Chapter Six

Normally, Sir Jasper would avoid the Modiste, but the Bennets had a day of shopping planned, and Mother had promised to leave his brothers at home.

Miss Catherine looked delighted to see him, and their mothers greeted each other as though they were life-long friends, before sweeping Miss Mary - who looked something like a cornered fox on a hunt - into the shop. Miss Catherine pressed a piece of paper into his hand, before hurrying after them. "Mary is not comfortable being the centre of attention, and her tastes do not always agree with Mama's. I promised to mediate."

That would be interesting to watch. Mr. Bennet came to stand beside him. "What on earth did you say to Kitty before you left? I've never seen her so studious as when she was trying to teach herself mechanics."

Sir Jasper had no idea, but he could hardly complain about the results. He tucked the paper, still folded, into a pocket. "Perhaps she merely needed the right inspiration. I confess, Sir, I am surprised to see you here."

Mr. Bennet looked rueful. "My dear wife found the book I was reading, hid it in one of the trunks, and informed me that if I wished to finish reading it, I had better accompany them to London and meet the family Kitty might be visiting."

He'd known Mrs. Bennet to be a determined sort, but not to that extent. Sir Jasper hastily tried to cover his laugh with a feigned cough. Mr. Bennet's expression suggested that he had not been successful, before the older man sighed. "Well, we had best join our ladies, before they purchase the entire shop."

***

Miss Mary Bennet was looking overwhelmed as Mrs. Bennet exclaimed over samples of lace, and the Modiste, Madame Dubois, displayed a variety of fabric swatches. Miss Catherine had been surveying the fray, but straightened her spine, and sallied forth. "Oh, Madame, my sister has already decided upon the style she wishes. Here, I have the sketch for you."

Madame Dubois examined the sketch as Miss Catherine turned to her mother, "Mama, Mary is marrying a churchman. She will not wish to be so extravagant as to completely cover herself in lace, but perhaps something more subtle?"

Given a direction, Mrs. Bennet began examining the lace more closely, weighing the impact of each. Miss Catherine selected a bolt of silk, dusky blue as the night sky above a sunset. "Mary, what do you think of this colour? I know you do not favour bright tones, but it will suit you well."

Madame Dubois beamed. "Ah, somber enough for a Parson's wife, but reminding him that for all his heavenly calling, earthly delights still exist! I shall enjoy making this gown very much, the artist has an excellent eye."

Both sisters blushed furiously, and Sir Jasper decided that the shelf of gloves and handkerchiefs was in dire need of his attention as Miss Mary was ushered behind a screen to have her measurements taken. His mother, seated with a cup of tea and light refreshments, watched the entire scene with delight, before rising to join Mrs. Bennet at the lace, speaking in low voices together.

The paper in his hand crinkled, reminding Jasper of its existence, and he unfolded it. It was another mechanical sketch, clearly based off the one of the half-built sleigh he had added to his mother's last letter, but improved. How very like Miss Catherine, to look at a thing and see a thousand possibilities of what it could become.

Sir Jasper immediately resolved not to show it to his brothers until he had the opportunity to propose to Miss Catherine himself. Hopefully John had not been serious about that, but eldest siblings learned to be cautious about the antics of younger brothers.

A moment's though later, he fervently blessed whatever impulse had struck him to not only purchase a necklace when Bingley had been shopping for an engagement gift for his own Miss Bennet, but to bring it with him to London now. Mr. Bennet, who Sir Jasper had almost forgotten, nudged him. "I know I did not let Kitty near my Anatomy books, and Da Vinci's study of the human form was not that explicit. It cannot be so very bad."

Sir Jasper was speaking before he had the chance to consider his words. "Sir, I wish to inform you that I will be marrying your fourth daughter, if she will have me."

Mr. Bennet blinked in surprise. "My wife did say she anticipated your making such a request, but she sees matrimony in every flower petal. For my part, I think that such a discussion requires port, and should not take place in the middle of a dress shop."

Mr. Bennet had a point, unfortunately. "If you have no dinner engagements, perhaps you and your family will join us for dinner tonight. Mr. and Mrs... Gardiner, I believe their names were, are welcome too, of course. Perhaps we can speak when the ladies withdraw."

Their London housekeeper always had a grand dinner to welcome them to Town, so adding six more places would not stretch the meal unduly.

Besides, it was still early enough for the cook to add some smaller dishes to stretch the courses out, if she felt it necessary.

Mr. Bennet's eyebrow lifted even higher. "I do not believe we are engaged, unless Mrs. Bennet has planned something and plans to spring it on me too late for me to object or feign illness."

Sir Jasper immediately thought over the itinerary his mother had planned for the time the Bennets were in town. "I believe there is a theatre outing planned for tomorrow night, but it is one of Shakespeare's Histories, so it should not be too taxing."

His hopefully-future-father-in-law considered. "Well, if Mrs. Bennet can stand my whispering about all the inaccuracies, I suppose it shall not be unbearable." He looked briefly nostalgic, "We did that during our courtship, and she said it made the play more interesting."

Would Miss Catherine look back on their interactions so fondly, in years to come? The tickets for the Satire Exhibition the following day weighed heavy in his pocket, alongside a small cloth jeweller's bag. Sir Jasper certainly hoped so.

Mr. Bennet wandered back over to the tea tray, pouring a cup each for himself and Mrs. Bennet, and fixing them according to what was clearly long-standing preference. Miss Catherine replaced him, her smile and the sparkle in her eyes bright enough to render him temporarily mute. "I am glad to see you again."

Sir Jasper cleared his throat. "As am I. To see you, that is. Your invention was amazing; have you considered getting it patented?"

She blinked. "I would have needed Papa for that; ladies do not handle legal matters themselves [1] . I had not quite worked up the nerve to show him, yet. Uncle Phillips works more in the business of contracts and estate law."

The man who had managed the patent Sir Jasper had filed for the interchangeable sleigh design had been quite good, and was still in practice. "I can introduce you to one here in town, if you wish. You deserve the credit for your work."

Sir Jasper had spent enough time in the Bluestocking Seminars to have heard a great deal about learned women and their struggles to have their work recognised independent of their husbands. If Miss Catherine was to patent her work, better to do it now, under her maiden name, so it could remain hers without reference to him.

Her mind had apparently not quite caught up with his, or perhaps Sir Jasper was getting ahead of himself. "For you to act on my behalf, we would need to be at least engaged."

Oh, yes, that. "I just invited your family to dine with mine this evening. If you are amenable, I thought I could speak to your father then."

Catherine blinked, and Sir Jasper belatedly realised that he was making rather a hash of his proposal. "I hoped to court you properly during our visit, but I am selfish, and I cannot imagine that you will be unknown for long, and I did not wish to miss my chance to tell you how much I admire and care for you, before you are swarmed by other suitors."

She looked torn between bafflement and flattery, though the latter gradually won out. "Then I should inform you that you are the first man who has looked at me and appreciated my true self, rather than seeing a shadow of one of my sisters. Speak to Papa tonight, and then ask me properly, so that our Mama's may have a good story to tell the neighbours."

That was an excellent thought; Mother would not have appreciated having to admit that Sir Jasper had lost his head and offered marriage in the middle of a Modiste's shop, and while Mrs. Bennet might have been able to spin that into something nearly acceptable, the proper forms should be followed. "That is an excellent idea. Please do not let my brothers scare you off before then."

She laughed, and they went to join their parents over tea as Miss Mary was whisked away for a mock gown to be fitted.