Pride and Prejudice

AU

No Common Lady

A very big THANK YOU to anyone who is still sticking with me on this story and who are POLITELY helping me out as I am refreshing myself with P&P and am spending time learning about the regency period. It is very much appreciated.

Oh, and she finally let out her age (but I think that is only because Mr. Bennet shocked her by his proposal)

Pride and Prejudice

Previously

"Hello. I am still here." Mr. Bennet was pleased, yet 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.

Discussion and Reaction

Ch 12.

Mrs. Fletcher was just finishing up cleaning up the dining room and kitchen when the two oldest married Bennet sisters came into the house, along with their father. She heard Jane getting her son and saying Mrs. Darcy's boys could be picked up when her sister was done, that with Lydia's help, Mrs. Bingley was not concerned about not being able to handle things. Done with what was no concern of Mrs. Fletcher's, so she thought, and the lady went over, grabbed her paper, pencils before sitting down to go over her own chore list until Mr. Bennet stepped into the room looking more than a little bit nervous.

"Mrs. Fletcher, would you...could you...step into the parlor with my daughter, Elizabeth and I need to talk to you." He waited as she stood up and walked slowly by.

Mrs. Fletcher was concerned, though it was not shown. She knew about the letters; that had already been discussed. She had been faithfully doing what was asked of her, and then some, so that should not be a problem. Lydia had not slipped into any major indiscretions. Yes, there had been some bad days, but who did not have those? Thus, Aurelia sat down in the parlor perplexed until she perceived a glint of amusement in Elizabeth's eye and the nervousness of Mr. Bennet. Surely, her mind was playing tricks on her.

"Miss Fletcher… I…" Mr. Bennet stuck his hands in his pockets. "Do you think you…" Thomas could not believe he was struggling so hard to speak. Here was a lady who had proven she had no difficulty in conversing with any of his daughters who lived close enough to have a conversation. And, to him, that meant a lot when it meant she could match wits with Elizabeth and still hold her own. "Could you consider…letting an old man court you?" There, once again it was out; he felt more like a bashful schoolboy than a gentleman with four married daughters and one young adult daughter still living at home.

"Court me?" Her eyes widened. "But I am of the working class, you a landed gentry and I am young enough to be Charlotte's twin. What of your family name?" She looked over at Elizabeth, thinking surely Mrs. Darcy would protest such madness.

"I will admit," Elizabeth slanted her head a little, "I would have protested loudly but for two reasons."

"And they are?" Mrs. Fletcher was fighting not to feel as if her heart were moving to her ears.

"For one, you are the miracle this family needs for Lydia and…" Elizabeth could not help but shake her head. "Two, I have never met someone like you who can hold her own when it comes to my father's tongue."

"My dear, Lizzie." Her father protested. "What do you mean by that?" In the past it would have meant one thing; he wished to know how his daughter viewed it now.

"Improved as you may be, you still have your humor, Father, be it satirical or sarcastic is debatable at times. Mrs. Fletcher has no difficulty in discerning the difference. When you start to slip, she, with apparent ease, steers the ship elsewhere." Elizabeth noticed a faint blush in Aurelia's face when Mr. Bennet, gently, replied it was never sarcastic when aimed at Mrs. Fletcher.

"So, again, I ask…" Mr. Bennet looked earnestly at Aurelia. "If we can handle any…scandal…could you…, would you…consider letting an old man court you?"

"Mr. Bennet, you have rendered me speechless." Mrs. Fletcher had wanted to say something witty but was still grappling with what it would mean. "I…" She blinked and rubbed her forehead. "Jane and your other daughters? Your friends? This thing with the letters has been bad enough. I know Mr. Preston well enough; he is not likely to leave high society and come here personally, but taking people's money is still bad enough. This, however, is a whole different matter."

"Jane is perfectly fine with it." Mr. Bennet smiled and then nodded towards Elizabeth. "She is willing to write to Mary and Kitty to get their opinions. Also, I think it is best if you no longer stay here. Jane is, however, willing to let you move into Netherfield and have you for a companion. I would wait for a little while before starting to court you. And, as to our friends, those letters have been a nuisance, but not a problem. As to this? It would - to me - simply let me know who my real ones were in the first place."

"That puts out Mr. Collins." Mrs. Fletcher spoke dryly. "He is as short as two thick planks and as silly as my mother's pet goose." Instantly the lady slapped her hand over her mouth with a horrified look on her face; she could not believe that had just come out of her mouth.

Mr. Bennet, along with Elizabeth, cracked up laughing as they happened to agree, but grew sober when Aurelia dropped her hand slowly before standing up to walk to the window nearest where she had been sitting.

Aurelia's mind and her heart had not struggled so hard in a very long time. She was no fool; there was no question in her mind what Thomas Bennet was risking by asking to court her, even if she had nothing to lose. And, if Aurelia were to be honest, she had been fully aware of the looks he had begun sending her way. And to be even more honest with herself, there had been a pull towards him for quite some time now. Taking another breath, Aurelia thought of his children. Yes, Jane and Elizabeth were behind him, but would their husbands be? It seemed like a thousand questions flooded her mind, none of which were interrupted by Elizabeth or Mr. Bennet. Finally, she turned around.

"What of Lydia? She has the right to be told."

"I was going to have you talk to her tonight, if possible, for you have a way with her we do not, but I saw no need to say anything until we had discussed things among ourselves."

Mrs. Fletcher saw the reasonableness of his answer and thus expressed the rest of what she had to say. "If Elizabeth's and Jane's husbands, along with your other daughters and their husbands, without any interference from Elizabeth or Jane, are inclined to support you in defiance of what society may say; then I have no objection to your calling upon me. I am not afraid of the opinions of society, but I will not, and cannot, be the cause of friction among your children." Mrs. Fletcher hid her emotion as she spoke, as if hoping Mr. Bennet did not rue the day of his bold request. Aurelia finished with consenting to remove from Longbourn and reside with Mrs. Bingley. "They are correct, I cannot remain here any longer." She then took her leave, aware that Lydia would soon return and be sent for a private conversation with her; if not here than most definitely at Mrs. Bingley's home.