PP AU Non-Canon General Regency

Previously

"Interesting that my cousin never mentioned that to me."

"It just happened within the past two weeks is probably why. You probably saw Jane shortly after she was invited by Anne in way of celebration."

"That seems perfectly logical."

Lord de Bourgh Meets Anne and Jane

Ch. 11

Jane had meant to leave right after breakfast after her two-day visit only Anne and she had enjoyed each other's company so much, and were swapping stories of their families back and forth, that Jane had sent word to her parents Anne had begged her to stay another week. They were now sitting on the steps of Rosings Park giggling like two girls. It felt good to talk without any prying ears.

"I suggest we go inside." Anne rolled her eyes and stood up; she saw her mother stepped out her own door. "Unless we wish a visitor."

It was not long before the two young adults were either sitting in a chair, in Jane's case, or on a sofa in Jane's. "I am so glad you opted to stay. My father's cousin Lord Alexaner de Bourgh sent word he is swinging by to talk to me today. And..." Anne's eyes twinkled. "It appears he was driving by and saw you; Lord de Bourgh asked if you were available and, if by chance, a de Bourgh had a chance again with a Bennet."

"Again?" Jane was confused. "What does he mean by that?"

"It appears we are cousins." Anne could not help but crack up laughing. "I have not told my mother; Mama would call for smelling salts like she has never done before."

"Since when?"

"I was told, in town, that Lord de Bourgh has been going through our family history and found out we, if I remember correctly, are fourth cousins."

"Are you serious?"

"Indeed, I find it absolutely amusing," Anne grinned. "Or perhaps I should say I am most intrigued to hear my mother's reaction upon learning this. The person who told me said no one dares speak to my mother about it."

"I think we may have to consider having her funeral."

"Not hardly." Her mother's voice shocked the two younger women and they turned their head to see her mother standing in the doorway. " I have known that for years. Tell me something I did not know already." with that she, temporarily, stepped back out of the room.

Anne 's mouth dropped open only it was quickly shut as she, and Jane, heard firm, confidant steps coming their way. Jane froze but only because out of her peripheral vision the form of a man fitting the one of her odd, recurring dreams could be seen, carrying a folded piece of parchment. Slowly she turned her head just as Anne squealed with delight.

"Alexander! It has been ages; it is about time you came back for a visit."

"You remember me? It has been years; you were so little."

"I confess." Anne stood up and embraced her cousin. "Most likely I would have forgotten only Father had a portrait of you in his study." She then pulled back and invited him to sit down in a chair not far from Jane. "Your facial features have not changed nor has your length of hair."

"I see your cousin is visiting."

"You know me?" Jane's eyes rose just a little. "Have we met?"

"No, I saw you as I passed Rosings Park on my way to Pemberly, Fitzwilliam Darcy told me who you were." Just as he went to speak Lady Catherine stepped back into the room. Anne's mother's face was a mixture of pleasure of seeing Lord de Bourgh but also one of major confusion. "Please, Alexander, explain why on earth are you going around asking questions about my late husband's activities. It makes no sense to me. He was always an honest man. Worked this estate as hard as any gentleman could. I remember more than one morning he would go help a tenant as if he were born of that station instead of ever having been knighted."

"Please, Catherine sit down. Honest, I think it wise, especially as I have an old friend of yours with me. One many think to be an enemy, A gentleman you may have even convinced yourself is one -though I am doubting you really believe it."

"You did not."

"I am afraid he did." Thomas Bennet stepped into the room; shocking Anne and Jane both. " I can leave if you wish; however, I thought- for old times' sake- you might want to hear what Mr. Timmson wrote in that book of his before he does. I told him I wished for both Anne and Jane to be present also."

Lady Catherine sat down looking at Jane who was sitting as straight as the older felt her own reaction should be. Therefore, she looked at Thomas and then at Alexander knowing both men were correct; there was no true hate, or even dislike for Mr. Bennet in her heart. "What is in that book?"

"Most of it nothing which pertains to any of you only on page three hundred and fifty Mr. Timmons Senior wrote.. In the Bennet/de Bourgh solicitor meeting, provisions were discussed with Sir Lewis, papers were sealed, and the property map for Rosings Park and Longbourn boundaries was reviewed in spite of being in two different counties and miles apart. Emphasis was placed on the imperative of confidentiality, and the usage of entailment and life interest was clarified.

"Sealed papers? Rosings Parks and Longbourn boundaries?" Lady Catherine's mind was reeling to and fro worse than any ship and sea. However, she made herself stiffen up and demanded to know what, if anything else had been written down.

"Not when it comes to anything pointing to Rosings Park or Longbourn itself."

"There is something about me, is there not." Lady Catherine instinctively knew there was.

"Yes." Alexander spoke slowly not sure he should 'go there' but upon seeing Thomas nodding his head, the gentleman did. "Mr. Timmson wrote "Must not pass letters from Lady Catherine marked Lord Alexander de Bourgh onto him for Sir Lewis has already told me they will not get to him, but would be rerouted to one Thomas C. Bennet."

"What? Why on earth would they be rerouted to Mr. Bennet or how would they even get..." Lady Catherine's stopped in mid-sentence and instantly got furious at her late husband. "He could not have been serious. Really? How dare he suggest we..." She went to grab a vase to throw, anything to throw actually.

"Lady Catherine." Mr. Bennet stopped her. "I do not know why he told the lawyer such a thing. We all knew there is no way you, or I, would break our vows nor that either one were inclined to go down such a road. But I do know breaking a vase is not going to fix anything."

"It will make me feel better."

"I am not attempting to try give you another urge to toss anything against a wall and yet I do not think that was Sir Lewis' motivation." Alexander explained that he figured both the solicitor and Sir Lewis knew if Alexander knew of their dealings that the earl would start looking into their transactions. "And I think that was the reason for that entry."

"To make Mr. Bennet look bad?" Catherine was floored. "But that is my job not theirs." Her nose scrunched up without thinking about it and it caused Thomas to crack up laughing, hard. "I love you too, you irritable old goat."

"Same to you, you old crone." Thomas busted up laughing even harder.

"Are we supposed to pretend not to know them now or later?" Jane asked and was stopped by Alexander growing excited.

"That is it! " He shouted.

"That is what?" Lady Catherine and Thomas asked at once.

"You two want answers to what this book suggests do you not? And..." He looked straight at Lady Catherine. "You admitted to me in London you were feeling unsettled and that your husband had mentioned a Bradley keeping secrets."

"Yes, but clearly I had the wrong one. I was referring to an old classmate of his."

"And, Jane, I happen to have overheard you talking to Anne about your strange impressions. So, why not all of us put on an act of a lifetime? Apparently, Sir Lewis was putting one on the last few years of his life. Why not us? We could figure out what he was up to without raising suspicion."

"Just what kind of act did you have in mind?" Lady Catherine asked with her eyes narrowing towards her cousin.

"Everyone has thought this whole time you cannot stand Mr. Bennet and his family; shock everyone by letting him court you, and I will ...with Jane's permission... start courting her. Anne already has a beau who is due to come back to England soon. However, sorry, Anne, but I have not even met Lord Dawes, So, I would feel more comfortable leaving him in the dark on this one."

"Considering, he has not been courting me all that long; I agree, besides, I am unsure of him at this point." She turned to her mother. "Well?"

"If I must carry on the charade of being enamored with this simpleton to find out what Sir Lewis was doing, I suppose I must."

"Well, if it helps you get through your part, just think of it as a grand performance in the theatre of life, starring you and your beloved monkey!"

"And what about you, Miss Bennet?"

"I can do it, only..." Jane looked at him, Anne and then towards her father and Anne's mother. "I think I may need my head checked after this...those two together, act or not. Are you kidding me?"

Her comment only served to send her father, and Lady Catherine, into even more fits of laughter. Anne to shaking her head, and Alexander into thinking he may have just made one huge mistake.