Fan Fiction

POSTING TWO because CHRISTMAS IS Monday

NOTE: In a one shot I did I had Lady Catherine apologizing to Elizabeth after Ann passed way. In this story Anne still lives.

Previously

"I doubt, with Mr. Bennet, that will be an issue." He smiled slightly. "He seems to have 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."

Blindsided

Meeting the Family

Ch. 7

Netherfield was bustling with activity, as Mr. Bennet's children and their spouses had gathered there to meet Miss Gunnarsson. Mr. and Mrs. Philips, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. and Mrs. Collins, and even Lady Catherine were also present. The latter had surprisingly softened over the last few years towards the Bennets. The changed had occurred after an apology to Elizabeth and her confession of her own faults on a warm summer day. She had become quite an ally to Mr. Bennet's family as had her daughter.

Light shone through the window and into the parlor, where people were mingling and talking about the unexpected and shocking news. Mr. Bennet had announced his intention to marry a certain Emmaline Gunnarsson, a woman they knew nothing about, except that she was the youngest sister of his old friend.

Mr. Collins, who had come in supposed support, pulled Mr. Bennet aside and said, "Mr. Bennet, I must confess that I have never seen or heard anything of this young lady you are to marry. You have told us her name, but not where she hails from. How do you know that they are not sending you an impostor or a fortune-hunter who intends to ruin our family's happiness and fortune?"

"Mr. Collins, I wonder what compelled you to grace us with your presence this day," Mr. Bennet replied. "Perhaps you should pay more attention to your own wife, who must be in need of some consolation, and less to my future bride who has not yet arrived. She will not tolerate any of your impertinence, I assure you. If you cannot behave yourself, you may as well take your leave."

"I do not think my cousin liked what you just said," Elizabeth said, walking up to her father as Mr. Collins went sulking back to his own wife.

Before Mr. Bennet could reply, one of the servants stepped into the parlor and asked for Mr. Bingley. "A Mr. Gunnarsson and his sisters have arrived," he said.

Mr. Bingley and Mr. Bennet exited the room, leaving the family and company to talk among themselves. As they walked down the hall, Mr. Bingley said, "You could always back out." He was not serious, but he figured it might as well be said before they greeted Mr. Gunnarsson and the ladies.

"I am not backing out," Mr. Bennet said flatly, without any hint of emotion. "If you have any objections, please voice them after this meeting, out of Miss Emmaline's earshot, and not at our wedding."

Mr. Bingley was about to reply when they turned the corner and saw a broad-shouldered, dark-haired gentleman with two women. One had the same dark hair as he did and was of the same height; the other was far shorter and had braided red hair. This trio was most definitely the Gunnarssons.

"Hello, my friend." Thomas reached out and clasped Ivar's hand with both of his, smiling widely. He then turned to the man's sisters. "And these must be your sisters?"

"Yes, this is my sister, the Widow Oberg, and my sister, Miss Emmaline Gunnarsson."

Thomas froze for a split second as he laid eyes on Emmaline. He had seen many women pass through Meryton with her hair color and olive-tone skin, and she was not the first lady he had met who was short of stature. However, there was an aura that wrapped itself around her that automatically pulled him to her. It was an impulse he held in check as he watched her clutching a bag almost as big as herself.

Mr. Bennet sensed the aura he felt involved her eyes; they were deep. There was something in them that shouted, 'I may be quiet, I may appear fragile, I may not speak as much as others, but I am not stupid'. Moreover, he could not put a finger on it, but he knew life had allowed him to stumble upon a gem that had been hidden in plain sight. If other men had been too blind to see it and if he had ever considered backing out as Charles had just suggested, that idea was now being hurled into the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean he could find.

"Welcome to my home." Mr. Bingley introduced himself and his wife's father. "The servants will take your trunks and bags upstairs."

"Please, follow us, my family is waiting to meet you." Mr. Bennet nodded and spoke kindly to Miss Gunnarsson and then to her siblings.

Emmaline said nothing as she nodded and followed the men down the hall. Mr. Bennet was just as tall as her father had been, maybe a tad taller. His full head of flowing white hair touched the base of his neck and his full beard looked well-taken care of. She wondered if he had always had one or if it had been a 'let's try it' type of thing. It was almost as if someone had prompted Charles to finally say what he thought about it, for as they were walking towards the parlor, he suggested Mr. Bennet shave it off.

"Growing a beard for some silly town contest, I get, but you really should shave it off now. You look like a horrible, ugly bear in that thing."

"No, Mr. Bennet does not. He looks quite distinguished. I like it; he would look rather boring without the facial hair." Instantly, her face went beet red as both men turned around; the poor lady realized her words had actually not been thought but spoken out loud; Mr. Bennet with a mile-wide grin on his face, and Mr. Bingley shocked at what had come out of Miss Gunnarsson's mouth. She was now so nervous about slipping in speaking out of line that her hands started shaking.

"I am sorry. It is not like me to blurt things out like that." Emmaline's face was now redder than her hair. "I just did not think you looked like a bear. Please, forgive me." Emmeline was truly mortified as she had done something so out of character. What on earth had possessed her to vocalize such thoughts?

"I assure you, Miss Gunnarsson…" Mr. Bennet walked back to her side and took hold of her hand to help it stop shaking; doing so just before they reached the parlor. "You are forgiven." His eyes twinkled. "I do not bite, nor does my family, except maybe Mr. Collins. That cousin, I am most certain, is a relative of my family's Great Dane. He barks just as loudly, and I fear even his fleas flee out of fear of being devoured."

Emmaline could not help it; she started giggling. She might have stopped herself because of the sharp, reprimanding look Maja gave her, but that was hard to do when Mr. Bennet was laughing just as much as she was.

"I suggest you two stop laughing at Mr. Collins' expense," Mr. Gunnarsson bit back his own amusement. "It is time to introduce my sister to your family and hope none of them protest, especially not this Collins of whom you speak."

Mr. Bennet's family had been talking among themselves, mostly speculating on what little they had been told of Emmaline Gunnarsson and her brother. So, when she, her sister, and brother walked in with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Bingley, all talking ceased. All eyes were on the Gunnarssons.

"Mr. Gunnarsson, Widow Oberg, Miss Gunnarsson, this is my eldest, Jane." Mr. Bennet went around the room and introduced his future bride and her siblings to the Bennet relations, one by one. Finally, when that was done, he and the Gunnarssons sat down and let people come to them. That was how Elizabeth ended up taking Miss Gunnarsson out to the gardens, by themselves.

"I hope she leaves some skin on Miss Gunnarsson," Ivar looked out the window, concerned for his sister. "Like I told you before, she is comfortable with family and friends, but not with newcomers. Her slipping and saying anything to you about your beard, I chalk up to being extremely nervous and, well…" He lowered his voice so only Mr. Bennet could hear. "She does seem to like those crazy things."

"Elizabeth is my family," Mr. Bennet stated matter-of-factly, as to Ivar's sister talking to Elizabeth, ignoring the beard comment. "If your sister cannot handle her, then, harsh as this may sound, your sister may be better off in finding one of the rare convents in England rather than marrying me." Inside himself, Mr. Bennet had already opted to throw out the straight razor if Ivar's sister was not chased off by his Lizzie; he hated shaving anyway.

Elizabeth and Emmaline heard none of that as they conversed, mostly about what Miss Gunnarsson thought of the whole arranged marriage situation. Why was she going along with the will? Was she keeping quiet only because she was too weak to stand up against Matilda and the others in court?

"Being too weak is not a factor in this equation, Mrs. Darcy," Emmaline knew what her family told others about her quiet nature around strangers, and maybe they were right, but she had to fight past that weakness, considering the situation, as she had with the earl and the other titled suitors. "It is a matter of honoring my father even if I could win in court; and we both know that is not somthing I would likely be able to do. And even if I could, I, like my brother, know the chances of getting the rest of my relations to change their minds in regards to what my father wanted are not good. And, no, you would think one person would not have so much influence in a family, but they do. I have seen it more times than I care to count. And history attests to how much power one man can wield over another, as can women even if they are not written about as much."

"Did you consider, even once, leaving England?"

"Yes. I had planned on it. For here I am a woman in a society that gives women few, if any, rights. Second, I am the only daughter of my father's second marriage with a family who clearly sides with a woman who should be befriending me. So, I was packing to go back and live among the natives of the new world. You would be surprised how much freedom some of those tribes give their women. But then my father's will was read, I found out the part about what he wanted in regard to myself and Mr. Bennet and so..." Miss Gunnarsson shrugged her shoulders. "I stayed." The lady said a few other things and then fell silent.

Elizabeth kept her thoughts to herself on what Miss Gunnarsson had said but did tell her. "I still would like to slap your brother's wife we have been running around doing what little damage control to our family's reputation that we are able. She may not care about yours, but what of ours."

"In my opinion, she was thinking your father would simply turn me away, or that the special license would soften that end of things for him. No matter what all her motives may be; my brother's point is right on, one main motive is, she simply wanted me gone no matter the consequence to others or myself." With that the two went back inside; with Elizabeth pulling her father aside to let him know there was no more reservation on her part.

"Nonetheless, I think you should have Miss Gunnarsson talk to Mary before vows are exchanged, it may help soften her attitude towards Mr. Gunnarsson's sister."