Pride and Prejudice 00 General Regency AU

Best Laid Plans Go Awary

Previously:

"I have no problem with taking you; I will back up your request; however, you still need to speak to your brother."

"And here I thought you loved me." Aileen tilted her head and grinned.

Breaking News

Ch. 18

The home of Sir William and Lady Lucas was noisy as the Bennets were shown in. Maria and Kitty were both celebrating their sixteenth birthdays together. A wonderful array of foods had been spread out multiple table. And the younger children were racing around and around in the gardens.

"We are so happy you could come over. " Lady Lucas hugged Anne and smiled. "It feels good to have true friends under my roof. And your girls have been, surprisingly, doing wonders for Maria."

"You can give credit to Anne for that." Thomas spoke bluntly "I fear what would have become of Lydia had my old ways had still been in place, or her birth mother still alive." He looked at Anne as if sending a silent message; the Lucas' were polite enough to ignore it not wishing to misinterrupt what it might mean.

"It seems to us...'" Anne blushed a little. "...with the sounds children playing coming through the open door, fitting to tell you Mr. Bennet and I are thrilled to be expecting a child. And will soon have an extra set of feet to chase after."

"Congratulations, Mrs. Bennet." Lady Lucas pushed down any heartache she felt. "I am certain your mother is just as excited."

"She insists Mr. Bennet just made her an old woman." Anne laughed. "But her eyes were twinkling the whole time the complaint was being made." Just then a knock came at the door.

"Ma'am." The Luca's butler walked in with what appeared to a post. "You have letter from a Lord Hayden Bryce."

"That has to be Lord Duncan Bryce's son, never met the gentleman though, only known the Baron's reputation. Why would his son be writing to me?" Sir Lucas stood up took the letter before dismissing his servant.

"Are you going to read it? Or just stare at it?" Laughed his wife.

"I..I.." Sir Lucas sunk into a chair. "Mr. Bennet could you read it, out loud, please." His hand shook, he had gone into shock after reading the first paragraph.

Thomas was curious as to what was up. He was half afraid it was bad news, as did the women. Standing up Mr. Bennet went and took the letter and began to read.

Sir William and Lady Lucas,

"My name is Hayden Duncan Bryce. My father was Lord Duncan Bryce, who has only recently passed on. Forgive me for providing more detail than some might deem necessary; however, for the sake of being open and honest, as Charlotte would wish this correspondence to be, I find it essential to commit these words to paper. It necessary to reveal a concealed truth, one that is up to you whether to accept or reject. It is one that I now face in the state of life most men are winding down, not starting up. I cannot avoid it as it will involve the legacy I will leave when it comes time for to make my own crossing into the next world. For what I will leave behind is not solely in lands or titles, but in a secret that, once disclosed, will alter the course of our families forever."

"Charlotte?!" Exclaimed Lady Lucas. "He knows our Charlotte?" Tears swelled up in her eyes. "But what his he referring to...alter the course of our families?" Mr. Bennet continued reading without replying to her.

I am a Scotsman as was my father and his father and so on. I do not apologize for it, nor will I ever. And, my family, until my father came along fought against the English with swords, pistols and whatever other weapon we had on hand. Our women were tortured, raped and killed with no mercy shown by multiple English soldiers throughout time. However, when my father grew older the sight of so many of his countrymen, and women, laying in so much blood made him sick. He wished to fight in a different way. Hence, he chose to fight in your courts. So, he learned your laws and gained access to Parliament. And, even I, would now pick up a gun and go into battle -if one gave me no choice - in order to defend my home, my family and my faith. But, out of respect to my father, I followed his footsteps, learned your laws, picked them up as my weapon and now have seat in your English parliment. I will weld it with just as much strength and power as my father, if not more.

"As I just stated, I have heard of his father. He was no pushover." Sir Lucas could not help but shudder. "No, he was not cruel, or cold-hearted, could be the most compassionate man one had ever met, nonetheless ..." Again, he gave a visible shake. "He was not a man to be trifled with... Not even with his eccentric ways of doing things or having spent time outside of Scotland and England. So, far it sounds as if his son is made of the same mettle. Read on."

"I write all of that, so you have my background upfront. I met your daughter, Charlotte, at the Johnstone's in Dumfrie where she was a companion to Lady Smith. I approached the dear lady and was told you had disowned your daughter, and that she had no home simply for turning down a proposal of marriage to a man she thought had no real spine or set of brains."

Thomas said nothing, things concerning Mary's vows to Mr. Collins was not the subject at hand. Therefore, Mr. Bennet continued reading... with the Lucas' were shifting in their seats.

I confess, at that time, I wanted to lay a set of not so gentle hands onto your throats. I asked myself what kind of parents could turn their backs on their daughter for such a shallow reason? Especially since I.. a complete stranger... quickly surmised Charlotte was no common Englishwoman. She has, according to my servants, a Scottish heart, but I jump ahead. So, I will go back to the Johnstone estate. The next day, after talking to Lady Smith, I approached your daughter, offering her my name, my proctection and my house in exchange of my having a chance for an heir.

Thomas looked up because he thought he heard the children coming in. They were not, but the older girls were heading their way. He looked at Sir William who sighed and told him to go on. That if the children came in, they came in.

I was bound by time constrictions as my home was at the very least six days away from Dumfrie and I only but ten to return. You know as well as I, Scottish marriage laws are looser than England's. So, upfront, I told your daughter I could only offer a handfasting ceremony in my friend's garden. However, because my own personal beliefs do align with Charlotte's as to clergyman, a traveling preacher was involved. And she put on a Scotsman ring and joined herself to a Scotsman for life.

You daughter has just informed me she now carries my baby, a Scotsman's child though we have been wed but a half a year. We are heading your way. I was hoping for a reconciliation between daughter, parents and friends. And I know for a fact a letter from my sister should have arrived by now or should soon be arriving informing you of the same desire for it has been sent this same day.

However, if you are bound and determined to continue your stance, and to repeat the garden scene simply because of where I am from and because she now carries my child, I will take her back to Scotland and you will not ever see her again. Your post may be sent back to the place enclosed in this correspondence; it is the same as my sister's. We will not come without a reply from you. That is no threat; that is a promise.

Hayden Duncan Bryce

Baron of Morningside

Sir William, and his wife, both jumped up, wasted no time in penning a response and had it out the door so fast it had everyone's head spinning. They then made it crystal clear, the handfasting was to be accepted in their house for it was their own actions that had pushed their daughter into it. It was not anything that needed to be said to the Bennets anyway; Thomas had already said he would back them - and Charlotte up.

Anne grinned wide once the Lucas' were sitting back down. It felt good to know her friend was safe.

"You know those gossipy women and my own mother are going to say I planned all of this." Anne shook her head.

"Let them." Lady Lucas shook her own head. "I no longer care what people in those groups say. "I left them, all I want is to see my daughter again. I will accept her Scottish family with an open heart and just as open arms."

"As shall I.' Sir William's face beamed just as bright as his wife's.