Read Online A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward - Free Book Online Page A

fruit and nuts, chat awhile—usually about the baby—and return to the library until time to meet Elizabeth for needlework before early dinner. If at that hour the high round east window did not lend sufficient light on a dull November afternoon, she made use of the candle sconce near the chair. There, she gloried in the education she planned to give herself in the magnificent library. Occasionally she drew out a small pad of paper from her pinafore pocket so that, with the pen from the writing desk in the corner, she could jot down a pithy sentence to memorise for some future conversation. She was grateful to have learned this custom from the vicar of Hunsford, whom she, alone of the Bennets, admired.
    One afternoon, the squeak of the door below her on the main floor of the library alerted her to someone’s entrance. She supposed that Darcy or Bingley had entered, but if both had come in to talk, she must leave or make her presence known. She stood and peered over the great mahogany rail only to see a man alone. He was tall, apparently young, and when she caught his profile, she saw that he had a moustache. She could not identify him nor did she recognize his gait as he strode purposefully to the leather-bound books near the fireplace. The gentleman looked up, book in hand, and acknowledged her with a smile and a bow. She refused to acknowledge the brazen smile, but she nodded stiffly. He settled at a table with his selection, and suddenly Mary realized that she was alone in a room with a strange man. Quickly she shelved her two books, pocketed her papers, replaced the pen in the inkwell desk in the corner, and left through the hall.
    Mary found her mother in the nursery telling Callie to “be sure to hold his head” and saw Callie, who had been doing just that, frown at Mrs. Bennet, glaring silently, as if holding her anger in check.
    â€œMama! There is a strange man in the library!”
    â€œOh dear. Cannot Darcy prevent the public use of his own library? What would Mr. Bennet think? But perhaps Darcy does not know.” Mrs. Bennet wiped her hands and stepped into the hall with Mary. Nurse Callie’s face registered relief as Mrs. Bennet reached to close the door. “We must prevent draughts.”
    Before they found Darcy, however, a hubbub at the foyer drew them to the grand staircase. Elizabeth joined them and they watched Mrs. Reynolds welcome Mr. Bennet and Kitty, who had come early for the holidays. As Mrs. Reynolds told the footman where to take the arrivals’ luggage, Elizabeth and the Bennets descended to greet them. Mr. Bennet, uneasy about being on the scene during Elizabeth’s lying-in, now hurried to tell her how glad he was that “Little Charlie” had come and that Elizabeth looked well. Catherine rushed to Mary to tell her how bored she had grown at Otherfield. “That Miss Bingley kept gathering Beth into her arms, saying, ‘Come to your favourite aunt, honey,’ and she treated me like an intruder. I don’t suppose you will be calling yourself Charlie’s favourite aunt?”
    â€œNo indeed, Kitty. I hardly see the baby for thirty minutes a day, and so far what he favours is being fed, as far as I can detect.” Mary gladly showed Catherine to her room while Elizabeth stayed to visit their parents. They helped the obliging Polly unpack Kitty’s frocks and hang them in the wardrobe. While they worked, Mary told Kitty of the wonderful library, but Kitty barely took notice. Then Mary mentioned the strange man in the library—“tall, with light brown hair and a stride like Wickham’s”—and Mary made a face at this, indicating her annoyance at the man.
    Kitty, however, looked up with interest. “He wasn’t in uniform, was he?”
    Mary gave her a look of disgust. “Of course not. And he has a ridiculous little moustache.”
    Kitty’s eyes sparkled. “What a mystery! But how much nicer if he