Mary Bennet : Pride and Prejudice

5.

The day after the Merton Ball, everyone were exhausted and tired, but Mrs Bennet enthusiastically invited Mrs Lucas to discuss and gossip about yesterday.

Mrs Bennet despite having many women to talk to preferred Mrs Lucas. Even though Charlotte had married Mr Collins, Elizabeth and Jane had found better and richer husbands which pleased Mrs Bennet, who know because of this Mrs Lucas as no lead on her.

"I think Mrs Kingley is lying about her daughter marrying a lord. They didn't even show up to the ball, how does she expect us to believe such a thing then," said Mrs Lucas sipping her tea.

"Oh no, our Meryton Ball must be too inferior to her lord son-in-law," she remarks sarcastically as they laugh.

"Mary dear, get us some biscuits will you," she asked as she poured some more tea.

"Here mamma," she set the biscuits on the table. "How are you Mrs Lucas?" She greeted politely.

"I am fine my dear, tell me who were you dancing with at the Ball yesterday?" Mrs Lucas asks. "Maria said it was a handsome looking man," she says to Mrs Bennet.

"It was no one," Mary tries to avoid any assumptions about her and Mr Wright.

"Tell us Mary, we are family after all," her mother insists curiously.

"It's was Mr Wright," she reveals.

"Oh that handsome man who is doing his apprenticeship near Mr Philip?"

"Yes," she replies dryly.

"He is from London, so he must be rich," Mrs Bennet starts discussing with Mrs Lucas.

"I am so happy for you Mary!" Mrs Lucas congratulations.

"Stop, we are just friends," she tries to explain.

"Friends? He is an eligible man of a marriageable age," Mrs Bennet states.

"So?"

"So? Do not ruin your chances with all this 'friends' talk. Flirt with him, show him you are interested too but not very obviously, that's just vulgar."

"Mamma, we don't like each other in that way," she tries to explain.

"Don't worry, you will eventually develop feeling after marriage him," Mrs Bennet says.

"Oh god! I am going out for a stroll," she informs as she leaves.

"Take some biscuits for Maria and Kitty!" Her mum orders.

Outside she joins Maria and Kitty. After Lydia left, Maria Lucas and Kitty had become close. Maria was very easygoing and would follow Kitty like Kitty use to follow Lydia. She would idealise Kitty, admiring for her bold nature when flirting with men, and wanted to be like her. She was also good friends with Mary, but couldn't keep up with her intellectual endeavour so preferred to stay with Kitty. Both were sitting outside, as they too were discussing about yesterday's Ball.

"Did you see Mr Adam, he was staring at you all night. He would ask you to dance for a second time if it wasn't for Mr Walker," Maria says giggling.

"He was nice but too plain for my liking," Kitty replies.

"Mary, so tell us about Mr Wright!" Maria jumps with excitement.

"He was asking me about your whereabouts yesterday," Kitty informs.

"Was he?" Mary say more invested in the conversation than before.