Mr Darcy's Fight for Love, page 4
Chapter 6
“I still cannot believe it is true,” Thomas said once they arrived in the library.
His tutor, Mr Brandon, was waiting for them but as soon as he was introduced to Mary, he disappeared into his office, happy to be on his own.
They found themselves alone with a sense of relief but also a shyness newly appeared.
“I always thought that I would need much time to return to life, years maybe but you performed a miracle!” Thomas said, looking at her as Mary was devouring the shelves filled with books, impressive volumes from all times and all countries. Never in her life, had she imagined such a treasure could exist in one’s house.
She turned to him catching his eyes deeply fixed on her, so she smiled and said, “A miracle has to be an instant change; otherwise, if it takes a long time it is merely a transformation. But I think you were ready and all I have done was to point you in the right direction.”
Fascinated by her words, Thomas could not speak. She was right—as always and he was so afraid not to be as smart or cultivated as she was.
“Even for me it is completely unusual to find a friend,” she said, looking at him, “I used to think I will be alone for all my life.”
“You are beautiful!” Thomas whispered with a tone that made her blush. “Since we met yesterday, I have thought only of you. I was out on the stairs, waiting for you to come only because I was so eager to see you, I could not wait for another second.”
“Me too!” Mary answered while she looked down, evading his eager glance that seemed to penetrate her inner body. She felt a pressure she did not understand and most surely it was the same for him.
“I have to tell you, something,” she said, trying to divert the discussion and to calm down the incredible emotion between them. “My mother is used to being among people like us…”
“Us?” Thomas asked, not sure he understood.
“Not you and me, us like people in Meryton where we live, commoners, not nobility.”
Thomas made a gesture as if he wanted to interrupt her, but Mary said, “Please, let me continue. She is used to common people with common interests, homes, children. She is obsessed with marrying my sisters…”
“Marriage!” Thomas cried. “Yes, this is the solution. I cannot live without you; will you marry me?”
He was in a complete state of restlessness; he was searching for solutions, wanting them to occur as soon as he thought of them.
“Thomas stop, stop!” Mary cried, but she was laughing, not at all scared by his state of mind. “You did not live for many years and now you want to have everything all at once.”
“I am mad,” he said.
“No, you just want to experience all that you denied yourself in the past. But you have to wait, to have patience. You could find another wife, one who is more suited for you!”
“Now you stop talking nonsense, Mary Bennet! I want you, but you are right. I have to calm down and take little steps.”
“You just sounded like my mother,” Mary was joking, and he laughed. “We will dine with all my family; we will do what all the other young people do in this situation.”
“Meaning?” he was again eager to find out.
“I do not know,” she said and laughed again, “I was not so attentive to my sisters, I suppose we will walk in the park and dance at parties…”
“And?” Thomas was pressuring her.
“And, and and…” she said, attempting to appear angry. However, she did not know anything else about what a young man and a young woman did before engagement and marriage. “I once saw Jane kissing with Mr Bingley.”
“Will you agree to kiss me?” Thomas asked. They were close, still standing and again Mary blushed. She was enjoying being the one who knew about life, but kissing was not in her territory—yet she wanted to be kissed.
"I think it is very soon for us to kiss," she whispered. However, it was Thomas's turn to lead. He approached and took her into his arms his heart beating like a church's bell, determined and sure. He touched his lips to hers and only seconds after, their mouths and bodies knew what to do. The kiss did not stop until they were out of breath.
Thomas wanted to kiss again, but she made him stop. They sat at the table, barely looking at each other. It was a new universe they were discovering together.
“I asked Sophie,” he finally said, “to invite Mr Bingley to dinner sometime in the future.”
She looked to him in astonishment, “Why did you do such a thing?”
“Because you told me about your sister’s sad story and I think that if Mr Bingley sees her, he will have an epiphany and love her again.”
“You are very kind,” Mary agreed and caressed his hand on the table.
"You did not expect me to be kind?" he was teasing her, wanting to play and maybe convince her to kiss again. He was determined to speak to Sophie, as soon as possible, about marriage. However, he agreed that being too hasty was not in their best interests. He first had to understand if there were any problems regarding a marriage between him and a commoner. But then again, he did not care much as he was determined to have Mary near him no matter what. As for the idea that he might find another lady to love that was most improbable. He was determined to have a life but not yet among people involved in other’s lives…he wanted a family and to be happy with Mary and maybe in the future, they will live in real life.
“And when do you intend to ask Mr Bingley to dinner?” Mary asked.
It never occurred to her that she could play such a beneficial role in her sister’s life, but Jane had always been so generous and kind to her.
“Give me some time, my dear, a few weeks, maybe a month.”
Mary’s smile told him he had all the time in the world.
“We do not have to rush, we have time,” she said.
“No, it is exactly about time that we cannot be sure,” he said, slightly saddened. “I came out of hell and I intend to forget my pain and live trying to be happy, learning how to be happy, but there is one thing I can never forget or change: we can never say that we have time. We must not postpone our plans for the future because sometimes there is no future.”
Mary scrutinised his face, but there was no despair accompanying his words. He was almost serene and most surely very handsome, so she stood up and whispered—her cheeks on fire, “Kiss me then and forget the rest!”
Chapter 7
A month had passed since their first visit and Mary, Elizabeth and Jane were still guests. Their departure, after the first week, made the duke so desperate that Lady Sommershire implored Mrs Bennet to permit Mary and her sisters to revisit them.
‘Even tomorrow, madam!’ she had written, making it clear how much the duke wanted Mary to come back. Her words made Mrs Bennet think hard. It was an occasion she did not want to lose, no matter what the others thought or what the duke might ask from them or from Mary. She showed the letter to her sister-in-law but not in search of advice—she was already decided to let the girls go for as long as the duke wanted—but mostly because she needed Margaret’s help.
“Will you accompany them, please?” she said.
She would have gladly accompanied her daughters, but at Longbourn, the situation was far from good. A letter of almost ten pages from Mr Bennet told her a scary story about the situation he had found at Lydia’s place and invited her with much insistence to return from London. After the long journey in the North, he needed Mrs Bennet to come home and make some decisions together. Kitty had had a revelation: despite her desire for parties and men in uniform, she could not accept what she had found in her sister’s house.
Her brother-in-law, Mr Wickham, far from becoming a husband such as Kitty was used to seeing in Meryton or London, had transformed their house into a gambling and drinking place. As soon as she arrived, Kitty was confronted with a delicate problem when a drunk officer made some improper demands of her.
Kitty’s eagerness to flirt was within the limit of proper behaviour, on both sides. The first day and night frightened her so that she wrote the frantic letter to her father asking him to come and take her home.
Barely arrived, Mr Bennet had a discussion with his son-in-law, who asked for more money as he had a gambling debt again. This time it was only Mr Bennet to face him who denied all his demands. There was no money to be spared on his vices. Mr Bennet tried to act like a father and offered some advice. Unfortunately, Mr Bennet’s words had no effect on Wickham. His position was firm, he needed money, or he would have to send Lydia home. After one day and night of intense reflection, Mr Bennet decided to find Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was stationed with his regiment nearby.
Colonel Fitzwilliam received Mr Bennet with a warm handshake and a glass of brandy. He suspected why Mr Bennet travelled North, and he had been right. The colonel perceived the situation better than anybody else as he knew Wickham and his adventures that culminated with his forced marriage to Lydia.
“It is again about that scoundrel Wickham!” he said, looking at Mt Bennet who was sadly nodding.
“That man is evil; it is such a pity that your daughter married him.”
At the time of Lydia’s elopement, Mr Bennet thought the marriage was a decent solution. However, it proved to be a disaster.
The colonel asked for a day to see what could be done and indeed, after only a few hours, he met Mr Bennet at the Inn where he was staying with Kitty.
"I discussed the problem with his general, and he knew the situation. As we speak, Wickham will be given only two alternatives, to quit the army or to go to France to fight with a regiment that is leaving in a few days."
Mr Bennet’s face became even more tragic.
“Do not worry,” the colonel said, “I know Wickham well; he will agree to go to war as he does not comprehend what it means. On the contrary, he will see his departure as a chance to escape marriage and his life here.”
“And Lydia?” Mr Bennet asked. “What will become of her?”
“The best idea is to present her husband as a hero going to the front and take her home until he eventually comes back.”
Mr Bennett loathed that solution, but he had to agree it was the only one. Although Lydia was his dear daughter, the idea of having her at home—near his other daughters—was not at all appealing. He feared the bad influence Lydia could have on Kitty or even Mary. As for Elizabeth or Jane, they were already young women who knew what they expected from life.
Mrs Bennet found a different man at home. Her benevolent husband was sad and worried but determined to mend the situation as he never had been before.
“Where are the girls?” It was his first question and he became angrier with every word Mrs Bennet said.
“You let our daughters stay for so long in a stranger’s house? Where is your common sense, Mrs Bennet?” he proffered with a voice his wife did not recognise. “It is exactly why we are in this situation with Lydia because we did not supervise their relationships. I assure you Lydia is the only daughter of ours who will ever be in this mess. I intend to control every step they take. For now, Kitty, Mary and Lydia will stay home, until I decide otherwise.”
For once Mrs Bennet found it wiser not to contradict her husband. Happy to have Lydia home again, she could not imagine that her daughter was home for good and her marriage was in such a terrible crisis.
In the present situation she felt it wise not to tell the whole truth to her husband. Seen from Longbourn Mary’s situation might look strange or dangerous, so Mrs Bennet preferred to keep some secrets until they arrived in London.
She was clear about one thing: the duke demanded to meet Mr Bennet.
"We will go to London, Mrs Bennet if the young duke asks us but the girls will move immediately to Mrs Gardiner’s home. As for Kitty and Lydia, for the time being they will stay at Longbourn.”
In vain Mrs Bennet tried to change his decision, Mr Bennet remained inflexible. “Lydia is a married woman, if she wants to live with us, she will have to assume some of the housework and during our absence, she will be the mistress of the house.”
“You want to punish her,” Mrs Bennet almost cried.
“No madam, I want to mend her manners and her education and for once you will do exactly as I decide.”
Chapter 8
The Bennets arrived in London on a rainy day, mirroring their state of mind—Mr Bennet deeply worried about the future while his wife still regretted she had to leave Kitty and Lydia home.
From the few words his sister mumbled in the hall, just after their arrival, Mr Gardiner understood his brother-in-law was not informed about the real situation at Sommershire. He resented his sister leaving him to speak with Mr Bennet but finally agreed that, in a way, it was his duty as he was at the origin of the whole story. Once in the library and after a glass of brandy, he dared to attack the subject. He first told Mr Bennet the tragic story of the Sommershires. When Mr Bennet invited him to pour another drink, he simply said that the duke, most probably, had developed strong sentiments for Mary.
Mr Bennet, still incapable of imagining his daughter in any other circumstances than reading, did not understand some details. He was utterly unprepared for any story regarding Mary.
∞∞∞
In fact, nobody was prepared as nobody knew, not even Lady Sommershire, that Duke Thomas of Sommershire had proposed to Mary and she accepted.
The very moment they arrived at the palace, Mr Bennet was kindly asked to join the duke in the library. It was an inspired and pleasant way to meet as that particular place was Mr Bennet’s favourite in any house he visited. And the Sommershire library was indeed a shock for a man in love with books. It looked more like an Oxford or Cambridge library than a room in a house. Mr Bennet was so impressed that he almost forgot about the duke. Finally, he had to return to the real world where a boy was smiling at him. He looked around for His Grace, and it took some time to understand he was in front of him. The Duke of Sommershire was tall and frail, he had a timid smile that showed he was not yet accustomed to happy events…or to life.
He is a shy boy—Mr Bennet thought with kindness and compassion.
But, when he spoke, he was neither timid nor uncomfortable. He was a young gentleman who had a guest and knew exactly how to behave. The duke first invited Mr Bennet to explore the library and he proved to be an excellent guide. "You can use this room whenever you want Mr Bennet; my tutor is here most of the time and he could show you the way in this maze. But there is another reason I kindly asked you here.”
Mr Bennet looked with curiosity at the young duke. He had a suspicion about the subject of their conversation, yet he would never doubt the real motive. The Gardiners and his wife explained—in more than one way—that the Duke of Sommershire had developed a friendship with Mary, asking him not to oppose their meetings. Mr Bennet was indeed worried for Kitty or Lydia, even for Jane or Elizabeth but had no plan to forbid Mary to meet the duke. He was sure that his’s daughter natural moroseness was a solid barrier in front of any unpleasant events that might happen between a man and a woman.
So nothing prepared Mr Bennet for the question Thomas of Sommershire asked. They were seated at the library table, surrounded by peace and beauty when the duke asked with a firm voice, "Mr Bennet, will you concede me the hand of your daughter Mary Bennet?”
It was so unexpected that Mr Bennet just stood still, watching the man in front of him. In fact, he thought he was a boy and Mary a girl and he did not understand how they could want to marry.
“Mr Bennet, sir?”
“Yes, I am sorry, I was reflecting on how young you are, both of you; maybe you should wait longer to better know each other…in a year or two.”
“Will you then permit Mary to come and live here until our marriage…in a year or two?”
“No, absolutely not!”
"Then Mr Bennet, please give me Mary to be my bride, and we will evolve together; it is what we both want."
Perhaps in other circumstances, Mr Bennet would have insisted on a wedding in a year or at least six months, but the road to the North had tired him, in so many ways. He looked around and accepted that from that union only good would come. He was happy for Mary, proud of her, astonished by her qualities, while he also thought of the other daughters who would have a real advantage from this marriage. He was selfish and happy. He finally could rest a while, maybe even in that fabulous world of the Sommershire library.
So he stood up and said with a kind and bright smile, “Sir, I wish you and Mary a happy life!”
It all ended in less than fifteen minutes making Mr Bennet reflect on how simple it was to give a daughter in marriage. He was happy because for once it happened in a proper and elegant way.
They found the family and Lady Sommershire around Mary who, for once, seemed fully affected by what was happening while Thomas had a smile that told all she needed to know. Her father agreed to let them marry .
Mr Bennet looked at her and could hardly believe that she would become a duchess and that she would be married. He always thought she would never marry and he feared she might have a difficult life after his death. But it seemed that the shy girl had succeeded the best of all his daughters as he could hardly imagine a better alliance than the one with the Duke of Sommershire. “Maybe the Regent for Kitty,” he thought with a bit of irony.
Chapter 9
“I am invited to dinner by the Duke of Sommershire,” Charles Bingley said to Darcy.
His friend stared at him for some long moments, then he handed Charles a paper he took from the tea-table. It was an identical invitation.
“He is inviting us for the day after tomorrow, when did you receive it? Charles asked.
“Two days ago,” Darcy said while his friend just nodded.
