PP AU Non-Canon General Regency

Ties That Bind

Previously:

Unfortunately, that all meant their Christmas as going to be slim pickings for Brianna refused to put the estate at risk over one holiday. It would have been great to talk about the real idea Hans and wanted to discuss. And their 'disagreement' at the dining room table, and his concession, had all been put on for the benefit for his gossipy wife's sake. If she had known what her husband's real idea had been; that lady would have been extremely upset.

Netherfield Visit

Ch. 5

Once again, decorations were strewn around for the holidays. This time, however, they were in the drawing room of Netherfield. Mr. Hurst, who had not drunk in quite some time, was sitting in the corner laughing with Alexander. Louisa felt as if her side, along with the men, was going to split in two.

"I cannot believe you put salt in Caroline's ice-cream and horse hairs in her bed."

"She deserved it." Jane grinned unapologetically. "Complain about Mrs. Andrews' cooking and her daughter's ability to do their job. So, I—with their knowledge—tampered with Caroline's stay."

"I should thank you." James grinned wide. "Little sister was getting rather quite annoying."

The four might have continued talking about quiet Jane's pranks only Mr. Bennet, Fitzwilliam, and Elizabeth were shown into the room. All three had their coats taken from them, and the trio sat down either in overstuffed chairs or on a nearby sofa.

"Are you ready for your big day?" Jane quit laughing over her stunts in regard to Caroline and looked at Elizabeth. "Soon you will be a married lady."

"Not hardly, we still have plenty of work to do." Elizabeth's face still beamed though.

"What about you, Fitzwilliam? Ready to wear the ball and chain?" James winked and laughed as Louisa, playfully, tossed a soft bun at him.

"I think I can manage." Fitzwilliam apologized to James for his somber mood the other day at his own private party. "I really am doing my best not to be a sour lemon at all the events."

"You still thinking about Georgianna?" James asked, sensing Fitzwilliam needed to talk.

Fitzwilliam stood and walked over to one of the tall windows, looking out over the snow-covered gardens. The white blanket covered the sleeping flower beds and frosted the bare branches of the trees, creating a serene winter landscape.

"Yes, I wonder if she would have been a typical child, or not."

"I suppose you have thought of particular traits she might possess?"

"Of course. I wonder is she is sensitive. Would other children be drawn to her." Fitzwilliam turned to Mr. Bennet, who seemed unusually quiet, even for him. "Is something wrong, Mr. Bennet?" he asked when Elizabeth's father stood up, put on his coat, and headed outdoors with his own somber mood beginning to show. "Have I put a damper on things?"

"No, I am sorry, it is not you, Fitzwilliam. It is me." Mr. Bennet then made his exit without further explanation; Elizabeth figured it must be those annoying dreams, said as much, and the group left the poor man to himself.

Thomas's footsteps took him down a stone path, crunching the snow underfoot, to a deserted fountain at the back of Netherfield's garden. The fountain, now frozen, glistened in the pale winter sun. Looking into the empty stone basin, the gentleman's thoughts turned to Lydia. She had, in spite of all her poor choices, been on his mind just as much as the strange lady haunting his dreams. Her younger days had sounded a little like Georgiana in the sense of others being attracted to her.

"I failed you, Lydia. I should have reined in your mother's excessive behaviors. I should have set my foot down on your own stubborn, foolish behaviors sooner. I was wrong to have mocked you and your sisters. I am most positive your mother would not have foolishly gotten away with marrying you off to Ensign Wickham if I had not been so stupid in my own decisions." He looked upward. "My changes may help me personally, may help in some way my married daughters; at least they tell me they have, but what has happened to Lydia? We used to get letters from her and then they stopped. Have not heard a word for a litle over two years."

"Father?" Mary, who had just come, but entered through the back entrance, walked up to her father. "There is nothing you can do about the past."

"I did not realize I was speaking out loud."

"Well, you were." Mary put her arms around his waist. "It is not your fault if Lydia quit writing. That is her choice."

"Something is not right, Mary." Thomas spoke low, deciding, in spite of what people thought about him and his relationship with Elizabeth; this was one daughter who had, in the past few years, changed in ways that had amazed him the most. Therefore, he confessed more to her about the dream than he had up to this time. "I have started seeing the eyes of the infant child."

"And?"

"They are the same as Lydia's. And yet I cannot get to the child; I am always stopped by the woman either holding a sword or a battle-axe. Lydia is nowhere around. And no matter where I look, the Ensign is not either." Thomas spoke again. "As good as Elizabeth is, as close as we are, most people would be shocked to know I do not confide to her the details of my dreams. They would criticize me for it too."

"Why should you?" Mary loved her sister; the lady had an enormous amount of good qualities; however, strongly believing in dreams was not necessarily one of them. "She has not exactly been the most supportive of your telling of them. Though, we must give her credit for at least considering them."

"Sometimes I think I must be going mad." Thomas sat down on the edge of the frozen fountain and sighed. "Nicolas said he would keep his eyes open when he leaves on his travels as to any lady fitting the description. And I think Alexander will too as he has business he will be attending to soon." Thomas did not mention why the dreams bothered him so bad. His daughter, as did all of them, know of the doctor's diagnosis- and they had all agreed not to talk about it for there was little-if anything- that could be done about it. So, rather than to dwell on what the doctor had said, Thomas was doing the best he could; it was another reason he had not fought against having Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth getting an Estate manager.

"What about the infant?"

"I have not had time to tell him about what I have started seeing, nor am I convinced I should. It has only happened once. What are the odds he would find them? Besides, every time I see the infant, the older girl is in tears, begging me not to cause trouble for her sister or mother. And then pleads for me to forgive her sister for not being a man. I know how I treated my family before was wrong; I have no desire to repeat my past. So, why would my dreams have a girl say such things to me?"

"I have no idea. Perhaps it is not just Fitzwilliam who needs to come inside and relax." Mary took hold of her father's hand. "Whether or not those dreams mean anything, time will tell. For now, I suggest we go indoors. It is cold out here even if you are dressed properly for the weather."

*It comes out down the road what the doctor's diagnosis was, just have to be extremely patient. however, I sense no death.