After disappointment at the ball, Mary sets aside hopes of finding a match and devotes herself to more serious pursuits. But Mary's resolve is tested when Mr Bennet's distant cousin Mr Collins visits Longbourn with a surprising proposal. Mary contemplates a decision that could save her family from ruin – but is she really willing to suppress her true feelings to secure her family's future?

As Mary is finding her footing in London, she overhears something which knocks her newfound confidence. Mr Hayward opens up Mary's mind – and her heart – by introducing her to poetry. But their budding connection is complicated by Mr Hayward's engagement. As Mary wrestles with troubling new feelings, she finds herself caught between duty, a new friendship and the possibility of love.