A Most Affectionate Mother — Maria Grace

Mary goes to the library looking for escape, not love.

With three daughters married in a single year, one would think that Mrs. Bennet's matchmaking ploys would diminish. One would be wrong. Very wrong.

To avoid her mother's affectionate arts, Mary takes refuge at Clarke's library. There, in the reading room, she can forget the trials of Longbourn, lost in the pages of her favorite books.

The strategy works -- surprisingly well in fact -- until the morning a tall, handsome stranger wants the same book she has already checked out -- a text she needs to help a friend. Instead of politely waiting until she is finished with it, as a proper gentleman would, he insists she give it up to him immediately. When she rejects his demands -- the audacity of it all! -- he refuses to take no for answer, and appears on Longbourn's doorstep.

Now Mama has seen him, matchmaking is not far behind.

Mary is determined to escape Mama's machinations at all costs. But, maybe, just maybe, this time Mama is right.