Detective Mary

Chapter 21

Mary wasn't lying, Jane's typhoid fever was finally getting better.

Her illness came and went quickly. After the low-grade fever subsided in the morning, she was back on her feet by the afternoon. Although Jane was still a little weak from her first illness, by evening she was able to leave her bedroom and join the group in the dining room.

Mr. Bingley saw that she was pale, but in a good mood. In particular, Mary had been whispering to Jane at the table, occasionally making the gentle and beautiful Miss Bennet smile.

This called Mr. Bingley down, and he ordered his servant to send a letter to Longbourn.

When dinner was over, the returning servant brought back a message from the Bennetts to Netherfield Hall, stating that Mrs. Bennet would come in person to see her daughters on the morrow.

Mr. Bingley communicated this message to Jane, and was not surprised to receive a grateful and moving smile from her in return. The two young people were courteous to each other, and so careful in their manner, as if they were afraid of saying something unseemly, which should spoil their good impression in each other's eyes.

Seeing Jane's sincere manner and shy expression, did Mr. Bingley think she had no feelings for him?

Mary sat aside and couldn't help but sigh in her heart, straight men are straight men, even a thoughtful man like Mr. Bentley can't fathom a girl's delicate mind.

In her opinion, Jane is the character is too introverted, full of love and admiration because of shyness and hide tightly, which led to the original so a misunderstanding.

And now, Mary felt it was time to help her big sister and future brother-in-law.

When Mr. Bingley and Jane had spoken a few more words and were ready to leave, Mary quietly slipped out of the parlor when Elizabeth and Jane weren't looking.

"Mr. Bingley!" She stopped Bentley with the hem of her skirt.

"What?"

"Something ......"

Mary spoke mysteriously, subconsciously glancing at the living room as if to make sure no one had noticed her.

This fretful look called to Bentley, who mistook Mary for having something big to announce, and the mild-mannered gentleman looked aghast before guiding Mary a few steps toward the hallway, avoiding the living room door.

"You may speak now, Miss Mary."

"I have come to take a message for Jane."

"Hmm?"

Almost by reflex, Mr. Bentley tried to look up into the drawing room until his eyes hit the wall and he realized they couldn't see Jane Bennet here.

It must have been a very discreet message to be so cautious.

"What is the matter," responded Mr. Bentley earnestly, "if there is anything she requires, I will do my best to do it."

"Don't look as if you were going to die generously."

Mary teased, and could not help laughing when she saw that Mr. Bingley was a little embarrassed, "Jane just asked me to tell you that she has something on her mind that she would like to tell you in private, and since our mother is coming tomorrow, Jane would like to take advantage of the opportunity to talk to you in the morning, and she will be waiting for you in the garden before breakfast."

"Wh--"

Mr. Bentley nearly choked on his own spit when he heard the words.

What could an unmarried lady possibly have to say in private to a single gentleman these days? Even Sherlock Holmes was not as shocked as Mr. Bentley was when he told him the clue to the case.

"Just a moment, Lady Mary."

Realizing Mary's subtext, Bentley was rather more than a little frightened, and he tried apprehensively, "There are words in your heart ...... What words do you mean?"

Mary winked wryly, "Do I have to say I understand?"

Bentley: "My goodness."

He really thinks Jane doesn't like him! Mary cried and laughed, watching a rich, decent gentleman suffer because of Jane, not really knowing whether to be happy for Jane or anxious and angry.

"Don't cry to God," Mary remonstrated, "it's better to think about how to face how important it is."

"I - ahem."

After realizing that he had lost his temper, Mr. Bentley coughed lightly for a few moments before replacing his expression with one of sincerity.

"I see, miss," he looked to Mary with immense gratitude, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

Mary returned with a smile. Just remember to invite me to London often when you marry my sister!

After Mr. Bentley's side was taken care of, Mary was in no hurry.

When the guests saw Jane walk out of the bedroom, they inevitably had to ask more questions, but she was still pale and didn't pester them too much, and after confirming that she had indeed regained her health, they advised her to take an early rest so that she could regain her strength.

Only when Jane returned to her room did Mary, who had changed into her nightgown, sneak into her bedroom.

"I've got to tell you something, Jane," she said, lowering her voice and making a pretense, "there were so many people just now that I was afraid someone would hear me, and it's suffocating me."

"What is it?" Jane asked.

"When you look at her like that," Elizabeth, who knew Mary better than Jane, could not help but speak when she saw her exaggerated description, "it can't be good."

"Big mistake."

Mary retorted triumphantly, "And that's a really good thing!"

Elizabeth, "You tell me, I'd like to see what other crooked ideas can pop into your quirky head."

"It is not my thinking up any crooked ideas, it is Mr. Bingley who has sent me a message," Mary announced grandly, "He has just shouted me out of the drawing room for fear of letting the news slip, just so I can tell Jane that he will be waiting for you in the garden before breakfast tomorrow."

"Wait for me," said Jane, surprised, "wait for me for what?"

"Naturally ......"

Mary lengthened her tones, and saw both sisters look anxious at the same time, before continuing, "Naturally, there is something in my heart to say to you, Jane!"

"Good heavens!"

Before Jane could make a reaction, Elizabeth covered her mouth, "Mr. Bentley this is ...... Jane, he's going to propose to you!"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Elizabeth exclaimed, which really made Jane blush, and she hastily defended herself, "Maybe it's just an inquiry about my health, Lizzie, don't think too much about it!"

"He's already inquired today ah," Mary giggled, "and he's going to 'inquire alone' tomorrow, that's very considerate!"

"Mary!"

Instead of stopping at Jane's outburst of reprimand, Mary giggled and bantered with Elizabeth for a few moments, only quieting down when Jane was so ashamed she couldn't even hold her head up and shooed her two endless sisters out of the bedroom.

Jane, who was left in peace and quiet, could not close her eyes while lying on the bed.

She knew that Mr. Bentley had a crush on her - the story was making the rounds, and it was hateful to think that the whole of the social world was buzzing with the rumor that Mr. Bentley had fallen in love with Jane Bennet at first sight, and was waiting for the marriage proposal to be on the spot.

The more this happened, the more Jane dared not express her feelings for fear of doing something out of the ordinary that would ruin her reputation and implicate Mr. Bingley as well.

So he really liked himself to the point where he wanted to spend his life with her.

Jane tossed and turned, her cheeks reddening with thought, as if the fever had started again.

On the following day, Jane, who had a heavy heart, awoke almost at daybreak, and, after freshening up, as Mary had "related" yesterday, she went out into the garden in the morning dew without waiting for breakfast.

Mr. Charles Bingley was waiting for him.

At the sight of his handsome side and erect frame, Jane's heart missed two beats, and she was so ashamed that she almost wanted to turn and run away.

But just as that thought was forming, Mr. Bentley caught sight of Jane's silhouette.

She had to step forward and whisper a greeting, "Good morning, sir."

Bentley nodded politely, looking rushed, "Morning, ma'am."

Then the pair fell into a brief silence, and after a few seconds, looked up again in unison and spoke at the same time, "I heard-"

Bentley: "......"

Jane: "......"

The unexpected acquiescence lightened the mood a bit, and Bentley shook his head, testing, "You seem to be in an agitated mood, miss."

"So do you," Jane whispered, "and seem to have a lot to say."

"Yes, yes!"

Mr. Bentley was a little nervous, his look eager, "I didn't think, I didn't think--"

"Didn't think?"

"I didn't realize, miss, that you were also interested in me ......"

Jane's face immediately reddened, she didn't dare to look into Bentley's eyes at all, she could only avert her gaze, "I, I ......"

"God!"

Mr. Bentley stepped back a few paces, pacing back and forth in agitation, and finally he stopped as if he had made up his mind, and spoke solemnly, "I just can't bear to have my heart in my mouth any longer, young lady, please listen to me!"

Mr. Bentley, who was always gentle, had never spoken to Jane in so firm a tone, and it made Jane look up startled.

She looked into his bright eyes.

"You captivated me at the first ball, miss," said Bingley, fondly, "and then I realized that you were a lady whose soul was as beautiful as her appearance, and couldn't help myself. I hesitated and puzzled in the meantime, until yesterday when I realized--I've got to get married sometime, Jane, but when I imagined my own wedding, I just couldn't bear to think that it wasn't you who would be standing with me before the parson to take the vows!"

Jane was stunned.

Even though she was prepared, she froze in front of such a passionate confession from Bentley.

"Forgive me," Bentley continued to speak, "I am so in love with you, Miss Bennet, that I hope my love will redeem the image I have lost before you."

"What, what? No!"

Jane immediately snapped back, "You're not being rude, sir, it's just ......"

"Just?" Mr. Bentley's heart was almost in his throat.

"It's just," said Jane, blushing, "that I may have been blessed by God himself, or how else could I have gotten your fancy?"

Bentley's eyes lit up, "What do you mean, miss?"

Jane: "I... I adore you too, sir."

She covered her cheeks when she finished speaking, as if she would have fainted if she had said one more word.

Bentley, seeing this, almost braked his ecstatic smile-Jane Bennet was very ill, and it would be a great loss to irritate her further.

Still, he was delighted, and who wouldn't rejoice at the idea of two lovers?

"God himself must have blessed me, too; by God, it's as if I were in a dream," spoke Bentley, touched; "I was so excited yesterday when Miss Mary said you had something from your heart to tell me, that I didn't sleep a wink all night."

Jane stiffened at her words.

She dropped her hand in confusion, "I have something to say to you? But what Mary said was that you have something to say to me from your heart, sir."

The two looked at each other for two seconds before Jane immediately understood.

"I know," even the watery, gentle Jane was a little moved to temper and irritation, "it's Mary who's playing a trick on us!"

Bentley: "............"

Bentley, who had come back to his senses, couldn't hold back his laughter any longer after realizing what Mary had done.

He took Jane's hand affectionately and pulled her to him, "With all due respect, young lady, your sister is a genius full of spooks, and I have her to thank for catching you and me in the act!"

Miss Mary Bennet, the "culprit," was in her bedroom, enjoying her morning reading before breakfast, with a book in her hand.

Elizabeth, brushing her hair, glanced at the book in Mary's hand and said in surprise, "You're reading Shakespeare, or a romantic comedy, has the sun come out of the west?"

"It's nice to spice up the mood once in a while."

Mary smiled as she closed the books, the covers of the hardcover books showing.

--Exactly Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing.