AU Pride and Prejudice

For Clarissa's Sake

Fan Fiction

As stated in summary: Warning May/December age gap involved. Based on couples I have either heard of, or personally met. While I will not have the estates within walking distances; I will have them closer than in the books.

2 A/N I am now in the process of listening to the audio book of P&P in order to better refresh myself it with the characters though I will still be doing AU as I enjoy messing around family dynamics and so on and so forth.

Old Captain/Friend Sends for Bennet

Ch. 1

Mr. Bennet sat on an oversized boulder, overlooking the fields and woods that surrounded Longbourn, his ancestral home. He was in a reflective mood, thinking about his daughters and their various fates. The sun was setting in the west, casting a warm glow over the landscape. He could hear the sounds of farm animals and birds, and the faint chatter of his servants and tenants. He felt a mix of pride, joy, sorrow, and regret as he recalled the events of the past few years.

Elizabeth was living in Pemberley. Mary had married a Colonel Jansen who already had two children - and lived in Meryton. And Jane was happily married to Mr. Bingley, who had proved to be more prudent with his money than Mr. Bennet had once feared. They had recently purchased Netherfield, the estate next to Longbourn, after Mr. Bingley's sisters had moved away. Jane was expecting her first child, and Mr. Bennet looked forward to being a grandfather.

Jane, their oldest daughter, had been named after her mother. Thankfully, her temperament had not been like Mrs. Bennet's. No, he had not hated his wife - as some had thought; though Mr. Bennet now acknowledged he had not dealt well with her lack of ability to carry on what he viewed as intelligent conversation. He had often retreated to his library or his fields, leaving her to fret over their daughters' prospects and gossip with her Neighbours. It had been three years since they had buried his late wife, after a sudden fever had taken her life. Thomas could not honestly say he was in a hurry to remarry.

Yes, there were plenty of people pushing for him to do such a thing. Jane, for one, or maybe he should say Jane's female relations on Charles's side of the family. They had got it into their heads that it was time for him to find a new companion. They had appeared to make it their mission to get Jane to persuade her father to go to all the correct events in order for that to happen. They had even suggested some eligible widows or spinsters who might suit him. Thus, he suspected that Jane, to keep peace in her husband's family more than anything else, had begun dropping hints on when such parties would be held. Mr. Bennet had conveniently ignored them all, not out of a desire to ignore their opinions - he simply had no desire to be the center of anyone's match-making schemes.

Lydia was Lydia. She only wrote Elizabeth and, sometimes Jane. But then it was only to ask for funds. Mr. Bennet never heard from her.

Kitty calling him pulled Mr. Bennet out of his thoughts. 'Father.' Kitty came down the path leading to where he sat, leading a stranger Mr. Bennet did not recognize to where he sat. 'This gentleman wishes to see you.' She then left.

'I am Steward Rawley, sent by Baron Morgan Grey. He asked me to deliver this to you.' The gentleman who stood almost as tall as Mr. Bennet handed Kitty's father the letter.

'Baron Grey? I thought him to be dead.' Mr. Bennet spoke as he opened the letter; his friend's servant said not a word. Thomas looked down and began to read.

My dear Friend and Comrade in Arms:

I must first apologize for the long silence that must have made you think I had made my last and final trip on this earth. I have been very ill. So much so that my wife and I feared my time on earth was over. However, you see with this letter I yet live. My Dearest Marianne and I have had many discussions. Ones I of which I cannot pen down in a letter. My doctor says he cannot guarantee what ailed me will not return. I find it all so bothersome. However, be that as it may, I beg of you to come as quickly as you are able.

There are many things in life I have meant to sit down and discuss with you, all seemed important at the time. Battles we saw together. Men we fight alongside, but who never made it back home, the games we played in the evening in the officers' tent. Those were the good times, were they not? Alas, all good things come to an end sooner or later.

I would come to you but, my wife is a strong-willed woman and, my friend, at this time I cannot muster enough strength to fight against her wishes, or do I have a valid reason to do so. She is pleading for you to come to our place; to spare me the need to travel down to Meryton, to Longborn to you. My sons would come fetch you but duties to our king have called them elsewhere and so I send my most trusted servant with this message in hopes that you will come as quickly as you are able. We will -eagerly await your arrival as what we hold most dear must be discussed. (I would come to you, but my wife is a strong-willed woman, and my friend, at this time I do not have the strength to fight against her wishes. She is pleading for you to come to our place, to spare me the need to travel down to Meryton, to Longbourn to you. My sons would come fetch you but duties to our king have called them elsewhere and so I send my most trusted servant with this message in hopes that you will come as soon as possible. We will eagerly await your arrival, as what we hold most dear must be discussed.

I hope to see you soon, and embrace you as a brother

Your Friend,

Lord Morgan Grey

"Come, follow me to the house. I will quickly change, let my daughter know what is happening, and then I will go with you on my horse to Baron Grey's home." Mr. Bennet stood up and did not drag his feet in getting back to his home.

Kitty heard the door open, saw her father hurry up the stairs, observed the stranger remain in his saddle, and Mr. Bennet return to the main floor only moments later in different clothes, along with his riding gear.

"I am going to an old friend's home. I will be gone for a few days, maybe a week at the very most. Do not worry about me. If my visit is extended, I will send word," And with that, Mr. Bennet was out the door, on his horse and down the road; leaving Kitty to wonder what was going on.