Blindsided

Previously

She really did not like the war within herself; and missing Ensign Brown was not helping any. Therefore, she ate the rest of her meal in silence.

Day Out

Ch. 11

Light summer clouds had rolled in, but there was no threat of rain in sight as Mr. Bennet gently took hold of Emmaline's hand and led her down a country path away from Longbourn. They had no obligations, as they had already taken care of everything, and both of his daughters were helping their neighbors.

Their leisurely stroll took them past a field of flowers, trees full of leaves, and animals grazing in the distance. Mr. Bennet was listening with fascination, as always, to his wife's history lessons, especially about her own father.

"I did not realize Ivar's father had traveled so far. Yes, your brother mentioned your family history, and he mentioned travels to Sweden and a few other places, but no other countries were mentioned. I dare say the will had him more rattled than your brother realized."

"As to Ivar, most likely. When it comes to my father... he never liked to sit still." Emmaline found herself, without thinking, sliding her arm around Mr. Bennet's waist as if to use him for a shield from strangers wallking by them on the same path; he did not stop her. "And my mother refused to stay home, so…" His wife grinned widely. "The world was my classroom. I learned to love wide open spaces, which is why I cannot stomach London. It is too cramped, too filthy, and too noisy." She sobered a little. "I am sorry that it hinders my running of your household, though I did not mean to be late for breakfast. I really am doing my best to focus on the rules you set down. And, I am afraid I am of very little use when it comes to your girls in large functionings." Emmaline was referring to a party that had been held close to Netherfield. Kittyy had begged to go, and Mrs. Bennet had relented knowing Kitty - at almost nineteen- was plenty old enough.

Mrs. Bennet taking Kitty to the party had not been the problem; the fact more people had turned out than expected was. People upon people filing through the door had unnerved the poor lady. Voices rising in volume had tortured her ears-literally- and when a stranger had attempted to talk to Mr. Bennet's wife, the dear lady could no longer handle it and had fled the room. Jane, who had been there and seen the whole thing, took pity on her and insisted Kitty take their mother home. Jane's little sister had not been happy and had scolded Mrs. Bennet all the way back to Longbourn.

"Do not be too hard on yourself, Emmaline." Mr. Bennet gave his wife a gentle hug. "You are only human; you are hardly ever late for breakfast, and as to my fourth child? Kitty was out of line and she knows it It was not like Mrs. Hill had not offered to chaperone her."

"I realize that, and Kitty did apologize. Your daughter is making an honest effort to adjust, same as Mary is. But I still felt bad."

Mr. Bennet stopped their walk and leaned against a post while holding his wife close. Choosing to ignore what he could not change as to his daughters' behavior Emmaline's husband changed the subject, "Tell me, you told Jane it was your father's travels that got him to eating so differently from the rest of those around us, And the bathing you do so much of, and that I now find myself following suit which allowed him to live so long. Is that really the case? I confess, I do feel better than I have in quite some time. "

"Yes, we spent time in the new lands among… to the horror of my father's other children… the heathens." Emmaline could not help but roll her eyes visibly. "Those people take better care of themselves than half of the so-called well-bred people I have met around here. My father's health improved among them. He ate more fruits and vegetables, cut down on his meat consumption, learned about herbs, and yes, he bathed more often, as did my mother and I."

"That was not the only place you went I take it?"

"No, we also spent time on the Asian continent. I did not step onto English soil until I was almost sixteen. Anyhow, when my father brought us to England, we did not go into town unless absolutely necessary, we refused to let the doctors close the windows as often as they wanted, and so forth. I would have left when my mother passed away, I was old enough, but she begged me to promise to stay with my father as he was beginning to grow ill himself; and well, Matilda was a fake. My mother could see through her. It scared her and, I think, that is why Mother wanted me to stay."

"Was her desire motivated by a desire to keep your father alive longer?"

"I do believe that was her hope. I mean she hoped one of his other sons, who was away from England, might return from his own travels and be able to step in, but - inside myself- I sensed he had met his demise. I simply did not have the heart to tell her that." Emmaline's mouth turned down but then grinned widely. "I do not know if it was my help, or his years of living differently; bur, there is no question, my father outlived his critics who he went to school with. And..." The best part as far as Emmaline was concerned. "He drew up that new will. Though while I did not know about the part he put in there about our marriage, I was fully aware Mrs. Gunnarson was going to lose access to all those ancient coins my father had collected over the years because he told me. The ones my brother decided to give to you for my dowry. The ones he invested for you."

"You knew about the will and your brother did not?" Mr. Bennet's eyes widened. "Why did you not speak up?" He then tacked on a third question. "Would you have if you had known about the part about us?"

"To answer those questions with one answer... I still would have kept my mouth shut to my brother." Emmaline lifted a defiant chin. "My father may not have told me about you- why I do not know, I would not have argued. However, he did not have to explain any reason to pleading I keep quiet about the will to Mrs. Gunnarsson before the lawyer showed up. She is a honey-addicted bear. One who smears her filthy claws on everything, slurping up her golden nectar with that nasty red tongue of hers every chance she gets. She then expects us to roll around in it ourselves as she wallows in her sticky sweetness. Then she has the nerve to act all innocent as she points her fat sticky fingers at us at the same time accusing us of making the sticky situation; one she herself created. My father and I both knew that. So, yes, I kept quiet."

Mr. Bennet could not help but laugh. No, Mrs. Gunnarsson's actions were not funny. However; the picture of her being fat bear covered in honor was - to him- humorous. Nonetheless, he quit laughing and asked his own question.

"He was taking a chance, what if I had said no?"

"Everyone has skills, and gift, my father has the ability to read people better than many would like." Emmaline shrugged her shoulders. "When the will was read, yes, I do not deny part of me was concerned whether, or not, you would do just that for I knew you not. Nonetheless..." Her hand traced his jawline. 'My father read you well; there was no risk."

"You would think the rest of your family would have been won over by the positive changes in your father's health and, from what your brother said, his willingness to share his experiences." Mr. Bennet ran his own hand through Emmaline's hair, and down the side of her face as he thought of how he had been feeling since allowing his bride to change his own diet and to air their home out more; much to the uneasiness of their head housekeeper, though Emmaline was doing her best to assure her it did work, even showed her information from the books she had brought. Thomas focused on none of that and continued speaking. "I feel better, have more energy, and that last spell of illness I felt coming on did not linger like it would have in the past. How could they not see that and not want to change?"

"Fear, but mostly pride; especially when it comes to Matilda. I believe my brother's wife blindsides anyone she sees as different or strange. They scare her."

"She is prejudiced against them, plain and simple nothing more than that."

"Yes, I would say that is so. And her sheer greed does not help matters out." When Mr. Bennet asked about the opinion of her brother's wife desiring her brother's wife to turned out by Mr. Bennet, Emmaline confirmed those sentiments.

"Nothing would make her happier."

"I think…" Mr. Bennet framed her face with his hands and kissed her forehead. "Your brother's wife, on that point, is to be sadly disappointed. You, my dear, are not going anywhere if I can help it. Now, come, let me show you something."

Thomas took her hand and led her down a dirt path, away from the road, along a creek bed and into a meadow sheltered by a grove of fruit trees. Mr. Bennet told her one of the newer tenants, which only meant that he had been there for more than ten years, had asked for permission to plant them a couple of years ago.

"I told him I saw no problems with such a request. He now knows of your habits of taking long walks and came to me the other day." Thomas continued to look into her blue eyes. "He told me to let you know you could pick from the trees when their fruit is ready to give you energy on your way home if needs be."

"I will need to thank him." Emmaline kept her gaze on Mr. Bennet's face and silently, thanked her father for his crazy will.

A bird flew overhead, ignoring what was being said below. Carriages could not see down the path and drove by, unaware of anyone in the meadow. A dog ran by and ignored the talking that had ceased. And Mary, much to her dismay, had her parents walk into dinner later than she would have liked; though Kitty was unbothered by it as she had decided that learning the piano was not such a bad idea and, shockingly, was picking it up faster than expected.