AU Not Cannon

Pride and Prejudice

They Called Him a Bennet Too

An Answer

Ch 15

Edward and Thomas rode up to Mr. Bennet's home alone, as the rest of Edward's men were burying the dead, hauling prisoners to the law, or simply retiring to their own beds. No one could be seen at the front of Longborn, with the exception of a few men - with their hands tied behind their backs - being loaded into small wagon by a couple of men wearing a short wooden club and whistle. A few of them were injured and wrapped up in bloody bandages, but neither Edward nor Thoms could see any signs of death.

"I see our efforts to keep the majority of the fight away from your doorstep were not in vain." Edward went to say more only Mary opened the door just as Thomas dismounted his horse and limped towards the door.

"What happened, Father?"

"Our neighbor should be informed that dogs are not intended for pets and, if he insists having them as such; they should not be allowed to stray about and repose in peculiar places at night." Thomas muttered and then bade Edward to stop his laughter as he limped into the house after having fallen over the slumbering cur in the dark.

"We were so busy conversing, relieved over the smuggling ring being broke up, your father and I failed to see James; your neighbor's dog, had laid down in a dip in the ground." Edward explained at first, he thought Mary's father had been shot due to a gun going off. "Turns out it was another man defending himself against one lone smuggling hoping to escape. Thankfully, one of our men was a doctor in the war; he says your father's sprain is an extremely mild one - it should not pose a threat to his life; maybe your ears, but not his life". He then excused himself and went inside to see Thomas with his leg propped up on the couch and Christina wrapping his ankle.

"What does that paper say? The one Joseph handed you?" Thomas asked as Edward sat down, opened it and then let out one long, low whistle.

"It is a declaration, signed by more than one man, stating that one of their principal associates for conveying unlawful lace, wine and tea was Lady Catherine." Rising up he stepped outside to converse with lawmen who were just preparing to depart; Thomas did not endeavor to follow.

"It ought not to astonish me, I suppose. Mr. Darcy's aunt was always too haughty for her own good. However, I did not ever imagine she would descend so low as to connect herself with such scoundrels as smugglers."

Christina spoke no word only stood up and gathered the extra material together and put them in a small box. Feelings, good or bad, towards Lady Catherine, were ignored as she was only relieved to hear the smugglers were now off the Bennet estate. However, she could not help but bite her lip.

"Come, sit.' Thomas patted the seat next to him intending to reassure her they would still keep an eye out on Hamilton only to have Edward step back in. "Think you can make it down to your library? While Christina goes upstairs to be with Elizabeth, Mary and your son?"

Thomas stood up, considered sending Christina up as asked, but then put his arm around her shoulders. "I can make it with the aid of Christina, but whatever you have to say..." His jaw set in place. "My wife needs to hear it; we are a team now." His words made Christina stand a little taller.

"If you insist."

The three walked down the barely lit hallway. Edward stopped at the hallway and looked at Thomas. "Are you sure?"

"Just get on with it." Thomas nodded towards the door and the three went in.

Thomas was surprised to see a man with a familiar face sitting in the corner of the library, it was not Hamilton or any of his minions for sure; they would have been strung up long before entering Mr. Bennet's home. It was not any of the smugglers, they were either dead, or being hauled off to prison. Edward pointed for the two to sit down intending to speak first, only the stranger beat him to it.

"Edward, you indeed need to improve your skills and those of your men. It takes no effort to enter and exit places without notice. I instructed a young lady how, and she has done it better than any of your men." There was amusement in a voice that was coarse and seasoned, but still possessed a smoothness few had; it too sounded strangely familiar to Thomas Bennet. "Oh, and your men really do need to enter Hamilton's home."

"Why?" Edward drug the word out slowly.

"Let us just say his past caught up with him and, no, I was not the one to do it. The second body was responsible for that and, excuse me, if I did not feel as if joining Mr. Hamilton on the floor was a good idea. Now... shall we clear up Thomas and Christina's confusion over Curtis? Though I dare say, once things settled down Thomas would figure it out all on his own."

"But without explanation we would be back to square one." Snapped Edward.

"I did not say where we would be..." The gentleman's voice showed he was once again amused but only because he was enjoying hard timing a friend. "I just said he would figure it out." He ignored Edward's guttural growl and asked Edward to give poor Thomas another hint as Mr. Bennet appeared to have the answer within inches of his grasp.

"Why do you not? You are right here."

"You said you liked giving them."

"At one point they called him Bennet too."

Thomas's eye widened in shock as the puzzle piece in his brain finally broke loose at Edward's second hint and a memory flashed into his inner ear 'If my hair were not so dark people would think we were brothers and not cousins.'

"Matthew! Matthew Bennet is that really you?!"

"Took you long enough." Matthew laughed and his chest shook. "I doubt we could pass for brothers now. Age has rounded out my face and the sea has not been as kind to my skin as this estate has been to yours." He shook his finger at Thomas. "My grandson should have shouted to you who he was, even if no one else was aware of me." Matthew then sobered up and leaned forward. "Would you, for your wife's sake and my grandson's safety, continue to claim him as your own child? He must not know I am alive...ever."

"Why?" Thomas was confused. "He is your grandson. Did Peter know this?" He asked the same question Christina's eyes were asking.

"No." Sighed Matthew. "William's men killed my wife shortly after Peter was born. Would have killed me and son too, only we were in our attic. I had no weapon on hand, so I got us out through one of the windows and ran with him. We had refused to give them aid; just as Christina's parents." He looked at Mrs. Bennet. "It was not Richard's associate who killed your parents as was thought by others." He ignored Edward's look of 'Hey, we were looking elsewhere'. "It was a group of smugglers I have been after for a long time. We caught them, but not soon enough to save your parents." Matthew then turned back to the subject of Peter. "Richard's son was a pious man and his wife a sweetheart, even Richard was a decent enough fellow at that point in time. So, when my place was attacked, I took my son and fled to the only people Peter ever called Father and Mother. I had no idea Richard would grow so greedy as to hire someone to kill is own flesh and blood, and then turn on Peter. Which is why..." He spoke slowly. "Matthew Bennet is dead, you do not need to know what I go by now. And it is why Christina and Curtis are safe enough as long as people believe him to be your child. Plenty of men hate me for going after them for obvious reasons, and I am now part of the law that hunts them down. Those that knew what I looked like in my younger days no longer have the breath of life in them. Those who are aware of me now? They would kill my grandson and Christina in an attempt to 'pay me back'. And yet, if they are connected to you all the danger to them is gone." He stood up, embraced Thomas and then turned to Christina.

"Peter, and now my cousin, could not have gotten a better wife. You are stronger than you realize." Matthew took her hand and kissed it before disappearing into the darkness without a sound after Thomas promised him there was no need to worry about the marriage being dissolved or Curtis being thrown to any smuggler.

8888888

"I am so happy that mess is over with." Elizabeth was packing her clothing as Christina was dressing Curtis. Peoples' voices drifting upstairs let them know the family, or the ones capable of gathering, were in Thomas' home once again. This time to celebrate the birth of Jane's second child and Mary's announcement off her upcoming marriage to a honest; hard-working merchant.

"Father says he needs to see you both in his library. Says it is important." Mary poked her head with a shine on her face all the women recognized; it was one of newfound love. However, for now, Elizabeth and Christina focused on getting to Thomas's library.