Fan Fiction

Previously

""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."

Blindsided

NOTE: Sources are still conflicting as to convents and England. So, I am writing that there are only a few.

Emmaline and Maja Find out Answer

Ch. 6

The room Emmaline and Maja were in was a small and shabby parlor in a modest apartment on the edge of London. It was one of the many rooms that the landlord rented out to travelers or visitors who needed a temporary place to stay. The window faced a busy street, where carriages and pedestrians passed by in a constant stream of noise and movement. Emmaline felt restless and trapped in this cramped and dreary space, longing for some fresh air and freedom.

She glanced at the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the green fields and hills that surrounded the city, but all she saw was a gray and smoky sky. The room was bland and dull, to Emmaline's eyes. It might as well have been cut out by one of the many cookie-cutters her mother had used before her father had moved them back to England after Ingrid had passed away. Its walls were pale green, its furniture was plain and worn, and its rugs were faded and threadbare. She was not certain whether that was out of lack of income or lack of care. Therefore, the lady withheld criticism.

Ivar had ended up having one of the family's servants bring his sisters as far as London due to the fact he offered Mr. Bennet to deal with the selling, and investing, of the coins, as to allow not only a hefty sized income for the Bennet family, but to set up means for children to be provided for should they have no sons. It was for that reason Emmaline's brother was not in the room with them.

Ivar had sent word ahead informing them not to be concerned; he was coming; that business with the coins was simply taking a little longer than expected. Her brother had sent money as to make sure they had plenty of means for her...strange way of eating...a fact Ivar had them both promise not to tell the rest of the family about.; as he was not in the mood to have to listen to Matilda's unnecessary rantings and ravings. Thinking of relations, made Emmaline think, of Roger's last words to her.

"Our family simply cannot spare anyone but Ivar or Maja." Roger had been adamant. "Ivar's wife is correct in saying Father wanted you with Mr. Bennet and we need to accept that. However, it is planting season and we have always worked alongside our tenants though we are landowners. We would attend your wedding if it were local as we did the others.

However, it is your own fault you are to marry an old man, a gentleman by chance. It was you who turned down a Duke, a Baron and now turning down an Earl? That was not a good move, Emma. He had a title and money as did the rest. Thankfully, Maja has been wiser."

Wiser her foot. If Maja had turned the earl down, no one in the family would be doing this to her. They would have kept her home and looked for another. And if her father had put a husband in a will for her, Matilda would have ignored it; she cared nothing about honor.

"You might as well sit down, our brother will be back soon enough; standing there will not bring him back any sooner."

"Why did you accept the Earl? He will not be faithful any more than the Duke or Baron would have." Emmaline figured she might as well ask; one way or another, she would not likely see her sister again. Matilda would make sure of that.

"I need a home, and my children do too. We cannot stay with Ivar; his second wife is a nightmare. An unfaithful husband can be no worse than she." When her baby sister turned around with a look of shock on her face, Maja shrugged her shoulders and lifted half her mouth. "You think she treats me any better? Just because I do not do outside chores, other than garden work?" She shook her head. "I will keep my vows the best I am able; whatever, the case is I cannot live anymore under the same roof as she."

"I just do not understand why she pushes for you to have such a louse of a husband."

"Because…" Maja laid her needle down. "In her own…warped way… I suppose she believes me having me a wealthy husband is a good thing."

"What was her motive for me then? Surely, she had no interest in helping me out. Trying to push the earl and the others onto me could not have been for any benefits; the stunt Mrs. Gunnarsson has just pulled shows she cares not about my wealth, and do not tell me she cares about honor, or my late father. I saw firsthand how she avoided him, or giving me aid as his health got worse."

"I think you know the answer as well as I do. And if I have to tell you, then for all your educated -foreign ways- you would be more of a fool than even she believes you to be."

"They would have kept me in the heart of London, away from my garden and refuse to let me have my books." Emmaline spoke flatly and turned to face back to the window. "I wonder if Mr. Bennet will let me be in my gardens and have my books in Longbourn?" And then, without being privy to what Thomas had said to his children, Emmaline spoke even lower. "That is, if he even takes me into his home at all."

Maja smiled faintly. "If he turns you down; you could always turn to your father's childhood faith. There are few convents in England, not many I confess, but a few. There are many people who need help in this country. I am sure you would find some friends who share your interests among the nuns." She stood up, walked over and touched her sister's hand. "Do not worry, Emmaline. You will be happy no matter what, I am sure of it." She wanted to give her some hope, even if it was false as Emmaline's nature did not fit into cramped quarters.

Maja had just finished speaking when Emmaline noticed Ivar's carriage rolling up. Her brother could be seen climbing out, but his face was obscured by the sun. She could only see him entering the front door, which then would lead to a set of stairs leading up to where she and her sister were. A knock and a door opening announced Ivar's presence.

Ivar's eyes, for the first time since being blindsided by Matilda pitting the family against her own husband, were bright and his steps light. "Mr. Bennet has agreed to the marriage and is taking advantage of the special license I handed over to him."

"That is great!" Exclaimed Maja, who had indeed been extremely concerned the gentleman would turn her sister out onto the streets, and she was not convinced Emmaline would turn to the faith of Mr. Gunnarsson's older children.

"I am to take you to Netherfield as soon as possible; I believe the wedding will be there." He then spoke firmly. "I know you are a strong-willed woman, in your own quiet way, Emmaline. But, please, listen to Mr. Bennet; for as much as I do want to help you more, my hands are now legally tied as to giving you a home on the lands on which I live, putting my foot down with Matilda would do no good on that issue."

"I will do my best, I promise; though I cannot guarantee anything in regard to my humor."

"I doubt, with Mr. Bennet, that will be an issue." He smiled slightly. "He has always had a similar taste for wit and sarcasm as you do." He picked up her bags. "Now, let us go. We do not want to keep him waiting."