Page 210 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

She placed her hand in his and climbed into the gig. He settled beside her, took up the reins, and they set off toward the Marshall cottage.

For the first few minutes, they were both silent.

“I confess I was curious when Charlotte told me about your visits,” Alexander said. “I had not known anyone who made a practice of calling upon families in need.”

“I began only recently. I wished to be useful.”

Mary looked across the fields. “I had always believed I understood the lives of the people around us. I have discovered that knowing their names and knowing how they live are quite different things.”

“I know many of my father's tenants by name. I am not certain I know enough about how they live.”

“I am ashamed to admit that it has been much the same for me with the Longbourn tenants.”

When they reached the Marshall cottage, Alexander secured the horse and handed Mary down. Mrs. Marshall welcomed them inside, where the five girls ranged in age from a child of six to a young woman nearly Mary's age.

Mary explained that Lydia was altering gowns for girls who needed them and had sent her to take the necessary measurements.

“You mean to make them for my girls?”

“If you will permit us, ma’am.”

Mrs. Marshall called her eldest daughter forward.

Lydia had sent paper, pencil, pins, and a length of tape with precise instructions. Mary went inside a bedchamber with the girls while Alexander stepped out to wait.

The eldest boy, a solemn child of ten, soon came around the side of the cottage to see who had arrived. He and Alexander moved farther into the yard, where the boy told him of his adventures in the woods along the creek.

When Mary had finished, she joined Alexander outside, and they began the drive back to Longbourn.

“There are several more families on Mr. Fernside’s list,” she said.

Alexander glanced at her. “I have a gig.”

Mary laughed.

When they reached Longbourn, Alexander walked her to the door.

“I shall see you again soon, Miss Mary.”

“I hope so, Mr. Lucas.”

* * *

Mary entered the house and was removing her bonnet when the Bennet sisters joined her. “Mr. Lucas has offered to take me to some of the other families.”

Lydia gave her sister a knowing look.

Mary made a little twirl in the center of the room. “I believe he likes me.”

Jane smiled at her younger sister as she began picking out a seam. “He is a very fine man, Mary. I hope you are right.”

Over the following weeks, the work spread beyond Longbourn. Charlotte and Maria sent their gowns and helped with the sewing; Lady Lucas helped with hems, and other women in the neighborhood began donating laundered clothing to be remade.

Alexander volunteered two hours each morning to drive Mary to families on the Lucas estate and elsewhere in the parish, and his gig soon became a familiar sight at Longbourn. He always came to the house before time, and listened with genuine interest as she told him where they were going and what each family needed.

Before long, Mary listened for the sound of his gig coming up the drive, and would hurry to the front entrance for her bonnet and gloves.

Barely used dresses that had once filled the wardrobes of their Meryton neighbors began appearing in cottages with shortened skirts, altered bodices, and sleeves fitted to their new owners.