I don't own Pride and Prejudice!
He sat there in numb silence, unable to comprehend the world around him. How could anyone have found out, for they had guarded the secret with such diligence, very few people had even known of it. Yet, there it was, in black and white, in the gossip section of the morning's paper. The news was said to have come from someone close to the family, but for the life of him, he knew of no one willing to risk scandal to share it. However, the scandal was now on their doorstep, and there was naught they could do to fight it.
All he could think about was how he had failed. He had failed to protect his sister. Failed to preserve his family name. Failed to continue the honor of the legacy his father left behind. He most likely had failed in his desire to have a loving family of his own some day, as who would want to tie themselves to someone who had already failed everyone they cared about. Who would trust him to be able to protect them. One thing was for certain, no one from the ton would want him as a spouse for their daughters, and if they did, would demand he send his sister away.
Had be been more aware of his surroundings, he would have noticed the voices as they approached. He would have been able to communicate with them when they came upon him. As it was, his shock addled mind registered nothing.
Frances, Fanny, Bennet made her way through to fields at the back of her husband's property, to a little out of the way cabin. This cabin housed one woman and her young daughter, and had since just before the child was born. The woman had once been the daughter of a gentleman, and had fallen when she was seduced by a reprobate who promised to marry her, but refused to have anything to do with her once he had gotten what he had wanted. The poor girl had gone to her father to make him force the man to marry her, and her father had challenged the man to a duel when he refused to be brought to heel, and had ended up dead. Her brother had then thrown her out when he inherited, and she had been forced to go into service as a companion for the elderly mother of the gentleman who owned Netherfield. There she was misused by the master of the house, and thrown out when she told him she was with child.
When the women of Meryton had heard of this they had all banded together to ensure this poor soul was taken care of. After all, was it really fair to blame woman whose innocence was used against her, and then abused by a man in power. They were all aware of the unfairness women faced, once it was explained by a then young Mrs Gardiner, and all worked together to best combat it in their little portion of England.
The Bennets had allowed her to live in a cabin on their property, as it had no usable farm land, and had sat empty for years. Lady Lucas gave seeds and vegetables from her family garden. Mrs. Goulding sent eggs and milk from her own animals on her estate. While Fanny's own sister, Mrs Phillips would send flour and sugar.
The women did try to keep their daughters ignorant of the cabin's tenants to preserve their reputations and sensibilities, but naturally, one of her daughters would find out about what they were doing. She couldn't have been more proud when said daughter entered their scheme. It also had the added benefit of there being a young lady close in size to the young woman who was willing to donate a dress every now and again.
She couldn't help the smile that crept across her face when she saw said daughter walking toward her while out on her morning ramble. Elizabeth was by far the most frustrating of her daughters, and the one she most feared being able to marry off. After all, what man wants an opinionated wife, no matter how pretty. She doubted she would have an easy time finding her a husband even if she were as beautiful as Jane, or as lively as Lydia. No man would respect a woman who was smarter than him and was content to ramble about all of creation. Even so, she loved her daughter with all her heart, and just wanted to see her well protected.
"Good morning Mama." Lizzy said with a smile as she approached. "I was hoping to catch you before you made it to Miss Harper's cottage." As she spoke she handed over a package wrapped in brown paper. "I finished letting out the hem on my old peach gown and thought it would do well for her." Lizzy was the smallest of her children both in height and figure, and so once she was done with a dress there was no one to pass it on to. Thankfully, Miss Harper was of a similar figure, and just an inch or two taller.
"I shall be happy to add it to the basket." She smiled as took the package and handed it to the footman carrying the basket for her, surprise by the thickness.
"I found I could not mend the tear in my green dress, so made a dress for little Emma, and a matching one for her doll." The pride she felt at the kindness displayed by her daughter was bitter sweet, knowing it would be wasted, were she to remain unmarried.
She was about to request news on how Jane fared at Netherfield, when something caught Lizzy's eye, "That is Mr. Darcy's horse, but what is it doing this far out on our lands?"
"Stay here Lizzy, Thomas you stay with her." She spoke to her daughter and the footman, before heading off in the direction of the horse, knowing of her daughter's fear of the creatures, well as wanting to protect her from any unpleasant sights should the man be injured.
"Ma'am, I should come with you..." the young man tried to argue, likely fearing for her safety, but she would not be gain said.
"You will stay here and protect my daughter, I will stay in sight and call for you should I find I need to go farther than you can see." She left no room for argument as she made her way through the field, stopping by the tree the horse was tethered to.
There she saw him, looking far younger than she had ever thought he could appear, a crumpled newspaper clutched tightly in his hand. From what she could see of it, it appeared to be the gossip section she herself had read just that morning. Seeing it brought to mind an article of a GD from Derbyshire, and for the first time wondered if she could be a relation of the young man. She had read about how the young girl had consented to an elopement with the son of her late father's steward, and all the drivel that followed after. Her heart had gone out to the poor girl, and she was ready for Lady Lucas, Mrs Goulding, or her sister to call so they could commiserate about the poor girls fate, and how they wished they could help. As well as complain about how unfairly the girl was likely to be treated by her own family.
Seeing the lost and forlorn on the young man's face brought out every mothering instinct she had within her, which were quite numerous. She tried to call his name to get his attention, and when that didn't work she called to her daughter, hoping she would know something.
She was in awe watching her daughter assess the situation, then ordering Thomas about. She worried when the young man took off at a run toward Miss Harper's cabin, and returned shortly with what water that appeared rather cloudy. She watched as her Lizzy coaxed the man to drink the water, his eyes begin to register the world around him, while he grimaced at the taste.
"I apologize for the taste sir, but sugar water has been said to help people experiencing shock." Elizabeth spoke softly, so as not to spook the man.
"Thank you Miss Bennet," He then belatedly noticed her standing behind her daughter and balanced seeing her behind her, "Mrs Bennet," acknowledged her with a polite nod.
"I hope I am not overstepping, but judging by your state and the clutched newspaper in your hand, the story in the gossip section is of your poor sister?" She asked gently, and the man visibly startled at her words.
"I am afraid so, and if you have seen it I am sure everyone else has." He mumbled, and she watched as his body visibly sagged under the shame and guilt he felt, though she was unsure as to why he felt they were warranted. Seeing Elizabeth's confusion, he handed her the paper for her to read.
"It is likely, though you shall not find a more empathetic group of women than the mamas of Meryton." Elizabeth said with a comforting smile, though her heart swelled when she noticed it was aimed at her. "The unique women here have long been putting the blame on the scoundrels, rather than the unsuspecting innocent young ladies for years." She felt her face warm, as the blush rose to her cheeks, seeing the pride in her daughter's eyes for something she had done. It had been so long since she had been looked at thus by her intelligent daughter.
"Would that Georgian could be ensconced in such a community..." He spoke to no one, and Fanny felt her heart go out to the young man and his sister. To feel that one small misstep was the end of the world as you knew it was something she hoped her girls would never have to feel.
"This is one of the reasons I am loathe to have my girls marry into families of the Ton" She saw the disbelief on both faces, and rolled her eyes in fond exasperation. "I want my daughters to marry men who can support them and any children they may have. Sadly, that comes with the possibility of being exposed to the Ton."
"Pardon my saying so, but if your goal is for your girls to marry men who can support them, why do you allow them to flirt with the officers? None of them, with the exception of Colonel Foster, can afford to keep a wife, especially in the manner your girls are used to, and he is already married." It wasn't said to make her feel stupid or inadequate like how her husband generally spoke to her, rather with kindness and genuine curiosity.
"What do you mean can't afford...?" She trailed off, remembering how Colonel Miller was always affectionate and buying her little gifts. She never thought he struggled for money. It was one of the reasons she had made the earlier decisions she had.
"My cousin, Georgiana's other guardian, is a Colonel with the Calvary." By this time he had seemed to have gained enough of his equilibrium to try and stand. "He constantly uses the low pay of a soldier to fend off women who want to marry him because he is the second son of an Earl."
They sent the basket on with Thomas for Miss Harper, and slowly made their way back the way they came. The matron hanging off the gentleman's every word, despairing ever growing in her heart as she realized how difficult it would be to find good kind gentlemen to marry her daughter, who would also be able to support them in their limited circles.
