FF PRIDE and PREJUDICEAU NOT Cannon

Check-Mate

I do not own the copy rights to the book, or bbc special, Pride and Prejudice

Raven Shows Up at Pemberley

Ch. 11

Music filled the air, and I managed to laugh and smile as people gathered to dance at Pemberley. Kitty was dancing with a new preacher; one whose church is only a few towns away. Course, I have to remind myself the mode of travel around me; so – in truth – her family may not see her much if the two marry. Looking over at Lydia I have to smile she is actually being decent to those who invite her to dance. Seeing Mary on the dance floor isn't likely as Collins is being over-protective of his now expectant wife; therefore, she'd been sitting on the sidelines most of the evening. That had been a couple my brain had finally accepted. And, yes, Charles and Jane are in attendance. I am questioning how long they will stay; she too has recently found out a baby is on its way.

"You've done wonders for Lydia." I turn my head and manage to give a smile to Thomas. However, I do not speak his name and he wraps up with, "I do believe she may yet end up wed. She's had a sounder mind these past months than I ever thought possible."

"Time was all she needed." I turn my head back and watch as Lydia is yet again on the dance floor without making a spectacle of herself. Hence, I do not see a wishful look appear on Thomas's face as he eyes never leave me. Nor am I close enough to hear Jane talking to Mary and those around her.

"I feel so bad for father. He has it bad for Abigail."

"And she for him." Mary shook her head. "But, from what Lydia says, it is not possible for the lady to show open acceptance as she is of a family of great power in another country. She was sent here on a private, but important, errand."

"It would explain all her trips to London." Mary sighed. "Lydia also says she doubts Abigail's family will allow her to come back once the mission is accomplished. Says as it is when they heard she'd fought to save mother's life they were, or most were, appalled she'd 'stooped so low as to help someone of such low status'.

If I had been close enough to hear I could have gotten them to change their subject. Though, even if I had, who walked into the room next would have stopped me. Crumb, as it was more than one lady turned their eye his way. I had to bite back a laugh; Raven always did have that affect on those around him. I wonder what those same ladies would think if they knew his family did not have favorable genetics. Realistically, I excused myself and got over to him as quickly as I could without drawing too much attention to myself. That was not an easy task as Lady Catherine arrived ahead and blocked the path. Fortunately; for me, Raven has no issues walking around her.

"We need to talk." His voice was low so no one else heard him, other than Lady Catherine perhaps. However, no one could have missed the serious look on his face. And, with no argument from me as we made our exit, I could just imagine the buzz that started most likely starting with Lady Catherine. However, I ignored that until we were standing out on the lawns.

"How on earth did you get here? Can you get back?" I ask, keeping ourselves within sight of anyone looking out the window. I wasn't afraid of Raven; I just wanted Thomas to have the peace of mind I wasn't being hurt.

"Same way as you." When my eyes fly open and ask about Bryant, Raven shakes his head. "He's still back home. Quinton, however…" My brother's guard kept his mouth straight, "Is back keeping an eye on the door."

"And Bryant isn't poking around England?" I hold my breath as Raven shakes his head no, but he says that is still a grave concern of his.

"He's bound and determined you are to be brought back, and he is stuck on the idea you know where Joy is."

"I do. She's at that dance." I rub my forehead and nod towards Pemberley; I'm sure you'd have seen her if I hadn't been standing where I was." His eyes fly open. "But she can't go back to him. We can't let her. He's viewing her as a queen - his queen, even if she doesn't have royal blood in her. He is bound and determined to push Maynar off the throne." I admit I am shocked Bryant hasn't gotten more aggressive.

"He has." Raven confesses before he'd left a man had been caught getting ready to take aim at Maynar. "Relax." He says as I stiffen. "We doubled the guards and executed the would-be assassin even if he's not admitting to who hired him." Raven then goes back to the subject of Joy. "Will she fight you leaving?"

"No." I swallow, pushing back the thought of being with Thomas. "Let me go say good-bye? Explain to her – shortened version of course – why I have to leave." Raven bless, or curse, sees my eyes shoot up to the window where a group of men are standing; Thomas is one of them. He then says whoever the gentleman I am protecting should count himself blessed as Bryant would likely gun for him for having my loyalty. "I'll be right back." i refuse to address his observation.

"You know I'm right; it's not just Joy you are keeping safe."

I ignore his last statement though, it does no good. He simply smiles as I make my way quickly across the lawns, into Pemberley, up a flight of stairs and then into the ballroom. Thankfully, Tamara sees me quicker than I do her, and she is by my side in a heartbeat. Pulling her aside, I keep my voice low; my eyes ordering Lydia to keep anyone away. She does just that - with the help of Mr. Darcy and Thomas.

"I have to go. If Raven has found the door, Bryant will too if I don't." Her eyes widen almost in a frantic manner, and I shake my head. "I won't let him. I'll die before I'll let him near you, your husband, or…" I swallow and glance at Thomas. For the first time and, only for a split second, allow a look that cements in what I've told Lydia and what Mary has, in turn, repeated to an her circle at the party. "...Lydia's father." I then pull her out in the hall, something I should have done in the first place.

"Bryant wouldn't hurt Mr. Bennet." Tamara's face goes from frantic panic to confusion in under a second until I explain my thought of reasoning.

"He would blame Thomas for two reasons. Number one, Thomas has my heart. Second, he'd insist it was Lydia's father who introduced you to Mr. Darcy and hid you out in the open on my behalf." I hiss low and then continue on. "And I can almost guarantee you that he'd blame anyone at the party for you not coming back to him." I plunge ahead not giving her time to respond. "You may not come from direct royal linage, but he sees it that way. He is playing a game of chess against me, and I can't let him make the winning move." I then tell her where my jewelry is- we'd not ever gotten around to selling it. My friend had hired me, and I'd been living off those paychecks. "Have Darcy sell them, invest the money and pay off Thomas's debts on the condition no more is acquired before talking to Mr. Darcy first. If I come back, I'll have plenty of money for I only brought a small amount that Maynar gave me. The rest I put in the bank under a different name as to keep Bryant's claws out of it. And, if I came back it will be because I won." She takes off her gloves and hands them to me, along with one of her rings as nods her head.

"Find a way to use those, convince Bryant I am unavailable." Tamara hugs me and then watches as I flee into the night with Raven. She knows she will be going back to her company, alone. What will they be told? I do not know, nor do I - at this point, care. I have to get back and prevent my brother from succeeding.