Free A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward

and Papa once had to grow accustomed to us. We think of them always as parents, but once they were young and carefree. And now…” Mary paused, not wishing to think them old.
    â€œGrandparents!” Elizabeth finished for her. “And Papa rests after a short ride. He never used to nap in the afternoon. One doesn’t like to think of them actually growing old…” Her voice trailed off, as if the thought also saddened her.
    Mary looked off in the direction of the stables, where she noted one tree shaped differently from all the others. “Look, Lizzy! All the oaks and maples fan outward, but that tree stretches all its limbs upward, like many hands in prayer!”
    Elizabeth smiled. “You have spotted Darcy’s precious linden tree. And in summer you would like it even better, when its heart-shaped leaves and delicate yellow blossoms appear. You must spend a summer with us sometime.”
    A rustle behind them warned of Catherine’s approach just before she called, “Lizzy! Mary!” As she caught up, she confronted Mary. “Why did you not stay with me? I talked to him.”
    Mary rolled her eyes. “Indeed.”
    â€œAnd he said I must apologise to you. He thought he frightened you.” Catherine inhaled deeply, happy to slow to her pace.
    â€œHe did not frighten me; I simply could not stay alone in a room with a man to whom I have not been introduced.”
    â€œLa, Mary, don’t be such a stick. He is rather nice, even if he is a clergyman, and I think his moustache quite becomes him. He is not so exciting as an officer, but I liked him.” Catherine pulled at the cloak she had grabbed hurriedly.
    â€œThen I am surprised that you did not stay there.” Mary, who considered a moustache to be a dandyish affectation in a clergyman, tried to meet Elizabeth’s eyes to see whether Catherine’s boldness had outraged her as well.
    â€œOh, he said I must excuse him while he returned to Saint Augustine. I asked him what was so funny about Saint Augustine, and he said, ‘Another time I will tell you.’”
    Elizabeth spoke her motherliness. “Kitty, you mustn’t disturb Mr. Oliver. He is serious about his reading, and you know you have not been properly introduced.”
    Kitty stamped her foot. “You are just like Jane; you want me to be a fine lady like you, I’ll warrant.” Petulance coloured her voice.
    Elizabeth laughed then and took Catherine’s arm playfully. “I am no fine lady at all, Kitty, just a tired one. Let’s try that bench, and you can tell me about dear Jane.” She pointed across the stream.
    Mary felt certain that Lizzy could have instructed Kitty more pointedly. But she swallowed her distaste and crossed the footbridge with them to the bank above the stream, where they sat on a weathered but clean wooden bench. Catherine, her spirits revived, gave the Nottingham news and even refrained from complaining about the overweening Caroline Bingley, except to say that she acted of late as if she were Jane’s truest sister. For a pleasant interval, they might have been back at Longbourn, recapturing maidenly pursuits. But soon the creeping autumn chill sent them back to Pemberley’s fireplaces and a fine tea with the refreshed older Bennets. At dinner that evening, Elizabeth asked Darcy, “Do you suppose Mr. Oliver would come for tea some day? I have been remiss. My sisters and yours have not been introduced to him, and if he is to frequent our library, perhaps he ought to be acquainted with all of us.”
    Georgiana put in, “Indeed, I have never yet set eyes on him, and Kitty says he is very nice.”
    Darcy spoke teasingly to Elizabeth, “If he has not been introduced, how is it that Kitty knows he is very nice?”
    Kitty coloured at his teasing. “I happened upon him in the library, sir.”
    Darcy smiled and returned his attention to the succulent pork loin on