It took nearly half an hour to tell the tale and to answer all of the questions that were asked. Whatever confusion and jealousy remained at the end of the conversation was smoothed over when Elizabeth told them all that they would be spending the first three months of the new year in London, shopping to their heart’s content.
Chapter 7
Alan Goulding was determined to arrive at the Meryton assembly as early as possible. He even went so far as to travel there separately from his parents so that he would not be delayed.
The reason for this was the same reason for everything he had done over the last month, ever since returning to Hertfordshire. Mary Bennet.
She was far, far prettier than he remembered, but that only mattered a little. Mostly, simply being in her presence made him want to be a better man just to make her look at him. It was similar to how he used to tease her just to get her attention. Only now, he didn’t just want her attention, he wanted her respect and her affection.
It wasn’t easy. She was correct to be wary around him. He had very vivid memories of the many times his teasing had brought her to tears, and he distinctly remembered pushing her in the mud when she was only twelve.
He had spent the last month taking every opportunity to talk with her, showing her by every means in his power that he was a better man than he had been when they were younger. It wasn’t enough…yet, but if his imagination wasn’t playing tricks on him, he was fairly certain she was beginning to soften towards him.
Thus, he was here at the assembly earlier than almost every other person in the neighborhood. The only ones who were there earlier were the Lucases and the Smiths.
As soon as Alan entered the assembly room, John Lucas rushed up to him. “You’re rather early. Let me guess. You wish to be here early enough to see Miss Mary come in so that you can ask her to dance.”
“What?” asked Alan. “How did you know?”
John rolled his eyes. “I have known you my whole life,” he said. “You’ve had a tendre for Miss Mary for as long as you’ve known her, though it has been a bit more obvious since you returned from London. Do you think she’ll accept? Will she deign to dance with you, or is she still holding a grudge for a little bit of teasing?”
“I wouldn’t put it quite like that,” said Alan. “It was more than just a little teasing, and it isn’t just a grudge. Apparently, I hurt her a great deal, so she is simply wary of me. She has been softening, though. So, I have some hope that she will agree to dance with me.”
John studied his face. “Honestly, my friend, I don’t understand what you see in her. She is, by far, the plainest in her family, and she has only middling looks as far as the rest of the neighborhood goes. Not only that, but she acts timid and mousy except when she is forcing everyone to listen to her play piano or when she is forcing her quotes and sermons on us all.”
Alan clenched his fist at hearing such disparaging remarks about Mary, but he forced himself to not raise it against his friend. “You should not speak so poorly of her,” he said, though his voice was tight with suppressed anger. “She is a much better person than either of us, and if we can’t see her kindness behind her awkward ways and average looks, then that is our loss.”
John looked at him warily. “Sorry to get your back up. I suppose you have a point about some things. But I still don’t understand why you have always liked her so much.”
Alan shrugged, trying to let go of his anger. “I don’t know either. It isn’t because of any particular quality she has, though I admire her discipline and principles a great deal. I’ve just always liked her. There has never been another woman who could draw my attention the way she does, not even among all the women in London.”
“Well, to each his own,” said John with a shrug. “I am only grateful that I haven’t ever felt such a thing. It gives me more time to enjoy life before heading for the parson’s trap. I assume that is where you are headed, if you can ever convince Miss Mary to look your way.”
The idea stunned Alan. To be honest, he hadn’t given it any thought whatsoever. He just wanted her attention, her respect, and her affection. But the reality of it was that if he ever did manage to gain all of that, he would be bound to offer for her out of duty and honor. Did he want that?
Before he could form an answer in his mind, the Bennet family walked in, and his mind went blank.
Mary was more beautiful tonight than ever. The white silk gown she wore fit her to perfection, accentuating what curves she had while not being in the least revealing. Her dark hair was curled and pinned with pearl-tipped hairpins, which stood out like stars in the sky.
As he walked toward her, she turned her gaze toward him. His expression must have shown how very much he admired her, for she began to blush, which of course made her even more lovely.
He bowed and said, “Good evening, Miss Mary. You are looking quite lovely this evening. I do hope you would be willing to grant me your first dance.”
It was clear that she was flattered by his attention and his compliment, but her expression was tinged with doubt. After several moments of hesitation, she finally said, “I will.”
Alan couldn’t stop a grin from growing on his face. “Thank you, Miss Mary,” he said.
Her eyes widened in what looked like surprise, but her expression turned to confusion very quickly. “You are quite welcome, I think,” she said.
“Do tell me what you have been doing lately,” he said, attempting to strike up a normal conversation with her. “I believe those hairpins are new. Have you been shopping?”
“I have not,” said Mary, “at least not more than necessary. The pins were a gift from Elizabeth which she purchased while in London.”
“Oh, yes. I had heard that she and your father took an unexpected trip into the city. Were they visiting your uncle?”
“No,” she said. “Though they did stay with our Uncle Gardiner, that was not the purpose of the journey. Elizabeth had some unexpected business to take care of.”
“What kind of business would Elizabeth have that would keep her in London for so long?” asked Alan.
