AU Pride and Prejudice

Fan Fiction

Previously

I am sure you have learned from life and would not make the mistakes of your younger days." He then asked if Mr. Bennet minded him going for a walk. "You could tell me when I get back and talk more if necessary."

Blindsided

Talk with Charles and Jane

Ch. 3

Light clouds and plenty of blue skies and sunshine were a perfect backdrop for Netherfield, as were the well-watered surrounding trees and bushes. However, as the carriage drew close, Mr. Bennet could only dwell on what was in his pocktet, what he and Ivar had discussed before his departure, and what needed to be said and done.

Jane he was not extremely concerned about. Her nature alone would give him a chance at explaining what was going on so, no, this meeting would not overly taxing. Nonetheless , it was still doing a number on his nerves.

"Father, what a delight..." Jane quit speaking as soon as the look on his face truly clicked with her.

"What is wrong?" Charles asked as he walked up behind his wife.

"We need to talk inside." Mr. Bennet put his arm around Jane's shoulder as they walked towards the front door of Netherfield. "You, Charles and I ...in private."

"What have Wickham and Lydia gone and done now." Jane could not help but let the words slip.

"Nothing , but after what I have to say, you may wish they had." That got both Charles and Jane both curious and worried at the same time.

Light colored walls and surrounded creme-colored furnitured placed artistically around the room, all facing an empty hearth met the trio as they walked in the room. Long, light, bluish-green drapes were held open by strips of matching cloth and light was allowed to flow into the room. If Mr. Bennet, had he cared to look out, he could have easily seen majestic looking mountains, trees, bushes, and well-kept gardens acting as a beautiful backdrop for Jane's home. However, Thomas cared little for it at the moment as he sat down in a nearby by chair.

"You need to see this." He pulled out an envelope, took out what Ivar had given him to Charles and was not surprised to see his daughter's husband's eyes go wide, as did Jane's , when he explained about Ivar's visit, about the will, how he had tried to get the courts, and family, to ignore it but- in the end- the will had stood in court and the family had sided with Matilda when she pushed the issue. Claimed that if that is what their father wished for his youngest daughter then they needed to honor his wishes. Though the courts were willing to turn a blind eye to my part if I so desired it to be so."

"Why is his wife so hateful towards his sister?"

"My old friend said he and Miss Gunnarsson share the same father but not the same mother. Her mother is a direct desendant of the famous *Varangian guard Harald Hardrada. Mr. Gunnarson said that most of their own ancestors come from either Sweden who then traveled down to Bulgaria. But they have been in England so long that no one in their family considers themselvs anything but English."

A door opening interrupted their talk. "I am sorry, Mrs. Bingley, but a package just came for you. I thought it might be important as it comes from Miss Caroline" She was told where to put the package and then politely dismissed.

" Anyhow, back to the Varangian guards." Mr. Bennet started speaking once the servant was gone. " Like I said, Emmaline's mother's lineae goes straight back to them, and she was not shy in teaching her daughter about her family history. She, Emmaline, was taught to be like them, in that she was to stand her ground when she knew she was in the right, to help protect those who needed protecting, to speak what she saw as truth and so forth even though her brother claims she is rather quite timid the vast majority of time. I guess her humor matches mine; a trait Ivar insists she had to have also gotten from her mother's side for none of his close relations hold her quick wit. That, and her auburn hair make her stand out in the Gunnarsson family, "

"Are you saying, Matilda disklikes her simply for who she is? Who she descends from? And what she looks like?" The Bingleys felt sick to their stomach.

"Yes, yes, I am." Mr. Bennet then apologized. "Anyhow, Mr. Gunnarsson's father got it into his head to leave the land to all his children; except Emmaline. And put me down as the man she was to marry and no one else; my words not his, but for all intents and purposes it might as well have been written that way."

"Did you even consider saying no?" Charles thought for sure there had to have been a sleepless night involved.

"Maybe, a little." Mr. Bennet confessed, "But not really. Of late I have been missing female company and yet..." He shook his head. "Those women Mrs. Philips and her friends have been sending my way?" He could not help but shake his head. "I would rather remain a widower; they would do Mary and Kitty no good. And, in the end? The idea of Mr. Gunnarsson's daughter on her own, in poverty, made me shudder."

"I can hardly fathom going through such a thing." Jane was attempting to wrap her mind around writing such a will for any child; well, it might have done Lydia some good, but that was it.

"I can not stay but to eat one meal and get some sleep." Mr. Bennet stood back up. "I must travel to Pemberly; this kind of news must not be told in a post. And your sister, Elizabeth, and her husband have every right to decide if they wish to attend the wedding or not." He then, softly, asked. "Will you still consider me your father? Will you attend our wedding? Maybe even have the wedding here?"

"We most certainly will. And you most certainly may." Jane wasted no time in hurrying to her father's side and giving him the most guenuine hug a daughter could give him. "If I am tempted to have any ill feelings in regard to this matter, it is toward the one called Matilda; she is the one to have caused this whole mess."

"You do not have to concern yourself with me." Mr. Bingley walked up to Mr. Bennet and laid a hand on his wife's father's shoulder. " I agree with my wife, this is not your fault or this Miss Gunnarsson's; it is her brother's wife's and no one else's'; she could have turned a blind eye to that will as your friend was willing to do. She did not have to talk the Gunnarsson family into backing it up."

*Varangian guard Harald Hardrada really did exist.