Pride and Prejudice Fan Fiction
Unlocked Cage
Previously:
"I will take the position you offer; it is better than staying married to Mr. Hurst and..." Louisa sighed. "I do not think Mr. Bailey will want to talk to me, but if he wishes to know anything...I will tell him face to face; the gentleman deserves that much."
Gathering After Arrest
Ch. 29
Clouds floated just as lazily by as a fisherman might when no fish were biting, but he had no desire to return to shore. The sun must have been tired, for its rays did not feel unbearably hot. And the wind must have exhausted itself from the night before, as there was hardly a breeze blowing across the fields as a large gathering was going on at the Hudson's estate.
Carlisle was sitting next to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, whom Caroline had unofficially adopted as parents since her own birth parents were deceased. They were joined by Mr. Bailey who had never really stopped loving Louisa and, upon reconnecting with her, had ended up exchanging vows with Mrs. Hudson's sister. However, that had not taken place until after a very long, open and honest, discussion about the past.
There was also the Bryces, Darcys, Bingleys, Wells who had come to visit, and even Mary had shown up to join in the festivities. Mary's husband would have, but work obligations had him tied up.
'I think,' Mrs. Bennet laughed as she watched the young mothers dealing with their children, 'it is a good thing one has their babies while they are in their youth; I have no energy to chase those lovely creatures around anymore.'
'Amen to that,' Mr. Bennet laughed.
Carlisle looked at Rosie who, now at sixteen almost seventeen, walked with confidence using the same cane his wife had made soon after her arrival at Hudson estate. If anyone suggested her 'proper' place was inside, Miss Rosie had no issue telling them exactly what they could do with their opinion. He also looked at Caroline who had her hand on her ever-growing womb, as did Louisa—proving it had not been her that had the issue with having children like Hurst had always claimed. They both were talking to Lady Bryce, who had not yet started showing signs of carrying her second child.
Carlisle then turned to answer a question the baron has asked just as they had sat down to watch the children playing with their women. And that was how were he and Mrs. Hudson getting along? Did Mr. Hudson regret the marriage.
"Mrs. Hudson and I may not have blended as fast as you and Lady Bryce, but there is no doubt this home has no one living in any unlocked cage, and we are now close. So, no, I have no regrets."
"I am," Lord Bryce looked Mr. Hudson straight in the eye without batting his own, "am very happy to hear that." He then asked about Mr. Hurst, Wadsworth, and the men who had put Mr. and Mrs. Hudson and Miss Rosie in such danger.
"Wadsworth, it was discovered—not by me—to have far more extensive…activities, shall we say, and a rope found his neck. The other men were put on a boat for Australia, including the man with the limp. Some of their wives stuck with them, others filed for divorce."
Mr. Hudson watched as his wife stopped conversing with her sister and began heading their way. Therefore, it was Mr. Bailey who finished giving the rest of the answer, as Mr. Hudson had clearly shifted to watching Caroline heading his way rather than completing his response.
"As to Mr. Hurst's arrest, well, he was stupid enough to break away from the law and tried to make a run for it."
"What did you do?" Mr. Bennet asked, emphasizing the word "did," as he could easily hear Mr. Hudson's own heavy tone on the word "tried."
"I did nothing, but Mr. Hudson tripped him with that blasted cane he was being made to use; his words not mine." Mr. Bailey laughed and then he shrugged his shoulder. "He then told me it was not his fault the man failed to see him standing in the alley next to the side of the building. And he…may have…had a pistol pointed straight at him after he fell."
"Do not tell me." Chuckled Lord Bryce. "Mr. Hudson offered to let him have another run at it? "
"Yes, our friend was quite disappointed Mr. Hurst did not take him up on the offer. If it were not for the attempt on Mr. Hudson's family's life a prison cell for life would have been Mr. Hurst's fate but, thanks to the combined voices of Mr. Hudson's workers -and a few others- a hangman's noose found Mr. Hurst shortly after it found Mr. Wadsworth fleshy neck."
"What about the boy?" Mr. Bennet asked, as he did not see any young boy, who would be closing in on eleven nearby.
"I was able to locate him. I definitely sired the boy. He looks too much like my father not to be mine. I also met the parents." Mr. Bailey sighed. "We, my wife and I, talked to the boy, who, shockingly, is very highly intelligent for someone his age. They, the parents raising him, requested Kent stay with them since he is doing so well in their home. I agreed but am helping to pay for the boy's school in exchange for allowing us to visit as my son wants to get to know us."
"I think..." Mr. Hudson spoke as he walked up with Caroline on his arm. "It is safe to say there is no one living in cages in this house anymore and I, for one, am glad that I married a little bird brave enough to step out first allowing the rest of us to follow. And that the scoundrel who put your own little bird into one is no longer around.
Epilogue
Caroline sat propped up in bed with Rosie on one side, her father on the other and her infant son, Carlisle Thomas in her arms. Mr. Bailey, her sister, their infant son and the Bennets were also in the room.
"I would say this is a far cry from what I thought I would see happen when upon first meeting you." Grinned Mr. Bennet. "Tell me though, why my name in the middle? Why not your birth father's or Mr. Hudson's?" He looked at both of them.
"First..." Chuckled Mr. Hudson. "My father hated his name, made me promise within an inch of my life if I ever had a son not to name him after him. Second, Mrs. Hudson's father is already named after and third, as far as we are concerned ...you are her father and were the first one to help get out of her unlocked cage."