Mary did the honours. “Mr Newton, this is my elder sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and I am Miss Mary Bennet. She is the mathematician of the family.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr Newton. My sister was engaged but an hour ago, so she is soon to be Mrs Collins.”
Newton smiled broadly. “Congratulations. I wish you a long and happy life.”
“Miss Elizabeth, being an aficionado of mathematics, how would you estimate the chances of being covered in mud on your sister’s engagement day—perhaps 1/10,000?”
Both ladies laughed, and Mr Newton rose still higher in their opinion. The thick woollen blankets had made them warmer already.
“Snuggle up in those blankets. Derbyshire wool—the finest I’ve ever seen.”
“Yes sir. We must agree.”
Young Kep came back from the stream carrying a bucket of water. “I would build a fire to warm it, ladies, but it would take longer than driving you into the village or back home.”
“This will do very well!” Elizabeth laughed. The young man was easy to like. “We thank you for your efforts.”
“Come along, Kep. Let us give them privacy.”
To Elizabeth and Mary’s relief, the two men walked a dozen yards away.
They stood shoulder to shoulder with their backs to the ladies, angled 45 degrees apart, so they could watch the road in both directions without intruding on the ablutions.
The thoughtfulness was not lost on them. Between the towels and the water, they were much cleaner and warmer before many minutes had passed.
Elizabeth said, “We thank you, kind sirs. You may turn round now.”
“Kep, see if you can find greatcoats in the trunks.”
“We are not so uncomfortable with the blankets,” Mary replied.
“Pardon me, butnot so uncomfortableis not the standard Kep and I aspire to.”
Both sisters laughed, and Elizabeth asked, “Might we be introduced to your son, Mr Newton?”
“Of course. Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Miss Mary Bennet, this is my son, Kepler Newton. Kep, the Misses Bennet—though Miss Mary is soon to be Mrs Collins.”
Kep bowed. “Pray offer my congratulations to Mr Collins, ma’am. He seems a lucky man.”
Mary blushed with appreciation and slight embarrassment; Elizabeth only smiled at the young man.
To cover her embarrassment, Mary said, “Kepler is an unusual given name.”
“Easily explained, Miss Mary. I came into the world several weeks early, and my father was unfortunately snowed in away from home. My mother picked the nicest name she spotted on my father’s bookshelf.”
“It is a lovely name for a lovely astronomer,” Elizabeth said. “On a peripheral subject, I trust you will forgive me if I show my ignorance, but I have never heard of a driver who studies mathematics. Is that unusual?”
“Might I answer, Papa?” Kep asked.
“Have at it.”
“First, I must set the frame of reference. My father and I are both drivers and coachmen, but we spend more of our time with coaches. Since you are ladies of intellectual pursuits, might I ask a question that will answer yours? When your family goes calling, what happens?”
“We take the carriage to one house, take tea, ride to another, and repeat the processad nauseamuntil my mother is satisfied, one of us falls asleep, or one of us throws a screaming fit.”
“Those are the broad outlines, Master Newton,” Mary said, “but out of sheer boredom, I have delved into it more deeply, if you are interested.”
“Just Kep, please. I am fascinated.”
