sisters."
"Of course, shall I fetch you a glass of something? Is there punch?"
"That would be lovely. Here, there are two seats just by Mama, shall we take those?"
Mr Bingley nodded affably, leading her over. He bowed to Mrs Bennet in greeting and offered to fetch her a glass as well. Mrs Bennet readily agreed, patting the seat next to her for Jane to take.
"Such an agreeable young man," she said happily.
"Yes, Mama. But let us not speak of it now. Lizzy is about to start, and I do so wish to hear her play."
Mr Bingley returned offering the glasses of punch he had procured to her and her mother, then settled himself down to listen. Jane knew that he enjoyed the performances and was happy to be in company, she leant towards him allowing her sleeve to brush his. The movement which could be taken as accidental by anyone who saw it was noticed immediately by him. His eyes met hers, his eyebrows rose in silent query. Jane smiled at him. The expression she knew, was soft and loving, she could not keep from him how she felt. She saw his expression soften in reply and kept a pleased smile on her face as she turned to watch her sister. It was lovely, she thought, to be in love and know that you were loved in return by a good man.
Mr Darcy stood slightly off to the side of the room, his view of the pianoforte was deliberately chosen so that when his sister took her turn, she would be able to see him and draw courage from him. That his sister was not yet playing, and his position offered him an unimpeded view of Miss Elizabeth was happenstance. To make sure he was not caught staring he turned his gaze to the small number of people who had taken the chairs laid out. Bingley and Miss Bennet were amidst some unspoken conversation which made his friend beam, the happiness radiating from him could cause blindness. His gaze left them and returned to the piano and the bewitching creature currently capturing him.
Miss Elizabeth finished her piece and rose gracefully from the seat. The pleasure of her playing was promptly replaced by anxiety for his sister as she and Miss Mary approached the instrument. There was a small murmur of anticipation at their sitting together. Darcy smiled gently and nodded slightly as he met his sister's gaze. Miss Mary murmured something then the first notes eased from the instrument.
"You need not worry, there is no one here that wishes her ill and she plays so well that she can receive nothing but praise."
Miss Elizabeth's words were a welcome balm, he turned to her as she came to stand by his side. "I thank you, but I confess that it is not entirely in my control."
"I see that, which is why you are standing here where she may draw courage from you."
"Is that not why you have chosen to join me? I am more than aware of how much she values you and your sisters."
Miss Elizabeth smiled, humour dancing in her eyes. "We are still new."
"I fear it is not newness, it is the proven worth of your friendship. She has blossomed under your care, in a way that I as her brother or as her guardian could not have achieved and I thank you for it."
"There is no need, she is a sweet girl, and anyone would be delighted to know her."
He shook his head. "I fear Miss Elizabeth that your optimism is misplaced when it comes to the society of the Ton. Even with the limited society we participate in when in town there have been those ladies that would use her friendship for their gain."
Miss Elizabeth lost the laughing humour in her eyes. "It has not been a common occurrence, I trust?" she inquired pointedly.
He knew from any other he would have bristled at the implied insult to his care of his sister. Honesty made him cringe at how the events of Ramsgate fell out, and how Elizabeth would be incensed at the information, should she ever gain it. From her, he knew it came from a place of concern which tempered his response. "Not more than once. The lady in question made an obvious error early in their acquaintance, Georgiana was upset, but not unduly."
Miss Elizabeth's stance grew warm and open again, a teasing light re-entered her eyes. "Can I enquire as to the obvious error? Perchance did the Miss have a different sibling in mind when forming the acquaintance?"
"Her elder sister did, as the Miss in question was but twelve. She told Georgiana that once they were sisters, she had been promised the ownership of Georgiana's pony. Georgiana was incensed that she would have to give up her pony to a sister and demanded of me why this was to be the case."
"And thus, the plot was uncovered."
"Indeed."
Their conversation fell silent as they both enjoyed the music. Once complete the polite applause was enthusiastic making both Georgiana and Mary blush. Mary was collected by John Lucas while Georgiana made her way over to her brother.
"Well done, you played very well." Mr Darcy praised his sister, increasing the flush in her cheeks.
"Thank you, though it is to Mary that the praise should go, I quite lost myself at one point when Lady Lucas sneezed so loudly, and she picked up both parts until I was able to continue."
"No one noticed," Elizabeth said warmly, "and that is the advantage of practice and playing with one another. You shall be prepared next time. At one of my first displays, a footman dropped an entire tray of punch. He tripped over Mrs Sommer's dog. It was a horrid thing and well-known for causing mayhem but she was never without it. There was quite the ruckus with both the tray and punch bowl clattering to the floor. Both were silver, so we were spared the danger of broken glass but the noise! It quite terrified the dog who flew into a barking fit. Mrs Sommer demanded to know who had dared upset her dog, quite ignoring the fact that the poor footman was drenched in punch and picking himself up off the floor and through all this, I was playing! It was quite the equal of any farce performed on the stage."
"That sounds dreadful!" Georgiana exclaimed.
"Oh yes, but I was able to skip the difficult passage without anyone noticing. They assumed they had not heard it over the uproar, so it worked out quite nicely and the footman was not hurt, just a little wet."
"Was Mrs Sommer invited back?"
"Yes, and the dog too! No one wished to offend her, as at the time the Sommers family was quite prominent in the neighbourhood. Sadly, she fell ill shortly after that evening and lingered for less than a month. She was of quite an age, so it was not unexpected."
"Gracious," Georgiana mused. "I fear I should not know what to do if that ever happened to me."
"Do any of your social circle own small dogs? I believe the first thing to do would be to decline to invite them."
"None of our relations owns such an animal and I believe that Aunt Matlock would be much more distressed than you my dear, should such an event occur at any soiree she was hosting. Can you imagine if her carpet was doused in punch?" Mr Darcy said reassuringly.
"Oh yes, she would be quite beside herself. Why when Richard stood upon it in his riding boots, I thought she might swoon!"
"Is this a very exotic carpet?" Elizabeth enquired. "Or were the boots in question particularly dirty?"
"Richard's boots were perfectly clean having only just been delivered from the cobbler. The carpet, our aunt claims, is of Turkish origins, though I am unsure that it is the case. She is uncommonly protective of it. Which is even more puzzling as it is placed in the salon where it can be more admired by callers but runs a higher risk of being sullied."
"A fashionable piece to be sure then," Elizabeth said with a smile.
Georgiana soon left them to return to Kitty and Maria's company. Elizabeth, rather than face the speculation of her mother and neighbours by conversing with Mr Darcy solely, led that gentleman over to where Mr Bingley and Jane were sat so that the four of them might converse. They spent the remainder of the evening in good spirits and when the parties separated to return to their homes neither had any complaints over the evening.