P & P

Hidden in Plain Sight

NOTE: I am sorry for anyone that was confused in Ch. 19 and thought the men not let into the party were the same men who took Lord Ashford's son. BUT remember in Ch. 18 it says... {."The party we are to host tomorrow night got two more names added to it; ones that were not there on the list Mr. MacDonald gave the butler and me." When asked who they were, Iona replied, "A Mr. Paul Dexter and some man by the name Gene Johnston." Iona knew enough to know the Dexter fellow was not the same as the one who had been at the Brighton restaurant and asked Mr. MacDonald's employee who the other gentleman was.

"A scoundrel, just as bad as his cousin, and Gene is no better than his own kin. Who put them there?" (the two men are related to the Kidnappers but are NOT the ones who took the boy.}

Previously:

"We might have believed them too, had it not been for his assistant; I hope he gives her a raise."

Talk at Longbourn

Ch. 20

No noise could be heard in Longbourn as Mr. Bennet paced the parlor. He wanted to be out searching for Kitty. However, Thomas had -with mixed feelings- seen the other men's point of view. He really did need to be home in case his fourth daughter made her way home. Nonetheless, it did not make things easy on his heart.

"Mr. Bennet." Anne spoke softly as she, Mary and Charlotte walked into the room. "Charlotte and I came to see how you were holding up."

"As good as I can be everything considering." And, then not caring anymore who knew of his close friendship with Anne, he held both his arms; Anne went and gave him the hug he needed. "Kitty will be fine, Mr. Bennet; I know it."

"Please, the name is Thomas."

If he expected Charlotte to be surprised it was everyone else whose turn it was to be shocked when she sat down and grinned wide. "Well, it is about time you two opened up."

'You knew?" Anne turned, about dropping her jaw as she did so-along with Mary and Thomas.

"Yes, and I am surprised no one else in this town figured things out. Well, besides, perhaps Miss Bennet, but nothing gets by Kitty."

Bells began to ring off in Thomas's head and he could not help but stiffen. His actions drew the attention of Anne who was still in his arms. She said nothing but wondered if he had figured out what she had not been allowed to say.

"Father, are you alright?" Mary asked wondering why her father had fell so silent.

"Yes, I.." Mr. Bennet loosened up and turned to Charlotte. "Talking about missing nothing. I noticed Mr. Collins has been paying close attention to you." Clearly, Thomas was not wishing to discuss what had smacked him in the face and the women pretended not to have seen his actions.

"Ugh, do not remind me." Charlotte groaned. "He proposed to me, and I turned him down."

"Why?" Mary asked surprised and did not hide that fact. "You were just saying the last week you hated being a strain on your parents and brothers."

"I did at that." Charlotte began grinning wide. "But just after that we got word my uncle got told he was dying and he left me twenty-five pounds. My father advised me to put some into low-risk investments that will give me a monthly income. The rest is for my dowry "

"What?!" Mary gasped.

"Yes, and..." Charlotte's smiled disappeared for a second. "I will not repeat what Mr. Collins said in his proposal. but I took a page out of your sister's book."

"You mean Elizabeth?"

"No, Lydia's because she is so intelligent." Charlotte rolled her eyes and Mr. Bennet roared with laughter, Miss Lucas had definitely been around the Bennet household. "Of course, I mean Elizabeth."

"What did you tell Mr. Collins?" Mr. Bennet sat down and gently pulled Anne down next to him.

"I told him while I appreciated his proposal, and I was sure he believed he was honoring me with it. I had to decline. I had no desire to marry a man who could so easily transfer his affections from one lady to another. I told him his attentions, while flattering, were sorely misplaced. I suggested he seek a wife more suite to his unique...charms. As far as for me. I had no intentions of marrying, unless he had rank and no qualms of being on the move and allowing me to go to all the social parties I wished; plain as I may be."

"Good for you!" Anne clapped.

"And here I thought you had a practical head on you, but to turn down such a fine young man as Mr. Collins gives me pause and makes me question your state of mind." Thomas pretended to be serious and more than annoyed, but the twinkle in his eye gave him away.

"If you take this man too serious." Anne rolled her eyes. "You will always be upset and in tears."

"Oh, I have not the time, someone has offered to let me go to London with her." Charlotte grinned and looked straight at Anne.

"You are taking her to London?" Thomas' eyes widened.

"Someone has to." Anne kissed Thomas on the forehead. "And I believe we have an agreement, my coachman and footman take me there to my hearts content; and I do not pressure you out of Longbourn." She then grew somber. "You need to relax, Thomas. You being here is the right thing. You made the right choice." Her hand laid itself over his.

"When we are alone, we need to talk." There was something in his eyes that was not there before. Had he figured things out? If so, what was Anne to tell him? Other than what she had vaguely said before. She could not lie to Thomas and yet...sigh, there were certain things which simply could not be repeated.

"Mary." Anne turned to Thomas's daughter. "Your father and I really do need to talk, privately, do you prefer we do it in the library or in the small drawing room?"

"Might as well go to the library." Mary nodded towards the door; therefore, it was not long before Mr. Bennet was behind his desk and Ann was sitting in a overstuff chair in front of his desk.

"Anne, Charlotte said something out there that rang off a bell to me."

"What bell?"

"That Kitty did not miss anything." Thomas leaned forward. "You have been over to Netherfield and have been up to London quite a bit. My daughter and I have talked more than some people would think and, in changing my ways, she mentioned to me Mr. Hurst was no drunk and no gambler. Please, if you and I, are to be a couple. What do you know. You are not stupid woman. Surely, you know something."

Anne gave a soft smile. "If you are asking if Mr. Hurst has faked a kidnapping to cover up running off with your daughter than I can honestly say I highly doubt it; he is not that kind of man. I would be shocked if a stunt like that were ever pulled by the one you know as James Hurst."

"How do you know that and what else do you know. I mean besides that vague hint you gave me awhile back...suggesting Kitty was safe."

"Thomas." Anne sighed. "I work with the law and that is not something I should be admitting to you; I definitely slipped in giving you that hint. However, like you said; if we are to be a couple I cannot lie to you-least not on what I can possibly open up on. If it bothers you -the law bit- then this is as far as we go."

Mr. Bennet gave a lopsided grin and leaned forward. "I am not letting you go if you are going to be honest about that." He sobered up. "Can you at least tell me if Kitty was really kidnapped?"

"Thomas." Anne shrugged her shoulders. "What I could tell you would only be educated guesses and what good would that do either one of us? I did not ask and they did not tell me. I do know there is a case going on. They tried to get Mr. Hurst involved and, at first he refused, would not budge an inch."

"What changed his mind?"

"You are an intelligent man; you figure out whose safety he was concerned about because I am risking even talking to you as I am."

"Kitty." Mr. Bennet bolted right back up onto his feet as if to leave the room but did not. "He went up to try and protect my daughter." Which, to Thomas, meant only one thing, but that he did not speak of to Anne for he was no mind reader and did not know James' position on the subject.

Mr. Bennet then sighed and hoped the two were safe and wondered how they were doing.