Chapter 23
The New Year arrived, and with it came a visitor eagerly anticipated at the parsonage. Amelia fairly bubbled over with delight when Mary came for a visit.
“Mary, I cannot wait for you to meet our eldest brother, Phillip. I think you and your family will find him quite diverting.”
Privately, Mary thought no brother could possibly be of more interest to her than Mr. Robert Yarby, but she smiled politely. “I think you said he is a solicitor?”
“Yes—in London. But he has confided to Robert and me that he has grown weary of the big city and wishes to relocate. And it is my hope that, if Phillip fancies Meryton, he may in fact move here! That would be so wonderful. It has been years since all three of us were together in the same community.”
“He may find it quite dull after the vibrant life of London,” Mary said.
“Yes, but town is also exceedingly expensive. His expenses nearly outweigh his income, so he hopes to find a place where he can build a flourishing career at much less cost.”
“And will he move his family here as well?” Not that Mary particularly cared, but it seemed the polite thing to ask.
“Phillip is still not married—even now at thirty-six!”
“How unusual.”
Amelia leaned in and lowered her voice. “I tell you this in confidence, Mary, because I know you are not one to not spread idle talk. Phillip’s heart was severely wounded some years back.
He was engaged to a charming young lady—Letitia was her name—from a prominent, wealthy family in town.
We were so happy for him. We all thought it was true love, but her parents strongly objected to the match and broke it up. ”
“That is very sad. Why did they object?” Mary shunned gossip as a rule, but this story seemed quite interesting.
Besides, this was about the Yarbys of whom she was so fond.
It could not be harmful to hear it, she reasoned.
And Amelia seemed most eager to share the story.
The least she could do was politely listen.
“My brother was not wealthy enough for them. A mere solicitor? Unpardonable!” Amelia threw her hands up in mock horror.
“Of course, we all knew he was not in the same class as her family, but we hoped love might prevail. However, her father was so dismissive. ‘Not even a court attorney—just a clerk,’ is how he put it. Phillip was not sufficiently grand for them, so they sent Letitia away to live with an aunt. After six months, she fell in love with someone else who owned a fine estate, and she became his wife! Poor Phillip was devastated. I fear it has quite put him off the idea of marriage now.”
“But true love should survive such a separation, should it not?” Mary said seriously. “If her heart had truly been attached to your brother, a separation of six months—nay, even six years—should not matter.”
Amelia laughed softly. “Six years? Oh, Mary, I fear my suggestion that you read more novels may have altered your frame of mind.” She paused before continuing soberly.
“I agree—had the attachment been strong enough, she might have been able to wait, but no doubt unable to communicate with Phillip, her heart was too easily turned to another. However, in the end, I blame the parents. You must agree that, if Letitia’s parents had not interfered in the first place, she and Phillip might well be married now—and quite happily too! ”
“A sad story indeed. Everyone deserves to have love, I believe. May I ask: Do you hope to marry again, Amelia?” Mary asked cautiously.
“You are but thirty-three or so, are you not? You may well find romance again, although here in Meryton the selection might be said to be skimpier than in larger places. Oh, wait! Jonas the butcher is a widower and only forty-five. You should set your cap for him. You will never lack for meat in the house.”
Amelia laughed and patted her friend’s hand.
“I would like to think I should marry for love, not for beef, Mary! If a new man comes into my life and…love should happen, that would be wonderful. But if no such thing occurs, I can be content as I am. After all, I have my brother, dear friends such as you, this charming cottage, and food and drink enough. I feel it would be greedy to ask for…more.” As she ended this speech, Mary saw Amelia’s eyes drift away and a small smile play on her lips as if lost in memory.
Mary observed her countenance silently.
Poor thing, she must be remembering the love she shared with her husband. Despite her protestations of contentment, I shall pray she finds a new husband who is worthy of her.
***
Two days later, Phillip Yarby arrived for his stay at the Longbourn rectory to the delight of Robert and Amelia. As soon as he was settled, the three walked to Longbourn House to pay their respects to Mr. Bennet and his daughters
The eldest brother proved to be quite a diverting conversationalist, as predicted by Amelia, and shared his lively thoughts with not just Mr. Bennet—as would be expected—but also paid attention to Mary and Kitty with great courtesy, asking for their opinions on different topics.
He told stories of his work and clients in London that had them all laughing.
At one point, Mary noticed Kitty stiffen a moment, then become a bit fidgety in her seat, though she could discern no cause for her sister’s distress.
After more than half an hour, far longer than the usual “polite call,” the Yarbys departed with a promise to have everyone to dinner soon.
The minute Longbourn door closed and they were gone, Kitty grabbed Mary and dragged her upstairs to their mother’s bedroom.
She shut the door firmly behind them and turned to her sister.
“Did you see that? I can’t believe it!” she exclaimed.
“What do you mean?” Mary replied. “I thought it a very fine visit. Mr. Yarby’s brother seems quite an amiable gentleman, just at Amelia promised he would be.
Much taller than our rector, and with the same nice, thick hair.
I would call him handsome, would you not agree?
Although he does not have the same dimples—” She broke off when Kitty grabbed her arm.
“No, not that, you goose! Did you not see what Mrs. Withers was wearing?” At Mary’s blank stare she hissed, “Mama’s gold bracelet! The one that was left over after we divided up her jewelry.”
Mary could not keep her mouth from falling open. “What? Are you certain?”
“I saw it peek out from the sleeve of her spencer. I recognized it at once. There is no doubt about it and furthermore…” She moved quickly to the jewelry box on the dresser and flipped back the lid dramatically. “…see here? It is gone!”
“Oh, well, it is no longer in Mama’s jewelry case because I removed it after I…
well, I dislike speaking unkindly of our sister, but you should know that, over the holidays, I caught Lydia trying to pinch Mama’s bracelet to sell.
Apparently, she and Wickham are very much in debt.
So, I took it from her and gave it to—” She halted her speech a moment as her mind raced.
“To Mrs. Withers, clearly,” Kitty finished. “Well, you might have asked me first! We were supposed to share that bracelet, you know.”
Mary waved a hand in agitation. “No, of course I did not give it to her. I would certainly discuss it with you first. I gave the bracelet to Papa for safekeeping. So, if Amelia has it, it is because—”
Kitty gasped. “He gave it to her? Why would he do such a thing?”
Mary tried to focus after this remarkable news.
Suddenly, things began to fall into place—the times she called on the parsonage to visit Amelia only to learn she was taking a walk.
Was her father not also taking walks about that same time?
And suddenly, Mary realized that her father always seemed to become more lively around Amelia although, as a rule, he disliked company interrupting his daily routine.
And then there was Amelia’s dreamy look the other day when they were speaking of her falling in love again.
“Mary? Mary!” Kitty’s voice called her back to herself. “What should we do? Pretend we just don’t know about the missing bracelet?”
“Absolutely not. We must speak to Papa about it—at once.”