The story Mr. Covington had indulged to Kitty during their dance was revisited in the midst of their game of cards, and Mr. Covington requested that she explain it while he stepped aside to acquire a drink. Kitty wholly agreed, and upon his return there was a roar of laughter from the table.
Kitty settled down in her chair, believing she may have made a fool of herself, there certainly was no reason for the laughter. Her eyes fell to the table, daring not to look at Mr. Covington for fear of ruining his story.
“Dear Mr. Covington, you very much should have this lovely Ms. Bennet deliver all of your stories. She has such energy!”
Kitty glanced up, and watched Mr. Covington give a polite laugh as he settled into his seat, and she felt her face turn hot.
It turned out Mr. Covington very much enjoyed chess, and quite often struck up a game for a challenge. It was Kitty's desire to observe carefully, and to watch Mr. Covington obtain a swift victory. He was quite a man of strategy and intellect that was even visible on the dance floor.
Kitty was thrilled to see that Mr. Covington wanted to share the last dance with her. It was one that required much movement and precision, but for Kitty it was the dance that was the most enjoyable. They had worked quite tediously to perfect the movements throughout the dance, and Mr. Covington would offer simple words of advice to help Kitty master the more intricate movements. They had been the spotlight of the final song.
By the end, Kitty was breathing audibly, and Mr. Covington tipped his hat towards her.
“Thank you Ms. Bennet it was a pleasure to dance and chat with you this evening.” With those words, he departed with the rest of the exiting crowd.
“Oohh Kitty!” came the very familiar voice of Maria. “You two were wonderful, absolutely wonderful!”
“I daresay Miss Bennet, you two sure know how to put on a show.” Mr. Price complimented as he returned to his maiden's side.
“Thank you Mr. Price.” There were no other words Kitty could muster. It was quite a dance indeed, and Kitty hoped it would not be the last. Dancing with Mr. Covington quenched her desires, and simultaneous kindled a fire inside of her. It was quite exhilarating.
“I shall leave you to be,” Mr. Price began, “I will grab a drink before we depart.”
“Oh Kitty!” Maria exclaimed giving her friend a close embrace. “I told you.” She said with a smile on her face. “I will see you soon; the next dance is in three days! I hear there will be a s-p-e-c-i-a-l guest.” Maria spoke melodically as she took her husband’s arm. Kitty knew exactly what Maria meant.
The next few dances happened in much the same manner, Kitty and Mr. Covington finding each other on the floor, and him quite humbly requesting a dance with her. Each time it brought a hot feeling over her, and she would always accept.
Eventually, they frequented the same parties often enough for him to become one of her regular dancing partners. They had gotten to know one another better as casual friends, and she found him to be well bred and with the best of manners. He was not one to prattle on like some of the other young men, Mr. Joseph for instance. They had begun a wonderful friendship as they would dance, and eat together, sharing conversations only on simple matters. They would play cards, and quite often Kitty would win. She was sure he was letting her since Mr. Covington took the victories when there were many other players.
They would laugh, and joke, and enjoy each other’s company. They would even jest about their dancing, and it was the air of joy. Maria always had input though, constantly reminding Kitty of the nature of men. She would even steal glances while Mr. Covington and Kitty danced.
One time in particular, Maria had made an expression and Kitty found it hard to contain her laughter. Mr. Covington inquired about it, and Kitty could not cease until it interrupted their dance, and Mr. Covington had caught the contagion, and began to chuckle though he knew not why he was laughing.
When the Bingleys came to visit she had introduced him to her sister and brother-in-law. He had offered her nephew Harry, one of his sweets and quickly became the boy’s favorite.
Shortly after meeting the Bingleys, to Kitty’s delight, Mr. Covington had started to show her special attention. He would now walk to meet her when he saw her, and he seemed to revel in the fact that he was able to be in Kitty's presence. He often asked about her nephew, which led to her understanding he had a soft spot for children. It was enough for her to fall smitten with him. Kitty could not help but feel overjoyed at the attention. He had not asked to court her but for the first time he called on her on a day when he had not been invited as one of a group. Mrs. Bennet subsequently made the most of the situation and invited him to stay to supper.
Chapter Fifteen
They were introduced briefly at an assembly and neither paid much attention to the other. Soon enough Mary found her way to the piano forte. The vast majority of the other young women present wanted to dance, while the older ladies wanted to exchange gossip. Mary was glad not to be among either group. She had learned from years of this same routine that her singing was not wanted and what kind of music was preferred. She did her best to appease the crowd and saved her singing and more refined pieces for the privacy of her own home.
After about an hour the gentleman she had been introduced to earlier walked over and stood next to the piano as she played. When she finished her set, he had offered her a cup of punch.
“You do not get tired of playing for such long durations, Miss Bennet?” he had asked.
Mary took a sip of the offered liquid to give herself a moment to collect her thoughts. It was not an easy task for her to quickly go from being lost in concentration performing a musical piece to taking part in a conversation.
“No sir, Mr. Joseph, I rarely get tired of playing,” had been her answer.
“Extraordinary. I have always been surprised by the ability of some. Tell me, who are your favorite composers?” had been the question he asked that began their lengthy interaction that evening. He would go off to dance once or twice, while she was playing but always returned to stand by the piano and talk to her again.
He was very well informed about the different composers she would mention, usually knowing at least as much about them as she did. He knew their backgrounds and their inspirations. She had never met anyone who had such vast understanding and appreciation of these great men as she had. He had not the handsome features of her brothers-in-law, but that was not to say he was plain either. Mary could not help but notice that he had a very pleasing appearance.
It seemed the night was over before it had barely begun. She, her mother and Kitty were soon saying their goodbyes and returning to Longbourn.
“Well, Mary! I did not know you had it in you!” teased Kitty on the ride home. “Mr. Joseph seemed quite attentive. What did you two talk about all evening?”
“Music,” was her sister’s short reply.
“Mr. Joseph, is it? An apothecary at that!” said Mrs. Bennet. “Did you happen to mention my nerves to him, Mary? For an apothecary might have just the thing to soothe them?”
“No, mama, I did not mention your nerves. We talked almost exclusively about music.”
“That is singular indeed!” said her mother. “Talking about music for three hours together! Well, at least you have some things in common, my dear. We may be able to build upon that, you know. Tell me, did you find out what his favorite dinner is, by chance?”
“No, mama, it never came up.”
“Tut, tut, it will all be discovered soon enough. Though it is too bad that you did not dance, Mary! He did not dance much, but when he did it was with those Meese sisters or the Cabwell girl. I cannot suppose he does not mind having his toes stepped on or a partner constantly smiling at him through crooked teeth! Now, it is my understanding that practically all of our neighbors have worked behind my back and already secured him for the upcoming week of dinners and tea. It vexed me greatly to hear it! Had you and your father not had colds we should have found out sooner. Espec
ially am I annoyed with my sister! For she was overly concerned about catching a little cold instead of informing me of the gentleman’s arrival! But she has assured me she will be over for tea tomorrow with the necessary information and we shall soon be ahead of the game, my dear!”
************
The sun dipped slowly towards the horizon, but still the heat hung low and oppressive. “Unseasonably warm today, Miss Mary!” Hill had proclaimed as she had placed the tray of cucumber sandwiches and mint tea before Mary. Hours had gone by and the food had grown warm, and the tea cold. Mary was far too engrossed in her book, and despite Hill’s hemming and hawing about proper nutrition, the platter remained untouched. Tucked away in the cool dining room of her family home, in one week’s time, Mary had explored the great Nile River, met the many tribes of Indians in the Americas, and carefully searched passages to understand the meaning of life, all with the turn of a page.
“We have a guest Miss Mary,” Hill informed her. “Your mother requests your presence.”
Mary sighed and marked her place, deciding to bring her book with her. If it were one of the long winded neighbors perhaps she might get to continue reading during the visit.
When she entered the sitting room, she saw Mr. Joseph. She instinctively smoothed her hair as she approached him.
“Miss Mary,” he rose and gave a bow.
“Mr. Joseph.”
“Mary, Mr. Joseph was on his way to have supper with the Cabwells and thought of us on the way. Is he not a most obliging gentleman? For Mr. Joseph we would have had you sooner had Mr. Bennet not taken ill with a cold. But now you are here and we are very glad you stopped by,” said Mrs. Bennet.
“Thank you for saying so, Mrs. Bennet. Miss Mary, have I interrupted your reading?” he asked when he noticed the book in her hand.
“I was reading about a bizarre creature, the name currently escapes me, but it has a bill and feet of a duck, a pelt and tail of a beaver, and lays eggs! Is that not extraordinary?” she gushed, and then caught herself acting strange and bookish, and composed herself quickly.
Aaron leaned forward, with a spark in his eyes. “A platypus! Yes! It seems to be a creature from a children’s tale but it exists!” Mary blinked. A gentleman who was interested in her books? She mirrored his grin, and they both looked at each other with awe. How rare it was to find someone with such a spark, someone that burned so brightly. They spoke of their favorite books, the wonders that they had read about. Mostly, Mary watched Aaron’s eyes alight when he spoke of a bear’s fearsomeness, or the wonders of ancient peoples. She noted that his gaze burned fervently as he watched her ecstatically describe her favorite passages.
Mrs. Bennet smiled excitedly at Kitty who in turn rolled her eyes at the couple who both prattled on about the most peculiar subjects without end.
He had excused himself from their company because of his prior engagement but it was clear to all that he ended their visit with regrets. Mrs. Bennet made plans with him to come to both supper one day and tea on another. In the interval, she and her sister, Mrs. Phillips, had gone to work on Mary’s appearance, making adjustments to her hair and having two lighter color dresses made up. Mary consented willingly, to the shock of Kitty and Mr. Bennet. They both realized the significance of this, understanding that Mary must like the man very much to submit to these changes.
On the following visit he asked if she had been playing her instrument much.
“Oh, Mary plays and sings more than anyone in the neighborhood!” her mother had inserted.
He had then sat down on one end of the bench and looked up at her expectantly. He motioned for her to sit, and she did, gathering her skirts to make room for the both of them. He clumsily tinkered out the first few notes to Schumann’s Variations on a Theme, and she smiled. She placed her fingers on the keys, and played. The notes lilted above their heads as they played together, his fingers occasionally fumbling, at which point he would laugh and bump into her shoulder. She found herself laughing hard. They played a bit longer, and after they finished, they looked at one another. His hands gripped his own knees, and hers laid awkwardly in her lap. She looked into those eyes that brought her such joy, and boldly murmured, “I am so glad you have come to Meryton.”
His eyes widened, and her face flushed red. She knew she had been too bold. She turned her head away and grasped at her skirts so she could stand.
“I am very happy to be here. I look forward to our next concert, Miss Bennet,” he said with a smile.
He was invited regularly and regularly came. He and Mary would often talk so long that Mrs. Bennet would doze off. Whenever one of them recognized this, Mr. Joseph would take it as his cue to leave. But to the surprise of all, he kept returning and he and Mary never tired of conversation or playing the piano together.
It was not long before he had asked to court her, which she happily agreed to.
Chapter Sixteen
Georgiana smiled to herself as she looked over the grand estate of Pemberley, her childhood home. The building stood on its gentle hill with great dignity. The evening sky and the dark woods provided it a majestic background. It remained unchanged for generations, standing in eternal vigilance over the property.
It was strange. The world was exactly the same. And yet it felt so different! Everyone was in good health. The same servants attended the halls. Piano lessons came and went like clockwork...
She gazed up at the evening sky, admiring the vivid pinks and purples that mixed in with the clouds. Georgiana could recall seeing many lovely sunsets by this water bank. But she could not seem to remember how alive the sunsets were with such vibrant colors, the sound of the wind through the trees. Even the sound of geese squabbling on the opposite bank felt as if she were really seeing them for the first time.
Maybe it was Georgiana herself that had changed.
Alex had a great deal to do with it. Ever since he stayed to help during that illness it felt like everything had a new energy, a new color. His smile seemed to make everything different from what it was before.
It was still like a dream. One she feared would end all too soon. The two of them had made a ritual of lingering in the main hall after the evening meal. They would play the piano and chat about his adventures abroad. He had traveled to so many places. She envied his ability to see and do so much. She felt sheltered and naive in comparison, despite her time in London.
They often found themselves losing track of time. They could have easily stayed up to greet the sun as they talked the night away. Elizabeth would scold them gently about keeping their escort up all night, in good humor of course.
Alex had fit into their lives like a fine glove. He and Darcy made excellent partners. Alex said something the other day about a new investment in London. She could not always follow things regarding their business matters, but she was delighted to be included. Even if her questions slowed down the conversation a bit, it was just nice to have an extra excuse to chat.
He was an amazing man. Funny. Easy going. Brilliant. Hard working. He had the most amazing stories to tell. Yet somehow he remained modest through it all. He did not seem to have a boastful bone in his body.
Despite it all, she felt a small twinge of anxiety.
She wondered how long the dream could last. After all he was a man of extensive travel. He had been to more places in a few years than she could hope to see in a lifetime. He seemed happy here of course. But how long could Pemberley compare to the exotic faraway shores? He was bound to eventually grow bored of telling stories to a quiet girl on a quiet estate. What could she offer that the Americas and the Orient could not?
She sighed and tried to shake off her thoughts. Alex had stayed to forge a business partnership with her brother. And soon after he and Georgiana had started to get closer. But how much closer, she had to wonder? She wanted to think that there might be a special connection. However, was it the same for him? It would not be the first time she mistook a man's attention for affection...
Georgiana stared at the opposite bank with a troubled frown. Alex had seemed rather distracted as of late. He seemed to have much on his mind. But when she would ask, he would deny anything was amiss with a nervous smile. But even in such a short time, she knew something was wrong with the answer. Or perhaps I am over reacting?
She could drive herself mad with these thoughts! She took in a deep breath and smoothed out her skirts. Of course she could not expect him to stay in one dock forever. Even if she would have liked nothing better, there was bound to be a reason for him to travel. A business arrangement. A whim. It was not as if he were rooted to Pemberley. People did business with each other over long distances all the time.
“Georgiana?”
She snapped from her thoughts and half turned. She felt her face burn as she saw Alex standing there with a worried expression. “Ah! Alex! Forgive me. I must have gotten lost in thought.”
“What sort of thoughts were you entertaining?” He looked faintly amused at her reaction. It only served to make her all the more flustered. “It looked as if you were a world away.”
No. Only worrying that you may end up that way. She did not dare to say it out loud. She managed a shy smile as she shook her head. “My thoughts were right here, actually. About the past few weeks. How nice they have been.”
“They have passed by quickly, have they not?” He nodded agreeably. There he went again with that look. Like he was trying to find the right words to say. He had something on his mind, but no idea how to express it. It reminded her sorely of how Fitzwilliam would look when he was trying to leave port right before a holiday. “I can scarcely believe that I have been here for this long.”
Love is in the Air Page 8