I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
I do not own Pride and Prejudice. Credit goes to Jane Austen.
"Come now, Mr. Prior," urged his wife.
"What is it, my dear," he called out from his study. Mrs. Prior walked in to see him relaxing on his chair at his desk.
"Mr. Alan has made an offer of marriage to Tris. But she has refused him," Mrs. Prior said a bit breathless. "She will not have him, that headstrong, foolish girl. And now, I fear that Mr. Alan will not have Tris."
"Seems a hopeless business. What am I to do on the occasion?"
Mrs. Prior was extremely frustrated by this point. "Speak to Tris yourself. Tell her you insist upon her marrying him."
"Bring her here," he sighed, knowing that his wife would not give up.
"Beatrice Prior," her mother called for her. "Your father wishes to speak with you!"
Beatrice walked in as her mother pushed her in and closed the door.
"Come here, my child," Andrew encouraged her lovingly. Beatrice smiled and sat down quietly.
This was her weak spot, her father. Beatrice folded her hands quietly in her lap after smoothing out her dress. She could easily get her way out of this, she knew. But Mr. Alan's words had stung, for they were true. Her family was not desperately poor, yet they were not well off, either. The only chance at them securing good futures was to find themselves good husbands.
Beatrice refused the notion. She had spoke about it once before with Shauna and had claimed that only the deepest form of passion and affection could drive her to marriage. She denied to give in to Mr. Alan just to secure her own comfort and enter a loveless marriage. However, this was her father speaking to her. She would listen to anything he said. So if that meant marrying Mr. Alan, then she would. Beatrice's eyes started to water, for fear that perhaps, just perhaps, her father would approve of Mr. Alan.
Andrew too, held Beatrice in favor above his other daughters at time. Although a father not ought to do such a thing. He could not help it. To him, he found her reasonable than the rest. He knew that his spirited daughter would detest her life with a man such as Mr. Alan, even though it meant money, a home, and a content situation in life.
"Your mother," started Mr. Prior. "Has informed me that Mr. Alan has made you an offer of marriage. Is that so?"
"Yes."
"And she has also informed me that you have refused him. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Now for the situation at hand. Your mother insists upon you marrying Mr. Alan. Is that right, my blossom," he turned to his wife.
"Yes," Mrs. Prior answered. "She should do so or I will never speak to her again. Who will maintain you when your father is gone? Think about your family! You'll have this house. You'll save your sisters from destitution!"
"You cannot make me," Beatrice proclaimed as her eyes finally betrayed her and she let out a tear. She was stronger than this. She was braver than this. Yet, she knew the possibility of having to live side by side with Mr. Alan was greater now, should her father say so.
"Mr. Prior help her to see reason," Natalie stated. "You'll go back there to Mr. Alan, Tris and say that you changed your mind or I will refuse to call you my daughter!"
"There is it then, Tris," Mr. Prior said to his daughter sadly. Beatrice looked up to her father and shook her head, having a grave feeling that he would agree to the marriage.
"From this day on you will live as a stranger in this house, should you not marry Mr. Alan. Your mother will never call you her daughter again, if you don't." He paused and let out a sigh. "I will never call you my daughter, if you do," Mr. Prior added.
Beatrice gasped in happiness and then quickly embraced her father in gratitude.
"Oh Mr. Prior," said Mrs. Prior frustrated. "We are all doomed now."
Beatrice let out a small laugh as Mr. Prior placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head up.
"I can never imaging parting with my daughter to have her live in a marriage deprived of spirit and life. Even for all the glories of Erudite."
"Thank you, Papa," Beatrice smiled and hugged her father once more.
Mr. Alan heard the news and immediately left the house, rather aggravated. He had thought that Mr. Prior would help Beatrice see reason and come to terms with the marriage proposal.
He informed Mrs. Prior that he would be having dinner elsewhere and then return for his things in the morning. For he did not long to stay in Abnegation another day.
Beatrice went quickly to find Shauna and inform her of what had happened.
"You do seem rather proud of yourself, Tris," Shauna stated.
"Aye, I do," Beatrice smiled. "No doubt, Mr. Alan will relate the story to Lady Evelyn. She will be taking it as a blow to her pride, I believe."
The two of them shared a laugh and continued to walk about the yard until dinner was served that night.
Everyone seemed to be more at ease during dinner. Everyone besides Mrs. Prior. She stole glances at Beatrice now and again and could not understand her daughter or her husband. When laughter and cheerfulness had become too much for her, she spoke up.
"My dear Beatrice, please help me to understand why you would refuse a man like Mr. Alan? He has civility, manners, a considerable fortune, a small dwelling both in Candor and soon here when your father passes. He has everything that a future husband could possess."
"But my affection for him."
"Affection," her mother scoffed.
"I feel that love, happiness, and passion are needed as well to make a marriage work. I cannot see myself content with just the material." She looked down to her food. "Or even the good standing with Lady Evelyn," she finished which caused Lauren and Christina to laugh. Mr. Prior smiled at her. I think it had become apparent, that they had had enough talk from Mr. Alan about the graciousness and condescension of Lady Evelyn de Johnson.
"You want love and affection to be there from the beginning," Mrs. Prior questioned. "Tell me, where was the love in our marriage from the beginning, Mr. Prior? It grows during the course of time, Beatrice."
"My dear, I do remember us very affectionately in love toward one another," Mr. Prior smiled at his wife, which made her blush. For it was true, that Andrew and Natalie did indeed marry for love. Her father had hoped that Natalie would marry another man, but she refused to leave Andrew's side.
"Enough of this marriage talk," Andrew called out. "Let us rejoice in family and in one another. And of course to our happiness," he raised a glass, which all of his daughters and even his wife repeated as well. For now, all had seemed well in the Prior home.
It was during the following morning that Mrs. Prior had found herself once again thrown into disruption.
Lauren and Christina were the first to hear of it, but was kept silent when they rushed into the door only to find Mr. Alan there with Miss Susan Black. They both curtsied and then departed.
"Mr. Alan, pleasure to see you once again," said Shauna as her and Beatrice welcomed them.
"My lovely cousin. I am most pleased to be here as well. May I take audience with your father?" Shauna showed him the way.
"Susan," Beatrice smiled at her and hugged her tightly. "I have something rather hilarious to tell you about Mr. Al..."
"Mr. Alan and I are engaged," Susan blurted out, causing Beatrice to pull back.
"Engaged," Beatrice proclaimed staring at her friend who wore a content smile. "Impossible!"
"Tris," Susan attempted to quiet her and led her to another part of the room.
"He just proposed to me but yesterday," Beatrice's voice was about to yell once more. How could her dear and closest friend want to marry such a person?
Susan sighed. "That I was informed of and hardly surprised that you had rejected him," she finished the last statement with a small laugh.
"You're being serious," Beatrice asked. "You are truly engaged to him? Engaged to be marry that is?"
"Yes Beatrice, what other kind of engaged is there," Susan questioned. "Don't look at me like that Tris," she warned her friend for Beatrice was not pleased at all and still looked shockingly at her friend.
"How can you marry such a man?!"
"Hush now, Beatrice," Susan told her. "Did you think that Mr. Alan would not be able to secure any woman's affection, just because he was unable to succeed with you."
"That's not what I meant," Beatrice sighed. "Really, though? Mr. Alan, Susan?"
"I see what you're thinking, Beatrice," Susan considered and then urged Beatrice to sit down as she sat down as well. "I'm not romantic you know? I never was. Given Mr. Alan's situation in life, I know that my chance at happiness with him is the same as it would be as many who enter into the marriage state."
"But he's ridiculous!"
"Beatrice," Susan censured her once more. They looked towards Mr. Prior's study and then back at one another. "Not all of us can afford to be romantic," Susan said a bit hurt. Beatrice knew where she was going with this for many, including Mrs. Prior had spoke about how plain Susan was and that she would probably end up a spinster. However, Beatrice did not want her friend to subject herself to society's thinking.
"Susan," Beatrice delicately touched her hand, but Susan pulled it back.
"I have no money, no prospects, nothing to which I will inherit. I am nearly thirty years old," she spoke sadly. "My parents do not say so, but I fear that I have become a burden to them. Mr. Alan may not be the most charming man, but he is a gentle character. I have been offered a comfortable home and a decent living. Knowing this, I believe, Mr. Alan will provide and care for me most adequately."
"Ah, cousin Beatrice," said Mr. Alan coming out from the study with Mr. Prior. "You can see before you, the happiest of men," he claimed as he took Susan's hand and held it in his.
Beatrice couldn't help but sit there with a false smile. She was in complete and utter shock, humiliated at the spectacle before her. Susan knew she was marrying one of the silliest men. However, she was doing it to secure her future, not for love.
Well, at least in one of these stories, Al gets a happy ending. He is happy that is.