A/N: Dedicated to all who believe that Kate Beckinsale's Emma risked domestic violence if she married Mark Strong's Mr. Knightley ;-)
Please review with your thoughts!
Wife-Beaters of Highbury
Mr. Knightley wondered whether he should stop beating his wife.
But then he did not want to be too lenient and spoil her either; the best way for her to learn was for her to see his full strength.
The reason he considered ceasing for a while was because Emma seemed to be losing her enthusiasm due his relentless displays of superiority. He did not wish for that; no, the whole point was for her to learn, to better herself – and how could she do that unless her adversary was formidable, as he knew he undoubtedly was?
He had decided to write to John for advice on this point, and was not quite satisfied with the reply: stop beating her? Whatever for? Isabella would never have got to where she is today if I had ceased it.
But Mr. Knightley was unsure whether this advice was universally applicable. Isabella and Emma, though sisters, were very different in personality, temperament and patience. Where Isabella might have borne with John, Emma might not put up with him if he continued to beat her.
When he and Emma went to Randalls for the party held to welcome the Churchills back to Highbury for the first time since their marriage, he decided to ask Mr. Weston what he had done.
'Of course you can't just keep beating her,' Weston said sagely. 'You must let her beat you sometimes too – that's what I did for Mrs. Weston.'
Mr. Knightley glanced over at Mrs. Weston, who was talking to Emma. They were both laughing and talking happily. He wondered if she knew that Weston had been letting her beat him – he knew that if Emma even suspected such a circumstance she would not find it satisfying. She would have to feel that she had been able to beat him of her own accord, due to her own ingenuity and strength.
Mr. Elton, who had been listening to their conversation, chimed in with his opinion. 'Augusta invariably beats me,' he confided. 'That is just the way of things in our household.'
Weston caught his eye and then they both hurriedly looked away from each other in order to keep their countenances.
Later that evening, when they went home to Hartfield, even as they settled down to a game, Mr. Knightley was deep in thought. To beat, or not to beat? That was the question. His mind dwelling on the dilemma, he played absently until her quiet 'Checkmate' brought him abruptly back to earth.
He looked down at the board in some surprise, but her queen had indeed vanquished his king. He looked up at her again, and she smiled happily. 'This time I beat you,' she said triumphantly.
After a moment he smiled back, proud of her achievement. 'Indeed you did,' he said. 'Well done, Emma.'
He had always known Emma to be a quick learner. And now he was certain that whether he beat her or not, Emma would soon become a master chess player.