Pride and Prejudice Non-Canon AU

Fan Fiction

I am My Father's Daughter

Previously

It was probably a good thing Lady Catherine was not aware of the viscount's interest turning to Kitty Bennet. If her mind and heart were not ready to see Anne was happy with Thomas; she would be spitting nails at some poor -innocent- geese to see Kitty sitting next to and laughing with Blake Wellington.

Mrs. Bennet Blends In

Ch. 24

Birds were chirping outside the master bedroom of Longbourn as Thomas continued sleeping. The previous day had been long, and one of his tenants had needed extra help. And, since it was Sunday, Anne saw no need to wake her husband. Therefore, she had gotten out of bed quietly, dressed, and was now brushing her long dark hair. Looking down at her two journals, words from the past came back to her.

"Always write down what you feel, see, and do, Anne." Sir Lewis told his young daughter. "However, do not hang onto the past unless it brings you and others joy."

"Are you and Momma happy?"

"As happy as we can be." Sir Lewis smiled softly, but would not explain his reply.

Sir Lewis had told her much more, all of which Anne had taken to heart. It was why her eyes and ears had seen more than her mother ever had. The lies, the acts, and the need for power in the so-called 'good, titled men' Lady Catherine had always been fooled by. Turning around, she went and stood by the foot of the bed she now shared with Thomas.

Here was a man who held no title, was condemned for his humor - which too many misunderstood, who - yes, had planned poorly in his younger days, but who had also fought hard in the past few years to get things straightened out. Here was a gentleman who had kept a promise to her mother for eighteen years - as unfair as it was to him. And another one Thomas had made to her father a year before that; one her mother was not aware of, but she was. And it had been kept on her twenty-first birthday.

"Thomas." Lewis had talked to his friend down at the stables with his wife nowhere around and his daughter hiding in a stall. "Please, take this pocket watch, keep it safe. I cannot tell you how I know, but I will die before Anne reaches twenty-one and my wife is insisting on us making a will. She is bound and determined this is going to Fitzwilliam Darcy. I do not hate my nephew, but I do not want him to have it. My wife thinks I have caved and put it in my will; I have not. Please, when Anne marries or turns twenty-one - whichever comes first - get it to her; even if it has to be through the stable master."

Thomas stirred and opened his eyes and slid his hand under his head as he watched her come around to his side of the bed and sit down. "What did you do?" He asked as she sat on the bed with a look of a child caught in the cookie jar.

"Nothing and everything."

"Mind explaining that one to me, because it makes no sense."

"People have wondered why I did not just kick my mother out of Rosings Park and into the dower house; after all, I was the sole heiress. I mean other than not wanting my plans to crumble around me."

"Why did you not?" Thomas had wondered the same thing.

"As I just said, at first, I simply did not wish to have things crash around me. It was obvious she would have been willing to move out... if I would have cooperated and married one of the many men sent my way."

"You were not interested?"

"I tried, at first, when I turned sixteen...honest. And a few came close, in spite of what my mother told people. But in the end, they all fell short. Those men were like what my father had said, all fake. And then ...that trip to London was the final straw; it broke on our way home. I did not tell anyone of our fight on the way back, or should I say her tongue-lashing over my opinions. But the route I was taking required it to be her choice."

Thomas did not speak as she paused. He simply waited for her to go on. And she did.

"I told myself the day I left with my cousin, and Lady Janet, I was doing it because my mother was not letting up; and she was not. So, that reason was very valid. I also told myself -and you- that I hoped to reconcile- which I did."

"But?" He could hear that one a mile away.

"A few years ago, a gentleman who I had always considered a friend, became available and I..." Anne blushed and Thomas quickly caught on.

"You purposely put yourself on a path that you hoped would intertwine with mine?"

"Not consciously. I promise. Like I just acknowledged, a part of me, really did hope my mother and I could reconcile when she had me move to the dower house. However, when it became clear living there was not an option, I headed to Meryton thinking to talk to Susan's mother. But, well, those memories came, and Lady Janet asked to make the detour..." Anne squirmed. "Honestly, I was not expecting you to ask me to become a companion to Miss Kitty when first stepping into the carriage with my cousin and Lady Janet. And even when you talked about the kitchen help and being a companion to your daughter, well, I was thinking, surely, at her age -and her temperament- she would not stay single long as suitors were already coming out the woodwork when it came to our fourth daughter. Therefore, my train of thought was I would need a different place to live within the year. When you took me to that wedding celebration and dropped me off, I overheard a remark about someone having a feeling about us and it got me thinking about you more and more." She blushed. "I told myself not to, convinced myself I had... now? I realized I never had; I think I even consented to sing that song ..." Her voice trailed off and her face went even redder.

"So, basically, unconsciously, you chased me until I grabbed your line." Thomas fully sat up stroke her hair and shook a finger at her but was grinning far too wide for Anne to think him mad. "I am glad I was caught and reeled in by you; a very kind, wise and compassionate angel."

"No, I am just human." Anne stood up, went around the bed, grinned wide, and opened the door. "One who may have -with someone's help- tampered with someone's ice-cream last night while Miss Kitty was gone with Lord Wellington." With that, she rushed down the hall as Thomas leaped out of bed.

"Just you wait, Mrs. Bennet, I will catch you and tickle you until you beg for mercy. You will regret messing with my favorite dessert!"