PP AU Non-Canon General Regency

Previously:

Lord Dawes glared at her; his arrogance was clearly not going down an inch. "I will not be lectured by you, any more than I will anyone else."

"Then you need to leave," Anne said sharply. "Leave Rosings Park and do not return. You are no longer welcome here, Lord Dawes." She then turned on her heels and left him speechless.

Visit to Meadow Hall

Ch. 14

Anne had gone and told everyone what had occurred with Lord Dawes, but that was only because when they had all gathered back in the drawing room Jane had asked where the man had gone. No one had shed a tear to see him go. However, her cousin had pulled Anne aside and told her to keep an extra careful eye on Rosings Park while he, Jane and Mrs. Gardiner went to his parent's home up north to see his sister.

"There was something odd about that baron, and not just his classist attitude. Promise me you will not go out by yourself. And I will hire extra people to watch this place."

He had which is what had allowed the earl to take Jane and her aunt up north. It was why Alexander's coach was now rolling up to a neglected two-story, gray-stone home covered in ivy, the early morning mist hanging gently over the grounds. One would have thought no one had lived in it for centuries. The faint glow of dawn cast an eerie light over the desolate scene as the Earl's boots touched the ground. The once luxurious L-shaped miniature mansion of his childhood summer home now appeared abandoned, seemingly stuck in a long-forgotten dark age.

"This place looks horrible." Mrs. Gardiner quickly apologized. "I mean no offense, but from the way you talked I thought it would be in better shape."

"It should be. I have been sending plenty of money this way for quite a few years." The Earl fought to keep his blood from boiling. What had caused this neglect? "It was to be used for the staff's wages, care for my baby sister and our childhood home. Clearly, it has not."

Firmly, loudly, and with authority, Lord de Bourgh knocked on the door with the two women behind him. It was not long before one very stunned butler was opening the door. It was obvious who he had expected was not who he was seeing.

"I was expecting the doctor," Mr. Hansen spoke as he shut the door, a mix of relief and surprise in his voice as he saw not only his master in his presence, but that he had brought two women with him; one clearly a lady of interest. "But, thank goodness, my letters and posts have finally gotten through to you! After all these years I half-feared you to be dead. I dare not tell your sister that. We have been struggling to keep this estate going. However, I kept my word to your parents and you, I did."

"What are you talking about?" Alexander was instantly alarmed. "I have been sending Mr. Crane plenty of money for years. There is no reason for your struggles."

"That is not what he has been telling the missus and me." Mr. Hansen shook his head. "I had to let all but a skeleton staff go. And your sister..." He shrugged his shoulders, the weight of the situation evident. "Poor gal has never been well. I am glad you are here. Perhaps you can go to her?"

"I will. Please, will you find Miss Bennet and her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner suitable rooms to stay in, and then - after you take me to my sister -go put my carriage somewhere where Mr. Crane will not see it. I wish to see his honest reaction when he sees me for the first time."

"Yes, Sir."

The Earl ignored Mrs. Hansen , who had entered the hallway up a flight of stairs, leaving with the women and followed Mr. Hansen who took him down a corridor once full of life and decorated with artifacts from multiple countrie and portraits of family and friends. It now was dull, with nothing to keep one company.

"What happened? Where did everything go?"

"We sold things off one by one for the care of your sister." Mr. Hansen so no need to lie as he opened the door to Blossom's room.

"Alexander?" Blossom's eyes lit up. "I told him you were not dead. I knew you would come when it finally managed to clear myself of the 'medicine' he kept slipping me. That is when I sent you the post, begged our only Scully maid left to do it without anyone knowing."

"Him?"

"Mr. Crane." Blossom gave him a run down and the lack of proper money management, and how Mr. Bradly Timmons Sr. had been a large part of it. He then asked if it were true about him asking people about Sir Lewis.

"You have heard about that, uh."

"Yes, and Mr. Crane is furious. Says you cannot be a true de Bourgh if you doing such thing."

Alexander's mind was sharp and he connected certain dots easily. Leaning over his sister, the earl smiled. "I am here, and though I cannot stay. I will make sure the doctor is paid well. Proper food will be given to you." It may be too late for his sister; however, her last days would not be ones of misery. "Now, I have business to take care of it."

Quietly Blossom's brother told the maid to make sure his sister got decent meal and he would spare no expense at replenshing the food. He then left the maid and went down the stairs just in time to hear Mr. Crane and Mr. Hansen arguing.

"We need funds for the repair of the east wing. It will be unhabitable come this winter and that is where his sister is sleeping."

"She will simply have to be moved to the west wing. The earl wishes to have the landscaping project put at the top of thel list. We have many Dukes that will be visitng this fall and this place will soon be put up for sale."

"Since when?!" Earl de Bourgh's voice was not loud, but it still echoed throughout the corridor, causing Mr. Crane's face to drain of any color as he snapped around and saw the gentleman standing halfway down the stairs behind him. "I think..." When the man was too silent for his liking, Alexander addressed his remarks to Mr. Hansen. "Mr. Hansen, if he is up to the challenge, is now estate manager. And, he can pick a new butler."

"I can do that." Mr. Hansen beamed, Mr. Crain's stuttered and was ordered to follow the earl into the main floor's library.

The library packed quite a punch in its understated charm. Despite its modest size, it felt cozy and intimate, with shelves lining the walls, cradling volumes of varying ages and colors. The soft leather sofa and two inviting chairs formed a reading nook, creating a space perfect for thinking without interruption. The desk, sturdy and well-worn, hinted at someone who once spent countless hours spent in study or correspondence with friends, or businessmen. Natural light filtered through a large window, casting a warm glow onto Persian rug. Every corner of this room whispered a story, inviting its visitor to sit down and enjoy themselves. However, Mr. Crane was far from comfortable in the cozy library under the stern gaze of Lord de Bourgh.

"You had best provide a satisfactory explanation for what you were just telling Mr. Hansen, and if it is in any way due to my recent inquiries, then that is truly lamentable." Alexander's gaze was as piercing as needles, pinning the gentleman to his chair, rendering him motionless. "I ought to see you locked away in prison. It is clear that your unease over my investigations into Sir Lewis stemmed from the fear that your own misconduct would be brought to light."

"Well, it must have, we are here in this room talking."

"No, actually, you did that all on your own," the earl crossed his arms. "However, you can either tell me or the courts how you and Sir Lewis are so closely connected. Either way, your position here is terminated."

"We are not; well, not exactly," Mr. Crain sighed. "Your cousin and I met through Mr. Timmson Sr. in London. Sir Lewis asked me to keep some bank records for him. They seemed to have suspicious financial transactions. Plus, he gave me a couple of boxes full of letters, old family journals, and such. I did not want to believe he was doing anything illegal, so I hid all of them for him. We did not communicate regularly. Your cousin..." He allowed his shoulders to slump. "I grew weary of hiding them but could not bring myself to make him take them back. And when he died, I could not bring myself to deal with Lady Catherine."

"And what about Lord Dawes, what does he have to do with this?" the earl pressed on, his tone unyielding.

Mr. Crain hesitated before replying. "Lord Dawes nothing... as to the boxes, but his father was instructed by Sir Lewis to do whatever he could to keep the Bennets off and out of Rosings Park. He manipulated records and transactions to that end. I assisted him indirectly, without knowing the full extent of his plans. Dawes was relentless, always scheming to ensure his control."

"You just said Lord Dawes' father was told to do what he could to keep the Bennets away from Rosings Park, would you put it past the old man to get his son to court Sir Thomas's daughter? And did you ever hear him say why he wanted the Bennets not to go near Rosings Park?"

"No, I would not. As to staying away from his home; he simply said there was nothing there for them; that they had no business going there anymore."

"Give me everything you have, and I will consider not bringing charges against you, even though you will have to depend on other men for references," The earl said, his voice cold and authoritative.

Mr. Crain gulped and went to retrieve the papers, covered in dust, hidden on a shelf in the gardener's shed. The poor gardener had been let go without ever having a clue they were there. Pulling the file out from between two very old books, the gentleman took it to Alexander and then made his departure.

Alexander, after ensuring Mrs. Hansen had plenty of money for food and her husband had what he needed for repairs, returned to his father's private library and sat down. Opening the thin book, which was more of a ledger than anything else, the earl saw it was indeed a record of suspicious financial transactions. It appeared to be money intended to keep documents or information concealed. To the earl, it screamed evidence hinting at a cover-up. And what he saw shocked him. He was going to have to talk to Thomas Bennet and Lady Catherine when he got back to Rosings Park. However, for now; he was going to have to do two things. One, show three women around Meadows Hall and two, send a post up to Lord Bryce.