Chapter Fifty-Nine
Netherfield Park
Mr. Darcy opened the package to find a lovely ivory fan with blue flowers painted on, and a bonnet with flowers that matched the fan! Astonished, he read the enclosed card again.
Darcy,
The enclosed is for Miss Mary Bennet. You must make it clear to her that this is a thank-you gift. I have no intention of raising expectations, I just wanted her to know that I was grateful. She is a remarkable young woman.
Richard
This was for Miss Mary? How was he to give these to that young lady? He could explain that it was to thank her and nothing more, and she would understand. But how would she explain such gifts to her mother?
Perhaps his Elizabeth could help him.
***
“The Colonel sent what?” Elizabeth was bewildered. “What was he thinking?”
“He wanted to thank her for…well, you know.”
“But to buy her gifts like these?! Of course, she would love to have them, but how is she to explain them to Mama?”
Georgiana said, softly, “Could Mary not accept a gift from me?”
Elizabeth contemplated this for only a moment before nodding and smiling. “That is an excellent idea, Georgiana!”
“I will say that this is a gift for my piano friend,” Georgiana went on.
“That is perfect,” Elizabeth declared.
***
Mary was overwhelmed when she saw the lovely gifts that Georgiana had given her; when she learned that they had actually come from Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, she almost fainted.
“You must say that they are from Georgiana, of course,” Elizabeth added.
“My cousin was clear that he did not intend to raise any expectations with such a gift, only that he wished to express his thanks to you. He wrote that he thought you a remarkable young woman.“ Georgiana added.
Remarkable young woman! He thought her a remarkable young woman!
Mary thought she could live on those three words for the rest of her days!
She kept her face down, hoping to conceal her heavy blushes, and said, softly, “This was very kind of him. I cannot write to him myself, of course, but I hope you will send him a message conveying my thanks.”
Georgiana promised to do so at once.
***
Later that night, Mary found herself thinking, yet again, about Georgiana’s words regarding how one chose what colours to wear.
She knew very well that she chose browns and greys in order to hide herself away.
Having long understood herself to be the plain Bennet sister, she had thrown herself into the role that had been created for her.
But now, she began to consider her situation rather differently.
A remarkable young woman would surely not wear colours such as those that filled Mary’s closet.
No, such a woman would wear bright colours, colours that showed her confidence in herself, that proclaimed to the world that she was a remarkable young woman!
Colours like that lovely blue fabric she had seen when she and Elizabeth had walked to Meryton together.
And what a remarkable coincidence it was that the fan and the bonnet were both blue!
***
Mr. Bennet was much surprised to find his middle daughter in his study, petitioning him for funds. “Is this not your mother’s province, child?”
“It is, Papa, yes, but I know she will say that it is not worth spending money to get me new gowns.”
“Surely she would not say so!”
“She will, Papa, and I do not blame her, for I know her attention is entirely on Jane and Lizzy, and so the money for clothing goes to them. But I have been made to understand that a young woman chooses clothing to show herself or disguise herself, and I have decided to stop disguising myself.”
After a moment’s silence, Mr. Bennet said, simply, “Very well; tell me how much you need and you shall have it at once. I will speak to your mother.”