P&P FF
AU, NON-Canon, GENERAL REGENCY
"Captain's Concession: A Bennet's Destiny"
Previously:
"I do now." Sir Borg held up. "I'd say there's no need for Anne to come with reasons to come into Meryton when in reality she is actually visiting you at the bookstore." He winked. "Lady Catherine will have no choice but to let Mr. Bennet's daughter in with me there and you and Anne may talk openly after all these years."
"You knew, when you weren't even living near my family?"
"Not from firsthand knowledge if that helps ease your mind any."
News and Family Reunion
Ch. 33
Lady Catherine had been anything but pleased to have to allow 'low-down' sailors and a Bennet into her home. However, with Sir Borg and Commander Paul Hatcher, a royal officer present, there had been little choice but to let their group in. Also, to add insult to injury, she had indeed almost called for her own share of smelling salts to find out Anne had faked being sick for the past few years. That had been bad enough; however, to discover Anne had not only visited Mary but had been working with Sir Borg's men in gathering information for them regarding Scott McBean had about blown her mind.
"How could you?!" Lady Catherine fanned herself furiously as she widened her eyes toward her daughter, who looked nothing like the invalid everyone had gotten used to seeing.
"Quite easily. What men will say when they think a woman has no brains, is not pretty, and is always physically sick is quite amazing." Anne's eyes twinkled as she now wore a very expensive dress, an extremely nice hairstyle, and was on the arm of the royal officer she had gotten to know quite well. "Oh, and by the way…" Anne turned to Commander Hatcher who she had seeing but her mother had chosen to be clueless . "I believe you have something to announce?"
"I believe I do." The gentleman informed the whole room he had asked Anne to marry him and that she had accepted.
The time at Rosings Park had been brief and Sir Borg had promised Captain Pedersen he would get word to him, and the Hales as soon as he could. However, he thought it best if both the couples went to Pemberly for the time being. The Darcy's had the means to hire protection as the latest harvest season had been far more bounteous than the last. Mary's family could travel to see them there. Ane, Leif would not have to worry about gathering men to send to protect them, or the Hales couple.
"I can focus my sources on the over-sized rat in Scotland."
It was those facts which had everyone gathered at Pemberley. There was not a dry eye in the house as they hugged Mary. All were delighted and relieved to see her well, alive, and smiling.
"Sorry, Captain," Thomas stepped forward and took hold of his hand. "We are not meaning to ignore you. It is simply…" Mr. Bennet paused, feeling not only a loss for words but more than a bit embarrassed that the man had been ignored in the excitement of seeing Mary again.
The family was gathered in the drawing room with curtains drawn wide open, including Elizabeth and Jane with their newborn babies. Light flowed in through the windows and slid over the top of Elizabeth's newly purchased furniture. Newly polished floors sparkled underneath the guests' feet. Chandeliers remained unlit and would remain so until the early evening hours. No fire was needed in the hearth, and any natural light stretched to reach its domain.
"Do nae apologize, Mr. Bennet," Emil smiled and took no offense, standing where the light shone in through an open door leading out into the hallway. "Iffin she were me daughter, I highly suspect I would get lost in de excitement of seein' her safe and sound meself." Emil did not resist as he twitched his mouth and let a sparkle into his eye. "Dinnae ye know, us Scottish sailors be a wild bunch. And I hear tell there's a Dane among the lot of 'em."
Mr. Bennet roared with laughter, as did those around him, and Mary rolled her eyes. No one could take Emil seriously as his tone was far too comical to do so.
"You must have given poor Lady Catherine fits," Mrs. Bennet chuckled.
"I may have let me men have a wee bit of fun at her expense."
"May have?" Mary lifted an eye towards her husband. "I am prett' sure de lad' only let us sta' there because of Sir Borg and Commander Hatcher." Turning to her family, Mary chuckled. "Ye should have seen Lad' Catherine's eyes when de gentleman announced he was ta marr' her daughter. De title was fine enough for her, but when she found out he was a Scotsman; I thought for sure de captain's ship doctor was goin' to have to take a look at her."
No one drew attention to the fact it felt odd to hear Mary talking like her husband. A few members were even uncomfortable over it. However, they were not about to complain. Emil went to speak only to have Sir Borg and Charlotte walk in.
"Lady Borg!" Mary bolted from where she had been sitting and hurried over to Charlotte and gave her a hug. "It's so grand to see ye again."
"You have definitely been living in Scotland. You sound just like your captain."
"Somethin' wron' with that?" Emil pretended to be offended as he covered his heart.
"Ignore him, he is on one toda'," Mary again rolled her eyes and laughed. Nonetheless, she quieted when Sir Borg chuckled but then asked Michael if he, and his wife, wished to be spoken to alone or right where he was."
'Might as well do it here, we have no secret from the family."
"Please accept my deepest apologies for the distress this situation has caused," Sir Borg began, his tone filled with regret. "The papers ending up exposing such horrible crimes that there will be no trial for the public to witness. So, while he was taken to a prison in London... due to the severity of his offenses and the clear evidence against him, he was hung within twenty-four hours."
"Oh, my!" Michael exclaimed and then inquired as to who ordered McBean's hanging.
"They came from a couple of local Dukes who have connections to the high courts. They thought it necessary to act promptly to prevent any further harm. We now require you and Wendy to come forward as witnesses to solidify the case and ensure that all rightful lands are restored. Once your testimonies are given, steps will be taken to return any inheritance to their rightful possession." Sir Borg concluded, hoping his words would bring some solace to all involved.
Leif then took the captain aside, which is why within twenty minutes, he and Mary were sitting out on a stone bench in front of Pemberley. Captain Emil was feeling like a ship caught between two mighty gales, each vying to chart her own course. Holding Mary's hand as if she were his anchor, his mind replayed part of Leif's words, and he spoke those aloud.
"Mr. McBean's mouth has done more damage than my fists, guns, or cannon ever considered doing."
"Ye cannae have me livin' in Meryton, can ye?" Mary let out a long breath of air.
"I dannae know what ta do. I want ye there. I told yer father in a letter when I set sail I had asked me uncle ta let ye live there as they had nae children ta help take care of them. Said I thought that way yer family could help watch over ye while I was out ta sea, even though ye are very capable of steering yer own ship." Emil rubbed his forehead. "But with what that… male… has spread all over the hills, if I have ye live in England, my word will mean nothin', not even in de ports. My sister lives too far in de hills; havin' you up there is not an option. I refuse to make it so you cannae contact yer family. Ye are a stron' one, ye still need yer rocks to stand on."
"Why not move her to the border like your father did your mother?" Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's voices got the Captain and Mary's heads both turned. Mary's parent's had been told by Sir Borg where they were and suggested the Bennets and Mr. Lyle Lucas go out. So, they had. And, upon hearing the captain's word, and seeing his dilemma written all over his face, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had spoken up.
"How will that help? Ye are not a rich people, Mr. Bennet. The towns I have enough connections to would be difficult for ye to afford to travel to."
"I am willing to set up a trust fund for us all; one that would not be affected should another hard year hit the estate. Money from that would allow us to go with them to see her in the summer for a few weeks without Longbourn being neglected; an estate manager could be hired." Lyle Lucas grinned when asked if he could afford to do that. "I am quite wealthy due to shipping merchandise enterprises and such; there would be no problem."
"Would Miss Kitty mind keepin' an eye on my uncle and aunt? We be willin' to pa' her."
"She does that already and would refuse money if you made any attempt." Mrs. Bennet grinned. "I know ...because they already tried."
Epilogue.
Lyle, keeping his promise, set up a trust fund, and the Bennets made it a tradition to visit Mary in Dunraven every summer as long as they were able. Mary, like everyone else, was shocked to learn that Lyle's father was actually a Collins by birth. But after a falling out with William's father, he never acknowledged having a brother, and Lyle's father ended up changing his last name.
After marrying Kitty, Lyle dug into his father's past for different reasons and uncovered the truth. He took his findings to court and was officially recognized as the rightful heir to Longbourn. Not stopping there, Kitty's husband also bought out the old entailment on the estate and set up a new one, ensuring it would pass to their oldest child, regardless of gender.
Mary stayed in Dunraven, serving as Emil's personal lighthouse for nearly two decades. It wasn't until Emil suffered a *widow maker on his ship, just as he was about to dock at his home port, that Mrs. Mary B. Pedersen returned to England to live in the house that once belonged to Emil's uncle, and at one time, to Charlotte Lucas.
"Momma, are you coming in?" Seventeen-year-old Moira approached, her copper-red hair in ringlets cascading down her back. "The boys have just finished moving our stuff into the house."
"I'll be there soon, just need a moment," Mary replied. She had opted out of the extravagant puffed sleeves that were in style but embraced the more flowing skirts. Her dark green colored skirt matched her blouse. As she stood on the hill Mary spoke to the captain as if he were also on the hill.
"Well, Emil ye crossed over doin' what ye loved and I know there were some of family members thought me to be mad when I insisted ye buried at sea. However, i could not see your body with soil over it. Ye only came on shore as much as ye did because of me. No ye belon' to those waters. Think ye ken come an' check on me every now and then; iffin' it's not too much trouble?" Mary could have sworn she felt Emil's hand brush her check. "Yes, I came back to England. I am most certain that is no surprise to ye. My family begged me to come, and your uncle's home is empty. So, i came." She smiled wide. "Our hearts became one and, in spite of little sister's wishes, I have no intentions of remarrying; that part of me is still sailing the oceans." Her eye turned towards Longbourn and she remembered her father's private words to her before she left home.
"The captain's concession seems to be a Bennet's destiny, particularly yours. I just wish it did not take you so far from Longbourn, farther than even Elizabeth or Lydia—though I consider the latter a blessing."
"I'm back now, Father, given time. I'll probably start speakin' proper English soon enou'," Mary chuckled as if he too were standing nearby, "Just try not ta roll over in yer grave until I do."
NOTE: For you that stuck with the story I do thank you. I also thank all who asked questions politely, whether publicly - or privately. They always make the story better. I do thank my beta-reader for all her help, clearly mistakes were still all my own.
*Widow Maker... massive heart attack
