Pride and Prejudice Non-Canon AU

Fan Fiction

I am My Father's Daughter

Previously

"Well, I believe she has now." He then shocked Miss Kitty by asking just how serious she was with her own beau. "Do not get me wrong by my question, if you feel anything near to what I heard in Miss Anne's voice I will back off, if not ...I would like permission to call if your father has no problem with it."

"You will need to talk to him. I am not twenty-one." Her answer let him know Miss Kitty was not against the idea.

Viscount's Gift

Ch. 22

England's winter had remained mild and the Bingleys, along with Mary had arrived at Pemberly with no problems. No broken wheels, no getting stuck in the mud and no sudden illness. Unfortunately, Mary's husband's father had not been feeling well and had needed his only son's help. So, he had remained behind while his wife had gone to Pemberly with her sister instead.

"Mrs. Darcy wrote in riddles. I wish she would have written more plainly as to why it was so important for us to come in the dead of winter."

"You could have stayed home." Jane's own eyes held a twinkle in as if to say, 'we can arrange it if you so desire'.

"I am not going back, sister." Mary rolled her eyes. "I was not attempting to complain, or whine, I was simply curious is all."

The Bingley's carriage had passed more than one field, pasture, house and so forth on their journey. Multiple taverns would have been stayed in had not the Bingley couple known so many people willing to let them spend one night. So, only one night had only been needed when it came to a tavern. And when the last evening of their travels arrived none would be needed as Pemberly had already come into sight.

Pemberly with is massive gardens, multiple trees, natural streams, ponds and so forth were all an impressive and inviting sight. The Bingleys took all the sights in, including the high woody hills as its backdrop. Pulling up to Pemberly with all its natural surroundings, the Bingleys stepped down from their carriage and were shown into the drawing room.

"Sister, what party is going on?"Mrs. Bingley saw a couple of tables full of food against one wall, a stately looking gentleman. His dark hair matched his suit. However, his smile and eyes could have lit up the room and he was sitting next to her sister, Kitty. "And, are you going to introduce us to who is sitting by you, sister?"

"This is Lord Blake Wellington. I met him at the Christmas dance at Rosings Park. I promise he is not the scoundrel that last beau of mine proved to be."

"I would hope not." Lord Wellington shook his head. "And that is the worst I will say."

"So, why are we here."

"To see your father wed." Jane about jumped as she heard her father's reply as he walked into the room.

"What about the banns? They need to be read."

"Normally, yes, but..." Thomas grinned wide. "Thanks to your brother and your sister's new beau, "They do not, and we are having a wedding here, today."

"Well, that explains why Elizabeth wanted me to wear my Sunday clothing." Mary sat in an overstuffed chair. "So..." She looked at Lord Wellington. "What is your part in all of this?"

"The archbishop is my cousin." He chuckled when Mary's eyes went wide. "And he came to my place -which is not all that far from Rosings Park. I told him about your father and Miss Anne. Told him about what Lady Catherine was pulling as to the local clergy around here and, so, he might have consented to the special license I requested."

"And Mr. Darcy paid for it." Quipped Elizabeth as she walked into the room.

"Why did you just not write that in the first place?" Mary was not seriously trying to complain; however it had been somewhat annoying.

"You have got to be joking, Mary? Do you realize the fits Lady Catherine has been having? Yes, she broke enough to give father consent to come forward, but I really do think she hoped the pressure some of the upper class put on him almost instantly at the party would send him running back to Longbourn."

"Father is too stubborn for that." Kitty giggled.

"And father never has cared about what titles think." Mary instantly realized who was in the room; she went red-faced, the viscount only cracked up laughing.

"If it helps you any, Mrs. Allen." Lord Wellington spoke once he quit chuckling, though is grin remained firmly in place. "I only have the title because my father had it first. And half my peers I cannot stand either. I only go to half those parties out of duty nothing more."

"I would suggest we all get ready." The archbishop walked in with his own twinkling eye. "Mr. Darcy is on his way downstairs with the bride."

Mr. Bennet and the group may have been getting ready, but Anne was talking to Mr. Darcy as they walked down the hall towards the drawing room. "I wish you could have talked my mother into coming. And, while there is no denying Mr. Bennet will have legal hold over Rosings Park, it is no secret he has changed how his own books at Longourn have changed. Plus, he lets me handle them. And I am good at organizing things... as long as I use those lists Mrs. Barnett taught me. And you promised to still come by for a while to make sure we had a strong hold on the way things were being run." She sighed. "Crumb, we are not even moving out of Longbourn until summer. We thought, hope, that way mother would have time to adjust."

"Until your mother quits hiding behind her money and titles nothing will change; you just make sure to face your problems head on. It will save yourself a lot of headaches."

The two quit speaking because Mr. Darcy had reached the open doors of the parlor. Mr. Bennet was standing in a suit that was almost as a dark as the viscounts. His shoes had been shined by one of the servants and were sparkling as bright as any of the marbled floors. His hair had ben freshly trimmed that morning, and barely went over the top of his collar.

Mr. Bennet, his family and even a few of the servants who had been invited because of helping Anne out, watched as Miss de Bourgh was led up to Thomas Bennet. They could not help but grin wide as he too her hand and then exchanged vows with. They were all elated when the archbishop pronounced them as man and wife.

"Bet Lady Catherine is home in her bed over this one." Whispered a servant when they went to help Pemberley's own get more drinks for the small party.

"I do not know and, right now, that does not affect us. Nor will I let it. As of now, I work for Mr. and Mrs. Bennet." The one speaking was Susan's mother who was more than relieved to be out of Meryton, but that was only because she really did miss the Hunsford area.

Drinks being brought in by the servants, music playing and his family mingling with himself and Anne spread an ear-to-ear smile to Mr. Bennet's face. Leading his bride onto the floor, he too set aside the fact Lady Catherine, had been too bull-headed to attend her only daughter's wedding and focused on doing what he could to see his wife smile and laugh.