Chapter 35
There was joyful celebrating that evening at Pemberley once everyone recovered from the shock of Mary’s astonishing announcement that she and Mr. Yarby were now engaged.
Of course, this was also after Mary once again took responsibility for the harm her lies had caused and assured her family that she would do everything in her power to make things right.
That settled, Darcy ordered several excellent wines brought up for supper, followed by peals of laughter and many toasts to their happiness.
Lizzy and Darcy insisted Mr. Yarby stay with them at Pemberley and sent servants to retrieve his belongings from the Lambton Inn.
After dinner, Darcy joked, “Mr. Yarby, I think we should discuss the Bennet family more over some brandy while the ladies go through to the sitting room. You may be their reverend, but I have far more experience with being connected in marriage to this family. I am happy to share my knowledge and advice.”
“Just mind you also tell him of the great joy our connection has brought you,” Lizzy replied tartly to everyone’s laughter.
As the ladies separated from the gentlemen. Georgiana held Mary back a moment and whispered in a teasing voice, “I suppose this means you will no longer remain here at Pemberley as the ‘maiden aunt’ to our nephew and niece.”
Mary gave a soft laugh. “No indeed. Perhaps Robert and I shall be blessed with children of our own; I can only pray so. But first, I must make amends to Papa and Amelia. I hope it is not too late for them.”
“I am quite certain you will find all is well. In fact, Lizzy and I feel exceedingly confident of it,” Georgiana said with a mischievous smile that Mary did not understand.
“Are you two coming, or are you going to gossip and share secrets there in the hall all night?” Lizzy asked, but her expression showed no annoyance, only warm affection.
The two linked arms and hurried in.
***
Two days later, Darcy provided his finest coach to take the couple back to Longbourn.
Lizzy sent along one of the underhousemaids to serve as both a help to Mary and to act as a sort of chaperone since Mary and Mr. Yarby were still unmarried.
Although that meant the two had to somewhat temper their adoration, they were both mindful of the propriety of the situation and did not resent it too much.
However, along the way there was still a great deal of discussion about their future.
“Will you miss Longbourn, Mary?” Mr. Yarby asked.
“I mean, you can and will visit often, but the parsonage is considerably less grand than your home. And our budget is not lavish, as you know; economies will have to be made, perhaps, from what you are used to. In addition, after your father sadly passes, Mr. Collins is unlikely to keep me on, and we may have to move.”
“Robert! Are you trying to talk me out of marrying you?” Mary asked with a teasing smile.
Somehow, since they had professed their love, she found it easy to joke and tease in a manner she had never done before.
Amazed at herself, she thought that, if she kept this up, her family would not recognize the new Mary.
He laughed. “Not at all! I told you I shall never give you up. But I simply want you to know what to expect.”
“Living with you at the parsonage and yet within reach of my family?—I cannot imagine a happier arrangement. And once Amelia and Papa wed, all will be well.” She turned away and wrung her hands in her lap.
“But I must confess, Robert, I so dread having to tell Papa what I have done and said. I am sure he will be very angry with me. It all seems such a mess and wholly of my doing. But I must own to what I did.”
“I am sure your father will forgive you. After all, Amelia and I are still here; he did not dismiss us as you had hoped, so there is no permanent damage done. Do you…do you wish for me to go in with you when we arrive at Longbourn?”
Mary shook her head. “Thank you, but I must do this myself.” She gave him a smile. “Knowing you support me, however, will give me the courage I need.”
***
Darcy had sent an express to alert Mr. Bennet and Kitty of Mary and Mr. Yarby’s arrival, so they both came out to greet the carriage when it pulled into the sweep at Longbourn.
Mary hugged her sister, and then her father, while Mr. Yarby hung back a bit, observing.
He and Mary had agreed they would not disclose their engagement until she had smoothed things over with her father and Amelia.
“Mary, I believe we have much to discuss,” said Mr. Bennet evenly. With a nod to Mr. Yarby, he went into the house, followed by Kitty and then Mary who first gave Robert a loving, lingering gaze.
Once alone with her father, Mary shed tears and begged for forgiveness.
She explained the plot to convince her father to break with Amelia and fire Mr. Yarby, unaware that he already knew the particulars thanks to Elizabeth’s letter.
When she at last finished her sad tale and sat, sniffing a bit into her handkerchief, Mr. Bennet came and sat next to her, patting her back in comfort.
“There, there, dry your eyes, my dear. You are forgiven. Love is a strange and powerful potion. It can alter one’s deepest personality traits and convictions.
I believe we both have learned that lesson these past few months.
It made me disregard the required mourning for your mother and allow myself to become deeply attached to Amelia.
And it caused you to do something I believe I have not seen you do since early childhood: tell a falsehood. ”
“Yes—but, Papa, your feelings for Amelia did not cause anyone pain as mine did.”
“That is where you are wrong. My indiscreet behavior with Amelia was witnessed by our cousin Mr. Collins, and he used that information to blackmail Mr. Yarby into taking him on as curate, threatening to spread the scandalous gossip about Amelia and me around Meryton if he was not hired.”
Mary gasped. “How dreadful! And he a man of the cloth too!”
Mr. Bennet chuckled. “Sadly, beneath their clerical garb, men are men after all and can be subject to all sorts of temptation.”
“But you will speak to the bishop and fire Mr. Collins at once, now that you know,” Mary said firmly. The thought of her dear Robert being extorted in such a way infuriated her. “In fact, he should be publicly censured for his actions!”
Mr. Bennet raised an amused eyebrow. “Goodness, Mary, what of forgiveness? Does the Bible not exhort us to do so?” Mary looked abashed, but before she could speak, he chuckled.
“I am only teasing you. I will most assuredly have a serious conversation with Mr. Collins when my period of mourning is over and he can no longer do any damage with his gossip.”
There was a knock at the door. At Mr. Bennet’s call to enter, Mrs. Hill popped her head in.
“Mr. Collins is here to see you, sir,” she said.
Mr. Bennet gave Mary a wry smile.
“Talk of the devil.”