A “Stormy” Excerpt from “Return to Longbourn”

Normally I wouldn’t have much first-hand info to report on storms from the first half of September. In fact, we often have some of our nicest weather this month. Yes, a few spots of the rain Seattle is famous for, but lots of sun and warm temperatures too.

This year has been different, however. We’ve already had tons of rain and two thunder/lightening storms, the most dramatic of which rolled through the evening of September 7th with 2200 lightning strikes in the area! Still nothing, I know, to what those of you in some other parts of the world have endured, but exceptional for us.

Today, though, instead of a blow-by-blow on Pacific Northwest weather, I’m gong to share with you a “stormy” excerpt from Return to Longbourn. So let me set the stage:

Mr. William Collins has met a premature end, and now his younger (and more attractive) brother Tristan has returned from America to acquaint himself with the Longbourn family and the property he will inherit in his brother’s stead.  Mrs. Bennet, of course, sees this as another chance to secure the family estate through one of her daughters. Deciding that it’s Kitty who should marry the new heir to Longbourn, she insists Mary promote the plan to her cousin. But Mary has other ideas.  She rather likes Mr. Tristan Collins for herself!

“Well, shall we walk towards Meryton?” asked Tristan. “The shops will be closed, but it is a charming village and it gives us a destination of sorts. Or are you too tired for such and undertaking, Miss Mary?”

“I am not tired in the least, Mr. Collins.”

“Tristan,” he corrected her

“Mr. Tristan, then. But,” with a glance at the sky, “I fear it will rain.”

“Then we shall have to adopt a lively pace in order to return to Longbourn before it does; it will add adventure to the scheme.”

Persuaded by his enthusiasm, Mary consented and they set off together at a brisk rate, as proposed. An easy silence rested between them some minutes as they gave themselves over to the enjoyment of the day, which, as Mr. Collins had suggested, held the tacit promise of adventure. The glowering nature of the sky lent a dramatic contrast to the occasional shaft of sunlight breaking through, and the air held a charge of anticipation at the threat of an approaching storm.

Remembering her mother’s explicit instructions, Mary, almost regretfully, resumed their conversation. “I understand you have another, far grander destination in view, Mr. Tristan. I hear you are to visit Pemberley and to there meet with your sister as well as two of my own – my elder, Elizabeth, who is Mrs. Darcy, and my younger sister Kitty.”

“You have heard correctly. I am for Derbyshire on Wednesday, the morning following this dinner party at Netherfield. As you might imagine, I am most anxious to see my dear sister Ruth again after so many years.”

“Of course, you are.”

“And your mother was extremely insistent that I should stay at Pemberley whilst I am in the neighborhood. She has sent a letter on to your sister, and she assures me I will be most welcome. There is a good deal more room for guests at the great house than at the parsonage, Mrs. Bennet pointed out. She is thinking of my sister’s comfort and my own, no doubt.”

“No doubt.” Mary pressed ahead with her assigned task. “I believe you will find both my sisters very amiable creatures.”

“I am sure that I shall. Tell me; is either of them much like yourself?”

Mary could not contain an ironical little laugh at the idea. “Not one bit, I promise you, so you are bound to like them both exceedingly well. Elizabeth is considered spirited and witty, and Kitty exceptionally good-natured. What is more, they are both allowed to be very pretty.”

“You are too modest of your own good qualities and accomplishment, Miss Mary. This commendation of your fair sisters is admirable, but it need not come at your own expense. I must say I admire you exceedingly for having the wits and wherewithal to secure a highly respectable situation of your own, not depending on chance or wealthy relations to rescue you from unlucky circumstances.” They walked on and, after a thoughtful pause, he added solemnly, “Besides, beauty is not what a prudent man values. It is a trap, and something never to be trusted.”

Mary glanced sidelong at him but, seeing his grave expression, she knew not what reply to make. She therefore remained silent and returned her eyes to the road ahead. Still, she was pleased with the sentiment, which seemed to her a specimen of singular insight.

They were just passing the tree-lined lane for Lucas Lodge, when suddenly the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain set full in their faces. There was only one thing to be done, to which the exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety; it was that of running with all possible speed back the way from which they had come. Laughing, Mr. Tristan grasped Mary’s hand without warning and compelled her along the road at a gallop. She held her skirt, put her head down, and raced along at his side, drawing deep draughts of the freshening air into her lungs as she went.

On they ran in unison, stride for stride. Neither of them proved fleet-footed enough to outstrip the rain, however, and they ended huddled together on the front porch of Longbourn, soaked clean through.

Too winded to speak, they could do nothing more for a long minute than breathe and look at one another. But Mary soon grew disconcerted by Mr. Tristan’s proximity, and she averted her eyes to inspect the damage done to her exterior. Her half-boots were caked with dirt, and the hem of her charcoal-colored muslin was likewise muddied. She could imagine the rest. “I must look a sight,” said she, cautiously lifting her eyes again to receive her cousin’s opinion.

He smiled down at her, drops of rain still caught in the web of his eyebrows and lashes. “No more so than I, I would wager,” said Mr. Tristan, jovially. “Come now, Miss Mary, you mustn’t take such a serious view of things. We have had our adventure after all, which I must say I enjoyed exceedingly. Will you not admit that you did as well?”

Before Mary could decide on an answer, Mrs. Hill opened the door and they were obliged to go inside.

Mary retreated at once to her old bedchamber to change out of her wet clothes with the assistance of the household’s young maid. “You shall have to see what you can do with these dirty things, Betsy,” she told the girl. “I can wear something else for now, but I must be back in my customary attire before returning to Netherfield.”

“Yes, Miss,” said Betsy, who then began to rattle on about the sudden change in the weather, the misfortune of the two of them having been caught out in it, what her father always said about the risk of being struck by lightening, and other such nonsense.

Mary could not properly attend. Her mind turned back to the walk out with her cousin. It was not only the substance of their conversation that seemed to invite continued reflection, but the exhilarating dash back to Longbourn in the rain.

Were she to answer Mr. Tristan’s question honestly, she should tell him that she had enjoyed it… prodigiously, in fact. She could not recall when she had last indulged in the pure pleasure of a physical release. Yet she would probably be at great pains to avoid owning how it had thrilled her. Why, she could not have rightly explained, other than it was a natural aspect of her reserved manner and the staid life she had carefully constructed for herself. Still, she had never been more tempted to let down her guard than now, with this cousin whom she began to regard as a true friend.

Well, what do you think? Do Mary and Tristan have a future together? Will Mary overcome the misfortune of being ‘plain’ to find love and her own happy ending?

Extra credit of you can identify the Jane Austen quote hidden in this excerpt!

Although Return to Longbourn stands on it’s own, chronologically it follows my first P&P sequel The Darcys of Pemberley. Together with the original novel, they create a satisfying trilogy. I hope you will read them all!