P&P FF

"The Captain's Concession: A Bennet's Destiny"

Previously:

"We will be sure to go to Netherfield before going home if that is that case." Elizabeth hugged her sisters climbed in the coach and waved goodbye, noticing only then a strange look in Mary's eye. What on earth was going on?

"When we come back, I want answers." Mrs. Darcy told her husband, "And I am not settling for any riddles either."

Open Answers

CH. 6

Mr. Bennet had felt stunned upon his daughters' exit from the carriage sent from Netherfield, or should he say his heart- momentarily- froze upon laying eye on Mary. Where had the plain looking nineteen-year-old gone? The one he had sent to Jane's a week ago. The one who stood before him was just as beautiful as Jane, if not more.

"I did not think I looked that bad." Mary laughed and looked down at her dress. "Jane gave me the dress."

"You look stunning." Mrs. Bennet blinked her eyes more than once. "Did your sister do your hair too?"

"Not this morning." Mary grinned. "I did. But, yes, she showed me the style yesterday and I feel in love with it." Her face fell when she saw her father's face grow serious. "Do you want me to go put my bun back in?"

"No." Mr. Bennet wanted to let out a huge breath of air; however, with no desire for his daughter to take him wrong way the gentleman simply told them to go inside; they all needed to talk.

All three of the women followed Thomas into the house. He told Kitty to go into the parlor with her mother. "Mrs. Bennet you talk to our youngest in the manner I instructed; I will talk to Mary in the library."

Mr. Bennet said nothing more until his third daughter was sitting in front of his desk, he had shut the door and sat down. Slowly, he picked up the letter read it and then set it back down. "Do you recall telling me a couple of years ago..." Thomas looked Mary in the eye and said, "And I quote "A ship is coming in from the sea and this family is chained to it, you cannot free yourself from it. Something tied to this land will make that impossible. But -maybe- that will save you from drowning?"

Mary stiffened because not only did she remember, but because there had been more to her dreams than had been told to Jane or Kitty. "Yes, I do. Why, what has happened?"

Thomas reluctantly lifted up the letter and handed over the letter to her. "Read this and tell me what you think. I want your opinion." Mr. Bennet really did; there were a few options the gentleman could think the captain was referring to, but to be asked to be spoken to privately, to him, that pointed to only one. And it, well, he would... in spite of what some people thought of him... go to debtor's prison willingly and ask Elizabeth to take care of sisters and mother, before seeing it put into play if Mary was not able to catch on to what it was saying.

Mary had not only turned from a plain duck to the most beautiful swan on the lake, but her brain was just as sharp as Elizabeth's- if not more. What was written was easily comprehended and his middle child slowly lay the post down upon her lap. Looking at her father with steady eyes Mary spoke steady and even.

"You are not going to debtor's prison, not if I have any say about it."

"Though I doubt it, I could be wrong about this Mary. He could simply be referring to making payment arrangements, or somehow becoming connected to one of his businesses for a while -something akin to an indentured servant. He did say his uncle had moved to Meryton. I am to meet with him, the captain very well may be at the same meeting."

"Did mother comprehend what Captain Pedersen had written in this letter?"

"Not really, not at first. I had to explain it ...more than once, for it to sink in. And, even now, I am questioning how much she truly accepts of it." Thomas clasped his hands told Mary of the captain's mixed reputation as far as Mr. Bennet was aware of. "I would rather be locked up and see you women living with either Elizabeth or Jane in their homes, rather than to see that route taken if the first woman's views are correct."

"They are not."

"How can you say that? What exactly have you seen?"

"Nothing as far as to this Captain Pedersen; however," Mary thought of what she had seen. "Even if I am wrong, I still refuse to see you go debtor's prison. When and where is this meeting being held?"

"Within the week." Thomas leaned back and let out a huge breath of he had not even been aware he had been holding. "His uncle just moved into the old Lucas home. It will either be there, or here in this library." He smiled and shook his head. "You will stay out of sight either way, if I am wrong about that letter - no need to put ideas in the captain's head." He then gave answers, if he could, when his daughter asked about the seaman. "I am sorry, that is all I know." was his reply when he wrapped up handing out what answers he could give.

Mary stood up. "As you wish." She went to say more but decided against it. Her parents were working so hard to change their old habits - not an easy thing for either one of them. And now for this to happen. No, if she and her father were correct about that letter, his daughter would not fight it; as told to her father, Thomas C. Bennet would not go to debtor's prison if she were the key to keeping him out. "May I be excused now?"

"Yes, yes, of course." Mr. Bennet reached out his hand, his mouth turned down- deep lines running down his face. "Honest Mary, I never meant to neglect you. Please, believe me. Please, forgive me. I never meant to get us in this position. Honestly, I was making an honest effort to do just the opposite. People, if they catch wind of this, are going to judge me... harshly, call me all sort of foul names, I just know it."

"I know you did not." Mary took a hold of his hand. "Let them judge; you were only trying to save Longbourn." She kissed her father on the top of his head and then walked out of the room.

Mary went straight to her room. The only light in the room came from the side window with its curtain wide open. Two small beds had been placed straight across from the hearth that, in the winter, was always ablaze with a fire. However, for now, it lay dormant and cold.

Kitty was already sitting on her bed with her feet curled up and her arms wrapped around her knees. The sight was unsurprising. And went over to her set of drawers and opened the top drawer. Pulling out a small box she went over and sat next to Kitty.

"Remember these?" Mary pulled off the top exposing two necklaces; one was made out of many-colored beads, and one was crafted out of inexpensive, but still well-made, gemstones.

"Yes, you said they are being made for some poor girls. I am surprised you still have them."

Mary gave a small chuckle. "I only said that because you walked in when you were not supposed to, I did not expect you back from town so soon."

"Those necklaces were being made for me?"

"I had planned on giving them to you on your eighteenth birthday."

"So, you do not believe the captain's offer is one of payment arrangements as does Mother?"

"I think Mother is doing her best to cope with the letter." Mary did her best to smile. "I have seen her efforts to change her ways since Lydia left. To our neighbors, and staff and even to us, dear Mama acted all excited over the marriage, but later? I saw Mrs. Bennet when she thought I was not watching, crying more tears than I thought possible. It truly hurt her more than anyone thought. And then I saw father talking to our mother. It was then their ways started changing."

"Your dreams started then, did they not?"

"Shortly thereafter, yes." Mary put the necklace she was holding back into the box an pushed it over to Kitty.

"Why give it to me now? You could be wrong."

"Maybe." Standing up, Kitty's older sister walked to the door keeping another thought to herself, but then turned to her sister and opted to go ahead and speak the opinion which had already been stated in her father's library. "All I know is...if it is with my power, our father will not go to prison over a bad investment he made attempting to save Longbourn due to a bad agriculture year that was affecting not only him, but other estates as well. Where that will put me, it does not matter."