The Restoration of Mary Bennet

Mary Bennet had always believed in an afterlife, one in which a person, depending upon their level of goodness, either went to heaven or hell. But when her own time comes, and under most unfortunate circumstances, she discovers an entirely different reality. Left in limbo to wander the halls of Longbourn, Mary is forced to watch as decades of strangers live in her beloved home. Most, cannot see or hear her presence, yet others, those who do not respect Longbourn, meet a Mary Bennet that is terrifying. However, all that changes with the arrival of Donovan Reese, an American with a dream to live in a proper English estate. Will he restore Longbourn to is former glory and meet Mary’s approval? Or, will he wish he never set foot upon English soil?
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Mary Bennet paced the attics, not knowing what to do. She had only wanted to play her pianoforte. At such an hour, all living beings should have been long abed. But this man! Not only had he heard her, he had seen her! In the past, it had been only children who had that ability. So why this man? Why now? No doubt he was equally surprised, but it had been she who fled, and to where? The attics! How typical! What next? Should she rattle chains? Or worse, resort to the terrifying acts that had sent the Morganstern’s packing?
Collapsing into a ball of light, Mary hid inside an old chest of drawers. She needed to think and it was hard to do when a handsome man prowled her house in his nightclothes. Perhaps that was the cause of her unrest? Of course it was! She had simply been startled by his state of undress. After all, what man came into the parlor without proper clothes? Even though she had existed in the house for longer than she cared to consider, Mary had rarely forgotten her manners. Privacy was to be maintained and she never entered bedchambers or the bath when someone was inside. But now…her curiosity was beginning to rationalize all manner of thoughts. Besides, it was not as if they were strangers any longer, and what was done could not be un-done. No, Mr. Donovan Reese had seen her, called out to her….and she was so desperately lonely. Was he as well?