Chapter Forty-Nine
It is a beautiful day, Mary,” Elizabeth said.
“Warmer than it has been all month! I thought to go into Meryton to visit the bookshop. Shall you come with me? I do not doubt there is new music for you to look at. And,” she leaned forward, “if we leave quickly, we do not have to take Kitty and Lydia!”
Delighted to be Elizabeth’s chosen companion, even if it was just for that afternoon, and just to give Jane a chance to spend time alone with Mr. Bingley, Mary jumped up eagerly and ran to put on her cloak and half-boots. Jane gave Elizabeth a grateful glance. “Thank you, Lizzy!”
“Anything to help bring Mr. Bingley to the point!” Elizabeth laughed, and then she, too, went upstairs to get her outerwear.
***
A quarter of an hour later, the two girls were on their way to Meryton. Elizabeth slowed her pace to accommodate a sister who was less accustomed to vigorous exercise.
“Tell me, Lizzy…”
“Yes, Mary?”
“Mr. Darcy?”
Colour stained Elizabeth’s cheeks. “What about him?”
“I think he likes you.”
Elizabeth did not reply.
“Well?”
“You will have to be more specific, Mary.”
“Do you like him?”
“Of course; he is very gentlemanly.”
“That is all you can say about him?”
“No; I could also say that he is the nephew of an Earl, quite wealthy and, apparently, is the master of a large estate.”
“By which you mean that he is above your reach.”
“Exactly; so there is no point in spending any time thinking about him.”
“Do you think this is still the case, given that the Darcys are now the subject of Town gossip?”
Elizabeth replied, sharply, “I have thought of that, Mary. But the gossip will fade and he will still be the nephew of an Earl, while I will still be the daughter of an insignificant country gentlemen.” With that, she quickened her pace, leaving Mary behind.
Mary hurried to catch up with her sister. “I am sorry, Lizzy; I should not have said anything.”
Elizabeth stopped and turned to Mary. “No, it is not your fault, Mary. I am too sensitive, I suppose. Yes, I like him very much, and it is a shame that he is so very wealthy and so very well-connected, as I think we could learn to love one another. Now, please, let us speak no more of it.”
Mary nodded shame-facedly.
The two walked on in silence. Upon reaching Meryton, they went into the bookshop. Mr. Franklin, the bookseller, had known the two Bennet girls since they were born; he greeted them both, and showed them the new books and music that had come in.
Mary made a selection and was ready to leave in just a quarter of an hour, but Elizabeth could be counted on to stay for a good long time, so Mary thought she might go for a quick look at fabrics.
Georgiana’s comment about colours had not been forgotten; Mary wondered what she would wear if she chose to express herself rather than hide.
In the fabric shop, she found her eye drawn, again and again, to the colour blue.
She had heard, time and again, that Jane and Lydia should wear blue because their eyes were blue, so she had rather thought that particular colour belonged to them.
On the other hand, Lizzy wore a good deal of blue as well, and her eyes were as brown as Mary’s.
How she wished she could have a dress made of this colour, but she knew Mama would not give her the funds.
She returned to the bookstore and prodded Elizabeth until she was ready to leave. The two girls crossed the street, avoiding steaming piles of horse dung, and walked swiftly past the White Swan, the local pub.