Chapter 16 #2
Turning to make her way inside, Mary started at the sight of a figure, heart racing until she made out the familiar form of Richard. Face brightening as it always did in his presence, she observed him draw nearer, his attire unfinished and the faint trace of a pull between his eyes.
“You had me worried,” he said as he sat beside the rock she had enjoyed, a hand gesturing for her to sit.
Nodding sheepishly, she took her seat, “I know. It. That is, even so near the house I might have been…”
“Taken?” Richard finished sadly. “I suppose I should have followed you sooner,” he said as he observed her wrapping the fabric of her dress around and around, “but, having been confined to this house or always forced to be with someone, I thought you might require a moment alone–or the appearance of being alone. You cannot imagine how many times I have wished to do just what you did.”
“But you never did?” she questioned.
Shrugging, he said, “I suppose knowing there is to be an end to things helped… And knowing that, should anything happen to me, I could not protect you.”
“It would seem you were far more considerate than I.”
“No, not more considerate. I have had more freedoms than you–being able, with a few men, to go work or on patrol. I admit I would rather your going out alone would not become a habit… but I understand it. Accept it. As I hope you accept my apology, for not allowing you the freedom you crave.”
She had wanted to be alone, Mary considered as she viewed him. She had wanted it more than she could put into words… Yet, she had found only a moment’s peace before worries had poured in and the childish danger of going out alone had set in.
With a nod she answered, “It is Ian and the men with him who have denied me my freedom, not you. You do not need my forgiveness, but I ask yours. I had such a feeling of being caged in, of being a prisoner in that damp, dark cellar again. I craved some moment of freedom, of feeling the first rays of sun… but I must learn to be patient. A few days and we may be gone from here, then we both can walk unafraid.”
“Yes. Just a few days more and you will have your freedom.” Reaching across the space between them, Richard took her hand in his, his eyes piercing as he viewed her, “But know this, there is nothing to forgive; we are in this together. Successes and failures alike.”
“Always,” she replied, her pulse racing as she viewed him, the softness in his eyes made aflame by the sunrise. “Always together.”
Gulping as she lowered her head, the reality of her words burned. She had not spoken her hopes directly, but he might read them if he looked close enough. He might.
“Mary,” he whispered, his hand finding hers, “please, hear my heart.”
Tilting her head as she fixed her eyes to his, hope leapt inside.
“Of all the ways we might have met,” he continued, “I admit there are better ones, and yet, I have come to know you as I have never known another. In our weakest moments and strongest, who we are has been laid bare, and I am left to be not a soldier or a second son or anything else but a man in love. It is this man, a simple man of flaws and strengths, a man who loves you, that I offer. I. I ask you, Miss Mary Bennet, to take this man. To marry me, so we might stand by one another, always. So I might love you always and forever, as my heart desires.”
Hand touching her lips, she gazed unseeing ahead of her, his soft words of love a swirl of her every hope.
Surely, she awed to herself, her eyes turning toward him slowly, this must all be a dream?
Yet, as she felt the grip of his hand on hers and witnessed the quiet hope upon his face, the blissful reality could no longer be denied.
A soft, gentle laughter rolling from her lips, her heart bounded within her chest, the eyes of her Richard flitting through worry and hope in a single moment. “I love you!” she exclaimed happily, any proper answer to his proposal flown from her mind.
Wrapping her arms around him with a joyful laugh, she squealed as he lifted her from the ground, his face made inches from hers.
“Is that a yes?” he chuckled.
“It is. That is, I will marry you, my Richard.”
“Do you have any idea how happy you have made me?” he asked, the distance between them fading as his lips found hers.
Her mind awhirl, Mary drew in a deep breath as he pulled back, the rapid beating of her pulse as he set her down a lingering reminder.
Drawing her hand to his lips, his eyes brightened, “Perhaps we might be married before the year is out? I promise to speak to your father as soon as we reach your home–well, perhaps the next day, for your family will be as eager for your company as I am–still, I am loth to wait longer.”
Throat tightening as her mind raced over every worry she had ever had and several new ones she shook her head, “I. I cannot. We. My, my reputation will be in tatters after this. And what of my family, my lack of fortune, my connections? What might it do to you? What would your family think… would they even accept it? Me? It…”
“Shhh. Please, Mary,” he soothed as he drew her close.
“I love you. That is not something which is changeable. Gossip, disapproval, like everything else, we shall face together. I have every confidence my family will accept you, leastwise, my parents, Darcy, and my brother if the mood strikes him.” Kissing her hair, his voice promised, “I will do my best to make you happy; I come with mistakes, a moderate fortune at best, and I cannot promise a large house or any luxury, but I can promise love, if that is enough?”
Rising on her toes to kiss him, she spoke her heart, however sappy or commonplace it might sound, “Then in love we shall make our home,” her lips meeting his with glee, all words of his agreement lost in their kiss.
∞∞∞
Head tilting as she sought to determine the noise coming from outside, Mary excused herself from the table and made her way to the front of the house, the windowpanes reflecting the glow of the fireplace until she cupped her hands around her eyes.
“Richard!” Mary exclaimed as she turned from the window. “A matched team of horses pulling a carriage has arrived. It must be Mr. Darcy’s!”
The screeching of chairs against the floor as every member of the Johnson family made their way to the window, the five of them pressed their faces between one another to obtain a better view, the children determined not to be left out.
“What fine horses,” the youngest Johnson remarked, his brothers agreeing as the eldest added that he had never seen any to match.
Feeling the warmth of Richard behind her as he peered out, she looked up at his face, his contented smile a sure answer.
They were going home, Mary awed to herself, the exclamations of their hosts fading. If only she could be certain. Certain about Ian and the rest leaving the Johnsons and their neighbors alone. About her reception once she returned home. About Richard’s family accepting her.
Staring at the door, Mary’s fingers twisted together, her breath catching as Richard worked his hand between hers, the solid warmth calming her in an instant.
“It will be alright,” he whispered, an impatient knock sounding at the door. “We are in this together.”
Taking a deep breath, Mary drew her lip inward as she observed Mr. and Mrs. Johnson answer the door, the familiar form of Mr. Darcy dipping first in greeting and then to pass under the low head jamb.
Catching sight of another man behind, Mary lifted onto her toes. Had her father come?
Letting her feet rest flat on the ground, she shoved her disappointment aside, the unfamiliar man with Mr. Darcy the only figure to enter before the door closed behind. Her family had not come… not one.
“Darcy!” Richard greeted, his hand leaving hers so he might wrap his cousin in a hug.
“Fitz! Do you know how worried I have been?”
“As if that is my fault,” Richard teased, his attention turning to the other man. “Aldry! Did Darcy bring you into all this?”
Nodding, Aldry grinned, “And Peters and Lightcliffe. We have worked night and day for you and…”
“My wife,” Richard finished quickly, a warning look in his eyes. “Her family and I are grateful for that. Here, let me introduce you to our hosts properly; I assume we cannot leave until morning given the horses, for I cannot imagine when the last posting inn would have been?”
∞∞∞
Hours spent in the company of their hosts gave way to conversations of a far less detailed nature, their lie of being married made plain to all before anyone might call her Miss Mary, and from there, only those details thought to keep their secret were allowed to be told.
As always, such deception left her uneasy, though she continued to hope that one day, the truth might be revealed, an apology given, and, perhaps sooner than these, some recompense for their kindness bestowed.
Still, such desires would have to wait, for as the hours passed and the young Johnsons began to yawn, Mrs. Johnson directed Mr. Darcy and Mr. Aldry to a room shared by her sons, the men ready to refuse such an offer knowing the boys would be put out, yet she, as a good host, refused.
‘For one night,’ she claimed, her sons nodding ruefully, ‘a couple of fine, young lads might manage a bit of discomfort.’
Thus, it was agreed, albeit reluctantly by all but Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, and the two men were seen to their rooms, the boys scampering off to whatever nook their mother whisked them to.
Pressing back a yawn, Mary made her way to Richard’s side, full ready to retire with the bulk of the household until Mr. Johnson said, “I wanted to tell you what a pleasure it has been having you both.” Their honest thanks showered upon him, the pair wore matching expressions of confusion as their host raised a hand to interrupt, a smirk forming as he remarked, “I only hope that the next time we meet, Miss Mary Bennet here will have become your wife, Colonel.”
Eyes wide, she and Richard stared at Mr. Johnson slack jawed, every interaction with him playing in Mary’s mind, none explaining how he knew.
Had he overheard them? she wondered.
“What gave us away?” Richard laughed awkwardly.
“My wife suspected early on that you two were not wed, but I thought little of it; the pair of you are obviously in love and know each other quite well, and while a man might lie as you did to obtain room and board–all the more so when another first assumes it–I still continued in my assumption. Such was my belief until you admitted having been kidnapped, then it all became clear: protection. You, sir, were not only protecting her by assuring food and shelter, but you sought to protect her reputation.”
Cheeks flaming, Mary prepared to offer her apology, only to hear Richard begin his own, “Mr. Johnson. After lying to you about this and our kidnapping, I know I have no right to expect it, still, I offer my apologies and ask for your forgiveness. Every member of your family, all of your neighbors, have shown nothing but kindness to us and we have repaid it abominably… Rather, I have repaid it thus, for indeed, Mary had every intention of speaking the truth, and it was I who stopped her.”
“That,” he paused. “Is one form of deception I am willing to abide. For a colonel to protect another, or a man who loves a woman, that is a natural thing… and it is something I am happy to forgive.”
“Thank you, sir. You have my sincerest thanks, for everything you have done.” Gaze drifting toward Mary, Richard turned back to Mr. Johnson, concern thick in his voice, “Does anyone else know of this? Of our not being married?”
“Aside from myself and my wife, no, no one knows and from our lips they never shall hear it… Perhaps one day you two might return here as Colonel and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and that truth might replace the lie?”
“I assure you, sir, that joy is my greatest intent,” Richard smiled down at her, the glow of his eyes a sight she hoped she might often see.
“Ah, my dear,” Mr. Johnson spoke, the soft sound of footfalls drawing nearer causing Mary to turn her head, his wife having seen to their guests.
“I have told these two of all we know, and though unnecessary in my opinion, apologies and forgiveness have been given. It shall be a sorry thing to see them go in the morning.”
“Apologies?” Mrs. Johnson frowned. “After all ye have endured, protecting Mary in any way possible was best–even if I would box my sons’ ears if they lied, I think this is to be the exception…
And considering he has been sleeping on the floor this whole while, I think recompense has already come.
” Smiling she set her hands on her hips, “Oh, neither of ye look surprised now; half the time ye left the bedding on the floor. A genius it does not take.”
“You never told me,” her husband pouted, the playful laugh which followed spoiling the effect.
“I knew; that was enough. Now then,” Mrs. Johnson said as she turned to Mary and Richard, “as my husband says, we shall miss ye both, though that ye can return home and find safety I am content. Tomorrow morning I shall make a fine feast to send ye off and some food for the road, and the pair of ye will duly ignore my tears as ye leave. Are we agreed?”
“Agreed,” Mary laughed as she hugged Mrs. Johnson, her own eyes growing watery. “Though I will help you, just as has been our custom.”
“As has been our custom,” Mrs. Johnson echoed, the pair parting with bleary eyes before saying goodnight; the day to come long and sad.