Hearts in Hiding

Note: Thank-you for those still sticking around :D And, I mean no disrespect to the latest guest... your comment was by far more polite than many I have deleted; hence it was allowed through, and it did cause me to go to my list of stories and take stock of what I had written and this is the part I hope you do not take offense at (just please understand yours came at the end of a long list of a lot less...thinking ones? so this really is not your fault) but the usage of the word ALL really bother bothers me for this reason...I have written 44 stories under this nick. the word all demands they are to be included...and only sixteen of those (if you do not include Andrea's kitchen which from what I can tell very few read) are P & P and out of those only about nine/ten are focused on Mr. Bennet. And out of those I would only consider 3 definite adventure (this being one of them), and two are iffy. Three I have a hard time classifying as such though I admit you free to disagree it and choose to classify them differently; so that tech could raise the count by three; and Charlotte's does not even focus on him. Anyhow, like I said I beg of you not to take offense at this note; like I said your review came at the end of a long list of deletes that were extremely rude out and way out of focus. Yours was at least polite and not totally out of focus. I do thank you for that. (if it helps any I honestly did not set out for this to be focused on Mr. Bennet, the muse had different ideas) (and yes, you are right. It is kind of hard on the ones where he does have an adventure, still please give me a break this is not canon it is general regency au and it is a story ...i like do redeem him and let the muse run with it?)

Previously:

Mr. Darcy extended his hand in acknowledgment of Mr. Smith's position. Upon departing, he donned his hat, ascended his carriage, and set forth. As the vehicle moved away, he contemplated the revelations of their exchange: firstly, the recent demise of Mr. Tippins; secondly, Mr. Smith's instrumental role in securing assistance for Mr. Bennet's daughters; and thirdly, the likelihood that Mr. Bennet, fully aware of his actions, had - most likely- become entangled in an inquiry that reached beyond the jurisdiction of any ordinary magistrate.

Reporting Back

Ch. 11

The parlor of Longbourn was filled with a subdued tension as Mrs. Brinkerhoff, a strict but fair woman of about thirty-five, sat with Mary and Kitty Bennet. The Bingleys and the Darcys were also present, their expressions a mix of extreme concern and curiosity. Mrs. Brinkerhoff, a woman of thirty and five, sporting medium-brown hair pulled back into a bun, was sitting next to Mary and Kitty. Neither one the Bennet sisters dared so much as move an inch, not out of fear of their new companion, but because of the 'dart's Elizabeth was shooting their way wth her eyes. However, they were -temporarily- saved by them due to their brother walking into the parlor.

Mr. Darcy entered the room, no smile on his face as he spoke to his wife and her family. "I have spoken with a man by the name of Mr. Keith Smith, apparently he knew your father when they both were younger." he began, his voice steady. "It is Mr. Smith who is paying Mrs. Brinkerhoff's wages due to an old debt owed to Mr. Bennet. Unfortunately, your father is nowhere to be found. From what I gathered in London, there is a high chance, Mr. Bennet is now working with the law, though people I talked to admitted that was only an educated guess. I have no reason not to agree."

No one in the room attempted to talk as Mr. Darcy continued speaking, "Everyone I spoke to was of the same opinion that your father would not be found unless he saw fit for it to be so. This situation is most troubling, and I fear it may be some time before we have any further news."

Mary and Kitty exchanged their own uneasy glances between themselves, their discomfort could easily be felt. Mrs. Brinkerhoff's firm gaze did not waver; however, there was a hint of sympathy in her eyes. The lady was no fool, she knew the girls were struggling with the consequences of their actions, and she hoped this moment would serve as a valuable lesson.

Charles Bingley, wishing to offer some sort of comfort to his wife's sisters, spoke up gently, "Mary, Kitty, you must understand the seriousness of what has happened. Your words and actions have had serious consequences. It is because of this that your father felt compelled to leave Longbourn and erase himself from our lives."

Jane Bennet, her voice soft but surprisingly firm, added, "We are all human, and it is true, we all make mistakes, but I would hope you would learn from this. Father did what he thought was best for both of you, but did you really have to speak in the hallway? Could you not have at least taken it to your room?"

Elizabeth Darcy, her expression was -at best- controlled frustration, addressed her younger sisters directly, "You both need to take responsibility for what has happened. It is not just about Father leaving; it is about understanding the impact of your actions on everyone around you. Do you realize how much pain and chaos you have caused? Yes, father made arrangements for you. Yes, you have someone here to take watch over you, to guide you. However, Kitty, this is not a game. You seriously, let Lydia in this house? You let her influence you...again? Your thoughtlessness has real consequences. And this time worse more so than ever."

Mrs. Brinkerhoff nodded in agreement, her voice calm but authoritative, "Mary, Kitty, this is a time for reflection and growth. You have the support of your family, but you must also show that you are willing to change and make amends. Let this be a turning point for both of you. And it would not hurt to pray for a miracle. Maybe, by the Lord's good graces, your father will return."

The room fell back into silence as the weight of the situation settled over them. Mary and Kitty, looked at each other again and, though they spoke not a word, each knew they deserved Elizabeth's words about it not being a game was correct. And Kitty, most of all, took it to heart.

"So, help me, if Lydia even thinks about ignoring Father's orders and comes onto Longbourn property, well, I will physically throw her out myself!' Kitty was determined to make things right; she just hoped -someday- her eyes would lay themselves onto her father's again.

Mary said nothing, but her straightened posture, her clasped hands, and her mouth setting at the same time as Kitty's all shouted the same thing. Lydia would find herself being tossed out by two sisters if she were foolish enough to return to Longbourn. And, if Mr. Bennet was seen again, two daughters would throw their arms around his neck at the same time.

Thinking about throwing arms around their father's neck was not on Elizabeth's mind as she exited the parlor and made her way down to Mr. Bennet's library. Her own thoughts were reeling over the idea her father had, for all intents and purposes, erased himself from Longbourn. The only clue he ever existed was on written instructions for the servants, on signed legal papers regarding the care of his two unmarried, underaged daughters, and the care of Longbourn. Her mind shouted it was not so. It had to be a prank to teach her sisters a lesson. It was an idea that instantly left when his second-to-eldest opened his library door.

No books, no rare maps, no globes, nothing. Opening his drawer, Elizabeth gasped. Gone was her grandfather's snuff box. It had been made of expensive wood and created by a master craftsman. Racing upstairs, Elizabeth flung open her parents' old bedroom door and pulled out Mr. Bennet's old drawers. Rummaging through his old clothes, his daughter was horrified to find none of his father's pocket watches in sight. They too had been well-maintained over the years.

Leaving his room, Elizabeth began racing from room to room, checking to see what else was gone. In any room that had held signs of her father, not even a single portrait remained. There was only one small quill pen found, with its ink-well clear in the back of the shelf it had been placed on—almost missed by her eye. It was probably still there because her father's own eye had skipped over it.

Soon enough she was back in the parlor, ready to explode, only Mr. Darcy got a hold of her arm and convinced her to take a walk with him. It was only when they had their coats on and were outside that Fitzwilliam spoke with his arm around his wife's shoulders. "Elizabeth, I am just as upset as you are and you have every right to feel how you do," he spoke low and tenderly. "But yelling at your sisters is not going to help. Could you not see how much they are hurting?"

"Could they not have stopped to think? And what were they doing, letting Lydia in the house in the first place?"

"Your mother was ill and most likely sent for her; she always favored Lydia as she married the youngest, we all know that. I may not like the fact she was let in; her mouth started a ball rolling that should not have been touched. However, we do not need to injure your sisters, do we? Your father has already been pushed away, do we need Mary and Kitty getting it into their heads they need to do the same?"

"No… I…" Elizabeth turned and put her arms around Fitzwilliam's waist and leaned her head against his chest as they stopped under a tree. "I just want to know my father is safe." Tears fell down her face as her husband held her close, hoping the same thing.

NOTE: Keep in mind what is going on in this chapter is based on FEELINGS they are all having and NOT based on why Thomas is actually doing things, or what is going on.