By Charm or by Choice

by Shana Jefferis-Zimmerman

  Yours, etc.,

  Lizzy

  Pastor Atkins graciously accepted the invitation for Christmas dinner at Pemberley. The Darcys all attended the holiday services on Christmas morning, which fell on a Saturday, together at Lambton Church. They greeted Pastor Atkins in the receiving line following the lovely service. Mary shyly told him they were all looking forward to having Christmas dinner with him that evening causing the good pastor to smile. That evening he was greeted very cordially by everybody upon his arrival. They were a very merry party. Everybody sang Christmas carols and drank spiced cider in the music-room whilst Georgiana and Mary played the pianoforte. Pastor Atkins absolutely blushed when he saw the mistletoe ball in the saloon. There were boughs of holly and many branches from a fir tree decorating the rooms. Dinner was a festive occasion with many extra candles lit about the dining-parlour. Fitzwilliam escorted Elizabeth into dinner leaving Pastor Atkins to escort both Mary and Georgiana, hopefully avoiding any embarrassment. The lavish meal consisted of three courses. The first course included white soup, haunch of venison, saddle of mutton, peas, and asparagus. The second course featured a large roasted goose, sirloin of beef, ham, cauliflower, potatoes, spiced sauce, salad, savory pudding, apples and oranges. Dessert was the traditional plum pudding with brandy which was briefly ignited by flame and made a breathtaking display. The gentlemen adjourned with the ladies after dinner and repaired to the saloon where port, brandy, and tea were served over loo. Everybody admired the Yule log which burned brightly in the fireplace. Pastor Atkins gave his sincere thanks for the invitation and the lovely evening upon his departure.

  Longbourn, December 24

  Dear Lizzy,

  I commend you on situating the young clergyman so fashionably BEFORE setting your sister upon him. That was very clever, daughter. Thank you for your kind letter of particulars. None of it causes me any concern. I trust your judgement and oversight and that of my son-in-law as well. I am sure Miss Georgiana is a discerning young lady, but as she is not yet out, I will gather my information from the adults. So continue on with your subtle scheme, dear girl. I shall say nothing to your mother at present for obvious reasons. You or Fitzwilliam may speak on my behalf should the need arise.

  I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

  Yours, etc.,

  TB

  Although Mary adhered to her schedule of morning music lessons and afternoon reading as well as continuing to join Elizabeth in her riding lessons, the scheme was still highly effectual and yielded promising results. Mary saw Pastor Atkins three times each week for the next fortnight including morning services on both Sundays. He was already at the orphanage when Georgiana and Mary paid their call. This was in no way coincidental with Mary recollecting that he always called upon the orphanage on Tuesdays. Rather than giving the tour herself, Georgiana fell back and let Pastor Atkins point out the work being done and introduce Mary to some of the children. He was out walking to pay a call in Lambton whilst wearing some of this new attire, when he happened upon one of Mary’s lessons driving the phaeton. Georgiana dismounted with his assistance and allowed Pastor Atkins to offer Mary some instruction whilst he sat next to her in the box seat. After their fifth visit to Lambton Church to attend morning services, Pastor Atkins asked them to join him in visiting the circulating library and then for tea at the Parsonage. Georgiana kept Elizabeth informed of all her observations from their meetings in town. Elizabeth complimented her on her ability to chaperone without creating any awkwardness which made Georgiana feel very responsible. Georgiana felt there was a growing partiality on both sides. They conversed well together, seemed to take pleasure in one another’s company, and sometimes, for no apparent reason, they would both blush.

  Elizabeth sought out her sister again to ascertain how SHE felt about the budding acquaintance.

  “Oh, Lizzy, how can I thank you? I am certainly enjoying furthering my acquaintance with Pastor Atkins. He is very amiable and I like him very much.”

  “Is it too soon to ask or do you feel he is a suitable choice should he request a courtship?”

  “It is not too soon. I have come to feel a regard for him. I have tried to do as you suggested and have considered his intelligence, his disposition, and his situation. But it is very hard to study one’s thoughts while they are in competition with one’s feelings! I believe he is a suitable and worthy match for me. And I have examined my feelings and I know I have come to care for him. I feel my heart slipping further away to him every time we meet. I can now only hope that he feels the same way toward me.”

  Elizabeth tearfully hugged her sister and told her she was very happy for her.

  “I hope he feels the same for you. I think very highly of Pastor Atkins. He can now complete my favorable impression by deciding that you are the perfect woman for him to court!”

  And they both had laughed whilst they wiped their eyes.

  Mary’s continued attendance at Lambton Church and Pastor Atkins’s visibly improving wardrobe outside of the church joined to the many interactions the two were known to have had around town opened to the parish a new idea on the business. Nothing had ever suggested it before, but many of the parishioners now felt that there was no other way of accounting for such marked attention from their young well-regarded pastor than by supposing a partiality towards the visiting sister of Mrs. Darcy. The parishioners observed the unfolding acquaintance on the sly and collectively there was silent hope for and feverish discussion of the two young people reaching an understanding. That their young pastor was overflowing with admiration was evident enough. Their guarded observations perceived that Miss Bennet seemingly received his attentions with pleasure and likely returned his partiality. Pastor Atkins marrying a woman of such obvious faith and propriety with family connections to Pemberley would assure the parish they had finally found a long serving pastor for their beloved church. That Miss Darcy, once thought to be proud, was clearly acting in the unofficial role of discreet chaperone caused her reputation in town to reach new heights.

  The general stir of conversation that these events inspired reflected the parishioners’ desire to promote the match. How this could be accomplished was not certain. Select schemes were agreed upon in furtherance of the shared motive. The conspirators were impatient for results! Mayor Woodforde offered Pastor Atkins the use of his horse and gig if he ever needed to travel outside of the village. The matron who ran the orphanage inquired of Georgiana if she and her lovely sister-in-law could come back Tuesday next to assist with some small project being undertaken. The circulating library had placed Pastor Atkins low on the waiting list for a popular book he wished to read. Curiously, the book was somehow readily available but had been mistakenly delivered to Miss Mary Bennet at Pemberley. Pastor Atkins was no longer able to overlook the hint. Even if Mr. Conrad had formerly been correct, clearly the suspicions of the town had been aroused. Pastor Atkins attempted to quell his nerves and sat down to pen a now overdue letter.

  Fitzwilliam was not at all surprised when he received a letter from Pastor Atkins asking for an audience. The Pastor was quite open about the purpose of this meeting in his letter. He wanted to discuss his intentions towards Miss Bennet and did not want to embarrass her by showing up unannounced at Pemberley. He invited Fitzwilliam over to the Parsonage for tea. Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam discussed the sentiments expressed in the letter and the suitability of the match as well as Mary’s spoken wishes. Both were disposed in its favor and pleased that the parson was willing to exert himself by making his intentions known in the proper fashion.

  It was a very cordial meeting. Pastor Atkins showed Fitzwilliam the improvements made to the Parsonage, which as of yet, were still unseen by him. He was quite impressed with how his recent purchase had been improved and the resulting turn of events and promised himself he would never again doubt his wife! Pastor Atkins acquainted Fitzwilliam with some of the particulars of his family’s situation. He acknowledged his partiality for Miss Bennet and hi
s desire to call upon her formally at Pemberley before asking for a courtship. He requested Fitzwilliam’s permission which was quickly given.

  Pastor Atkins accepted Mayor Woodforde’s offer to borrow the mayor’s horse and gig to pay his addresses at Pemberley. The idea of Pastor Atkins formally calling upon her was a source of some embarrassment to Mary, who was not entirely sure how she was to act. Even as she was no longer in need of a reason to cross his path, she still felt insecure in her understanding of his feelings towards her. When the day of his first call arrived, Mrs. Annesley joined them at a polite distance in the saloon, where they could sit together and enjoy the view of the high woody hills behind the house. That Mary would imitate the mode of conduct of her sister Lydia in any way was not even considered. She had no understanding of how Elizabeth had conducted herself when Mr. Darcy had called; for each had rarely spoken to the other at Longbourn in her presence. Jane was the best option, but Mary still remained unsure; one could only smile, blush, and be cheerful for so long! Mrs. Bennet had always commanded the largest share of the conversation and this obscured how Jane and Mr. Bingley might have conducted themselves with only a discreet chaperone. Pastor Atkins quickly noticed her discomfort and sought to ascertain the source of her distress. She confided in him that she was unsure of what they were to do. His entreaty that they could merely enjoy one another’s good company soothed her nerves. Once it was settled between them that these calls should have the familiarity of all their other conversations, they were able to settle on a subject to discuss much to Mary’s relief. No matter how common or everyday a topic might be, the enjoyment of romantically minded conversationalists was assured. They discussed his plans for his garden in the spring and their favorite composers at some length. And Mary finally recollected that she could call the housekeeper and request tea. Upon discovering they had both improved their wardrobes using the services of a Conrad family member they had both laughed and wondered if Mr. Conrad had matched the Pastor’s waistcoats to Mary’s dresses.

  Once word had spread about Pastor Atkins borrowing the mayor’s horse and gig to travel to Pemberley, the parishioners felt at liberty to subject the young lovers to some gentle teasing. They withstood it all with good grace and humour. Subsequent calls fell into a more relaxed attitude. Mary soon felt very much at ease spending time with her smitten suitor. As she began feeling more secure in his affections she slowly endeavored to display her own tender feelings for him more openly. She did not think it improper to express her pleasure in seeing him, as her sister had suggested it. And she shyly thanked him for his prior concern regarding her comfort, assuring him that her earlier embarrassment was long forgot. He asked her if she would call him by his Christian name, Louis, when they were in private and she consented to this more familiar address on the condition that he would do the same. Mary also took it upon herself to ask Louis each time he departed when he might be free to call upon her again. On occasion the couple would proceed to the music-room where Mary would play the pianoforte for him. He found her playing to be a source of great pleasure. Louis could not decide whether he preferred to sit at a distance and observe her fair countenance or to sit next to her at the instrument and turn her pages where his arm would sometimes brush against hers. But in spite of not having an answer for his dilemma, whilst in the music-room he was certain to be found in one of these two employments. Georgiana endeavored to schedule her practise on the pianoforte around the pastor’s calls. Sometimes the young couple visited the library and perused a book of mutual interest together. The rose garden provided the perfect venue for a quiet stroll, although it was far too early to enjoy any blooms. They also enjoyed taking out the little phaeton and circling the lake, under the guise of improving Mary’s driving skills. Proper instruction seemingly required the good pastor to hold Mary’s hand. Mary felt it was time that she made a confession to Louis. They had already spoken of their families, but Mary had not directly addressed her mother or Lydia. She related to him that her mother was not a sensible person and her vulgar manners could try the patience of even the most saintly. He had laughed and replied that it appeared their two mothers would have been the dearest of friends had they been afforded the opportunity to meet. She also shared with him that her youngest sister had attempted to elope with a lieutenant in the militia and only the involvement of Mr. Darcy had been able to bring about the marriage. His lack of concern relieved her mind from a very heavy weight.

  After about a fortnight of calling upon Mary at Pemberley, Pastor Atkins requested her permission to enter a courtship, to which Mary had happily consented. He then applied to Fitzwilliam for HIS permission which was readily given. Elizabeth wrote to her father to keep him informed on the burgeoning romance. Pastor Atkins had already written to his father and told him to expect a courtship and an engagement. He praised Miss Mary Bennet and of all the Darcys, but let his father know that apparently Mrs. Bennet was made in the same mold as the late Lady Sunderley and that one of the five sisters had been wild though was now married. Lord Sunderley, who thought the connection to the Darcy family could be decidedly advantageous to his son if not to himself, and had been highly skilled at dealing with his late wife, replied to his son, conveying his blessing and wishing him good luck! As is the conventional path, an engagement soon followed; surprising exactly no one in the entire town of Lambton, at Pemberley, or at Lord Sunderley’s estate in ------shire. The only person surprised by the news had been Mrs. Bennet whom had been kept in ignorance of the increasing intimacy. The parishioners rejoiced as one as news of the engagement sped through the neighborhood and offered their self-gratulation to each other. What they could not agree upon was who the procuring party was, for several of the town’s inhabitants took credit for bringing about the match.

  Unbeknownst to the happy couple, upon learning of the likelihood of an engagement, Lord Sunderley had immediately written to Fitzwilliam again, this time inquiring into the particulars of the match and the couple’s financial situation. Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth had responded to his letter detailing their satisfaction with the couple’s sincere attachment and suitability to one another, the specific details of the living at Lambton Church, and Mary’s dowry and future settlement. In response to his inquiry of a recommendation for a wedding gift, Elizabeth had suggested a small piano and enclosed the appropriate dimensions.

  Mr. Bennet wrote to his second daughter to gratefully acknowledge HER part in bringing about the match. He expressed himself most concisely. He had never before supposed that Mary could be settled so well and with so little inconvenience to himself and without having to hear one more syllable about it from his wife. The present arrangement would likely result in his being one hundred pounds a year richer, which would further his current savings appreciably. That this was all accomplished with no exertion whatsoever on his side was highly satisfactory and quite a welcome surprise. Elizabeth read his letter with no small degree of resignation at his indolence, philosophic composure, and unfelt sense of responsibility. She reminded herself to fully enjoy this happy season with Mary for its duration, but she would honour the serious resolution she had formed for both her sisters. She would not forget about Kitty.

  Chapter 19

  Elizabeth indulged her happiness for Mary and that was exactly as it ought to be. She had immediately written the announcement of the engagement, consulting with Pastor Atkins regarding which of his relations should be included and showing it to Georgiana and Mary, so both would understand how to properly prepare such an announcement. Then she submitted it to the papers for publication. In a moment of inspiration, she wrote to Hatchard’s Bookshop in London to purchase a leather bound scrapbook where she pasted the published announcement of the betrothal and added a personal inscription for her sister and future brother-in-law. Though she rejoiced in Mary’s engagement just as she had for Jane’s, her delight had a very different construction. To think that Mary’s future had been secured so quickly and to a man of such promising character and suit
ability as Pastor Atkins without having to combat her father’s indifference or counter-act her mother’s ill-conceived meddling and scheming was a welcome relief! The plot and rapidity of the two romances had been very different. Mary’s courtship had created no anticipation, little suspense, and no painful separation of two young lovers. With Jane, having something so joyfully anticipated then quite literally lost, caused its dearness to increase upon its restoration! Elizabeth acknowledged that though she was not a matchmaker, where she could offer her assistance, she would do so. Whilst already thinking of Kitty and Georgiana, Elizabeth had to acknowledge, she had a wedding to plan.

  Gracechurch Street, March 7

  Dear Lizzy,