Chapter 28
Jane woke late the next day as she had not been able to sleep until the wee hours of the morning.
They had spent several hours with the Williamses, assisting Sally to clean her husband’s wounds, sitting with her while the doctor did his evaluation, and holding her while she cried tears of relief when he announced that he would heal just fine after a hearty meal and a good night’s sleep.
She and Yates then traveled to Greenleigh Park to ensure that the men had no plans to return.
Lady Greenleigh was unaware of exactly what had caused the gentlemen to leave the area so suddenly but was relieved and pleased to inform them that her husband and his friends had returned to London and that she had already written him a letter, informing the Baron that the magistrate wished to speak with him as soon as he returned.
When Jane explained what they had done, though Lord Greenleigh had not been involved, her ladyship was horrified and most apologetic.
Nothing, she assured them, would better convince the man to not return any time soon.
She stretched her arms over her head and yawned as Jardine practically danced into the room with a breakfast tray, placing it beside her on the bed.
“Good morning, madame!” she sang.
“You are in a very pleasant mood this morning,” Jane remarked, reaching for a piece of toast.
“Genevieve and I awoke early and were able to spend nearly an hour together before I took her to the nursery,” she explained. “I have never enjoyed my employment more, Mrs. Bingley. Thank you so very much for your generosity.”
“It was my pleasure entirely,” Jane assured her. “I too enjoy seeing my daughter each morning and evening. It was a shame that my servants too could not enjoy the same.”
Jane finished her meal and dressed, enjoying Amelie’s deft hand with her hair, before searching out Mary and ringing for the nursery maid to bring Ellie to join them.
Mary shyly greeted her, smoothing down the skirts of her newly finished dress.
Jane inspected the lovely, sprigged muslin with pleasure.
“You look wonderful, Mary. Kitty was entirely correct about that rose color; it does wonderful things to your complexion.”
Mary blushed brightly. “You do not think that it is too much?”
“Not at all!” she assured her. “You must allow Amelie to see to your hair. She is very talented and will know just how to best accentuate your features. Would you allow me to ring for her? She could look over your hair texture while we work.”
Mary agreed and Jardine soon appeared with a collection of brushes and hair pins.
She tried several different styles while Jane played with Ellie on the rug and gave her opinions.
It was well that there was no mirror for Mary to watch the process as it kept her much calmer.
They finally settled on a soft chignon with curls to frame her face for every day and several more ornate styles for evenings and parties.
Finally, Mary was allowed to inspect her reflection in the peer glass in the hall and she returned with blooming cheeks and a soft, hopeful smile. Jane offered her several more encouraging compliments as she settled back onto the sofa.
“Do you think he will come?” Mary asked, biting her lip. Her hope had begun to deteriorate into disbelief the longer her mourning lasted and she was hanging on by a thread.
“Either today or tomorrow,” Jane declared with such confidence that Mary was forced to agree. “I am certain that a man who rode from Pemberley would not keep you waiting any longer than necessary.”
The butler cleared his throat from the doorway, a sparkle of humor in his eye. “Mr. Kirby to see Miss Bennet, ma’am.”
Mary gasped as he stepped aside, revealing the handsome rector, looking nearly as nervous as Mary in his finest suit and holding a bouquet of wild roses wrapped in a white velvet ribbon. He stood dumbly, staring at the beauty before him with a lax mouth and wide eyes.
Jane coughed to cover a laugh as she rose gracefully from the floor with Ellie in her arms. It was obvious that neither of them would speak if she did not assist them, and so she stepped forward and offered a curtsey to the man.
“This is indeed a pleasure, Mr. Kirby!” She gave him a wide smile. “We were just wondering when to expect you and here you are.”
He did not even look at her, still searching Mary’s features with an intensity which set her hands fluttering, flitting from her loose curls to the skirt of her gown and back again as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
Jane did not bother to hide her laugh this time and went to the man’s side to physically lead him to a seat beside Mary’s settee.
She waited until he looked up at her before addressing him once more.
“Mary told me that you have both the Lambton and Kympton livings; do you prefer one manse over the other?”
He looked at Mary once more, his admiration obvious.
“I currently live in the Lambton manse, as my former wife preferred the proximity to the shops, but for myself, the Kympton manse is much larger and has a glebe of almost two acres attached for my use. I have been paying a man to work it to provide both for my household and many of my poorer congregants.”
“That is very good of you,” Mary beamed, shyly. “I always enjoyed working in our flower gardens at Longbourne. Mama does not have much of a green thumb but she has a great eye for beauty and her plans were very lovely.”
Jane rose to her feet, driving Mr. Kirby to his as well. “I am going to take Ellie to the nursery while we wait for tea. Please, continue your conversation, I shall return shortly.”
When she returned, ten minutes later, the couple had once again fallen silent though they did not look awkward as they sat smiling at one another.
Jane handed them each a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits before taking her own to the other side of the room where she sat with a novel which Elizabeth had lent her and pretended deafness.
“Your dress is beautiful, is it new?” Kirby asked quietly, obviously having finally worked up the courage to comment on her improved looks.
“Yes, I--” Mary stumbled to a stop, “I asked my sisters for their assistance with choosing more flattering colors and such.”
“Well, your inner beauty is so obvious now as to be blinding.”
Mary blushed to the roots of her hair.
“I was hoping, or do I ask too much, that you might consent to a courtship?”
Jane held her breath to keep her excitement inside. She knew that Mary was half in love with the man, but he had only asked to call on her a sen’night previously and they had not seen one another since.
“I would be honored,” Mary gasped, giving him an adoring look.
He reached for her hands, placing a kiss on the back of each as they lost themselves in their joy. When the hand holding went on too long, Jane coughed lightly to remind them of propriety. They jumped apart, blushing and Mary hurried to her sister’s side to announce their courtship.
“I am so pleased for you, dearest!” Jane hugged the girl tightly. “Taking this time to learn of one another’s hearts and future ambitions will be such a boon.”
∞∞∞
Mr. Kirby continued his visits almost every other day for nearly a month before working up the courage to bear his heart to his lady love.
He asked Jane for her permission to speak privately with Mary the moment that he arrived.
Knowing her sister’s feelings on the matter, Jane offered them the library, as it was Mary’s favorite place, and poured herself a cup of tea while she waited for the happy news.
“Jane!” Mary cried as she flew back into the sitting room, her beaming beau on her heals.
“Oh! I am the happiest of women! He asked for my hand! And I shall be a mother! I never thought that I would be so lucky as to have children of my own. I always thought that Mama was correct and that I would be a spinster and watching you and Lizzy with your children always left me with a sort of unfulfillment and longing, knowing that I would never…” her voice broke with tears.
“You will be an excellent mother, my love,” Mr. Kirby declared, pulling her into his arms for comfort. “Davey is very excited for me to bring you home.”
“Mama was wrong, Mary,” Jane informed her without demure.
“Not only wrong but cruel. She only sees beauty and worth in herself, which was why she was only encouraging to those of her daughters who looked most like her. She is selfish and vain and I am sorry that I never spoke up before. I thought by brushing her comments aside, you and Lizzy and Kitty would brush them off as well and it was insensitive of me. It made me feel better while leaving my dearest sisters to feel each strike on their own. I have recently discovered that whether at a neighboring estate or within our own family, we cannot turn a blind eye to deplorable behavior.”
Mary’s mouth gaped as her judgement continued. Never before had she heard such firm opinions from her sister. “Thank you,” she whispered at last.