Pride and Prejudice

AU

No Common Lady

Previously

"For the first time, in a very long time, I do not feel the need to look to a new area in which to reside. I hope I am not making a mistake."

Bennet's Talk with Mr. Collins

Ch. 11

Mr. Bennet had left not only the room, but his house as well. The one person he did not think would listen about the letter, but he still felt obligated to warn, needed to be visited. So, with that in mind, Elizabeth's father headed towards the Collins' home and was shown in as soon as he arrived.

"Mr. Collins, I have come to warn you about Mr. Preston, a man who is planning to rob you of as much money as possible. He is a most cunning and ruthless fellow. Another man of God not far from where he lives has warned me people have been fleeced by Mr. Preston with his smooth talk and false promises. The fellow is nothing short of a parasite and a villain, and you would do well to avoid him and his schemes. I fear if you do not, you will bring disgrace and ruin upon yourself and your parish."

"Mr. Bennet, I thank you for your concern and effort in coming to give me what information was handed to you; I have heard similar from your son-in-law, Mr. Darcy." Mr. Collins might as well have sniffled before going on. "However, be assured I have nothing to fear from Ambrose Preston or any other man for that matter. I have the protection and the guidance of my patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She is a lady of great wisdom and authority. It is she who has instructed me on how to manage my affairs and my income. I have just arrived home from discussing the matter with her. , and she has assured me that I am in a very secure and prosperous situation. Therefore, I am very grateful for his friendship and his assistance."

"Mr. Collins, I am glad to hear that you are so confident and satisfied with your situation and your acquaintances. However, I must warn you, yet again, that Ambrose Preston is not what he appears to be in the letter you received. He is a liar and a cheat. There is no question he will betray you and take everything from your family as soon as he gets the chance. He is no friend, but your enemy and your doom. You would do well to listen to me, for I have only your best interest at heart, nothing more."

"Mr. Bennet, I appreciate your good intentions, but I must ask you to refrain from speaking ill of Ambrose Preston or questioning my judgment. And, now, I must ask you to leave as it is almost time for our supper."

"Mr. Collins, I see that you are determined to ignore my counsel." Thomas put back on his hat, noticing Charlotte was mentally taking notes while her husband was not, maybe, some of their savings might be left untouched yet. Nonetheless, he ignored her not wishing her to lose the only advantage she may be able to keep any amount of cash out of her husband's house, for Elizabeth's father was convinced the lady was taking mental notes to do just that. Hence; he continued speaking only to Mr. Collins. "Well, sir, I suppose it is your prerogative to do as you please. After all, you have a head of your own, even if you seldom use it."

"Mr. Bennet, I thank you for your compliment. Indeed, I have a head of my own, which I use very often and very well. I am sure that Lady Catherine, and my wife, would agree with me on that point."

'I am sure she would agree with you on that point, as well as on every other point that you make. For you are nothing but a parrot who repeats everything that Lady Catherine says, without any original thought of your own.'

Thomas rode away from shaking his head over Mr. Collins' response. Telling him anything else of what had been told of him in West Sussex would have done no good. No, Mr. Collins would have been horrified to know Mr. Bennet had the nerve to talk to a Catholic priest and, heaven forbid, if he knew Mrs. Fletcher had been good friends with said clergyman.

Mrs. Fletcher, a lady Mr. Preston wanted to displace simply over -from what Mr. Bennet could tell- sheer jealousy. Glancing over a dale, Thomas sighed, it really was not the scoundrel, or his letter, that was bothering him. No, most people - it seemed - were choosing to believe the Darcy's or himself. It was another matter, far weightier and that led him home in total silence unhinged by the wind that had picked up,

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Mr. Bennet had attempted to sit still but could not. Hence, he wandered out back and walked among the flowers. His mind was on the previous night's talk with Mrs. Fletcher and not on his visit to Mr. Collins. The sweet lady had been in the kitchen cooking in the morning, with Lydia by her side. Their talk was shockingly quite intellectual...far above what he thought his youngest capable of. It had easily pushed out any thoughts of Collins' reaction, or lack thereof, to Mr. Bennet's message and put it back onto another growing matter which had entrenched itself into his soul.

"Father?" Elizabeth came around the corner, as did Jane. They're boys were inside being taken care of by Lydia.

"What is the matter? Are you having financial problems?" Elizabeth inquired.

"Good heavens, no." Thomas could not help but scowl, but then quickly apologized. 'I am sorry, Elizabeth, but that subject feels like a dead horse is being beaten. I made a bad investment before, but I am out of trouble and Longborn is doing well again, Please, drop it."

"So, what is the problem?" Jane asked quietly.

"I..." Thomas took a deep breath, and plowed ahead deciding if his daughters were going to blow, it might as well be now, while they were outside. "...am finding myself wanting to court my daughter's companion. I am in a dilemma, I told her she could stay for as long as she liked, practically begged her to stay for Lydia's sake, refused to allow her to continue on as a servant and now..." He threw up his hands. "My mind is not thinking of her along any of those lines. The scandal it would cause this family I do not have to explain for I am landed gentry, and she is one of the working class doing multiple tasks even though I have not asked that of her. She does it all of her own accord." There it was out, and he braced himself for the blast that was surely to come from at least Elizabeth.

"Well..." Elizabeth shocked him by not being upset but instead turning to Jane and began speaking to her instead. "Lydia does so much love Mrs. Fletcher and she does so much more than a simple companion would and, has he said, does it of her own accord even with father having hired all the servants back. However, to lessen the damage of our reputation, she needs to quit working for Father and go work for you. That way Lydia can still be around her and we all know she does better with Mrs. Fletcher nearby. And it would be wise if he waited a little while before the courtship started. People would be talking enough as it is, and we would not be able to do anything about wiping out the neighbors talking all together; people will do that no matter what. We would need time to discuss things with our husbands and I could write our sisters and get their opinion on the matter."

"I would love it. Yes, Mr. Darcy and my husband found the error in our books; thank heavens, so it is not like I absolutely need the help. However, she is a sweet lady and would be no bother to have around. It is for certain she cannot stay here." The two continued to talk until their father interrupted.

"Hello. I am still here." Mr. Bennet's words made Elizabeth and Jane chuckle. He was pleased at his daughters' reactions. And yet he was still nervous over where his mind had strayed, not to mention what Mrs. Fletcher's reaction would be, as to the town- they would just have to deal with that as it came.