Mary discovered Mr and Mrs Gardiner seated comfortably in the quieter part of the room, in conversation with the couple from Kent. Her aunt beckoned her to sit beside them; and as soon as politeness allowed it, took her niece to one side, and, in a low whisper, asked what had occurred between herself and Miss Bingley.
‘I saw you speaking to her just now,’ she began, ‘and I was quite concerned. I hope she was behaving herself?’
‘Oh, she was much as she always is,’ said Mary. ‘There were a few matters she wished to discuss with me.’
‘Really?’ replied Mrs Gardiner. ‘That seems most unlike her. She’s never shown any desire to speak to us before.’
She looked at her niece questioningly. Mary was unsure how much of Miss Bingley’s conversation she should reveal. Part of her was tempted to confide in her aunt, as there was no one she trusted more. But she knew any confession would result in adverse consequences. Mrs Gardiner was already wary of Mr Ryder and what she regarded as his excessively free and plausible manner. If Mary were to tell her about Miss Bingley’s jealousy, that would only add to her aunt’s prejudice against him, for his being admired by a woman she disliked was not calculated to improve her opinion of him. She supposed Mrs Gardiner might even discourage him from visiting Gracechurch Street; and when Mary contemplated that prospect, she was honest enough to acknowledge she did not welcome it. If Mr Ryder were no longer to call at Gracechurch Street, there was no doubt that Miss Bingley would consider that a great victory. She would tell herself that for all Mary’s bluster, she had quickly capitulated to Miss Bingley’s will and had obediently forbidden Mr Ryder her company. Mary’s expression hardened as she imagined the pleasure this would afford Miss Bingley, and decided this was not a satisfaction she was prepared to grant her. She would say nothing to her aunt that might result in Mr Ryder’s exclusion; and would instead do all she could to ensure he came just as often as before.
Mary was honest enough to admit that her reluctance to see less of Mr Ryder did not arise solely from her desire to disoblige Miss Bingley. He was a very entertaining visitor, amusing, lively, intriguing; even his frank declarations, which had so provoked her aunt, were exciting to her. She had never met anyone quite like him before, so confident in his own opinions and so untroubled by the criticisms of others. There was something refreshing in the uncomplicated sunniness of his character, which turned effortlessly away from any difficulty, gravitating instead to what was pleasurable and, of course, gratifying to himself. She hastened to remind herself that he had none of Mr Hayward’s finer qualities; but it could not denied that Mr Ryder was naturally and undeniably happy, and Mary had discovered it improved her state of mind to be amongst happy people. For that reason alone, she would have been sad to see him no more at Gracechurch Street.
All these considerations confirmed her resolve to keep to herself what had passed between her and Miss Bingley; and she managed a tolerably cheerful smile as she replied.
‘Oh, it was really nothing. Nothing that bears repeating anyway.’
Mrs Gardiner did not appear entirely convinced, but before she could interrogate Mary further, Mr Ryder himself appeared before them, eager to hear that supper had been to their liking. Both exclaimed that they had enjoyed it very much, although Mrs Gardiner regretted Mary had been placed so oddly.
‘I was very well where I was,’ answered Mary quickly. It seemed as if Mr Ryder was about to offer an explanation for her exile, and she had no wish for her aunt to hear of Miss Bingley’s stratagems.
‘As I was denied the pleasure of conversing with you tonight,’ said Mr Ryder, ‘I hope I may be allowed to make up for my loss by calling on you tomorrow.’ He looked enquiringly at Mrs Gardiner. ‘Might that be convenient?’
From across the room, Mary glimpsed Miss Bingley watching them closely, and decided to deflect any possibility of refusal.
‘I’m sure we should very much like to see you – should we not, aunt?’
‘Of course,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘We shall be glad to offer you tea, Mr Ryder. As long as there is no more talk of unregulated passions.’
‘I promise to say nothing at all about passions, ma’am, regulated or otherwise.’
Mrs Gardiner watched him coolly as he walked away.
‘I’m not sure why you were so keen to have that young man at the house again.’
‘It seemed the polite thing to do. He invited us here, after all.’
‘I suppose you are right,’ replied Mrs Gardiner uncertainly. ‘But he is a little too pert for my tastes.’
Her face suddenly broke into a smile. Mary turned and saw Mr Hayward was approaching them, carrying two glasses of wine, which he presented to them before settling himself on the sofa opposite.
‘Ah, Tom,’ declared Mrs Gardiner with a glance at Mary, ‘you are always welcome at Gracechurch Street, for breakfast, dinner, or even children’s tea, if you think you have the courage to attempt it.’
‘If there was bread and butter on offer, it should hold no fear for me. Especially if there was greengage jam. We never get that at my lodgings.’
‘Oh, the sorrows of the single man!’ lamented Mrs Gardiner. ‘When you change your situation, you may demand from your wife whatever jam you wish for. That’s a husband’s privilege, you know.’
‘One I eagerly look forward to exercising at such future time. What is your opinion, Miss Bennet? You’re sure to have one, even upon jam.’
‘It is raspberry for me,’ Mary declared, ‘or, if that’s not to be had, I may console myself with strawberry. But I venture no further into the exotic.’
‘I’m sorry to hear it,’ he said. ‘So even if we were married, I could not obtain the wish of my heart – greengage jam at breakfast.’
Mary smiled. The idea of them as husband and wife, eating greengage jam together, affected her so powerfully that, to give herself something else to think about, she plucked the bunch of lavender from her sash and began to rub the sprigs between her fingers.
‘Where did you find that?’ asked Mr Hayward.
‘I took them from a bowl over there,’ Mary replied. ‘I hope that does not make me a thief.’
‘Well, possession is always said to be nine-tenths of the law.’ He moved towards her. ‘It smells very good. May I have a piece?’
Mary held out a sprig to him. He took it and stuck it in the button hole of his jacket.
‘Your friend Mr Ryder has invited himself to Gracechurch Street tomorrow,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘I suppose I could not convince you to come too?’
He looked genuinely disappointed.
‘I should like that of all things, but it’s impossible. I have so much business at present that I cannot get away. I am very sorry for it.’
‘That’s a great pity. Mr Ryder cannot really take your place. We miss you, Tom. Don’t we, Mary?
‘Yes,’ agreed Mary quietly. ‘We do indeed.’
Not long afterwards, Mr Ryder’s supper reached that point, never publicly declared but always privately understood, when everyone knew it was time to go. Soon Mary stood in the hallway, waiting while her aunt and uncle made their farewells to their host. Mr Hayward appeared with her coat, which he had undertaken to retrieve for her.
‘I hope Ryder is not becoming a trial to you and Mrs Gardiner,’ he said as he helped her into it. ‘He takes up people he likes with great enthusiasm, but he does not always know when he has outstayed his welcome. I’m sure I could suggest he lengthen the intervals between his visits somewhat.’
‘Oh, I don’t think that will be necessary,’ replied Mary, her mind still upon thwarting Miss Bingley. ‘He is really no trouble, and I should not like to hurt his feelings.’
‘I see,’ he replied, somewhat taken aback. ‘Of course, I shan’t speak to him unless you wish it.’
Mary saw instantly that he had misunderstood her meaning. She had not meant to imply that she could not bear to surrender a moment of Mr Ryder’s company; but that was clearly what Mr Hayward thought he had heard. She was about to attempt to correct such an unfortunate impression, but before she could do so, she was surprised to hear her own name pronounced, quite loudly, at the bottom of the stairs. At first, she did not recognise the voice. Then she saw Mr Hurst and his wife standing at the front door below, and she realised it was he who was speaking. His wife’s words were said too low to be audible, but her husband’s were only too easily discerned.
‘You and your sister may say what you please, but in my opinion, that Bennet girl is much improved. It was a pleasure to sit next to her.’
His wife’s response could not be heard, but to Mary’s increasing distress, Mr Hurst replied with even greater volume.
‘Well, she didn’t look plain to me. Perfectly tolerable in my opinion. You can see Ryder’s interested. If I were him, I’d snap her up before some other fellow does.’
To Mary’s intense relief, they heard no more, as Mr Hurst was bustled into the carriage and carried away. In the silence that followed, Mr Hayward stepped towards her, horrified.
‘Miss Bennet, I must apologise. I should have called out – I should have told him he could be heard. I was too slow.’
‘I’m sure he didn’t mean it – he drank a lot of wine at dinner.’
‘I’m very sorry you had to hear such things,’ said Mr Hayward angrily. ‘I should have prevented it.’
‘Really, it was not your fault. Mr Hurst is not a very sensible man. Who can say what he might come out with?’
Suddenly she was very tired and could not think clearly. First, Miss Bingley, and now this. She began to feel overwhelmed.
‘I think I should like to go now. If you would take me to my uncle and aunt’s carriage, I’ll wait for them there. And please, Mr Hayward, don’t tell them what just happened.’
Tom Hayward took her arm and led her forward. Neither of them mentioned Mr Ryder as they walked out into the darkness. But Mary thought Mr Hayward had a preoccupied look, as though an idea had occurred to him that he did not much care for, and he was turning over in his mind what he should do about it. He handed her into the carriage and bid her a polite good night. She threw herself back against the seat and closed her eyes. If it was as painful as this to live a life of feeling, then perhaps cold rationality had a great deal to recommend it.