Mary Bennet : Pride and Prejudice

29.

Mary reached Longbour the next day. She felt at ease especially after the whole Mr Burton's proposal thing. She wasn't expecting for someone to court her but when the time came she was quite satisfied with her decision.

"My dear Mary!" Her Mamma was put to greet her. "Oh, Mr Bennet do come and see your daughter!" She insisted to a less enthusiastic Mr Bennet.

"Oh, where is the ring? Show us!" She insisted before Mary could even step outside the carriage.

"Let me step out first," she said as she hugged them both and made her way to the hall.

"How was it? Does he fancy you? Even if he doesn't he will after the wedding. Is he wealthy? Elizabeth said he was moderate, but I am sure he can match up to Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy someday!" She blabbered.

"Mamma, stop!" She finally spoke. "I do bring Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy into this, I beg. But before you go on further I need to inform you something important," she said as she looked guiltily towards her father then her mother again. She then lifted her lift hand and showed it to them.

"What?" Her mother asked confused.

"I hope you both understand where I am coming from," she continues vaguely as her father and mother both look at each other confused.

"Mary! Do not beat around the bush," her mamma says hastily.

"I am not engaged," she finally confesses to the horror of Mrs Bennet as Mr Bennet on the other hand flashes a smile and continues with his paper.

"Oh god! Mr Bennet, do you see what your daughter has done!" Her mamma says frantically. "Rejected a very good proposal at such an age and no prospects no money NOTHING!"

"Why, my dear," Mr Bennet asks curiously, still amused by the whole situation.

"I did not think Mr Burton was the right person for me," she simply stated. "Papa I hope you understand," she said concerned.

"Oh I do—

"How can you smile as such unfortunate, Mr Bennet!" Mrs Bennet goes on. "You need to make her understand! It is best she marries Mr Burton for her own sake!"

"But mamma—

"You have done enough!" She shouts. "Mr Bennet put some sense into her head. "Mr Burton is a very good match, a match which she might not ever get if she rejects!" Mrs Bennet pleads.

"Mary," Mr Bennet addresses her following his wife's orders. "This Mr Burton is an honourable man. He is wealthy enough to sustain a good future for you and willing enough to marry you without anything much in return. For this match is crucial as you are already considered too old according to your mother—

"According to everyone!" Mrs Bennet adds.

"Yes, and if in any situation I am gone, you will have nothing but to depend on your sisters. Now such circumstances I hope you're aware of—

"Yes, I am

"And despite this if you do not what to marry Mr Burton, then I am afraid my dear I cannot force her to," he says to Mrs Bennet's misery and Mary's delight.

"Thank you Papa!" She hugs him as he heads to his study. Mrs Bennet still whining follows him as Mary heads up to her room for some peace and quiet.

As Mary sends the rest of the day in her room, she is reminded of Mr Ivanov and Kitty. Kitty is suppose to return soon too, but she wasn't sure of that. They hadn't written to each other even since Mary found out about her relations with this Mr Ivanov.

Few days had passed with no news of Kitty's return. Mary wanted to ask her mother but Mrs Bennet still wouldn't talk to her unmarried daughter so she went to her Papa.

"Come in, dear," he said. "Close the door after you," he instructed.

"Now tell me dear the real reason you rejected this Mr Burton's proposal," he insisted.

"I'm telling the truth, because he wasn't the one for me. I felt it," she replied.

"As much as Jane and Lizzy have written to your mother he seemed like a very good man who cared about you."

"Yes, he is a very good man who deeply cares about me, but it did not feel natural like it was meant to be. I couldn't be at ease with him. I cannot imagine spending my whole life with a man who I do not feel completely at ease with," she explained.

"Mary dear, I understand what you are talking about but the question is will you ever find a man who you can feel comfortable with?" He questions. "In a marriage you might not feel this "complete at ease" with any man in this world. But everyone compromises and so should you," he suggests.

"I understand but there is one person I feel this with....," she says as she pauses to contemplate.

"Who?" Mr Bennet asks curiously as Mary still contemplates. "Dear, you cannot equate your sisters or family to a strange man."

"No—it is indeed a man who makes me feel certain," she states confidently.

"Who?" Mr Bennet asks again to which Mary hesitates.

"Do I know him?"

"Yes, you do," Mary answers.

"Well then, I am glad you found such a person," he says relieved as he goes back to his book.

"But Papa, he doesn't like me...," she says saddened.

"How do you know that?"

"He has said so."

"That he doesn't like you?" Mr Bennet asks

"Not explicitly but I know he wouldn't court me," she says accepting the truth.

"Mary, you are assumption things and coming to conclusions," Mr Bennet says wisely. "Now, if you are destined to be with this man of yours, you will end up some how but remember the next time you see him confess how you feel. What is the worst that can happened."

"I will," Mary agreed. "Thank you, papa," she hugged him. "Also when is Kitty coming?"

"You haven't heard? She is staying in Pemberley for a a few days to give company to Lizzy during her pregnancy as Mr Darcy has some business to attend to," he informs. "Did she now write to you?" He asks concern.

"Yes, she did. It must have slipped my mind," Mary makes an excuse as she leave.

————————————————————————