Pride and Prejudice

Fan Fiction

I am My Father's Daughter

NOTE: It comes out in the next chapter why Anne is not insisting on her mother moving out of Rosings Park.

Previously:

""I have seen the type of guests my mother invites to stay in that house. Every single one of them turn their nose down at the smaller rooms. They complain about them and refuse to go into them. So, put all my things there and then lock the door. Give me the key. We will count it a blessing my mother opted to put a lock on all those doors. And we will not tell her what I had your husband do to that particular lock just the other day."

It was that conversation that had the room promptly set up and Mrs. Barnett back in Anne's room within the hour.

Note

Ch. 10

The bookstore in Meryton was not a big place and had a warm and cozy feeling. It was located on the edge of town. Its wooden sign read 'Bookseller' in white letters. Its windows were filled with books of multiple sizes, colors, genres, and piles. There were books with labels, prices, and names of authors. Some, unfortunately, had no information on their covers at all. So, if one wanted to know what was inside, they really had to crack open a book.

The inside of the shop had two sections: one for new books and one for second-hand books. The new books were arranged on shelves along the walls, categorized by subject and alphabetized by author. There were books on history, geography, poetry, and more. There were also books on topics, such as travel and politics. The second-hand books were piled on tables, or stacked in baskets on the floor. Some of the books were in good condition, while others were worn, torn, or stained.

The shopkeeper was a friendly, short, pot-bellied man, who greeted the customers with a jovial smile. That was why Thomas was met with a mile-wide grin as he entered the shop. "How are you doing, Mr. Bennet?" Mr. Jackson stuck out his hand. "It has been a long time since I have seen you in here."

"Yes, a whole week." Bennet laughed and went to look at books only to get the shock of his life as he turned his head and saw a young lady with light hair holding up a finger to her lips. She looked to see if the shopkeeper was looking and, when he had gone into his office, she hurried and shoved a folded piece of paper into his pocket and hurried out the door.

'What the...' Bennet did not pull the paper out but only because Mr. Jackson had stepped out and if the young girl had not wanted to be seen giving him the note, maybe, he should at least have the decency to read it alone first.

"Leaving already?" The storekeeper asked when Thomas walked towards the door.

"I have to, something came up while you were in your office."

"I hope it is nothing bad. You look worried."

"Sorry, I did not mean to." Thomas chuckled. "I do not know all the facts yet, so, it may be nothing." With that, he left and did not pull out the paper until he was sitting in a pew in the church as it was the only place he could think of that he could read with no extra set of eyes.

Mr. Bennet,

You do not know me and I cannot tell you my name. Please, I beg of you, tear this note to shreds, or burn it, but destroy it when you are done. But keep a place of employment open at Longbourn. I am not asking for myself. I need none. I am young, I have family who are good to me. We all have employment. And, even if they were not, I confess I am weak, I could not leave.

But my friend? People think she is weak. Some of her family, especially her mother, think she has no backbone. We have been making ready to help her break free. She has done wonders, has been taking steps that have amazed us all. I do not think she will need work. But if she does, I know her mother will pressure people around her home not to hire her, many will then fear to take my friend on. Should that happen, she could not stay where they live. Please, I cannot beg you enough. Please keep a spot open and hire her if she comes calling. Trust me, you will know of whom I write for it will be obvious as it will be one no one in your town would expect to come to you for a position at Longbourn.

Thomas read and reread the note. He really did not need the extra servant and yet, the gentleman could not deny there was a pull to the note which had never been in existence before. It was strange.

Then, many would call him crazy, tell Mr. Bennet he had flipped, but Thomas felt a man, and he knew it to be a man, sit down by him and speak.

'Do exactly as the note says, you will have a position open up. It will need to be given to one who most would say does not need it'

Rising from where he had been sitting, Mr. Bennet tore the paper to as many pieces as was humanly possible, and as tiny as possible. Thomas then walked over to the fireplace and used a lone match to burn the paper before leaving the church.

Climbing into his carriage, Mr. Bennet headed home from his trip into town with the note still in mind, and wondering who the young girl had been who had put it into his pocket. She had looked vaguely familiar, but where had he seen her from? It certainly was not anyone who worked for any of the estates around Longbourn. And, come to think of it, Mr. Bennet had the urge to put her at Pemberley or even near Mr. and Mrs. Collins's home, not at any home in Meryton. And, after Mr. Darcy's visit, his mind turned to the de Bourgh ladies.

'Is that note talking about Miss Anne? But her come to me asking for a position? Surely, that is one young lady that would not come to Longbourn.' Thomas, who had no way of knowing what was going on over at Rosings Park and the local town near it, would not have been mulling that question over in his mind at all if he had that information. However, without access to it, he ended up setting aside any thought of anyone asking for a job and continued on his way home.

Susan had watched him go and then hurried down another road towards her new home. Her parents, upon reading the note and being handed the very expensive pearl necklace, had taken her and her only other sibling still living at home away from Hunsford as not to have to deal with Lady Catherine's malarkey. Well, at least lessen it a bit. And, since they had family in Meryton who had been begging them to make such a move anyway, it had been done.

A small home came into sight. It, technically, was a one-bedroom home with one good-sized attic. Susan's parents had put up wall in the attic. Therefore, their children - unlike many of that era - did not share the same room. It was a fact which occurred because Susan's mother was bound and determined her daughter was not going to end up in the same position as her own sister. And that was with an unwanted pregnancy.

"Did you get Mr. Bennet the note?" Susan's mother asked.

"Yes." Susan took off her jacket. "I just hope, if Anne feels the need to come this way and wants a job, he hires her."

"If he needs a servant, he will. Mr. Bennet does not give a fig what Miss Anne's mother thinks."