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

A/N I have changed Wickham's personality as to women; he's still military and likes to gamble. No scandal when it comes to his marriage to Lydia

2 A/N ... This is AU which means I may not always follow Austen's social rules either- though I will have the Bennet's legally married, and Curtis not considered Mr. Bennet's illegit son. As to Lady Catherine...her real connection to all this comes at the end of chapter 4. And I am taking writer's liberty on what one could, and could not get away with legally in England in the early 1800's.

Christina's own motives

Ch. 3

Dishes clanged and voice's hummed or rose like waves upon the ocean, depending on the table where people were sitting. Maids brought food in and out with little, or no hindrance, from patrons visiting the establishment. Elizabeth and Christina sat at a table in a corner away from the crowd and prying eyes; Mr. Bennet sat only after the ladies and only after scanning the room wondering if, by chance, there would be friends that would see them before any final details could be ironed out. Praise be, none were insight.

"So, now for that discussion?" Mr. Bennet understood her wanting her to discuss money; she had a son to think about, and his own history did not speak well for him. However, he did need to know the rest of what she'd been keeping under wraps.

"First of all, I'm not a pauper." Christiana sighed and addressed the cash issue but followed quickly by her main concern. "I lived in the rough part of town only because number one, a few ...men...upon my arrival saw an expensive necklace I was wearing, made no qualms about what they really wanted and, so, I simply made it look as if I'd lost it all and moved to where Elizabeth met me. I would insist on finding someone you trusted to handle the money for, while I do not worship it, I have no desire to become destitute after your passing either. Second, people never asked about Curtis' father, they all just made assumptions. You...' Looking at Elizabeth. "Made the offer to secure a place of living for your sisters, blood or not. I am considering taking your offer not because of funds but so my late husband's grandfather would have no proof the child descends from him. He is one very controlling, abusive male and his other son is not much better. I could handle anything they dealt out to me, but what my child would suffer because those actions make me cringe."

Elizabeth understood the concern for Curtis, so addressed the money part instead. "How much do you have?"

"Enough to pay all your father's debts off and then some." Christina ignored Elizabeth's shocked look and continued on. "What I really want to know is this...are you sure this is what you want?" Christina asked as she kept her eyes on Thomas ...she had to fight to think of him in relation to his first name and only succeeded because he'd asked. "I can go along with it, like I just stated, for the safety of Curtis. However, I am still wondering if Elizabeths' pride hasn't caused her to over-react in regard to Lady Catherine. I mean, from what I hear your family is scandal free in spite of Wickham being a well-known gambler when he is not doing his military duties; for he owes no man large sums of money. And Lydia is never short of household money." When Thomas's eye widened, she smiled. "Believe it or not, your name is known up here. My guess is because military wives talk; especially Wickham's even though I have not ever met your fourth daughter. Anyhow..." her grin stayed in place and focused on what really mattered. "My coming into the picture with a baby isn't going to make the lady happy and could very well be seen as a scandal or be made one by her. I mean even if we are believed to have been married longer than anyone was aware, it would still have been kept a secret that alone is cause for talk. And it's not like Mary would be unable to live with Elizabeth or one of her other sisters, or that Charlotte would be absolutely homeless even if Lady Catherine, or Reverend Collins, did as your daughter overheard in the conversations, she wasn't supposed to have been aware of."

Elizabeth turned to her father. "Are you still okay with it? I mean, she does have a point. Maybe, I have over-reacted. My pride in regard to Lady Catherine does have a way of getting the best of me."

"I'm sure, now more than ever." He then looked at Christina and Curtis. "Who is the grandfather of that child anyway?" Christina looked around, did not see anyone she knew, or could feel any bad vibes off, but lowered her voice nonetheless and told him but with making them promise not ever to repeat it, Mr. Bennet barely heard the name.

"Oh, my..." Elizabeth's father straightened back up with his mouth pursed. "I happen to know the man has fallen seriously ill; the doctors have given him only a couple of months to live. So, on that end of things I am thinking he is no real threat. However," Thomas's face remained grim and smile almost nonexistent. "I could be wrong for Curtis' grandfather does have connections with Lady Catherine. Those two would cause you problems with no ring on your finger. So, I highly suggest ..." He went onto explain what he figured would need to be done before leaving London. "Elizabeth...you can- before going back to your own home - conveniently go ahead to you Uncle Edward's and tell him the 'real reason' ..." Mr. Bennet's fingers bent without his hands ever been lifted from the table. "We came to London. Tell him I caught wind of Christina having given birth to my son, that I gained a conscience and came to clear up a grave misunderstanding. Tell him I also came to convince her there was no need to fear me, that I was admitting to you, and to the rest of our family the truth of our marriage and had no intention of divorcing her, nor of taking your brother away from her. I am sure your aunt has friends around more than capable of talking. You then could go tell Mary. If Lydia has come to visit, your sister will have spread the news around in town in no time. Her mouth never stays shut long if at all. It's no wonder Wickham tells her no secrets." Mr. Bennet then turned to Christina. ''Take me to whoever replaced your birth certificate; you came up with a valid reason for it to be replaced - we can come up with one to get us a marriage certificate -with a different date other than today- before we leave London. But don't worry..." He then shook his head. "We will be legally married before arriving home, I won't chance anyone having the legal upper arm on that." Mr. Bennet was already figuring that situation out in his head and knew where it would be done -without anyone seeing it occurring.

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Christina did her best to breathe normal as Thomas climbed into the carriage with all the legal paperwork showing they'd been married when Curtis had been conceived. She hated the deception, but knew it was the only way to not only secure a home for Mary if a husband did not come into the picture, but for Charlotte should -heaven forbid- she ever became destitute, not to mention keeping Curtis out of Mr. Hamilton's hands.

"Breathe, Christina. Elizabeth's gone ahead to her own husband and Pemberly. We have one stop to make before heading home and trust me, the preacher's been tested by a friend of mine before; he won't break if questioned. Just follow my lead and things will be fine." Mr. Bennet patted her hand.

"I am just hoping you don't regret this. If it weren't for the safety of my son, I probably would have told Elizabeth no."

"I understand." Mr. Bennet kept his hand over hers. "Would it help if I admitted I hope I don't regret it either?" Neither one of them spoke only rode in silence.