Free A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward Page B

for herself. Catherine showed her discontent with the turn of the conversation by asking, “Mr. Oliver, do you like to dance?”
    He smiled at her. “As long as it is not as they say angels do, on the head of a pin.” His smile made his moustache crook unevenly, and he seemed to know this, because he soon stopped smiling. “Or in a sedate parlour, such as this.”
    Georgiana exchanged a nod with Kitty, seeming to agree—though she said nothing—that Mr. Oliver was indeed a nice man. Mary just cocked her head. She was not so sure.

Chapter 8
    By early December, Elizabeth felt strong enough to plan the dinner at which Darcy wished to entertain the Reverend and Mrs. Wynters before they left for their London apartments. Catherine immediately requested a seat near Mr. Oliver, and Elizabeth complied good-naturedly. Mary cared little for such formal affairs and would just as soon forgo the event, but since Lizzy would certainly wish all to be there, she raised no objection. As it happened, she found herself seated comfortably between Georgiana and Mrs. Wynters, and she tried to lean a bit forward and smile her thanks to Elizabeth, who was seated at the foot of the table next to Mrs. Wynters. Georgiana began speaking of their Christmas music, and Mrs. Wynters showed much interest, telling them that she played the church organ at Kympton. This captured Mary’s full attention. “Is the organ like enough to the pianoforte that I might learn? I should dearly love to play an organ one day.”
    â€œReally?” Mrs. Wynters set her wine glass down and looked straight at Mary. “I should be delighted to help you try it out any Saturday afternoon before we leave. Would this Saturday suit you?”
    â€œIndeed, yes. When may I meet you at Kympton’s church?”
    â€œI look over Sunday’s music right after breakfast. Come as soon as you like.”
    â€œIndeed, if Elizabeth will but give me directions, I shall be there as soon as possible.” Mary reckoned this one fancy dinner as time well spent. She smiled around the table at the other guests and noted that Catherine chatted gaily with Mr. Oliver, while Mrs. Bennet, next to her, told Reverend Wynters more than he needed or cared to know about the birth of Elizabeth’s son. Darcy, at the head of the table, with Wynters at his right and a quiet Mr. Bennet at his left, tried often to convey his gratitude for the reverend’s faithful service these many years. However, as Mrs. Bennet wished to provide Kitty free rein to converse with the young, unmarried Mr. Oliver, she kept up a steady stream of patter with Reverend Wynters. For her part, Elizabeth was prevented from anything more than an occasional word with Mrs. Wynters to her right and Oliver on her left, so she actually found herself committing a social atrocity: chatting with her husband across the table—a pleasure she rarely indulged in at these dinners.
    Mary urged Georgiana to accompany her for her organ lesson, but Georgiana had already promised to help Mrs. Darcy prepare for the children’s Christmas party on that Saturday. Hearing this, Mrs. Wynters made Mary promise to come, even alone. “You will get on faster, at any rate, and by the end of the session I will wager you will have the feel of the instrument.”
    â€œThat is uncommonly good of you, Mrs. Wynters. I shall be there, of course.”
    Mrs. Wynters leaned close to Mary and lowered her voice. “You know, the Darcys have been so generous in reviving all the Christmas traditions for their tenants and the nearby villagers. I hate to find any discrepancy in their most wonderful arrangements, but my heart goes out to those young people too old for the children’s party and too young for the ball. I often wish they could be involved too.”
    Mary could not help but agree. “Could they not join in the ball? It is such a shame to have to wait until a certain age in order to