Detective Mary

Chapter 2

With a goal in mind, Mary finally mentioned a few moments of interest in the upcoming ball.

Even though she had traveled through time and space, Mary had the advantage of knowing the original story and the knowledge of the twenty-first century better than her sisters, but if she was to meet Mr. Darcy at the ball and fall in love through bloodshed like the heroines of other novels of the same kind, Mary was really a little reluctant to do so.

Yes, since the times have changed, Mary Bennet also probably understand that she is a heroine of the homage novels, before traveling through time and space in order to pass the time she read a lot of, this kind of routine naturally know.

But since she had come all the way here and times had changed, wouldn't it be a waste of the setting if she didn't make good use of it?

Of course, this does not affect Mary's curiosity about Mr. Darcy, forget about falling in love, it's still okay to spectate. Arrogant man is not her favorite type, but in the end is the future brother-in-law, or should be early to get to know a little. Just in case Mr. Darcy is really as handsome as his future character, Colin Firth, it never hurts to admire handsome men.

So on the way to Netherfield Manor, Mary was in a pretty good mood, and even the chattering of the two Catherine and Lydia didn't upset her as much as it had in the past.

However, Mary was destined to be benched at the ball.

She is not good at dancing in reality, when her friends go to the disco, Mary still likes to stay at home to read books and watch dramas, and then read online novels is also quite good. And more than a hundred years ago, the ball is even more boring, Mary is not very good-looking, a few rounds of music down, there are not many young people happy to invite her to dance.

Until Mr. Bentley walked up to Mary.

The good brother-in-law, the handsome brother-in-law, as the host, personally ran to save the dignity of the cold-shouldered Mary. Though Mary didn't really mind-she was used to it-she was grateful for Mr. Bingley's thoughtfulness.

As the men and women of all colors stood in two rows at the ball, Mary earnestly admired the handsome, tall and kind Mr. Bingley in front of her, "I thought I was going to have to stand at the ball all night for nothing, thank you, sir."

Mr. Bentley stared, probably not expecting Mary to be so frank, but he quickly smiled, "Why, I just heard someone tell my sister that you are the most talented young lady in the neighborhood."

The music began and Mary bowed towards Mr. Bentley before moving with the group, "Talented is just a euphemism for nerdy, but I don't mind, books can be so much more interesting than country life."

"Oh?"

Mr. Bentley spoke with interest.

"What have you read, Miss Bennet?"

"Recently reading Montesquieu's Essay on the Causes of the Flourishing and Falling of Rome."

"You read it?" Such an answer could have been far more than Mr. Bentley expected.

"I can't read," said Mary, smiling; "and if I could, why should I read at all. People choose to read for the sake of learning, and a learned man who knows everything would have to read books instead of books."

Mr. Bentley nodded, "But even a great scholar has to continue to learn."

"There's no end to learning."

"That's true," said Mr. Bingley, approvingly; "I didn't think Miss Jane Bennet had such a studious and thoughtful sister."

Ha! Mary knew it was so.

There were more Miss Bennet's than just her and big sister Jane Bennet who came to Netherfield Hall, and the fact that this Mr. Bingley didn't mention Elizabeth or Mary's two sisters was proof enough that he did indeed have the beautiful, beautiful Jane on his mind from the first sight of the ball.

It was a subtle feeling to witness the original story unfolding, and Mary couldn't help but jump up and down in her heart - her big sister was going to be happily married, and she was going to have a chance to get away from the countryside on her lap!

"What's the use of being studious," said Mary, half-jokingly arching her own sister's fire, "it's still not as admirable as Miss Jane Bennet's beauty, is it?"

"Sh-no!"

Mary's smile got even wider, and she winked wryly, "Mr. Bentley, not that I'm saying, although you're in good condition - but my sister is so beautiful, I don't know how many young talents like her, so you'll have to step up your game!"

The courteous Mr. Bentley had never met a girl as blunt as Mary, his face flushed, "Your sister is indeed beautiful, Miss Bennet."

He didn't even retort, so it seemed that he was really in love. Mary didn't give him a hard time, but changed the subject as if nothing had happened, "You must have traveled quite a bit before moving to Netherfield Manor, sir."

"Yes, I've just returned from Birmingham."

"Birmingham!"

The second largest city after London, the center of heavy industry, and more importantly the home of the famous British gangsters, the Razorbacks! Mary before traveling through time and space was extraordinarily fond of late nineteenth and early twentieth century English urban legends, and what cooler legend could there be than gangsters.

Even though the Razorbacks were active decades later, Pride and Prejudice all took place in the Victorian era, and Mary felt she could still keep some of her fantasies.

"Miss Bennet is very fond of Birmingham?"

"I like any place that isn't country," complained Mary; "Birmingham or London, I want to see it. I hear that the factory machines in London work day and night, and I have to stay in the country and quarrel endlessly with my sisters over trifles."

For the second time Mr. Bingley was amused by Mary, who, while the other young ladies shunned machines and factories as if making money were something unseemly, Mary Bennet was very much interested in them.

"Such a coincidence."

Then he laughed, "The friend who accompanied me to the ball has a lot of property in London."

Mary sniffed and looked sideways at Mr. Darcy beyond the dance floor.

The famous Mr. Darcy was indeed as handsome as Colin Firth, and of course, as arrogant as Colin Firth's portrayal. He hadn't danced many dances all night, and he hadn't had many ladies in his sights.

There was no hurry now, arrogance was destined to be smacked in the face, Mary withdrew her gaze unhurriedly, when he was rejected outright by Elizabeth he would have a hard time.

"Mr. Darcy is a talented man," she said politely, "and I am sure a visionary when it comes to investing and placing factories."

"I'm sure he'd love a well-read young lady like you, too."

Mary couldn't help but shake her head.

Let's just forget it, good looks don't help, Mary just doesn't like arrogance.

Compared to this solid British popular male god, Mary prefers another, more famous than Mr. Darcy, wider audience, and even unisex fictional image, that is, the great detective Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

This is also one of the reasons why Mary wanted to go to London to see - homoerotic novels like to synthesize the work, since she traveled through time and space to "Pride and Prejudice", so this world will not also exist in this world, "Sherlock Holmes Mysteries", or even other contemporaneous novels of the characters?

And even if they don't, it doesn't matter. If Holmes doesn't exist, Sir Conan Doyle himself does. Both of them were Mary's gods, and if she could meet them, if she had the honor of writing to them, or even saying a few words to them, Mary felt that it would be a life of no regrets.

She therefore simply said, with a generous smile, "I don't think Mr. Darcy would believe that an unmarried lady would read Montesquieu."

Mr. Bingley subconsciously tried to argue for his friend, but he opened his mouth and realized that Mary was right.

Darcy was good at everything, but he was condescending. Mary's words of learning were stunning enough for a young squire's daughter, yet Bingley would have believed she was really reading Montesquieu, Darcy would not. And since he didn't believe it, it was only natural that Darcy wouldn't have realized that Mary had this insight.

What was even more remarkable was that, knowing that Darcy would despise her, Lady Mary did not take offense.

What a pity!

Mr. Bingley could not help sighing for his friend, and how many deserving ladies Darcy had missed by this high and mighty character.

Mary did not care for this; look at Darcy's good looks, and what a match he was for her second sister Elizabeth. He was indeed a good match for marriage, but as with Mr. Bingley, Mary had no intention of stealing resources from her good sisters.

When the song was over and Mary was quite pleased with the future brother-in-law, she smiled and thanked Mr. Bingley again, "Thank you, Mr. Bingley."

"It's not off--"

Before Mr. Bentley could finish his sentence, his sister, Mrs. Hurst, hurried over.

Mrs. Hurst whispered something in his ear, and Mr. Bingley immediately turned pale. No one else could hear, but Mary, standing right in front of Mr. Bingley, did.

"Miss Bentley has fainted?"

She frowned, taking up Mrs. Hurst's words, "What happened?"

Mrs. Hurst was taken aback, but hearing Mary's categorical question, she still subconsciously spoke up and answered, "She, she said she saw a ghost!"