PP FF

NON-CANON, AU GENERAL REGENCY

Note: to the guest who wrote "to be honest...", you are correct quite a few men did not show outward sings of affection. And, I will be honest I was not totally comfortable with that rewrite. Therefore, in an effort to maintain a softer side to Bennet (so he did not come across as a jerk) and yet still keep line with what the muse was comfortable with...I took out him kissing his daughters on the head (which, truthfully...I felt him instantly recoiling on), but left in him giving them a hug; quick as it was. (and for that ERA, that would have been a 'ahead of his time' type thing).

Hearts in Hiding

Previously:

"Wash up and be glad tonight is our designated of cheese, milk, and fresh vegetables."

"Praise be, I am spared the shackles of a skillet!"

Jones'

Ch.4

Silence pervaded the Jones household, broken only by the soft, nearly inaudible footsteps of servants traversing halls and staircases, bringing the home of Matthew A. Jones to life. Randolph Overstreet, the butler of twenty-five years, stood as tall and thin as a beanpole. He managed the household with a gentle hand, except when Jack was present. Despite his dedication, the other servants found little affection for him; Mr. Overstreet was deemed too stiff, too cold, and too distant. Yet, it was not their place to decide on matters of employment.

"I do not understand why you retain his services," Nancy remarked, her voice floating over the sound of her brush through long brown hair.

"He is proficient in his duties," Matthew replied, securing his vest. Turning to face her, he added, "Should you propose his dismissal, I would advise against it. He shall remain as long as I have a say."

Their chamber, though modest in size for such a grand residence, was furnished with an exquisite mahogany dresser and a bed to match. A writing desk, chair, and all expected accouterments completed the room. The walls were adorned with murals of gardens, stretching from floor to ceiling, while an oversized rug lay beneath the furniture, extending to the built-in closets.

"Why must your sister reside in the cottage at the estate's edge? Surely, there is ample space here for her."

"Birgitta will not be compelled to leave," Matthew stated, donning his jacket over his vest and sitting to attend to his shoes. "She chose that life, as I explained upon her arrival."

Nancy conceded, yet her next words caused Matthew to look up sharply. He opened his mouth to retort, but she raised a hand to silence him. "I did not imply we should evict her from the cottage. However, Brandon is fifteen, and Emma is ten. Her debut is not far off, and there are lessons she ought to learn."

"Do you doubt Birgitta's ability to educate her children?" Matthew knew his sister's character well; she was never one to shirk her responsibilities. "Do you consider Brandon illiterate? Have you not listened to him read, inquired about his books, or reviewed their accounts? My sister's tutelage rivals that of any governess. I am most certain Emma will be no less prepared than her brother for life than he. "

"It has been two years since her arrival. Might you persuade her to join us in the main house?"

Matthew recognized the warning signs in his wife's tone. To quell any brewing storm, he leaned forward. "Let it be known that no one is to coerce my sister into a decision she does not desire. Nor shall there be whispers encouraging such action."

"At the very least, inform her of my wish to have her and the children closer."

"And the least you could do is to respect her wishes and admit to yourself it is our son you are missing. And it is Brandon that you wish to see in the house, not my sister or Emma. Especially since you know already how Birgitta feels about the size of this house."

"Why, I…" Nancy began to protest, but the stern look in Matthew's eyes prompted her to concede that he was right.

"I suggest you start volunteering at the local school, or something. Leave my sister's family alone, or you may just find yourself out of this country and in a convent." With those final words, Matthew strode out, leaving Nancy speechless in his wake.

Matthew stopped halfway down the hall. Taking a deep breath he turned back around and went back to Nancy. "I am sorry." Mr. Jones looked at his wife who was still sitting unsure what to think. "Not for what I said; nonetheless, for how I said it. Please, Nancy, I understand you enjoy being around people. Thrive off it. Your mind has a hard time comprehending those that do not. Brigitta has always marched to her own drum. She is not against parties, has been to plenty of them. But the men you try to push onto her are too..."

"Loud? No humor?"

"Too put it mildly, yes. You try to find her 'type'? Truth is, she is a full-grown woman with two children. If she wishes to remarry, let her find her own."

"And if no one asks?"

"Her husband did not leave her a poor woman; Brigitta simply prefers to keep that appearance. Humor her? Let her keep that facade up, please? Has she not earned that for all my sister has done for us?"

"I suppose she has at that." Nancy stood up. "If I promise not to push her to move up here, may I go down to visit her now?"

"Yes, not a single word -or even hint of a move and..." He pointed a finger while thinning his mouth out. "No actions , or hints, of any sorts of favortism of those children of hers."

"I will do my best, I promise."

It was only when Matthew stepped aside did Nancy make her departure. Nancy's hair was darker than that of Brigitta's; it was almost black. her build far thinner. And -if people further south- had met her they would have insisted she matched Mrs. Bennet in temperment. Fotunately, she had a few more thinking abilities than the late Mrs. Bennet.

A long dirt path lead from the Jones' place down a hill to a gate. It opened up and lead to another road. Nancy set foot onto it and crossed over path wich led to Briggita's home. It was no surprise to have it be Emma, perched in a tree, to be the one to annoucnce her coming towards their home.

"Emma Susannah Erickson get down now!"

"Yes, Mother."

Nancy was in their home soon enough thanking Mrs. Erickson for her help with dinner for her son's acceptance into the navy. "I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to repay you. You saved me so headahce when our cook feel ill. And you have done it multiple times for many events in the past six months. Please, let me do someting?"

"Teach Emma to play the piano? I have no musical skills in that area and she really wants to learn."

Brigitta and Nancy may have been conversing win no tension; however Matthew was anything but at ease with Keith sitting in his library.

"You are like a bad penny that keeps showing up."

"I am not a bad penny and you know it." Keith rolled his eyes. "You simply do not like the fact, I am right." Keith was Matthew's cousin, a lawman as honest as the day was long. "And, I am relieved you are not telling the women anything. We do not need them messing anything up."

"I suspect my sister may already know." Sighed Matthew slumped down in his chair. "My wife let our son run all over the place; it is why I let him go to sea early. My sister - I noticed- began reigning Brandon in where as he used to roam more freely."

"In that case." Keith stood up. "I am finding myself another man, one who can keep his mouth shut, is in the position to cut ties with family if necessary. You better have a job for him when I bring the gentleman back from London. There is always someone looking for work in that place."