A Match for Mary Bennet Read Online Free

not break.
    Exasperated, Mrs. Bennet again looked for Hill and, not seeing her, turned on Mary. “You will look to please a young man if you know what is good for you. You act this way only to antagonise me! Consider my poor nerves!”
    Mary looked up from her reading and spoke calmly. “To me it seems that I act from a spirit of order. I try to accomplish what I have set out to do each day. I keep a schedule in my head.” Perhaps it steadies my own nerves, she thought.
    If anything, her answer further enraged Mrs. Bennet. “Oh, Mary! Forget your silly regimen! Such nonsense you talk. With your head full of schedules you will never find time for anything important.”
    At this point, Hill hastened in with the shoe roses, and the assessment of them took the full attention of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty. Mary returned to her pursuit of sagacity.

Chapter 3
    Arriving at Longbourn before noon on Michaelmas as scheduled, Colonel Fitzwilliam learned of the ball at Meryton’s assembly hall. Though tired from travel, he found himself pleased at the prospect after his sombre month at Kent. Mrs. Bennet rejoiced to see him immediately turn to secure Mary for the first two dances. She held her breath and then rejoiced even more as Mary accepted. One never knew about Mary. Having seen three daughters successfully married, Mrs. Bennet frequently opined that securing husbands for the remaining two would free her to relax quietly at home for the remainder of her days, resting her poor nerves. She could count on Catherine’s full cooperation, but Mary, she realized with a sigh, seemed to want to go to each ball as if determined to ignore it and everyone present. She might as well be a hermitess. What great good fortune that Colonel Fitzwilliam would take her quiet Mary into the dance. Only too often her sister, Mrs. Philips, observed, “Poor Mary. What a pity she has not the beauty and liveliness of her sisters. Whatever will you do with her?” This assembly could prove different.
    ***
    In some respects, this assembly proved different indeed. The afternoon clouded over, and a dull rain persisted into the evening, nullifying the whole advantage of the full moon and discouraging Catherine from wearing any of her ribbons, lest they run and stain her hair. Sighing, she too wore the combs Elizabeth had sent from Pemberley. Mary opined calmly that life is not meant to be all pleasure, and Kitty scowled at her ribbonless hair.
    On arrival at the brilliantly lit hall, Mrs. Bennet groaned to see Mrs. Long advance toward her with her two plain nieces bent on sitting near Mary. Of course, they would expect to be introduced to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Mrs. Long did in fact show great interest, especially on finding him to be the cousin of Mr. Darcy, the almost legendary, rich landowner who had carried off the “jewel of Hertfordshire,” Elizabeth Bennet. Her joy might have been tempered indeed had she learned that he was not nearly so rich as his cousin, but Mrs. Bennet judiciously withheld that information.
    Almost immediately upon hearing the music that announced the dance, Catherine was claimed by the oldest Lucas boy and Mary went to the set with the Colonel. Mrs. Bennet smiled triumphantly at Mrs. Long’s two nieces and beatifically at the good Colonel, even as she mouthed in Mary’s direction “smile.”
    Mary, however, who liked to concentrate on her feet while dancing, could not smile because the Colonel dismayed her by his great willingness to converse. Worse, he insisted on asking questions. “Is this the room where Darcy first saw your sister Elizabeth?”
    â€œYes, sir, and refused to dance with her.” Mary counted in rhythm to herself, a rising alarm unsteadying her.
    Fitzwilliam laughed good-naturedly. “Darcy is not so stuffy these days. Your sister has done wonders for him. You must be very proud of her.”
    Mary, reminded of Elizabeth’s sacrifice in marrying