Mary Bennet : Pride and Prejudice

38.

Mary had never slept better. In the company of Emma, Caroline and latter Henry who joined them. The heaviness in her heart was at easy now as she squeezed Henry closer to her. She had also been affected by the death of Mrs Polly but didn't realise. It was not so much Mrs Polly for she did not know her very well but the events that followed had put her into a state of shock. She was proud of her self for keeping calm until Mr Mark showed up to handle Susan. But now she left at easy as she dressed up and went to see Susan the first thing in the morning leaving Charles in charge.

"Mary!" Susan hugged her friend as if they were friends for years.

"I haven't thanked you yet for helping me that night..." she said saddening her faced.

"It was the least I could do."

"Still, the way you called the physician and checked on mammal," she went a little silent. "I doubt I could do the same in such a state...."

"It is normal and I am glad I could help," Mary expressed as they sipped tea.

"Where is Mr Mark?" She asked.

"He is taking care of mamma's property and all," she said. "It is a tedious job and I am so glad he is there with me," she said with a smile.

"How many years have you been married?"

"Two," Susan said with a smile. We were childhood friends, growing up in the same neighbourhood until my family moved here. Then he followed me here we rekindled and got married."

"How lovely," Mary expressed.

"What about you?" She asked curiously.

"There was a Mr Burton, who I met while I lived with my sister. He was her husbands cousin," she explained.

"And?" Susan asked curiously.

"He proposed but I did not accept," she revealed guiltily.

"Why," Susan asked calmly.

"I couldn't envision a future with him...or maybe I got scared but I did t want to live that life yet.." she justified. "It does not make sense but I just knew I couldn't be his wife," she said as she looked down in shame.

"Sounds like you listened to your heart," Susan said as Mary's face lit up with surprise.

"Heart?" She asked confused.

"Yes," she replied. "If everything looks perfect but something in you says it isn't, then it is your heart's signal," she reveals.

"You mean love?" Mary tried to connect the dots.

"Yes, you might not have loved him, it is all right," she comforts her friend. "When you love someone you will know it."

"How?" Mary asks desperately.

"It's just the feeling you have. Of safety, comfort, familiarity," she chuckles. "Like you can stay with that man forever," she explains as her husband walks in.

"Miss Bennet," he greets after he kisses his wife. "I am so glad you are here," he expresses.

Mary notices as Mr Mark and Susan greet each other. His eyes comfort her, his touch without words ask her if she is fine. Susan was far more attractive and bubbly than Mr Mark who seemed like a serious, ordinary man but with Susan's presence his personality seemed to grow for the best.

Mary admired but envied their love and wondered if she would ever feel like this with someone.

"Mary," Susan said in a serious tone as she walked to drop her.

"We will soon be leaving for Longmere Park, Lord Howard's estate.

"When?" She asked worried on losing the only friend she had.

"Tonight," she informed with sigh.

"You Mrs Polly just passed away, shouldn't you take more days off."

"I could abut Mr Howard is also very sick and his nephew, his successor is in town," she informed. "I need to get back but promise me you will wright to me?"

"Yes of course!" Mary hugged her dear friend. She had never had a friend like Susan, who was so welcoming, bold and whose personality brought out Mary form her reserve nature. Susan respect Mary and liked that she was kinda and wise.

"You are like a little sister to me," Susan hugged her as Mr Mark set up their luggage in the carriage.

"I will write to you," Mary said sobbing.

"I will try to set you up with Mr Brown," she said with a smile. "He is a very good man!" She reassured making Mary laugh.

As her only friend parted, Mary took comfort in the three children who had become so close to here in the matter of weeks.

"Will you make me Victoria cake with jelly?" Henry demanded as he hugged her.

"Victoria cake?" Mary looked puzzled.

"Yes, like the one in the bakery," he explained.

"And which jelly?"

"Strawberry!" He demanded.

"Blueberry!" Caroline demanded as they started quarrelling.

Charles bolted down alarmed. He looked more serious than usual.

"What happened Aunt Mary? He asked concern.

"Fighting over blueberry or strawberry jelly!" She explain.

"I will put both!" She finally shouted as Emma started crying. "Now go to your rooms and get ready for bed!" She commanded.

"Charles came down and sat with his aunt. His eyes looked dim, his face looked sad. Mary knew something bothered him.

"Is something the matter?" She asked worried.

"No!" He said trying to cover up. "I forgot to get you a book today," he said as he picked up a book.

"It's all right, I will come pick one up tomorrow myself," she replied.

"Will you?" He said excited. "I can show you the way to the library," he offered.

"Then let us go together," Mary accepted.

"But what about the children?" He asked concern, "we can ask Mrs Everly to look after them!" She suggested.

"Perfect!" The jumped up. "Then let us go tomorrow," he bid her good night and went to bed.

Mary was happy she could spend time with Charles who she had known the least but as she tussled and turned she couldn't sleep. She wondered if it was too early to send a letter to Susan, if she had even reached Longmere Park?

She wondered if she should write to her dear papa. Ask him of his health and of others. She had hoped Lydia left and spared him her torment.

As she started writing she wrote a letter first to her dear friend Susan asking her about her journey. Then she wrote another letter to her father, saying she was managing everything just fine and missed him.

Mary couldn't write more than that for she wasn't sentimental and further did not what to pry on her mother and sisters whereabouts.

In the morning Mary herself put the letters in the postbox, and waited desperately for both to reply.

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