Page 46 of Great Uncle Henry (Pride & Prejudice Vagary)

Roger approached Mary. “Mary, may I ask you something in private?” he requested. He looked at her hopefully.

“Yes, Roger, you may address me, as I would like to hear what you have to say,” Mary replied excitedly.

She had fallen in love with Roger almost two months past, and as keen as she was for him to offer his addresses to her, she also appreciated that he was willing to allow her as much time as she needed to truly know her own mind.

They approached Uncle Henry, who told them to use the study.

Acting in loco parentis, as Mary had no other Bennet male member present, he allowed them ten minutes and made sure his great-nephew knew that the door was to remain partially open.

A maid was summoned to sit outside of the door.

As soon as she was in place, Roger led Mary to their great-uncle’s study.

Once the door was set per Uncle Henry’s instructions, Roger turned to face Mary.

“Since I have been in England, I have heard that it is acceptable to first court the woman you intend to ask to be your wife before you ask for her hand.

Although I never asked your father for permission to court you, I hope you know that is what I have been doing almost from the first time I met you when you captivated me.

I first noticed your beauty, but I soon saw your intelligence and character, which are two traits that were far more important to me.

“Mary, I respect you more than I can say, but more than that, I love you most deeply as well. If you need more time, the question I most want to ask will wait, but if you are ready…”

“I am very ready for you to ask the question to which you are alluding. Roger Henry Taylor, you are the man who I love and respect. I could never see myself walking life’s paths with any man other than you.

If I am not being too presumptuous, and you meant to ask me to marry you, the reply is yes, as many times as you need to hear it, yes, I will marry you, and only you. ”

“That was the question I wanted to ask above all others. I did not even have a chance to kneel down before you. Mary Penelope Bennet, you have made me the happiest of men.”

Roger pulled Mary to himself gently, all the while making sure it was what she wanted.

He received definitive confirmation when she threw her arms about his neck and crushed his lips down on her own.

He had some experience kissing, but not very much.

He had never kissed the woman who owned his heart before, and Roger learnt just how different that was; it was infinitely better.

The kisses deepened as he drew Mary against his body as much as possible.

The feel of her generous breasts pushing into his chest almost caused Roger to lose control.

However, other than his tongue probing her mouth, and hers his, he managed to keep himself under reasonable regulation.

Far too soon for him, but needing to make sure he did not cross a line, Roger stepped back .

Mary sported a gorgeous pout which only made him want to kiss her more.

“Our time is all but up,” Roger managed with a ragged breath.

As if to prove his point, the maid knocked on the door.

Thankfully, things had returned to their normal state, and he opened the door fully.

“You know why I cannot speak to your father yet, do you not?”

“Yes, I am aware of the reasons. Even if it will not be official in the strictest sense, our families and closest friends will know. If everything goes to plan, it will be a little more than a fortnight before that issue will no longer be one,” Mary responded.

She was glowing with absolute pleasure and fulfilment.

Holding hands, their fingers interlaced, Mary and Roger made the short walk back to the drawing room.

Even though the news had been expected, the congratulations were bountiful and sincere. Henry and Debby Taylor welcomed Mary as a soon-to-be daughter and insisted she call them Mother and Pa. Aunt Felicity asked Mary to call her Gammy like her other grandchildren did.

The three other Bennet sisters present were greatly excited for Mary and repeatedly hugged her. An added advantage was that they would finally have a brother.

“Mary, I am sure you and Roger will be very happy together. I can see you are well balanced, and it will be a marriage of equals, neither being cruel to the other. I am so pleased for you.” Fanny pulled Mary into a warm hug.

She knew she could not change the past, but she lamented all of the wasted years she had missed with her three middle daughters.

Next, Fanny opened her arms to hug Roger, her son-in-law to be in—hopefully—the not too far distant future.

“I have heard you and your siblings address Debby as Mother, so if you are comfortable, you may use Mama for me. If not, whatever form of address you choose, except for Mrs Bennet, will be acceptable. ”

“I think Mama will work, except for the short term, when and if we are in company with your husband,” Roger decided.

“The same is true for me when I address Mother and Pa,” Mary acknowledged. “However, knowing Papa, I doubt whether we will all be in company very often, if at all. You all know how antisocial my father is at the best of times.”

“Mary is right,” Elizabeth agreed. “Of late we do not see our father unless it is at meals, and even then, as Mama said, he ignores us. It has been some time since he invited me into his study to play chess or debate with him. Evidently he is bored by me winning all of the time.”

“So much for my Bennet nephew wanting competition.” Henry shook his head. “It stopped being fun for him when he could not humiliate you by beating you. I am afraid that Thomas is a lost cause.”

“When do you think you will hear back from Lord Matlock?” Elizabeth enquired.

“Four to five days. As the days are shortening, it will be at least two days each way,” Henry estimated.

Sitting and hearing his family revelling in one another’s company, Henry felt content.

He also knew it was not the time to reveal the truth of his wealth to those who did not know yet.

Once the business with Thomas was complete, he would revisit that subject.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Bennet was almost at the end of his morning meal when he looked out from behind his paper and noticed none of his family members were at the table. He rang the bell.

“Mrs Hill, where are my silly wife and daughters?” Bennet demanded.

“They were invited to break their fasts at the dower house. Mrs Bennet did not think you would want to attend, so she said nothing to you,” the housekeeper replied .

He knew what Mrs Hill said was nothing but the truth, but he hoped if he showed some displeasure, his wife would have an attack of her nerves . “When they return, please have Mrs Bennet come see me in the study.”

“Aye, Master.” Mrs Hill bobbed a curtsy and left the dining parlour.

With the absence of any meaningful entertainment, at least for the time being, Bennet decided he needed to take his amusement where he could find it.

An hour later, as he sat with a book in hand and a half-empty glass of port on his desk, there was a knock on his door.

When his wife entered on his bidding for her to do so, Bennet was disconcerted.

Rather than looking nervous at being summoned to his inner sanctum, the look she sported was a ‘ devil-may-care ’ one.

“How could you and my daughters break your fasts at the dower house without so much as a by your leave? Furthermore, why was I not invited?” Bennet raised the volume of his voice to indicate his false anger.

Rather than get nervous, start flapping her silk square, or any of the other reactions he hoped for, Fanny just stood and calmly looked at him.

“If you are done being petulant, Mr Bennet, may I go?” Fanny requested.

This was not how it was supposed to go. She was not at all discomposed but had somehow seen through his fake asperity.

Soon enough the idiot cousin would arrive, and then he would have more than enough sport, especially in public settings, like the assembly, which would be on the nineteenth of September.