I don't own Pride and Prejudice.
"It's a special occasion, how about a little sherry?" Elizabeth asked once her husband and his three male cousins stepped out of the parlor to greet the riders.
Seeing how pale Maria had gotten at the announcement of riders, plural, Lady Catherine chimed in, "A wonderful idea Elizabeth, it has been far too long since I sampled Darcy's fine sherry selection here."
Within minutes, the servants were handing out to anyone over the age of fifteen. Though Elizabeth noticed she and the three matrons were not touching theirs, ready to slip it to the young girl if she needed it.
"We could have you arrested on kidnapping charges, sir!" A loud voice came from outside the parlor, though the voice did not belong to Sir William.
"And as I told you, no kidnapping took place, the Miss Lucases were invited to join our family Christmas, and they accepted." William spoke as he entered the parlor, Charlotte's two next younger brothers behind him.
"John, Vincent, what are you doing here?" Charlotte spoke, standing in front of Maria, blocking her from their view.
"Charlotte, we've come to bring you and Maria home. Mother told us you took her out of jealousy when Mr Collins stated his intentions to marry her instead of you." John spoke up, "I understand the disappointment, but since the contract hadn't been signed it was perfectly legal for him to change his mind."
Lady Catherine moved to gather Maria into her arms as the young girl started to tremble, muttering, "no,no,no" over and over again.
"Alright children, it really is very late, I think we shall have to save the rest of these gifts for morning." To the credit of their parents the children went with only a little pouting, which promptly ended when Mary said they would have just enough time to finish the story she had started telling them before bed a few nights ago.
"Jane, I have been trying to teach Georgiana to retrim dresses, but am struggling with some of the stitching. Would you be able to help us." Kitty jumped up, grabbing Georgiana by the hand, the two girls following Jane from the room like two little ducklings.
"Wait for me, I've never retrimmed a dress before!" Olivia shouted before turning to Maria, "Would you care to join us Miss Maria, I'm sure it will be much more fun than listening to the grownups argue." No one was surprised when Maria shrunk further into Lady Catherine, and Olivia hurried out the door after the other girls. While Anne claimed to be tired and wanting to turn in early.
"John, Vincent, you are both going to sit down and speak calmly, or so help me..." Elizabeth didn't have to finish her statement as she stood with her hands on her hips, and the two older and taller men sat meekly in a couple of chairs. "Now, what exactly did you hope to gain coming here?"
"Our mother was insistent we being Maria back so that she could marry Mr Collins..." John Lucas, the oldest son and Heir to the estate started to explain, but was cut off by Charlotte.
"Over my dead body will she go anywhere near that man." Charlotte sprang to her feet, a fire in her eyes Elizabeth had never seen before that was most becoming.
"Charlotte, we know your hopes were disappointed..." Vincent tried to reason with his sister.
"My hopes have nothing to do with this!" Charlotte raged, "That spiteful, petty little man has everything to do with this. Our mother's blind ambition has everything to do with this. Our father's weak willed cow-towing to our mother has everything to do with this. But most importantly, the abuse our sister suffered has everything to do with this."
"Mother said you would try to peddle some tale if Mr Collins hurting Maria..."
"Look at her, and tell me you believe me to be lying!" Charlotte stood to the side so their brothers could see the young girl cowering in Lady Catherine's arms, the shattered look visible on her face. "That is why I took Maria and left, that is why I came to Elizabeth hoping to find a position that could support us and keep her hidden, keep her safe.
"But mother said..." John trailed off, at war with wanting to believe his mother and his own eyes.
"Mother says a lot of things, but I no longer care to listen to them." Charlotte spat at her brother.
"Is there a plan, is there anything we can do to help keep her safe?" Vincent spoke for the first time.
"We have a few plans, however most of them hinge on your father being willing. Our best one puts your family in a position to be sued by Mr Collins for breach of contract." William explained.
"But I thought there wasn't a signed contract." Vincent seemed to take over for the brothers here.
"There was, it was originally signed that I would marry Mr Collins, but mother and Mr Collins changed it to Maria after he took her innocence." Charlotte explained, sitting back down next to her sister and gathering her into her arms.
"Did anyone witness the signing of the original or the attack?" Vincent asked, reminding Elizabeth that he had decided to study law.
"No, it was just father for the signing, and I was the only one who witnessed the attack. Even then, I only walked in when he was putting himself to rights." To her credit, Charlotte didn't blush.
"I say we just kill the man and be done with it. We could bury him somewhere no one would find him." John was furious, obviously having settled on believing his eyes.
"Don't you know the best way to get away with murder is to make it look like an accident." Richard chimed in.
"Let us remember, there are ladies present." William spoke up, but Elizabeth could see a plan was already forming in the brother's minds.
"Mr Darcy, I apologize for the false allegations I leveled against you." John Lucas stood before her husband and apologized, "If you can give my brother and I directions to a nearby inn it would be greatly appreciated. All I ask is that you allow my sisters to stay here, where they are better protected."
"That won't be necessary Mr Lucas, my wife had a few extra rooms aired out as we seem to keep picking up strays." He winked at Maria, and got a giggle out if the girl.
"I will have to apologize as we gave the servants the rest of night off to celebrate the birth of our lord. Fitzwilliam, would you mind showing the brothers to their rooms, I will go to the kitchens to see if there is anything there we can feed them." Charlotte offered to help her, Maria training along behind.
"What is this?" Elizabeth smiled at her husband when she entered the room and found a small basket with a purple ribbon tied to the handle.
"This was a Christmas gift that needed to be opened tonight." He smiled as she sat in the bed and picked it up, letting out a startled gasp when whatever was inside the basket moved. Opening the lid, she was met with two little green eyes, and smiled, throwing the lid back the rest of the way, and gathering the small light colored calico kitten into her arms. "After your uncle's story, I just knew she should belong to you."
"William, she is absolutely precious!" She leaned over to kiss him gently, careful not to squish the kitten between them.
"I'm afraid her story is not as happy as your barn cat's. Her mother along with another mother cat were killed by a couple of foxes, leaving behind two litters totally twelve kittens. You were not the only one to find a basket on their bed this evening."
Kitty and Georgiana were both surprised to walk into their room earlier in the night to find small baskets with purple ribbons tied to them. Figuring the baskets were meant for them the each selected one, crying out in delight when they saw what was inside.
"What is it?" Jane asked, looking over her sister's shoulder to see her snuggling a small long haired black and white kitten.
"Isn't he just wonderful Jane?" Kitty held her new pet up for her sister to see, "Oh, you and Olivia must go check your room, to see if either of you got one!" She exclaimed, seeing the small fluffy, long haired black kitten in Georgiana hands.
"We'll come with you!" Georgiana exclaimed, adjusting her hold on her kitten so she could hold her one handed and take Olivia's with the other, dragging her toward the room she and Jane were sharing.
Sure enough, there were two baskets toppled into their sides with an orange and white kitten wrestling with a fluffy, long haired white kitten near them on the bed.
"Aren't you just a little trouble maker?" Olivia grinned as she plucked up the orange instigators and cuddled him to her chest, while Jane picked up the white one.
Making their way back to the family wing, they couldn't help but smile as they heard the squeals of excitement coming from the children.
Inside the children were chasing two small kittens, a third being held rather precariously by little James. All the while Mary watched, bewildered at how things had gotten so out of hand. The two kittens being chased were both striped, one gray and one orange, and the one dangling was black and white.
"I see you all have one too." Anne stated as she walked into the room, a long haired, all gray kitten in her arms. "I took the liberty of retrieving this from your room." She stated holding out the basket in her hand.
Mary took it, and pulled out a small light colored calico kitten, and cuddled it to her. The her sisters had never seen such a smile on her face.
"Would you sleep with me tonight Charlotte?" Maria asked as her sister walked her to her room.
"Of course, just let me get ready for bed and I will join you in a few minutes." She watched as her sister headed off down the hall.
Upon entering the room she saw a basket on her bed, and approached it slowly. She was surprised to see a note sitting on top the basket, and opened it slowly.
Let this little one be a reminder to you that what happened to you was in no way your fault, that you are not to blame for the evils of men. She will not see the horrible tragedy that befell you, but rather the wonderful person you are. Let her be a constant source of love, and a reminder that you are loved by others.
Opening the basket she pulled out a tiny, pure white kitten. The bright blue eyes staring back at her showed no judgement, and when she held her close, the kitten snuggled into her.
"I see you have one too." Charlotte spoke from the doorway, a gray and white kitten held gently in her arms.
Running to her sister, she held her tight as the tears flowed. However, this time they were not tears of shame, but tears of joy that someone felt she was still worthy of being loved. That she wasn't so ruined there was nothing more to do with her but cast her aside.