by Leenie Brown
Acknowledgements
As with all of my books, there are many who have had a part in the creation of this story. Some have read and commented on it. Some have proofread for grammatical errors and plot holes. Others have not even read the story (and a few, I know, will never read it), but their encouragement and belief in my ability, as well as their patience when I became cranky or when supper was late or the groceries ran low, was invaluable.
And so, I would like to thank Zoe, Rose, Betty, Kristine, Ben, and Kyle, as well as the lovely readers at darcyandlizzy.com.
I have not listed my dear husband in the above group because, to me, he deserves his own special thank you, for without his somewhat pushy insistence that I start sharing my writing, none of my writing goals and dreams would have been met.
A Very Mary Christmas
A Sequel to Waking to Mr. Darcy
Coming December 2016
Chapter 1
Mary stood behind her elder sisters, waiting to exit their pew. Her father had already made his escape, but her mother was busy making sure everyone knew that her daughters were soon to be married. How empty her home would be, and how fortunate she was to have daughters so well attached! Finally, her mother seemed to be finished sharing her good fortune and moved far enough out into the aisle that her daughters could be liberated from their box.
“Oh, Mr. Hammond,” Mrs. Bennet called to a fine looking young gentleman before he could escape his pew and her notice.
Mary cringed. Must she now inform all the gentlemen as well as the ladies? Mr. Hammond was unmarried and had no sister, so with a sigh, Mary resigned herself to the fact that her mother thought it necessary to tell him since no one else would be. Of course, it would also give Mary a moment or two of admiring him, so for that, she could, perhaps, be grateful.
“Have you heard the news?” Mrs. Bennet continued, having gained the gentleman’s attention. “Two of my daughters are to be married. The announcement was made, of course, at Mr. Bingley’s ball, but I do not recall seeing you there.” There was a bit of a teasing scold in her tone.
Mr. Nicholas Hammond stretched his lips into a thin smile. She probably wished him to dance with her daughters. She was always putting forward one or another of them. “I was not in attendance. There were things which required my attention on my estate.” A rather lengthy receipt had arrived earlier that day from his father, and he had been more eager to see his finances settled than he was to dance away the night in a set of clothes that, if his father continued his ways, Nicholas would not be able to afford.
“Oh, yes, running an estate is such dreadfully taxing work, I am sure.”
Mr. Hammond struggled to keep the smile on his face. Her voice was grating and her tone, patronizing.
“There were no banns read,” she continued in her same annoying volume of speaking.
It was somewhere between an exclamation and a screech if you asked him.
“They are to be married by special license, you know. That is why Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are gone to town — to get the license. It is a very proper thing, too, considering their consequence.”
He nodded and attempted to step away. He had no interest in which daughter was marrying which gentleman or when the gentlemen were to be returning. No, that was not entirely true. “They will be returning within the week?” he asked. He was nearly certain that that was what she had said, and he was pleased when she acknowledged it to be true. “There is a small estate matter I wished to discuss with Mr. Bingley.” Typically, he would not have explained such a query, but he knew Mrs. Bennet. She would not cease her inquiries until she had at least a morsel of information. He just needed to make sure he told her only as much as he wished broadcast through Meryton.
“My Kitty is in good looks today, is she not?”
The cheeks of the pretty young lady who stood beside her mother flushed, and she coughed nervously while her younger sister giggled softly behind her hand.
Ah, there it was. Miss Kitty was to be the one to be promoted now that her eldest sisters were engaged. “I had not noticed,” Mr. Hammond replied to quell the mother’s advances, and then, to spare at least some of Miss Kitty’s feelings, he added, “although I would have to agree now that you have mentioned it.” He looked at the rest of the daughters, who stood behind their mother wearing varying expressions of unease. “I believe all of the Bennet ladies are looking fine today.”
His eyes rested a moment on Miss Mary. Why was she not the one being thrown forward? She was the next eldest and nearly as pretty as the others. With this slightly troubling thought in mind, he turned to go, but remembering the beginning of Mrs. Bennet’s comments and why any of the younger Bennet girls were being promoted, he turned back and offered his congratulations to Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth. Then, with a shallow bow he took his leave.
He was only a few steps from the group when Mrs. Bennet called out to Mrs. Long, causing him to flinch at the shrillness and falter in his steps.
“I must speak to Mrs. Long about the wedding breakfast preparations.” He could hear the excitement in her voice. “Jane, Lizzy, you will attend me, and Mary, go tell your father that I will be just a few more minutes.” There was a certain tone of command to the directions.
Mr. Hammond was just beginning to chuckle to himself about how wise Mr. Bennet had been to slip out so quickly at the end of the service when Mrs. Bennet’s next comments drove any merriment from his mind.
“It is what she was born for, I am afraid.”
There was a clucking from someone else. He assumed, without looking back, that it was Mrs. Long.
“Mama!” one of the elder daughters chided. That was probably Miss Bennet. Her voice was gentler than Miss Elizabeth.
“She lost her chance when she did not go to town.”
There was more clucking and a sigh from Mrs. Long.
“Now she will be nothing more than a companion or governess. It is best if she begins acting the part.”
There was a sad agreement from Mrs. Long and a bit more chiding from one or both of the elder daughters, but he did not bother to listen. “Miss Mary,” he called.
She stopped her hurried escape from the church. The embarrassment she felt was clearly painted on her cheeks. He was familiar with the feeling. His father was no saint.
“Mr. Hammond,” Mary greeted, keeping her eyes lowered.
“Do you know in particular when Mr. Bingley might return?” He did not truly need that bit of information, but it seemed a good reason to be calling to her. They had been acquaintances and spoken on various topics on many occasions — mainly at assemblies when both had chosen to sit out rather than dance. He had danced with her once or twice as well, and she was quite good at the activity, but to be honest, what he enjoyed about Miss Mary Bennet was her ability to converse on topics considered non-traditional for a young lady. He glanced over his shoulder surreptitiously. Seeing that he had caught her mother’s attention, he extended an arm to Mary. If her mother wished to promote a lady of quality to any gentleman, she should be pushing Miss Mary forward. Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia, though quite pretty, were still too young and foolish to be considered as wives. His arm hung in the air between them while Mary looked at it in confusion. Surely, she knew what he was asking without him saying it, did she not? “Your mother,” he said softly.
Mary’s eyes widened slightly, and she nodded her understanding before placing a hand lightly on his arm. “I am not her favourite,” she replied in a tone equally as soft. “This may actually lower me in her eyes since I will be considered to be snatching your attention away from Kitty, but I thank you for the attempt.”
Silently, he cursed himself for not considering that. “My apologies,” he whispered.
She shook her head and said softly. “It is not your fault she is as she is.” Then, raising the volume of her voice, she answered his original question. “According to Jane, Mr. Bingley hopes to return to Netherfield by Thursday.” She tipped her head and look
ed up at him. Oh, she did love the auburn tinge to his hair. She flicked her eyes away as his green eyes turned towards her. “Are you still thinking of leasing a field?”
“I am.” So she remembered their conversation from the last time they had met on the street in Meryton. She was fetching something — he wished he could remember what it was — for her mother, and he had been intent on seeing if Mr. Wilton had a particular book in his shop. “Rosemoore has done exceptionally well this year, and with a bit of the profit, I would like to attempt to increase my holdings and my income.”
“It seems a reasonable plan.” But when was Nicholas Hammond unreasonable? He was the most level-headed, business-minded man in all of Hertfordshire.
“My father’s bills have not decreased,” he explained. Again, he knew there was no need to explain himself, but with Mary, he felt at ease and knew he would have an ally. And there was also the fact that she might be of use to him in explaining his need for the land to her soon-to-be-brother.
“Is your mother well?”
It was a very proper question but asked not just as a pleasantry but with a tone of sincere compassion. “She is. It was merely a trifling cough which only kept her from society for a se’ennight, and according to her letters, now that she is fully recovered, it is a rare afternoon or evening that is not filled with some sort of entertainment and friends. In fact, her schedule was so busy last month that it required a new hat to be purchased since hers had all been worn so many times.”
He loved his mother and knew that she was not frivolous or extravagant like his father was. In truth, he suspected, it was not his mother who required the hat at all, but rather his father who required it of her. He knew his father had an image he wished to portray, and she, being his wife, must assist him.
As if she knew what he was thinking, Mary smiled sadly at him as she inquired after his brother — his thoughtless, devil-may-care younger brother, Alfred.
“Fred has not been sent up, nor have I received any particularly concerning letters, and since the term will be ending soon, I think he will survive it.” They stood outside the church just slightly apart from the other parishioners who had remained to converse rather than scurrying away since the day was bright and warm for late November.
Mary withdrew her hand from his arm and fidgeted with her gloves, making sure they were firmly on each finger. “Will he be returning to Rosemoore for his holidays?”
Mr. Hammond sighed and shook his head. “I expect more bills from Bath in the new year. Hertfordshire is too dull for Fred’s liking, so he has elected to spend his break with our parents.”
“You will not join them in Bath?”
There was again a note of concern in her inquiry. She was not ferreting out information. Miss Mary did not tell tales or speak anything less than the truth. He would not be going to Bath. He could not find it in his heart, even for his mother’s sake, to spend the money on such a trip, knowing it would be a venture in futility and frustration. He did not say this, however. He just simply shook his head.
Mary understood and did not question further. Sometimes, no matter how much you might wish to love your relations, they made it difficult.
“I wish I could go to Bath.” Mary had risen on her toes and was looking, he suspected, for her father.
“I beg your pardon?” he said somewhat surprised by the comment. Mary had never struck him as someone who might wish to travel away from the small town of Meryton. She seemed so at ease here. She walked to town regularly and rambled through the fields as if they were made just for her presence.
Her cheeks, which had just recovered from her previous embarrassment, flushed once again. She had not intended to say that aloud. “Not Bath in particular, just somewhere other than here.”
Ah, he understood the comment now. He had felt the same way when he was younger. School had been his escape. “Your mother?” he asked gently.
Mary nodded as her heart raced. Except for Jane and Elizabeth, she did not speak of her unhappiness to others — especially if that other was a gentleman she wished to notice her for reasons other than her lack of acceptance by her own family. “And my sisters. Oh, not Jane and Lizzy. Kitty and Lydia, and actually, not Kitty, she can be quite nice, but Lydia…” Her voice trailed off as she realized she was babbling. “Oh, there is my father. I must give him my message, or…”
Mr. Hammond held up a hand to stop her and waved her on her way, earning him a grateful smile before she hurried off toward her father.
Glancing back over her shoulder to take one more look at Mr. Hammond, Mary saw that he was still watching her. If only he were watching her for the reasons she wished he would, but he was not. To him, she was a friend, and he was merely concerned for her welfare. She sighed. If only he would see her as more. But, she was plain and read too much and had little to entice a gentleman. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind. She may have very well lost her chance of having a family of her own by not walking to Meryton last week and pursuing Mr. Collins as her mother suggested. She shuddered at the thought. No, if that were her only hope for marriage, she would gladly accept spinsterhood.
“Papa,” she said, tapping his elbow. “Mama is speaking with Mrs. Long and will be a few minutes longer.”
He smiled at her and then placed an arm around her shoulder. “You are a good girl, Mary.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
He squeezed her shoulder and then removed his arm. “Are you going to wait with me?”
“I would like to walk home.” She bit her lip and twisted her fingers together as she waited for his permission.
His smile was understanding. “Is she still upset about Collins?”
Mary smiled at the way her father’s lips curled in disgust at the name. “She is, and I should like a few moments of solitude.”
He chuckled. “It seems your mother has that effect on many — myself included,” he added with a wink. “Go on. We will follow shortly, and I will try to work on her again.”
“Thank you, Papa.” Mary knew that her father would do as he said, but it would be of little use. Her mother, once set on a notion, was rather immovable.
Mary swung her reticule at her side, letting it brush against the fabric of her pelisse and bang lightly off her leg as she walked. Thoughts of her mother and her future tumbled over each other in her mind. Having reached the spot in the road where she could first see Longbourn, she stopped and looked at it for several minutes. She shook her head slowly as a realization washed over her. She could not stay there. It had never been a terrible home. It had provided her with plenty of enjoyment and pleasant memories, but what would it hold now? A father, who found her eccentricities amusing; a mother, who would continually remind her that she would never be a wife or mother; and younger sisters, who would inevitably parrot everything that their mother said; while her elder sisters, who attempted to protect her, would be gone. Although the sun still shone, the brightness of the day faded, and she wrapped her arms around her middle. It was a bleak reality, and it was hers.
She trudged on toward home. Perhaps if she was destined to be a spinster, she should take up the mantle now. Aunt Gardener might know of some employment to be had in town, or Lizzy might allow her to come for a period of time to Pemberley. Perhaps in Derbyshire, there might be a gentleman as eager to marry as Mr. Collins, who would not be so unbearable — although she was certain, none would be so perfect as Mr. Hammond.
Leenie B Books
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Oxford Cottage: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
For Peace of Mind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Teatime Tales: Six Short and Sweet Austen-Inspired Stories
Through Every Storm: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
Listen To Your Heart: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
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er Father’s Choice (book 1)
No Other Choice (book 2)
His Inconvenient Choice (book 3)
Her Heart’s Choice (book 4)
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Finally Mrs. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
Waking to Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
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So Very Unexpected: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella (book3)
About the Author
Leenie Brown has always been a girl with an active imagination, which, while growing up, was a both an asset, providing many hours of fun as she played out stories, and a liability, when her older sister and aunt would tell her frightening tales. At one time, they had her convinced Dracula lived in the trunk at the end of the bed she slept in when visiting her grandparents!
Although it has been years since she cowered in her bed in her grandparents’ basement, she still has an imagination which occasionally runs away with her, and she feeds it now as she did then ─ by reading!
Her heroes, when growing up, were authors, and the worlds they painted with words were (and still are) her favourite playgrounds! She was that child, under the covers with the flashlight, reading until the wee hours of the morning…and pretending not to be tired the next day so her mother wouldn’t find out.
In addition to feeding her imagination, she also exercises it ─ by writing. While writing has been an activity she has dabbled in over the years, it blossomed into a full-fledged obsession when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. Leenie had first fallen in love with Jane Austen’s work in her early teens when she was captivated by the tale of a girl, who like her, was the second born of five daughters. Now, as an adult, she spends much time in the regency world, playing with the characters from her favourite Jane Austen novels and a few that are of her own creation.