Steadfast
Mary and Matthew Bennet - the less flashy ways of romance and fighting evil.
Mary Bennet was the least romantic of her sisters, but that did not mean she was entirely indifferent to the longing for love.
It just meant that she was practical.
She’d been only just nineteen when they battled the Malevolence of Netherfield Park for a second, and final, time.
She was the third sister, it was only proper for her to wait for at least Jane to marry before she considered her own prospects.
Elizabeth, too, but the second Bennet sister had always sworn she would only marry her equal, and for a long time, it had been difficult to imagine anyone meeting that criteria.
Having now been witness to at least one of the couple’s sparring matches, which usually ended with one or the other pinned to the nearest flat surface, it was easier for Mary to see them as equals, despite their opposite personalities.
Mary’s own criteria for a spouse had begun and ended with someone who was willing to appreciate and respect her intelligence.
There were other desirable qualities - handsome, kind, well-established - but an interested man who didn’t talk down to her seemed like enough of a miracle to ask for.
Best not to push her luck.
Her older sisters marrying had changed everything.
Suddenly, Mary was the oldest daughter at home, taking on many of the responsibilities that Jane and Elizabeth had.
With not one, but two daughters married to wealthy men, Mama's nerves made less frequent appearances, and with Lizzy on her wedding tour, Papa ventured out of his study a little more often in search of company.
Georgiana had all the benefits of education that money could buy, and was happy to pass them on to her new sisters.
In some ways, perhaps it was fortunate that the Bennet sisters had no brother.
Perhaps it was the age gap between them, or the nature of Georgiana's Healing Gift, but her brother and cousin had sheltered her as much as it was possible for any Gifted to be sheltered.
Mary didn't blame them for it, but the Bennet Sisters had never been able to rely on the protection of a man, and it had shaped them in ways that, in the balance of things, Mary thought was for the better.
It just meant that Colonel Fitzwilliam took some adjusting to.
After someone took him aside to inform him that Lydia's height was not commensurate with her age, he had restrained his initial interest, treating the sisters who currently bore the name Bennet much as he did Georgiana.
Mary didn't think that Lydia had been particularly pleased about that, but she had restrained herself admirably.
Then they went first to Brighton in pursuit of Wickham, and from Brighton to London, and for the second time in less than a year, Mary's life was turned on its head.
Lydia was headed to France on a secret mission - and would bear it better than Mary or Catherine ever could - and for the first time in her life, there was someone who truly saw Mary.
Someone who not only saw her, but liked the view and wanted to know more of her.
Perhaps, Mary thought, she should ask for miracles more often.
The sound of hoofbeats drew her attention, and a slight smile quirked at her her lips.
All three of Matthew's older brothers had the same idea for a wedding gift: to buy him a good working horse now that he actually had a chance of inheriting an estate.
The increase in cost for stabling and feed was not a great one, and there were far fewer arguments over the breakfast table about the horses being needed for the carriage or the farm.
Breaking the entail was not yet a sure thing, but Colonel Fitzwilliam had been correct in that Mr. Collins was in no hurry to leave his beloved Noble Patroness.
Now, it was just down to working out the details of how he would be compensated for agreeing to give up his presumed inheritance.
Doubtless Charlotte would be displeased, once she discovered that she would not be the mistress of Longbourn after all, but she had always claimed to want no more than a husband and a house of her own.
Matthew entered, his face nearly consumed by a broad smile.
Heedless of the dust on his clothing, Mary ran into his arms.
"It is agreed?"
He nodded.
"Yes, and thank Heaven that fool will never be master of Longbourn.
He'd have it run into the ground within a year."
The statement on Mr. Collins' intelligence could mean either good or ill.
"What did he ask?"
Her soon-to-be husband rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Three thousand pounds, which he agreed to pay in instalments.
He didn't even specify how much per payment, or over how long, until I specified a minimum payment of three hundred a year."
Longbourn brought in two thousand a year, a little over twelve hundred of which went to taxes, expenses, and the paying of servants and hired hands.
The rest, in years prior, had vanished to purchasing rare books and keeping six women in the latest fashions in the hope of attracting husbands.
Battling the Forces of Darkness was one thing; resisting a determined Mama was quite another.
Mary ran over the numbers in her head, now that there were only four women at Longbourn, and only two of them unmarried.
"With a little economy, that should be manageable.
My older sisters think they are being subtle in their plans to purchase my trousseau, so that is one expense saved, and Lydia and Kitty no longer need to be feigning flirtation and purchasing a new ribbon every day."
There was also Kitty's repeated protests that she had no intention of marrying, and Lydia having her eyes firmly set on a very specific red coat...
but both of those were matters for the future.
Matthew looked down at her with warm eyes.
"Longbourn's profits could increase with more direct management, meaning no insult to your father.
There is nothing saying that we cannot pay Mr. Collins off sooner, only that he must be paid at least three hundred pounds per year."
Papa had resisted improving the estate because he didn't believe that his family would have seen the results of such improvement, as long as he lacked a son.
Never mind that improving the estate might have allowed for an increase to his daughter's dowries, or putting money aside to re-build the dower house to ease Mama's fears about the Hedgerows.
Now that one of his daughters could inherit, perhaps he would be more amenable.
Mary smiled at the man she had not expected to fall so deeply in love with.
"Well then, shall we explore some agricultural journals and formulate our arguments to convince my parents? Speaking to the local nature guardians is best done at night, when we can sneak away quietly."
Matthew laughed and offered his arm, leading the way to Papa's book room.
Time passed.
Mary became Mrs. Bennet the younger, with Matthew taking her name for inheritance reasons.
Lydia and Colonel Fitzwilliam returned from a successful mission, and news came of Napoleon’s exile to Elba.
Kitty shared a London Season with Georgiana, then moved with her to live in Lambton.
Lydia remained in Hertfordshire with Mary, but was at Netherfield as often as she was at Longbourn.
Papa was happy to hand the day-to-day management to a younger man, and Longbourn began to prosper.
Often, Mary accompanied her husband on his daily rides of the estate, both due to her familiarity with her home - Matthew's family hailed from the North of the kingdom, and the difference in growing seasons was appreciable - and because it afforded them a chance to talk in private.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam is beginning construction on a Hunting Lodge at Netherfield.
Has he spoken to you?"
Matthew nodded as he gazed over the grain fields.
”Yes, the workers arrived yesterday, and he approached me to start looking for Gifted to handle the upkeep of the safehouse."
Colonel Fitzwilliam often said that a good Officer knew how to delegate, and Matthew had worked in Logistics and Personnel for years.
”In that case, I know that we spoke of rebuilding the Dower House at Longbourn, but with the Hunting Lodge, is it needed?"
Mary’s husband made a thoughtful sound.
”I think that we will still want it one day, because a single house cannot have two mistresses, but it is perhaps less urgent."
Mary could certainly agree with that.
Mama would protest being superseded far less if she had another residence to preside over, and while hunting lodges were adequate for short stays, only Kings built them to host more than a few people at a time.
”Then perhaps our focus should be on paying off Mr. Collins, and then we can turn our attention to additional safe houses.
Mama does not notice the servants beyond seeing that her needs are met, and a hunting lodge only has so much room."
Matthew smiled down at her.
”Quite, and too many people in each other’s pockets risks attracting malevolent spirits.
Have we any engagements this evening? The local guardians still prefer to speak to you, or at least have you present, when we speak."
Adjusting to the abrupt change of topic, Mary recalled no obligations.
They were on their way to ensure that there was no lasting damage to the tenant cottages from the recent minor flooding.
”I believe the river shifted its banks slightly with the spring rains, which means renegotiating boundaries again."
They resumed walking, and the first of the cottages came into view.
”I suppose it could be worse.
At least the local guardians are willing to talk through a mediator, instead of going straight to blows."
Mary briefly wondered if the exasperation in her husband's voice was aimed at other, less amiable guardians, or the Warriors against the Dark that he dealt with more frequently.
They could not all be as sensible as Mary's family, after all.
Slowly but surely, Safe-houses began to spring up on Estates across the realm.
Matthew's journeys to London became, more often, journeys to nearby estates for consultations.
Mary was delighted to accompany him, whenever she was not needed at Longbourn.
Improvements had to be consistent in order to last, and on an estate without a dedicated steward, the work never ended.
There were crop rotations to plan, workers to hire, and endless debates with the elder Bennets over necessity vs extravagance.
Besides, after having missed her courses for the second month in a row, Mary wanted to be certain before she made any announcements….
Likely, a potential grandchild was the only reason Mama was restraining herself.
”We are hardly in need of Austerity measures, Mary! Longbourn is still the foremost family of the area, we cannot present as paupers!"
Mama would always have a flare of drama to her.
It was clear to see where Lydia and Lizzy inherited it.
”Remaking dresses instead of buying new ones is hardly the mark of a pauper, Mama.
Besides, the sooner Mr. Collins is paid off, the sooner we can be rid of him for good!"
Mama threw up her hands, flouncing over to the divan.
”I should have prevented you girls from sneaking out so often.
A bit of frivolity would do you good, instead of being so somber and determined."
Kitty and Lydia had enough frivolity for the entire… Mary swore that she could feel her thoughts halt, like a speeding carriage being suddenly introduced to a tree.
Mama had never so much as hinted… ”You knew?"
Mama gave her an arch look and a tiny smile.
”A mother of five daughters does not sleep lightly, my dear girl.
You'll discover that yourself soon enough.
Oh, the number of nights I lay awake until I heard you all come home..."
Mary blinked, trying to wrap her head around this new concept.
"You never said anything!"
Mama smiled sadly.
"I followed you, the first night.
You were all so young, and Kitty’s health was so delicate, I knew she should not be out, whatever the rest of you did.
A mist sprung up out of nowhere, and I chased shadows in circles for what seemed like hours.
I feared I would have been lost for good, until I heard your voices and followed them home."
Why could Mama not be having this conversation with a sister who always had a ready answer, instead of ponderous Mary? ”Then…"
Mama shook her head.
”I knew then that whatever was happening, it was not for me to see.
But I could wait up, and be sure you returned safely, and be ready to wake the house for search parties if you ever did not."
That certainly showed Mama's ever-present Nerves in a new light! Mary touched her expanding waistline; being Gifted followed Bloodlines, when there was a bloodline to follow.
The Blacks had never had children, and Miss Morris had never married.
Matthew agreed with her theory that whatever Powers granted their Gifts, did so out of pragmatism and practicality, simply choosing those best suited.
Did Papa know? He had been genuine in his belief that Mary’s younger sisters were the silliest girls in all England, but the Longbourn Library, separate from his book room, had contained a number of unmarked tomes of Lore and magic… well, that could be Mary’s project of the coming months.
Mama might not have known specifics, but she could make excuses for an emergency.
Gifted who did not have to always hide who they were, who had family who supported them, were a better option than those who were forever having to invent excuses for their sudden absence.
Would Mary's children be Gifted, or had the Darkness been sufficiently banished to spare them that?
Well, whatever happened, would happen, whether Mary wanted it to or not.
She and Matthew would face it together when it came, as steadfast as they always were.