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Mary smiled sardonically at the surprise that bloomed on her sister’s face. “You need not act so shocked, Lizzy. You and Jane have always been very kind to me. Since coming to London, however, I’ve received a more honest appraisal.”

Elizabeth immediately became indignant; “Has someone been cruel to you, Mary? Have you told our aunt? I cannot believe that the Gardiners would allow any of their guests to treat you poorly!”

The younger girl’s expression became friendlier.

“Don’t fuss, Lizzy; no one has been unkind—merely honest.” Seeing that her sister required more, she studied her gloved hands for a moment before sighing.

“A week after we arrived in London, Aunt Gardiner hosted a dinner party. It was like nothing I had ever attended; the conversation was intelligent and well-informed, and there was none of the useless gossip such as we are subjected to at Longbourn.”

Mrs. Darcy was suddenly struck by the realization of just how much she herself had benefitted from her exposure to the Gardiners’ household, and wondered guiltily if she had been greedy of their company to the detriment of her younger sister. “Oh Mary…”

For once, Mary Bennet guessed exactly what Elizabeth was feeling. “Don’t feel guilty, sister. I doubt I would have appreciated what they had to offer before this winter.” She was silent for a moment before continuing, “And anyway, it was nothing very dreadful. Do you know Mr. Modestini?”

“The pianist?” asked Elizabeth. When her sister confirmed the guest’s identify, Lizzy responded, “Yes, we saw him perform last autumn. Miss Darcy studied with him several years ago, I believe, although not for very long. Barely a month, if I recall correctly.” She studied Mary for a moment before adding, “Although neither she nor Mr. Darcy have said as much, I got the impression that he was an extremely demanding taskmaster and rather… short-tempered with anything less than perfection.”

The sisters exchanged a smile and Mary admitted, “He is an elderly gentleman, incredibly talented, but with the sort of bluntness that is often excused when it is accompanied by age and genius.” She paused before admitting, “I sat beside him at dinner and we discussed music, so later when he asked me to play and sing, I was certain that I would impress him…”

Guessing what was to come, Elizabeth reached out for her sister’s hand. “Oh Mary...”

Miss Bennet shrugged. “As you have surmised, he listened for less than a minute before calling upon me to cease abusing his ears. He then spent the next hour lecturing me on how the piece should be played. I fear that I was not a very satisfactory student.”

Again Elizabeth attempted to comfort her sister, but Mary would have none of it.

She might have cried into her pillow on the night in question, but subsequent contemplation had convinced her that it had been a valuable lesson.

In private, her playing was an act of self-improvement, but in public it had become an expression of misplaced vanity.

Noting that the carriage was nearing their destination, Elizabeth sighed.

“Well, I still think we should invite Mr. Modestini for dinner and then pick apart his performance. However, regardless of anyone’s wishes, I doubt there will be any opportunity for such entertainment this afternoon; Lady Trowbridge hopes to accomplish a great deal today. ”

“But I thought it was only a tea?”

Elizabeth had just enough time to explain that the dowager Countess was well known not only for her financial philanthropy but also for contributing her own time to various charities. Today’s gathering was to discuss the organization of schools for poor children in the city.

Once admitted to the house, the sisters were efficiently relieved of their outerwear and then ushered along to a drawing room.

While Lizzy exchanged greetings with their hostess, Mary surveyed the room.

It was not at all the ostentatious display she had expected of a peer.

Instead, it was a warm, comfortable room; its furnishings expensive but not uselessly fine.

The decorations appeared to be mostly memorabilia accumulated over the course of a long life, rather than the useless clutter currently fashionable among the ton .

Mary’s attention snapped back when Lady Alexandra turned to her.

“And you are Miss Mary Bennet; I’m very glad to meet another of dear Madeleine’s nieces.

But come, come—we have an excellent turnout and you must meet everyone!

” The Countess drew the sisters further into the room and introduced them to several guests before being called away to greet some new arrivals.

While Elizabeth eagerly entered into a discussion with several other ladies, Mary found herself sitting beside an earnest-looking young man who had been introduced as Mr. Dodd.

They exchanged some comments about the weather and then drifted into silence.

Eventually, however, the gentleman cleared his throat and inquired diffidently, “I fear that this is my first time attending one of Lady Trowbridge’s teas, Miss Bennet.

Would you be so kind as to acquaint me with what I should expect? ”

Mary found herself smiling at the gentleman, for she had been wondering much the same. “Unfortunately, I’m not the one to ask, sir, as I have only just met our hostess today. I am here with my sister, Mrs. Darcy.”

“Ah, well… would you despise me very much if I admitted that I am glad? You see, I have heard so many remarkable things about the Countess that I feel quite intimidated by her.”

Miss Bennet assured him that she did not despise him at all and their conversation turned to how he had become interested in doing more than just donating funds to the charity.

Blushing slightly, Mr. Dodd admitted, “My own father passed away two years ago, and I am doing my best to take my responsibilities seriously. My mother and two younger sisters are dependent upon me, you see?”

After Mary expressed her sympathies, he continued, “We have an excellent steward for our estate, so really there’s not much for me to do but agree with his suggestions.

And I want to do something more meaningful than just sitting around, counting my rent monies and going to useless parties, you see? ”

By the end of his little speech, the young man had shed his timorous demeanor and fairly quivered with eagerness. A few questions from his confidant elicited more details on his hopes to establish a school for his tenants’ children, and perhaps another in the nearest village.

Mary could not help but be impressed. “My new brother, Mr. Darcy, has such a school for his tenants and cottagers, just as you propose. When I visited his estate over Christmas, I observed that his people appeared prosperous and content; there was none of the unrest that those opposed to a common education have predicted.”

Mr. Dodd nodded with satisfaction. “I cannot comprehend why so many are against the schooling of the lower classes. Even if we only teach someone their letters and numbers, such opportunities open up to them! Imagine, not being able to read a sign, or check that your tab at the butcher’s has been reckoned correctly! ”

“Or take comfort from a favorite passage in the bible…” added Mary softly.

Mr. Dodd looked at her with appreciation. “Precisely! I can’t tell you how much pleasure it gives me to meet someone such as yourself; someone who cares about what is truly important!”

“You give me too much credit, sir; I fear that I’ve long been in the habit of lecturing others on what virtues they should strive for, rather than being particularly admirable, myself.

” In a moment of perfect clarity, Mary added, “Really, much of my life has been devoted to the abstinence of any immoral behaviors, rather than the active devotion of my time to such virtuous pursuits as might make a difference in the world.” She looked to him shyly.

“I’ve done nothing bad, but nor have I done anything particularly good, do you understand? ”

The light in Mr. Dodd’s eyes reassured her that he did not condemn her at all. “There are not many who come to see the difference, particularly at such a young age. May I ask what drew you to such an insight?”

Although she was not usually given to exposing her private affairs to strangers, Mary found Mr. Dodd to be such a sympathetic listener that she was soon telling him all about meeting Mr. Tucker and the mission in Africa.

After listening carefully and asking not a few questions, Mr. Dodd finally leaned back in his chair and stared off into space for a minute.

“My goodness, that’s a thing, is it not!

?! There is a chance to make a real difference in the world!

” He looked at his companion with new respect.

“My rambling about schools in the English countryside must seem very small to you, I fear.”

“Not at all!” Mary was quick to reassure him. “I agree with everything you’ve said; even the smallest amount of education can open such opportunities to a person! Imagine what genius might be wasted because a man was born the son of a miner and has no means to record his thoughts!”

Mary could tell that the gentleman was only partially convinced, but she did not have a chance to try again as Lady Trowbridge was calling for everyone’s attention.

The meeting turned out to be everything that Miss Bennet had been lead to expect; the ladies and gentlemen who had come were genuinely determined to assist those less fortunate than themselves, and the Countess organized them with the zeal of a general dispatching her army.

Mary also noted that Elizabeth contributed eagerly to the planning and that her suggestions were well-received.