Page 99 of Regrets

“I suppose we will have to live in Town in the meantime,” Jane worried. “Surely Mr. Rochester will not want to extend the lease, now that he is back in the country.”

“Or you could take Purvis Lodge once the lease period is over and Robby has left it,” Mary said. “Do not fret, Jane; I can assure you that my Robby is everything reasonable and kind.”

Kitty and Lydia had been mostly silent throughout the discussion. They could scarce believe that Mary, the sister everyone had thought would never marry, had been secretly engaged all these many years. And to Mr. Rochester, at that!

Finally, Lydia said, “Well, Lizzy, I think you will have to have that special talk with Mary after all.” She cast a meaningful glance at Elizabeth.

“I think I will manage that talk myself,” Mrs. Bennet said, quickly. “But why keep it such a secret, Mary?”

Mary hesitated before replying. “Well, of course, I was concerned that the correspondence would be forbidden. I wanted to wait, quietly, by myself, without any interference. I did not wish to attract another suitor and then have to explain why I rejected his offer. So I hoped to just fade into the background. I did not want anyone to push me to look better, do my hair differently, wear better colours.”

“All the things that Jane and I tried to get you to do! I am sorry, Mary.”

“Oh, no, Lizzy! I knew that was all coming from a place of love, and I was grateful for your concern,” Mary said, smiling.

“Good Lord, what a story! I cannot wait to tell Georgiana!” Lydia’s face was bright with anticipation.

“Why did he make you wait?” Kitty asked.

“Oh, that was not his fault at all. He was willing to come and marry me at any time. It was I who wished to wait. After all, Jane had not yet married, nor Lizzy. I was happy enough to wait until it was my turn.”

“Did you not worry that he would find someone else?” Jane asked, gently.

“No, not at all. I knew he loved me, you see, and would not look elsewhere.” Mary’s voice was full of joy and contentment. “Truly, I have no regrets at all.”

“Was Mr. Rochester truly living in Europe all this time?” Elizabeth asked.

“He was, yes; he is an avid lover of art, and he has studied the subject for many years, first in England and then in France and Italy. He was building up a collection, you see, and he was all but finished doing so when I sent the letter asking him to return. His collection returned from Europe with him, and is stored in his London townhouse just now.”

“An art collection!” Elizabeth marveled.

“Yes; he inherited a rather tidy fortune in addition to Netherfield Park,” Mary said, blushing. “So he can afford to indulge his passion.”

***

“Of all the things I imagined Mr. Rochester to be, I never imagined this!” Mrs. Bennet told her husband later that night. “You might have told me, you know.”

“I might have,” he agreed. “But then I would not have had the pleasure of surprising you.”

“Was it a pleasure?” she asked, almost shyly.

“It was,” he said, softly. He took her hand and kissed it. Then he led her to her bedroom.

Chapter Eighty-Seven

The door to Kitty and Lydia’s room was open when Elizabeth walked past. It was sheer happenstance that she did so at the exact moment that Lydia said, “I suppose I shall live off my dowry. Jane and Elizabeth are giving theirs up, as they do not need the money, so there would be more than enough to live on.”

“And I shall live with you,” Georgiana agreed, fervently. “Now that I understand what it is that men want…”

Elizabeth did not wait to hear more. She crept downstairs and found her mother. When she repeated what she had overheard, Mrs. Bennet shook her head and went upstairs and into Kitty and Lydia’s room.

“Mama!” Lydia exclaimed. “We were just saying –“

“Yes, I know, Lydia,” Mrs. Bennet said. “And I think perhaps I should correct some possible misapprehensions.”

She settled herself down on Kitty’s bed and looked at the three troubled young faces before her. “I suppose you have all decided never to have anything to do with men; is that it?”

Georgiana flushed and looked down. Kitty and Lydia looked at one another and then at their mother in silence.