London Belle another snippet

The ball was much like others, in spite of the grandeur of the occasion.  Mary did not enjoy it as much as she had hoped.  Mrs Grant did not make any effort.  She looked glum, and Mary herself did not have as many partners as usual. 

Emily came and told her about some young captain she had fallen in love with, and Mary tried to seem interested.  They did not stay as long as usual and were at home and in bed by 3 o’clock…

The following morning, in spite of her late night, Mary went out riding early.  She returned to the house for breakfast.  Her sister had not left her room, but had written a note to remind her younger sister that she would not be in for dinner. 

Mary sat down to breakfast alone. She wondered again why it seemed so important to Catherine to go and dine with Mrs Brinsley, her friend’s mother.   She herself had no invitation for the evening, and would have to dine alone.  The only engagement she had was to walk in the Park later with her friend Sophie. 

Miss Sophia Lawrence was still unwed… She was also the daughter of a family whose country estate was only a few miles away from Mansfield Park.  She and Mary had become friends a few years ago, when she had gone to live with Dr and Mrs Grant.  Sophie had been amongst the Bertrams’ social circle.  Mary had never found the Bertrams’ set of country friends interesting.  However, Sophie had been an exception.  She was light hearted and an amusing talker.  She enjoyed private theatricals, which was one of Mary’s favourite divertissements. Naturally, she was more sophisticated than an innocent chit like Emily - it was more fun to talk to her.

Mary found it hard to settle to any occupation that morning.  She tried to read, or sew, but nothing entertained her for long.  She was glad when Miss Lawrence arrived with her maid.  They set off for the Park together.  As they walked, she told her friend of Catherine’s odd behavior.

“It is very strange, Mary dear. Perhaps it is her age?  She is not so young and she may be too old for social events such as balls that go on till the morning.”

“I can’t understand her wanting to visit old Mrs Brinsley.”

“No indeed.  But I must tell you, my dear, that I have news from home.  My aunt Dorothy has written from Garfield House…”

Mary bit back an impatient noise…

 “Mrs Edmund Bertram, that Missish creature that was Fanny Price...”

Mary stiffened and her hands gripped hard on the strings of her reticule.  Oh no, it wasn’t that she still had tender feelings for Edmund. All that had passed. Yet still, it was hard to hear the name of the shy country mouse who had supplanted her...

“Aunt Dorothy wrote me, that last week, Miss Fanny – or as she is now Mrs Edmund Bertram, has been brought to bed of a boy…”

Mary felt a pang.  It wasn’t that Edmund had a son, by another woman.  It was the sadness of knowing herself to be still unwed…

She forced a smile.

“Why, that is good news.  Edmund will have a little clergyman to bring up. I am sure that he will want all his sons to enter the church.”
Sophie giggled.  She had never cared for the serious minded younger son of Sir Thomas Bertram.  She went on with a smile, “Yes and I should say that the Reverend Edmund will be a bishop one day, indeed.”

Mary gave an answering grin. 

“Still it is good to hear that he and his little wife are happy. They must be, with a fine young son and having moved to the Mansfield Rectory when Dr Grant died.  The living at Thornton Lacy was not a rich one.  He now has a decent income, and he and Fanny will be close to Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram.  They will like that.”

Sophie patted her friend’s hand.  “I cannot imagine how he chose Fanny Price over you, Mary.”

“Oh I was not meant to be a parson’s wife, Sophie.”