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

PP AU Non-Fiction General Regency

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."

Alexander visits 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 parents' 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 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 ever since my parents passed away after I left home." 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. Crain plenty of money for years. There is no reason for your struggles. And what do you mean doctor?"

"Your sister is not well. As to the money, 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 not been well in quite some time. 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. Crain 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 countries 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 saw no need to lie as he opened the door to Blossom's room. "Blossom said she was writing to you; I had no reason to doubt her."

"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. Crain. He said he would mail my letters. Lately though, I began to doubt him, so I begged the maid to take my last one."

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 a decent meal, and he would spare no expense at replenishing the food. He then left the maid and went down the stairs just in time to hear Mr. Crain and Mr. Hansen arguing.

"We need funds for the repair of the east wing. It will be uninhabitable 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 the list. We have many Dukes that will be visiting 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. Crain'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 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 in study or correspondence with friends or businessmen. Natural light filtered through a large window, casting a warm glow onto a Persian rug. Every corner of this room whispered a story, inviting its visitor to sit down and enjoy themselves. However, Mr. Crain was far from comfortable in the cozy library under the stern gaze of Lord de Bourgh.

"First, it is not hard to figure out you have been sending me forged letters all these years. Urging me to 'stand by my duties', that "I am just fine' and so forth. Those letters were not from Blossom. Also, I am not convinced you could provide a satisfactory explanation for what you were just telling Mr. Hansen, but 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. "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, I guarantee you will have a day in court, a hanging day if my sister dies- either way, your position here is terminated." He then leaned forward. "If you have any hope through the courts, tell me how you are connected the late Sir Lewis."

"We were 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, his tone unyielding. "I cannot believe he had nothing to do with any of this."

Mr. Crain hesitated before replying. "Lord Dawes nothing as far as I know, 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. I would not be surprised if he knew more than that. "

"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?"

"No, I would not. Probably is pulling his son's strings on a lot of things in regard to that place."

"Give me everything you have, and do not try to get away; there are lawmen outside and inside; they will be watching your every move. However, I have talked to them. You will hand me over your home for all the money you owe me and get no references from me. If you attempt to not follow through on the house; they will come and haul you off to prison before your day in court." 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 with the lawmen.

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.