Mary Bennet Falls in Love in ‘The Other Bennet Sister’
"Even the most hopeless of situations, the most hopeless of people, with kindness, change. Little by little, I was excited to see who Mary Bennet could be."
"All life is in London and here I could be anything I wanted. Surely I could find something I could succeed at in this vast and inspiring city."
Mary Bennet is in love! The Other Bennet Sister opens Episode 4 as she falls in love with London: the shops, the parks where she can enjoy the greenery, and people watching. She allows herself to dream, to imagine a future in the city. After a walk in a London park, she returns to the Gardiners’ house, where her optimism and buoyancy receive a direct hit – she overhears the Gardiners talking about her, not realizing she’s nearby.
They are concerned for her, worried that despite all they do, Mary cannot emerge from her sisters’ shadow or her mother’s unkind influence. Mortified and embarrassed, Mary leaves the house, only to meet Tom Hayward on the front door step. In return for his friendly greeting, she tells him she is still trying to understand poetry. He offers his condolences on the death of her father, and is taken aback by her blunt response that she is relieved to be away from her mother and sisters. Hayward tactfully suggests that she isn’t feeling herself today, but Mary knows he’s wrong – this is her.
The Gardiners leave the house, cheerfully greet Hayward and Mary, and the three of them set off together, while Mary goes back into the house. There she discovers a letter from Mrs. Bennet has arrived, pages of whining and complaints. She wishes Mary were with her since she needs someone to look after her new puppy.
