I do not own the copyrights to Pride and Prejudice AU NOT Cannon

Discussing the Proposal

Ch. 2

"So? Why the proposal?" Christina asked as the coached swayed gently down a well-worn, but smooth road out of London, under the cover of darkness, towards an inn where a couple of rooms had been reserved. "You barely know me and you..." Turning to face Mr. Bennet, "Don't know me from Adam."

"That I don't." Mr. Bennet sighed suppressing any thoughts in regard to his late wife for they had nothing to do with the matter at hand, other than Christina's statement had reminded him how little he'd known his first spouse. "However; I do trust my daughter's judgment."

"So..." Turning back to Elizabeth. "Mind telling me your motives?"

"For one, my sister, Mary. She is not married nor has any gentleman showed any interest though she has heart of gold. Her soul, at this point, belongs to Longborne, if she had to leave it would kill her." When Christina inquired if the nearest male relative would consider letting Mary rent a room, both Mr. Bennet and his daughter scoffed.

"Reverend Collins..." Elizabeth shook her head. "Or should I say Lady Catherine would never consider that."

"Uh? What's the lady got to do with your father, Longborne and your sister staying once he is gone?"

"Long story short; Collins is puppet, even Charlotte knows that. I learned, through a friend, Lady Catherine plans on setting things in motion to displace him and Charlotte once my father is gone. I won't say what I overheard Collins admit to when he heard rumblings on the same matter. So, not only would my sister be out of place to live, but chances are my best friend -who is just as much my collected sister as anything else- would be too. However, if my father had a son then not only would Longborne stay in our family but neither one would lose a roof over their heads."

Mary the lady understood, she was a sister. However, Charlotte? Sure, to a point she understood. Friends had each other's backs, but wasn't this going a tad far? Mr. Bennet had to have read her mind, or at least her face, for he was the one to speak next.

"No need to explain my concern over Mary, that is obvious. Nonetheless, considering what you are being asked, you have the right to know Charlotte, like was just stated, has been like a sister to my daughter. The dear lady has also been beyond generous to me since the passing of my wife. I would do anything to assure her safety."

"Including marrying a total stranger with a son who no one in this area could tell you who the father is? Isn't that going a bit far, Mr. Bennet."

"You knew him and the name's Thomas. I would prefer you call me by my name."

Elizabeth's father didn't ask, wouldn't have dreamed of it, but Elizabeth did. "Who sired your son anyway? He must have been a real bastard to leave you living in squalor or played the part one of one extremely well." Her eyes shouted something else; However, Christina couldn't quite grasp what it was, so she ignored it.

"Elizabeth!" Mr. Bennet's voice wasn't loud but was extremely firm. "You lost the right to ask that question once you made the proposal to her."

"It's alright, sir...Thomas." Christina quickly changed to Mr. Bennet's name upon him clearing his throat. "I need to make a confession. I am a widow; my son wasn't born out of wedlock. People assumed Curtis was because I left his father's name off his birth certificate, and I never corrected them." Elizabeth's tone had implied the same assumption others had made even without seeing any legal papers, and they all knew it. Mr. Bennet's daughter had the decency to look embarrassed. Christina went on. "Patrick was an only child, his mother was killed in a freakish accident shortly before we married, his father hung himself right after his wife was found, and his family and other relations quit speaking to us on the day we wed." She'd made the last statement when Elizabeth asked about her in-laws.

"What about your own kin?" Thomas inquired.

"They all left for the colonies the day after we married, wanted us to come, but Patrick wasn't feeling well, so we figured we'd stay here. Our vows were only a week old when he went downhill fast and within days he was gone. I took all the money we both had upon entering our marriage and left our hometown. I have lived very frugal since. Figured if I did that, not to mention getting a small, low-key job, Curtis and I would be all right. Okay..." She set her jaw hard when Elizabeth started laughing and Thomas' eyes started twinkling. "What's so funny about my son's name?"

"Nothing." Both Elizabeth and her father controlled their amusement when Mr. Bennet explained his own middle name was Curtis.

"Oh, ohhh." Christina looked sheepish. "Guess no one would question him being your son." The lady asked what would convince his other children he'd fathered the boy. "You live in Longborne; I've lived in London long enough people believe I conceived Curtis there and nowhere else."

"When was Curtis born?" Elizabeth asked, when told her eyes lit up. "Father, wouldn't that make his conception be at the same time you were in London with Uncle Edward?"

"It would." When asked if he'd ever gone off by himself during that time, Elizabeth's father leaned back and put his hand under his chin. "Yes, I found myself restless, unable to deal with company and went wondering away from the crowd." When asked if anyone had seen him, Elizabeth's father nodded. "They saw me leave, there were those of the group who hard-timed me over because they'd seen a lady's shadow near me and assumed she was with me. Nonetheless, I ignored their razzing because I'd made sure I'd gotten time by myself with no one around -not even the lady who simply was looking for directions to some building where she was to meet her brother so they could then travel to the nearest docks and sail to the colonies."

"In that case, if you show up with Christina and Curtis in tow that alone would convince Uncle Edward you were the father and he'd vouch for your claim." Elizabeth then turned to Christina "Now, since that has been addressed will you go along with the proposal?" Elizabeth asked as their company looked down upon her sleeping baby.

"I'm not sure. I mean, surely, people will be able to see he's not your father's child."

"Not unless they have super keen sight and even then, it would be no real proof; not in a court of law." Elizabeth then confessed she'd done a double take upon first seeing Christina's baby. "Your son looks so much like my cousins and even a couple of my sisters at that age. Good heavens, take a look at him - he even looks like Mr. Bennet. I doubt anyone would question it -especially if my father has no issues saying Curtis is his."

"Elizabeth is correct. I noticed the same thing back at your apartment." Mr. Bennet then confessed he was worried about her future though should she agree to Elizabeth's idea. "I do not have much, and what little is not enough for the upkeep of the house -even if we tightened our belts as Elizabeth wishes."

"As far as that goes, I have more than enough to help out. In fact, there is more to confess should I decide to accept."

Thomas mulled that one over in his head as they talked some more. Some about his family, what would be expected of her and then fell silent until the carriage stopped in front of the inn. "This is our stop." He looked at the inn and then back at Christina. "If you don't wish to go along with our offer, I will send you on to my cousins with a note. A place safer than the one you just left would be found for you and your son. However," He stepped down from the carriage. "I, and my daughter, are heading home."

"If my mother was around, she'd tell me I'm crazy." Holding out her hand for Mr. Bennet to help her and Curtis down, Christina wrapped with, "I'll accept your offer, but not before we talk some more. And it wouldn't just be about the money end of things." They all knew she meant why Christina had passed herself off as single instead of revealing she was a widow.