THE OTHER BENNET SISTER (2026)

MARY BENNET AND MR. HAYWARD

Dónal Finn and Ella Bruccoleri on the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards Red Carpet

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Mrs G: Miss Bennet needs to choose some dress fabric. M: I, er, find myself quite overwhelmed by... by the choice. T: Well, I shall be honest and say that my experience of picking dress fabric is limited to say the least but I shall try. M: Have you seen the names of these colours? You've got, er, Dust of Ruins. Er, Corbeau or, erm, Flamme de Ponche, anyone? T: Er, I think I shall take the drake's neck, with a splash of Nankeen! Anyone for Gamboge? M: Oh well, I mean, that's just yellow that one. T: Yes. M: Yes.

Then, as though suddenly realising precisely what she had interrupted, Madeline stepped back with a look of exaggerated revelation spreading across her face.

“Ah,” she said, a mischievous grin appearing, “so you two have some news for us, I assume?”

Heat rushed immediately to Mary’s face.

Only then did the full weight of what she had said earlier truly catch up to her. The rather passionate declaration of love delivered directly in front of her entire family.

Beside her, Tom looked entirely too pleased about it.

“Yes,” he replied easily, his arm sliding around her waist. “I have finally decided to stop being an idiot.”

Mary let out an involuntary laugh, covering part of her smile with her hand as she shook her head.

Madeline clapped her hands together delightedly.