P & P FF AU. NON-Canon GENERAL REGENCY

To Catch a Shining Star

Previously:

Thomas C. Bennet may have made changes, may have -in the only way he comprehended been doing his best to show his daughters he did value them ; nonetheless, finding a willingness to remarry was proving far more difficult than he had anticipated. And it was harder than many of his generation and time were having around him, so it seemed to him.

Friend's Visit

Ch. 2

Longbourn's parlor no longer felt drab and old. New life had been poured into the space upon Fitzwilliam buying his wife's father a new, over-sized rug and cherry-wood framed furniture. Dark cabinets and a writing desk matched the furniture and light-colored, silk, drapes contrasted the darker wood chairs and sofas. Light flooded into the room and did not need help with allowing anyone in seeing each other. If it had, the unlight chandelier would have been lit.

Extra tables had been set up and family and friends had gathered for food, games and music in celebration of Mr. Bennet's forty-fifth birthday. Personally, he would have by-passed the whole thing only Mary had gotten it into her head it needed to be done. And, since the gentleman really had been attempting to think more about his daughters feelings, Mr. Bennet had kept quiet and allowed it to happen.

"So, how does it feel to have another birthday?" laughed Edward as he sat down next to his brother.

"Much the same as it did last year," Thomas replied with a smile. "My mind insists I am but twenty, yet my body shouts in my ear otherwise."

"I would say you are in great company then." Mrs. Gardiner had walked in just in time to hear to hear her husband and Thomas conversing. "Apparently, my body likes to sing the same tune."

The three might have begun swapping jokes about typical aches and pains of getting old only Kitty approached with a gift for her father. And, rather than to be rude, Thomas took the gift and unwrapped it. It turned out to be a beautifully crafted writing set. It included an exquisite quill pen, an inkwell, and high-quality parchment paper. A note, which had been attached to the wrapping, let him know the gift was from both Kitty and Mary.

"Thank-you, my old one was getting rather decrypt I must confess."

"Yes, we were noticing that the other day." The girls could not help but giggle. However, in their defense; it was more at their uncle's wise-crack -something akin to 'it is about time someone replaced that dinosaur'- than at their father's remark.

"Now, it is our turn We have two gifts." Elizabeth and Jane had Fitzwilliam and Charles carry in a large frame holding a portrait of all the family members. "We commissioned an artist friend last year to paint it. However, he fell ill and could not do it at that time -especially since he had to leave the area. So, the gentleman gave us our money back. When he got better, and returned, we asked him to do this one instead."

"I appreciate it."

Once the picture was hung over the fireplace, Jane could not help but giggle when Elizabeth brought in a long, narrow box, and gave it to her father. Her own eyes were sparkling with amusement. It made their father curious as to what was up.

Opening the box, Thomas lifted out a cane -that alone set people into fits of laughter as he had no need for one- it did not help it had tiny compartments which snapped open and shut. Some had candy shaped like pills one elderly people often took -again none of which he needed. Looking at his daughters Mr. Bennet's eyes sparkled. "Ah, these compartments are perfect for hiding my candy stash from the doctor. He will never suspect a thing! And it will aid me greatly in stashing any unnecessary item he gives when he is present and allow me to toss them when he is gone."

Elizabeth, Jane and the rest of the family only laughed. A knock on the door came and the Bennet's butler came and informed Mr. Bennet an old friend of his was at the door. "A gentleman by the name of Conrad Billings is here to see you."

"Show him in."

Mr. Billings was a gentleman of which nothing in particular stood out. Hair which had long since lost his color matched that of many around him, his frame matched many English, and Scotsman. However, the gentleman's face was bright and more than made up for his common appearance.

"I apologize I did not mean to intrude on any family party."

"They got it into their heads to celebrate my birthday." Mr. Bennet stood up and clasped his friend's hands. "How may I help you?"

"May I speak to you...outside?"

"I will be right back." He looked at Elizabeth and was soon out on the porch asking what was wrong to Mr. Billings.

"Nothing, not in the way most would think anyway. As to not talking in your parlor, I just do not do well in crowds any more than when we were younger. I was hoping you would not mind visiting my family in Ravenshollow. I have talked about you for years, and now my wife has gotten it into her head that she wants to meet you. However, she is not well enough to travel much."

The early summer midday sun cast a warm, golden glow over the landscape, making the fields around them shimmer with life as the two men talked... The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with a few fluffy white clouds lazily drifting by as Mr. Bennet began to speak.

"You are not attempting to play matchmaker, are you? I do recall you doing such things when we were younger." When Mr. Bennet's forehead muscles raised ever so slightly as he spoke, Mr. Billingsly could not help it—he cracked up laughing.

"No, I am not. You are very capable of taking care of that yourself. Though I dare say there are plenty of women who are looking your way, hoping your eyes will fall on them. However…" Conrad held up his hands. "Not at my pressing or suggestion, I promise. Honestly, when I married my Scottish wife and we moved to Scotland, I really have talked about you a lot." Birds chirped merrily from the branches of the nearby trees, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soothing symphony of nature when Mr. Billing finished speaking.

"You come here over your talks with your wife?" Thomas did not bother resisting rolling his eyes.

"No." Chuckled his friend. "I received your letter asking how I was doing, saying you needed time away from Longbourn now that your wife had passed on. I was simply going to write back and offer to pay your way up to my place, but my wife's brother was down here and needed my help. So, my Tamara suggested I come and make the invite myself. Though I confess, the letter did look oddly put together. I thought perhaps you had been ill and really did need time away."

Thomas instantly grew puzzled. Yes, he had Conrad's address; it was on his desk in his library; it might even be on a shelf in the dining area. However, Mr. Bennet knew he had not written. He went to make an inquiry as to when the letter had been sent when movement in the parlor window caught his eye. Turning his head, he set his jaw…a daughter quickly disappeared from sight.

'Well, that explains who wrote the letter and why it looked so odd.' It had been Kitty who had vanished from sight, and Mr. Bennet could have sworn he had seen Mary; only he could not picture Mary instigating such a stunt. Just then his words to his daughters, spoken in jest popped a little under a month ago popped into mind.

"No English woman has managed to catch my eye. I suppose a reason must find me to convince me to leave the country entirely. Perhaps then, a foreign lady might just turn my head and finally persuade me to wed."

A part of Thomas wanted to roll his eyes; Kitty should know his humor well enough to know he had been joking. However, the part that really was attempting to consider his daughter's feelings more let out a long sigh. Maybe, he should respect his fourth's attempt to get him away from Longbourn and get her a mother. Who knows what might happen. If nothing else, it should show Kitty he had made an effort to respect her feelings.

"So, are you going to accept my offer or do I tell my wife I shocked you so badly you turned into a statue?" Conrad laughed when Mr. Bennet's reply was delayed longer than expected.

"I am sorry, I did not mean to grow so quiet." Thomas turned slightly red. "I will be more than happy to accept. Maybe, getting away for a bit is just what the doctor ordered. I am sure one of the older girls would be more than willing to let their sisters stay with them while I am gone.