Fan Fiction

Previously

"Let us take a walk and talk before we go our seperate ways yet again. You to your groom and me down to London and, hopefully, to Longbourn."

Blindsided

Pemberly

Ch. 5

Bright sun's rays shone over Pemberley like a crown on a monarch's head, and light clouds - when viewed from a distance - appeared to be its royal robe. Tall, majestic trees were its guards and its well-taken-care-of shrubs the hired footmen. A flowing fountain topped off the scene as if it were the butler welcoming Thomas to Pemberley as if he were the new owner and ruler of such a magnificent home.

Thomas, yet again, paid little attention to what lay before him as he climbed the steps to his second daughter's home. His sole comfort on this visit was that all three daughters - Elizabeth, Mary, and Kitty - were in one place. Hopefully, Mr. Darcy was home as he had a very level head and would be of great aid in breaking Mr. Bennet's news to Elizabeth's well-known pride and temper, not to mention Mary's well-meaning, but often misplaced, piousness, or Kitty's immaturity. Nonetheless, thankfully, Kitty's actions had been leveling off since Lydia's departure, and his own changes. So, maybe, he needed to give Kitty more credit as to how she might react.

"Mr. Bennet?!" Mr. Darcy exclaimed in surprise as he walked around a corner of his home and saw Elizabeth's father carrying a box heading towards him. "We were not expecting you to come calling. I was under the impression we were to bring your daughters home in a couple of days."

"You were." Mr. Bennet answered and then handed him the box. "This is from Mrs. Bingley. Her sister-in-law sent curtains for Netherfield, but they were the wrong ones. Jane thought Elizabeth could use them."

"You did not come to Pemberly to deliver us curtains, did you?" Mr. Darcy chuckled, thinking there was no way his wife's father was that foolish.

"No, no I did not." Mr. Bennet sighed. "But since I was coming this way, I offered to bring them with me. " He then quickly explained he needed to talk to Mr. Darcy alone first before he talked to his daughters. "You have a reserved nature that I think aids my Lizzie greatly, and my other daughters are growing under your influence. It is for that reason I make my request."

Mr. Darcy's interest, curiosity, and concern were mingled and peaked all at the same time. Therefore, he guided his wife's father into the halls of Pemberley, past statues, portraits, and other sights many visitors had seen upon their arrival, and to his own private library.

Mr. Darcy's library was larger by far than that of Longbourn's. Its space held more than one chandelier and its shelves spanned twice the length, at least, than those of Mr. Bennet's. Six large windows allowed plenty of light into Mr. Darcy's library and a dark-green sofa, along with a light-brown one, had been placed with multiple chairs artistically around the room. Mr. Bennet sat in a chair facing Mr. Darcy with only a small table in between them. Its top held a handful of books on its surface. Pulling out the same license Bennet had shown Mr. Bingley and Jane, he handed it over to Mr. Darcy and explained the situation.

"I see." Elizabeth's husband truly did understand though he had the urge to bend one Mrs. Matilda Gunnarsson over his knee; which said alot for he was not a man to show his emotions. "I admire your courage, Mr. Bennet, not to mention your generosity in honoring your friend's will though you could have easily ignored it. I also respect your decision to do it out of concern for the young lady's welfare. We will go find your daughters; if they have a problem with any of this, rest assured, I will stand by you."

"I do thank you." Mr. Bennet stood up and shook his Elizabeth's husband's hand.

The two men exited the room and walked down the halls, passing by a newly aquired Greek stature, one of which Mr. Bennet paid no heed to as Mr. Darcy led him around a corner. His daughters could be heard conversing in the drawing room, mostly about the upcoming birth of Charlotte Lucas' first child. Nonetheless, all their talking ceased when not only Mr. Darcy walked into the room, but their own father.

"What is going on, Father?" Elizabeth was put on alert as both her father, and husband, had the most solemn look upon their faces; when she -basically- repeated verbatim what Jane had said -Mr. Bennet could not help but crack a joke if for no other reason to ease the tension he was feeling.

"That would be quite a sight, that our Lydia had the audacity to marry not one, but two men at once. What a spectacle she would make, parading around with a groom on each side, as if they were mere tools to sweep away the cobwebs. We would all be reduced to dust, fit only to join her in her first dance of folly."

"Very funny father, what is going on?"

Mr. Bennet grew serious and explained and was not surprised when Elizabeth gasped in horror, as did his other daughters. A will stating a lady was to be given to their father as a bride? As a way to pay a debt? The father had felt it his duty and honor to do as requested?

"How can you just stand there, Mr. Darcy and accept this?" Elizabeth spoke for herself, and her sisters. "We know nothing of Miss Gunnarsson, of her family-past the fact her elder brother went to school with Father. Who is to say she is even Mr. Gunnarsson's child? Who is to say she did not con the old man."

"Elizabeth!" Both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet snapped at once.

"I may not have talked about Mr. Gunnarsson to you..." Her father's eyes began to blaze. "And, maybe, I should have for your bond with me is no secret. However, I did not for I am not a child who needs your permission." Everyone could feel the heat reeling off their father. "And, just because, we did not talk does not mean I do not know my own friend, we have corresponded. If he says Miss Emmaline is his sister than it is so."

"Did her father really put her as a bride for you in a will?" Mary and Kitty looked at their father and then at each other, a mix of emotions running through them just as much as they were racing through Elizabeth.

"Yes, and..." Mr. Bennet's voice lessened in heat from the fiery tone he had temporarily used when snapping at Elizabeth. "As stated to your sister, Jane, I shuddered at the idea of leaving her out in the cold." Looking at Darcy and then back at his daughters. "As I told Mr. Bingley, and your sister, I would hope Mr. and Mrs. Darcy you could find it in yourselves to still call me father, even though I had no need to come here. As I have already made clear... My friend came to me, told me of the will, of his thoughts of his sister being a good match for me and I gave my word. Coming here was out of courtesy." When Mary made an uncalled for, overly-pious remark, Mr. Bennet's eyes hardened.

"Get off that high horse, darling daughter of mine..." Mr. Bennet did not bother hiding any tone of annoyance at her so-called self-righteousness. "While I would not expect you to call Miss Gunnarsson mother, you will call her Mrs. Bennet with a respectful tone as long as you live under my roof. If you cannot bring yourself to do so, it will be you who will be finding yourself being taken in by relatives for I happen to know they would not turn you away as Miss Gunnarsson's have done."

'You are right, Father. I am sorry." Mary replied seeing not only that her father was correct, but also the glare Mr. Darcy and her sisters were shooting her way.

Mr. Bennet relaxed and said he hoped they would give Miss Gunnarsson a chance and admitted his inclination had been leaning towards looking for a wife anyway. "My friend's visit simply pushed it to the top of my list is all. Now, will you please... as human beings...let me know if you can accept this, or if I will be marrying Miss Gunnarsson without your support." His words were spoken to Mary just as much as to her siblings.

"Yes, Father, we will try." Kitty spoke for both herself and Mary; who may not have spoken again but was nodding her head.

"What about you?" He looked at Mr. Darcy and then at Elizabeth.

"Do not let near me Mrs. Gunnarsson." Mr. Darcy spoke coldly. "As I told before, I am still willing to call you father, I am more than willing to attend the wedding, and to give this Miss Gunnarsson a chance, but as to her brother's wife, there is no way in all of England I want her in my house. I will bend that female over my knee should she show up; if I do not toss her first."

"Only if I do not beat you to it first." Elizabeth's face appeared to have a storm cloud over it, but then instantly brightened as she hurried over to her father's side. "I will come to your wedding, we will - if it is all right with Mr. Darcy - follow you home as to meet Miss Gunnarsson before your vows are taken. You will always be my father."

"I am happy to hear that." Mr. Bennet smiled, really smiled, for the first time since Ivar telling him of Matilda's refusal to ignore the will. "Now, how about we eat a decent meal and get some rest. I need to get back home. Miss Gunnarsson will not be long in coming."