Pride and Prejudice

Fan Fiction

Cracking the Mask

Previously

"It is nothing bad, and I will not ask you to do anything illegal. Your friendship was always too precious for that, still is."

Bennet Sister's Talk

Ch .2

Despite the sunny weather, the blooming flowers, and the cheerful birdsong, Longbourn was filled with gloom. Kitty tried to concentrate on her quilt, but her thoughts kept wandering to her father who was in London. Elizabeth-who had returned from Pemberly to reconcile with her father after their argument - had no interest in reading or talking about books, as she usually did with Mr. Bennet. Mary, who had come for a visit, was dismayed to learn that their father had gone on such bad terms. And Jane, who had just arrived, was shocked to hear about the quarrel between Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet.

"Elizabeth, Mary, how could you? Father is a full-grown man. Kitty is eighteen. If you felt that strongly she needed a guiding hand, and if Mrs. Wadsworth..." Looking straight at her sister, Mary. "Have too many obligations to do it, am not I close enough?" Jane pointed out that their father had been under a lot of stress of late. "I would think that father's effort to make any change for the better, which he has been doing, is a good thing. He is far more caring about those around him, he puts his foot down on important matters. No, he is not perfect, yes, he still prefers to be alone ." She, uncharacteristically, glared at Kitty. "But that is no reason to give him such headaches simply because there is no mother around. And to say such nasty things to him when he refused to budge was bad enough, but to do it in front of those not family, especially when Father was setting personal preferences aside. Could you not have bottled your complaints?"

Jane did not have to explain to Kitty what she meant. News about Kitty's desire to go to Brighton as Lydia had done was no secret. So, her reprimand to little sister needed no explanation.

"I did not think he would impulsively storm out the door with things this family has had forever and sell them in London." Kitty tried to defend herself, but with no real conviction knowing she had been in the wrong.

"It was not done on a whim." Elizabeth sighed. "Father had no need for them. He talked to Mr. Darcy sometime ago about possible buyers." She shook her head when Kitty asked if their father had said when he had planned on returning.

Mr. Darcy stood in the doorframe of the parlor saying nothing, there was nothing he could do to change the situtation so he simply turned around and walked out of the house. Standing against a pillar he confessed, only to himself, just how much Mr. Bennet's actions concerned him.

Thomas had conversed with him in letters and, when Mr. Dary was visiting, on his childhood. No, the man had not starved. Yes, the holidays had seen plenty of people over - he had even mentioned a few friends over quite bit. And yet, the underlining them had seem to be push push push. Mr. Darcy did not like the idea Elizabeth's father had not given a date of return; that was not the Thomas Bennet he knew. No, the Mr. Bennet people knew, on his worst days, had always told others when he would be arriving home.

Elizabeth followed Mr. Darcy outside, leaving Jane to comfort Kitty and talk to Mary. She found him leaning against a pillar, looking troubled.

"Mr. Darcy, are you well?" she asked, touching his arm gently.

He turned to face her and put a arm around his wife's shoulder. "I am fine. However, I am worried about Mr. Bennet, more than I would let on to your sisters."

"I am too. No, the selling of those items was not unplanned, he did talk to you. But to take as many books and items as he did bothers me. Does he have debt we do not know about? He has staunchly refused to even consider remarrying. I would think my father had secretly remarried only I cannot imagine him keeping something like that from his own family."

'Neither can I."

"I do so wish we had not argued so bitterly before his departure. I am sure we will receive a post soon."

"I hope so, Elizabeth. I hope so." Mr. Darcy said, squeezing her hand. "But I fear he is hiding something from us. Good heavens, I fear worse- your father may be hiding it from himself . Something that- if and when it comes out- may affect us all."

Elizabeth felt , and saw, goosebumps rise on her skin. It felt as if a hundred things ran through her mind as what her father could possibly be hiding from her family, but what on earth could he be hiding from himself? And what it could mean for their family. Elizabeth hoped it was nothing serious. However a post would make her feel so much better.

She leaned her head on Mr. Darcy's shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her. They stood there in silence, waiting for some news from London.

Mr. Darcy wished he could do something to help Elizabeth and her family. He knew that Mr. Bennet was under a lot of pressure, not only from the current situation, but also from his past. He had learned from his letters and conversations that Mr. Bennet had a difficult childhood, with very demanding parents, though they were generous to anyone their son brought home. Past that, he had never truly felt loved or appreciated, and had escaped into books and hid behind sarcasm to deal with life.

. Mr. Bennet had confessed to Mr. Darcy he had allowed people to believe he had marrid his late wife because of her laugh and her beauty, but in all reality was nothing but sheer desperation to get his parents off his back, more particularly his mother. "It did not take long for me to regret my choice'. Sadly, while Darcy knew Mr. Bennet loved his daughters the man had not known how to show them proper affection past the first two.

"People are right as to my hope for a son." Mr. Bennet had sat in a chair one day outside of Longbourn upon Darcy visiting him. "Time went on and when no son came..." Mr. Bennet's voice had trailed off and Mr. Darcy and felt an underlining message one that shouted there was more going than simply not having an heair for Longbourne. It had caused Thomas to - unintentionally- to neglect his younger three in many ways. Like not giving them proper guidance or a good education. He had also failed to secure their future, leaving them vulnerable to the whim of men like their cousin, Mr. Collins.

Mr. Darcy wondered if Mr. Bennet was now feeling guilty or ashamed of his actions, and if he was trying to make amends by selling his possessions and had intentions of setting the money aside for his children in some way. He also wondered of the possibility of Thomas being afraid of facing them, and if he was avoiding them on purpose. Last of all Mr. Darcy wondered if he was lonely or depressed, and if Elizabeth's father needed someone to talk to. Just then a rider came into sight and Mr. Dary walked down the steps; quickly followed by his wife and her sisters.

"It is from your father." Mr. Darcy read the post more relieved than he let on to Jane, Mary or Kitty. "He is safe, and has met up with an old friend. Says he is sorry about the fight. Not to blame yourself as it was just as much his fault as anyone else's."

"Does he say when he will be returning?" Elizabeth, and her sisters, asked.

"No, no he does not." Mr. Darcy folded the letter and suggested they all go inside. "We have to leave for Pemberly in two days at the latest, our obligations await us there. It is up to you Mary whether you stay here with Kitty, or she go to your place." When his wife started to protest, Mr. Darcy put his foot down. "Mrs. Darcy, you know full -unless something changes- we both made commitments we can not break."