Title: Pride
Author: rooster dawn
Alternative Universe
Summary: Harm and Mac act out Pride and Prejudice
Disclaimer: JAG is property of Belisarius productions, no copyright infringement intended.
Pride & Prejudice is the property of Jane Austen
(First known as First Impressions)
: Warner Brothers 1940
: BBC 1979
: Arts and Entertainment Network/BBC co-production 1995
: Universal Studio 2005
no copyright infringement intended.
Please let me know what you think, it's the only way I can write better stories for you.
part twenty four Did He or Didn't He
The Burnetts were standing by their carriage. They had been waiting for Sarah for nearly thirty minutes wondering what had happened to her. She had been right behind them as they were touring Pemberly, but somewhere along the way she had disappeared.
They had heard someone playing the piano, but had thought nothing of it. Maybe she had gone to check it out. They wanted to take a walk in the park around Pemberly before it got too late.
The housekeeper's son was going to escort them around the lake on a path that should take them about an hour or so to walk. Finally they saw Sarah walking down a path that led from behind the house.
She was walking with a tall man. They wondered who it could be since the master of Pemberly wasn't supposed to be home.
"Here comes Sarah!" her aunt cried out.
"Who's that with her?" her uncle asked.
"I don't know, maybe it's him." she replied.
"Who's him?" he asked even more confused.
"That's Mr. Darcy." offered the young man who was with them.
"He's a fine looking young man. They make a handsome couple." she smiled.
"Now dear, you know how much she dislikes him. I'm sure that they are only being polite with each other." he replied.
"But look at the way they are looking at each other. They look like they're in love." she argued.
"Right ... that's why she didn't want to come here. It was only after you assured her that he wouldn't be here that she agreed to come." he replied doubting her assertion.
"Whatever you decide to do dear, don't put them on the spot. Don't comment on how good they look together. Let them find their own way. If they're meant to be together they will be." he told her.
Sarah and Mr. Darcy walked up to the Burnetts.
"Aunt, uncle, I would like you to meet Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy, I would like you to meet my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Burnett. My aunt is from Lampton originally." smiled Sarah as she made the introductions.
"Sir, Ma'am. I know Lampton quite well. I used to go there as a young lad looking for horse chestnuts. Mr. Burnett, I understand you enjoy fishing." greeted Harm.
"Yes Sir, I do indeed." he beamed happily.
"Then you must join me tomorrow morning. The lake is well stocked and its residents have not been disturbed for much too long." offered Harm.
"I would be honored." he replied. It had been quite awhile since he last went fishing. To do so with one of the most prominent man in England was special.
Sarah looked on a little surprise. She had never seen Mr. Darcy so accommodating. His manner was that of a generous host, surprising in that it was with people he didn't know.
Maybe his cousin was right, Mr. Darcy was a generous and well respected man when he was in his comfort zone. His behavior so far today was definitely much better than any of her previous encounters with him.
"Now, I understand Mrs. Burnett that you're looking forward to a nice walk around the lake and through the gardens that currently have many beautiful flowers in bloom." smiled Harm.
Mrs. Burnett felt like swooning. What a charming young man. He was nothing like the man her sister and Sarah had painted him out to be. He would be perfect for Sarah.
"I would indeed Sir. I have heard about the splendid gardens of Pemberly all my life and have never had the pleasure of seeing them." she replied.
"Well then allow me to lead the way." offered Harm.
Since it was late afternoon Harm decided to take them on one of the shorter trails around the lake. There were many gardens along the trail.
At a few of the gardens there were benches placed so visitors could sit and rest. They also offered spectacular views of Pemberly as well as the individual gardens themselves.
It wasn't long before there was some separation between the two couples as the Burnetts lagged behind giving Sarah the opportunity to spend more quality time alone with Mr. Darcy.
Sarah didn't seem to mind because she was seeing a new side of Mr. Darcy, a side she like very much. He was the perfect gentleman. He was open and quite friendly. He was the man she had hoped him to be when she saw him at the Assembly Ball in Meryton for the first time.
Then again maybe her view of him today was different. It was the first time she had spent any time with him after he had told her that he loved her. Although she was sure he might have been angry with her for quite some after their encounter, she was sure he still felt something for her.
Even though it had been eight months, her sister Jordan still cared deeply for Mr. Keeter despite his obvious desertion of her. Why should it be any different for Mr. Darcy?
Of course she was seeing him differently because she had thought he didn't like her. Now she knew that wasn't true. It changed everything between them. Her feelings for him had begun to change after that eventful day.
She found it hard to dislike someone who was actually in love with her. She began to see him as the desirable young man that he really was. Then of course there was Pemberly. She loved being here. It was a perfect slice of heaven.
While they were walking along the trail they talk about different things. They talked about the miscommunications between them and the lack of trust that had led to so much pain.
"You know Sir, I think I have finally figured out what your problem is." smiled Sarah.
"Is that right? I thought my problem was you." he challenged her. Sarah smiled at that thought.
"Yes I have, you're lonely. First you lost your mother when you were quite young. Then your father died leaving you with so much responsibility when you weren't ready to handle it. Your sister has been away at boarding school.
When you needed a friend the most he wasn't there for you. You lost a good friend(Turner) who could have help you deal with the lost, but he wasn't mature enough himself to help you. He was trying to find his own way in the world after his own father had died.
And then there's your aunt. You visit with her mostly out of obligation. She's not someone you love or care much about. I don't think you really know or care about your cousin Renee. The truth is there is very little joy in your life.
While you may have many friends, I doubt any of them you hold in higher regard than Mr. Keeter and your cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. While you might like Mr. Keeter's sisters on some level, they are hardly enjoyable people to associate with. They can be quite petty and vindictive.
And despite your declarations to the contrary, you envy my family. Sure they can be a bit dysfunctional at times, but aren't most families. There is a lot of love between us.
I have a father who loves me dearly. Even though he thinks my sisters are the silliest people in the all of England, he still loves them.
I have a mother who loves me and only wants what's best for us. She is very proud of us as you well know. You think she's crazy, but she's like a vendor who is selling her wares. She puts the best spin possible that she can.
There aren't many eligible young men like you and Mr. Keeter in the world. There are however many beautiful young ladies looking for husbands to better their lives. That one of her daughters was able to attract Mr. Keeter's favor, would be very special for any mother.
I have four sisters who share their life experiences together. We love each other. We want only what's best for each of us. I know they may seem to be out of control to you, but you have to remember that they are still quite young.
That is how young women behave. They are happy and self assure, looking to have fun. They don't always understand the concept of decorum. They don't understand that their actions will have consequences later on in their lives, but they will learn as they grow older.
I have an aunt and uncle in Meryton who I visit several times a week. And you have met my other aunt and uncle today who live in town. They are very special to me and whom I love dearly.
So although you are quite rich in the material things in life, you are quite poor in the area of family, companionship, and love.
Where as my family may not be as rich as yours, but I have a large extended family who value being together and loving each other." concluded Sarah.
Harm was quite surprised at her evaluation and realized that there was some merit in what she had to say. He was indeed rich, he had many friends, but they weren't the same as family. He really was quite lonely. Everything she had said about him was true.
And even though her family was crazy and dysfunctional, it was true that they enjoyed life. They enjoyed being together and sharing all their life experiences. He did indeed envy her.
He appreciated her honesty. Maybe she was beginning to feel comfortable with him again. Maybe her feelings for him had changed. Despite everything she had told him today, her demeanor towards him seemed warmer and more caring than ever before.
There was no hidden meaning to the words that she spoke to him. They were sincere and honest. There was great insight in her thinking, something he had always admired in her.
Maybe there was some hope after all that she might love him and that they could be together. He needed to find a way to spend more time with her while she was staying in Lampton. He needed to show her that he was indeed a proper gentleman who respected others.
"You're very observant Ms Sarah. Some old friends are coming from town tomorrow afternoon. You know them, the Keeters and Boones. I'm sure they would like to see you again.
I hope you and your aunt and uncle will do me the honor of coming to dinner tomorrow. Also my sister wants to meet you. I think she was a little disappointed that you ran off without saying hello." smiled Harm as he hoped she would say yes.
"I'm sure they will be happy to meet your sister and come to dinner tomorrow. They really like Pemberly." replied Sarah not conceding an inch.
"What about you Ms Sarah, do you like Pemberly?" he asked.
"Very much." she replied with a big beautiful smile.
Her heart was beating very rapidly again. She had just revealed more to him than she had wanted to, but then again her feelings for him had been changing ever since he said he loved her. She was falling in love with him.
She could see herself living here for the rest of her life. Pemberly was perfect. It was like being in heaven. She wished Jordan was here to share in this experience with her.
A hundred feet behind them the Burnetts were keeping a close eye on Sarah and Mr. Darcy as they walked along enjoying everything that Pemberly had to offer. Pemberly was truly beautiful. It had been worthwhile going out of their way to see it.
They noticed the closeness between Sarah and Mr. Darcy. They could tell that he was in love with her by the way he looked at her and listened to every word she had to say. They weren't quite as sure with Sarah.
She had told them many times how much she disliked Mr. Darcy, but after seeing her with him today, they weren't quite sure they believed her. She looked like she might be in love with him too.
Friday
23 July
Pemberly
The next morning Mr. Darcy and Mr. Burnett went fishing. They spent most of the morning talking about fishing. There was lake fishing, stream fishing, and deep-sea fishing.
Eventually their conversation moved onto Hertfordshire, Meryton, the extended Mackenzie family, and finally to Ms Sarah.
"I was very surprise to see your niece here yesterday." said Harm as he finally got to why he invited Mr. Burnett to go fishing with him.
"Why was that?" Mr. Burnett asked.
"We didn't exactly part on pleasant terms last April when we were together at Hunsford." Harm replied.
"I heard something to that effect though Sarah didn't say why. I know you're not exactly one of my sister's favorite person. And you don't exactly have a glowing reputation in Hertfordshire. Something about being too proud and arrogant." smiled Mr. Burnett.
"I supposed some of that might appear to be true. Though I believe my biggest fault was that I don't make acquaintances as easily as I would like. I struggle when I meet new people. I tend to hang back and observe them.
Your niece is much better than I am when it comes to engaging people in conversation. She isn't afraid to let me know when I have err." sighed Harm.
"So what did happen between the two of you?" asked Mr. Burnett.
"Miscommunication on my part and misunderstanding on hers. Though I might have misunderstood the situation between us. I did something that maybe I shouldn't have. I went away and didn't see her for four months. That didn't help the situation either." replied Harm.
"What is it that you're trying to tell me Mr. Darcy? What is it that you have done that had caused her to not want to see you?" asked Mr. Burnett.
He wasn't trying to be accusatory, but more as a mentor. He knew some of Darcy's history, that is his father was dead and that he may not have someone to talk to about such important issues.
"I can't tell you Sir, that's something you will have to talk to your niece about. But what I can tell you is that I asked her a question in an inappropriate manner and she called me on it.
She made me realized that my behavior since my father died has been quite poor at best. I was raised better than I have been behaving. I have been too proud and needed to be more humble. I need to be more of a gentleman and less of a snob." replied Harm.
"If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here. I know from many years of experience that relations with the fairer sex is often quite difficult even under the best of situations." offered Mr. Burnett.