AU Pride an Prejudice

Fan Fiction

For Clarissa's Sake

Previously

She then knocked to make sure her mother was finished with her father before opening the door which led into her parents' room. Her father was now propped up by multiple pillows with his wife sitting by his side.

Meeting with the Baron and Baroness

Ch. 3

"Hello, Lieutenant." Lord Grey smiled, relief showed on his face as his old friend and brother-in-arms took off his cloak and draped it over the chair the young lady had pulled next to her father's bed before sitting down on it while he kept his hat in his lap.

"What is going on, Captain?" Thomas had not liked the tone of the message and said as much, he did not mention the other detail about the letter that had grabbed his attention but only because he figured his old army superior would explain everything. "Have you really been that sick?"

"And then some. Ask my wife."

"We almost lost him, three times."

Lord Grey sighed and asked. "How much do you know about fines and recovery?"

"Not much, only that they are a legal action that are extremely expensive and time consuming." Thomas admitted he never really had a reason to look into anything like it, so he was the wrong person to ask if that was why he had been sent for.

"No, it is not why we sent for you. They entail lawsuits and judgments to break an entail, or bar, from any future claims one's heirs or creditors might file. Basically, it is a way of men like me transferring lands without consent of the heir in tail, or other interested parties. Yes, it is complex and expensive. Yes, it took the cooperation of several lawyers and judges." Morgan shook his head. "My brothers generously helped me out on the expenses though I dare say they thought us a bit mad."

"Open that drawer and look inside the envelope it holds." Lord Grey nodded to the table next to the bed which held one small drawer; Mr. Bennet did as told and what he saw floored him.

"Why would you deed me all your lands? I am landed gentry, but not upper class."

"I am not deeding you all my lands, my sons may yet live...look closer." Morgan pointed to the paper and Mr. Bennet took another look.

"You have land outside of Meryton?"

"Yes, two properties actually and both are adjacent to Longbourn." Morgan ignored his friend's eyes going wide. "I expended a great deal more to secure one estate for Clarissa and one for you. My brothers, like I said, helped out for they knew I had plenty of land up here I was keeping in the family for my sons should they show back up. That land in Meryton they all -very loudly, in front of the whole family- stated they had no interest in."

"So what did you send for me? Could this not have been done through correspondence?" Thomas asked just before he noticed a familiar look in the Baroness' eyes and then caught one in Clarissa's; they both had a look he had seen on more than one soldier when they knew a task needed to be done, whether they liked it or not, and were going to do it come what may. The ending of the letter flashed into his mind, and he stiffened ever so slightly.

Lord Grey knew he faced a difficult task in explaining himself, but it was necessary; he could only hope that Thomas would understand and not object. "Nicolas, a distant cousin of mine has turned his eyes towards our lands, and towards our family. None of us want that, including my brothers." He then repeated what he had already told the baroness. "I granted you the land with a stipulation attached to it. My brothers and I invoked several obligations from a high-ranking, well-known relative of ours in order to ensure that you had no restrictions on where things could be done. We beseech you, I beseech you, wed our Clarissa."

Thomas figured it was a good thing he was sitting, or he might have fell to the floor out of shock. The Baron's daughter could not be any older than Mary, probably not even Kitty. And all this for a 'I might die'? Mr. Bennet finally found his voice.

"And if you survive?"

"Then I have two fewer pieces of property and a son-in-law to visit at Longbourn. Please, take those papers, take her - I am sure one of your daughters will let her stay with them until your wedding."

Mr. Thomas looked at the Baroness and then at her daughter. He believed the lady to have her daughter's best interest at heart. And the gentleman trusted this distant cousin spoken of was not one a man would want his daughter with but -thinking about the way the letter had repeated itself and knowing what he had to say to his old captain and why, he asked the women to leave as he wished to talk to the baron alone.