The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet by Katherine Cowley (the reading list book txt) 📗

have a favor to ask of you. There is some information that I need you to gather for me, but I need you to be discreet. Do not mention me, Lady Trafford, or Castle Durrington in any way. I need you to trust that I need this information without asking why, for I cannot explain why until I see you in person.

I need you to find an M. May that resides in or around Brighton. Who is this person? What do they do? Any information you could provide would be useful.

Second, I need you to find out information about Brighton’s Society for Literacy and Improvement of the Poor. Who is in charge of the organization? Who works for it? What exactly do they do? Also, did anything unusual or noteworthy happen within the organization during the week of September the 8th?

I have one final request, which may seem strange, but is of the utmost importance. Do not put your name on the outside of the letter, and do not address the letter with my name. Instead direct it to Mary Woodville, Worthing, Sussex.

Thank you for being my friend, and thank you for helping me with this task. I hope it is not too much trouble for you.

Sincerely,

Mary Bennet

Woodville was the last name of the main character in the only Gothic novel she had ever read—Kitty’s novel—so it felt like an appropriate nom de plume. She secured the letter using the paper triangle lock that Lady Trafford had taught her to make.

Then she took a new quarter sheet of paper and addressed her sister.

Dear Kitty,

I am trying to discover more about Lady Trafford’s relationship with our father before he died. I desire this information not for any particular cause, but only because I am of a curious nature.

I know that Father’s letters were kept after his death. Are there any letters from Lady Trafford to him? Make sure to check both the letter box he kept on his desk and the locked box he kept on one of the top bookshelves, for I know I saw him place letters there as well.

If you could also ask Mother if she had ever heard any mention of Lady Trafford before the funeral.

I suspect someone has been opening my letters before I receive them, but, for various reasons, I do not want to tell Lady Trafford of my suspicion. Because of this, I ask that you do not put your name on the outside of the letter, nor mine—instead address it to Mary Woodville, Worthing, Sussex. I know you will appreciate the name I have chosen. I have never before asked you to keep a secret, but I ask it of you now—please do not tell anyone why you are looking through Father’s letters, or that you are sending a letter to me under another name.

Love always, your sister,

Mary Bennet

She used the same, complex method to seal the letter to her sister. She had no way to take the letters to Worthing today, but she would be going tomorrow, so she kept the letters tucked inside her stocking as she went to the sitting room with the pianoforte for her first lesson from Lady Trafford.

The topic was history, and in preparation Lady Trafford had asked Mary to study two chapters on the Wars of the Roses, each from a different history book. Mary came to the lesson prepared, having memorized all the major dates, names, and facts. But Lady Trafford was not at all impressed by Mary’s preparations.

“It is not enough to be able to memorize. I want you to think, to analyze, to look at larger theories and trends. Why do you think I assigned you chapters from two different authors on the same subject?”

“I…am not sure.”

“They disagree on the primary causes, as well as the results. And what they choose to include as they describe the conflict reveals as much about the contemporary authors and their political viewpoints as it does about the events of the past.”

Mary took notes, trying to record all of Lady Trafford’s words.

“I want you to reread the chapters, this time with the intent to analyze them. Analyze the Wars of the Roses—their causes, their conflicts, their results. Analyze the differences between the two chapters, and what may be addressed inadequately in each. Analyze the authors themselves, and consider the larger theories they subscribe to. Finally, I want you to consider how these theories apply to Britain’s current conflicts on the continent and how these authors would likely write about Bonaparte.”

Lady Trafford took Mary’s quill and added several additional items to the directions. Mary was unable to suppress a grimace.

“What is the matter?” asked Lady Trafford.

“Nothing is the matter,” said Mary, “But I do think that memorizing is much easier than what you expect me to do.”

“Yes, but what I am asking you to do will be more worth your while.”

Mary considered the list. “Why do you spell his name Bonaparte, instead of Buonaparte?”

“The emperor chose that version from his family history. Buonaparte is a spelling some journalists and writers started using again about a decade ago in order to mock Napoleon and attempt to delegitimize his right to rule France by using the name that sounds less French.”

“Would that not be justified, given he is the enemy?”

“Perhaps,” said Lady Trafford. “But if you do not treat your enemies with a certain amount of respect, then you will underestimate them and risk losing your own legitimacy.”

*

The next day, after her drawing class, Mr. Parker drove Mary in the carriage to Worthing for her French lesson. It was held in Madame Dieupart’s front parlor, which overlooked the sea. Madame Dieupart had invited two other French-speaking ladies for tea, and they spoke with Mary for an hour and a half without a single word of English.

When her lesson was finished, she approached Mr. Parker, who sat idly in the box seat of Lady Trafford’s black carriage. “Could you wait for a few minutes?” she asked. “I would like to walk