Page 162 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“Congratulations on your engagement, sir,” Mary said, smiling at him. His instant grin pleased her.

“Thank you,” he said. “I am the happiest of men.”

“Jane is equally delighted,” Mary informed him.

“I can scarcely wait to see her tonight,” Mr. Bingley stated, and then he walked away, grinning.

Mary nodded and followed Georgiana up the stairs. At the top of the steps, they turned and proceeded along the corridor.

“Miss Bingley has given you the loveliest of bedchambers,” Georgiana assured her, grinning widely. “It is next to mine.”

“I am sure I will find it delightful,” Mary said. She slipped her arm through her young friend’s arm and squeezed her close. “I have brilliant news,” Mary said softly.

Georgiana turned owlish eyes to her. “Truly?”

Mary nodded. Exclaiming softly, she said, “My Oscar has proposed!”

“Oh, Mary!” Georgiana squealed. “I thought you glowed with happiness. I attributed it to anticipation of our visit, but now I see it is something infinitely better.”

“It is infinitely better than anything,” Mary said, sighing deeply. “I cannot seem to keep myself from smiling. Lydia and Kitty have teased a little, but they think Oscar is just a boring doctor. They are more interested in officers—though it seems their favorites are nowhere in town.”

“Never mind about your younger sisters,” Georgiana urged, vibrating with curiosity. “When did this happen?”

Mary laughed softly. “Yesterday, on the walk home from Meryton with Lydia and Kitty. Oscar caught me up, and we walked together.”

Georgiana gasped. “He proposed with your sisters right there?”

She pushed open a bedchamber door, and they entered, paying not the least attention to the sunny yellow and pale green décor.

“Did you think my younger sisters still walked with me?” Mary asked, shaking her head. “No, they had hurried ahead of me—much further ahead.”

Georgiana led her over to a small table and two chairs set at an angle, next to the tall window overlooking the park.

“Come, sit,” she urged Mary. “Tell me everything.”

Mary untied her bonnet, removed her hat pins, and placed the bonnet on the table. “Mrs. Inwood is expecting us, is she not?” Mary asked without expecting an answer. She undid the fasteners on her deep-brown spencer. “We must not keep her waiting. I will tell you everything later, but I will tell you this, now. Oscar came to speak to Papa last evening, and Papa gave his consent for Oscar to pay his addresses to me.”

Georgiana clasped her arm. “Your mama must have been thrilled.”

Shrugging, Mary turned them toward the door. “Mama only seemed pleased to have a second daughter off her hands. She has always liked Oscar well enough, though, of that I am certain. Mrs. Gregg and Mama have a cordial relationship—which I cannot but be glad for.” She paused with her at the door and said, “Mama is more excited about Mr. Bingley’s five thousand a year than about a junior doctor’s hundreds.”

Georgiana stroked her arm in an attempt at comfort. “Will you think me unkind if I say that your mother’s preoccupation with Jane’s betrothal allows you to quietly savor your own?”

Mary smiled. “Not at all, for you are quite right. Lizzy and Jane are happy for me, as is Papa. Oh, Georgiana, I have never been happier in my entire life…except for the moment when Oscar told me he loved me, of course.”

“Of course,” Georgiana said, and then covered a giggle with the flat of her hand.

Grinning widely, Mary said, “Come, let us go so I can meet Mrs. Inwood.”

*

Lizzy dressed with extra care in preparation for the assembly. She had chosen to wear a pale-blue, shimmering gown, split over an embroidered underdress of white. Jane, who had already finished dressing, poked tiny blue silk flowers into her looping hair, here and there. Around her neck, Lizzy had chosen to wear a light-blue lapis lazuli bead necklace. From her ears hung matching drops.

“You look lovely tonight, Lizzy dear,” Jane said, smiling. “You will be the belle of the assembly.”

“Not with you there.” Lizzy stood and impulsively embraced her. “I have always loved pink on you.”

“Thank you.” Jane turned and picked up the lightweight blue cloak off the bed. “It is still too warm for the season. Perhaps we will get proper autumnal weather soon.”