PP AU NON-CANON GENERAL REGENCY
Ashes to Honor
Previously:
However, her guard would remain firmly up about Anthony. The lessons learned from Wickham had taught her not to buy into charming facades. She would not be easily swayed this time, but she resolved to observe him closely, determined to protect her family. As sleep finally claimed her, Elizabeth resolved to keep an open heart and mind about her mother while remaining vigilant about Anthony Dunkin.
Family Ties and Hidden Truths
Ch. 15
It was only when Patience was gone from the room did Fredrick explain Cecil was the most proper sibling he had. "She does everything by the book. Expects Patience to live according to the rules of a marquess' daughter even though my sister knows full well I avoid social gatherings whenever possible."
"May I be so bold to ask what is wrong?" Larissa knew the sound of a soft, frustrated sigh when it was given. And then, due to a look that appeared in the gentleman's eye, Widow Bennet hurried to apologize. "I am sorry, that question was out of line, please forgive me."
"No need to ask for forgiveness, I did not mean to convey a feeling of annoyance towards your question." Fredrick let out a clear, visible sigh. "I was just shocked you could hear my tone so well—everyone else seems to miss it."
"My late husband had a similar tone."
"I see." Fredrick paused, thought about the rumblings he had heard on his trip down to London, and looked at the Widow Bennet. "I did not ask my sister but, by chance, is your late husband's name Thomas C. Bennet?"
"Yes, why?" Instantly Larissa's defenses went up and she stiffened without even knowing she had done it.
"You can relax, I am not here to charge you with anything," Fredrick said. "I need to know, did he, or do you know a parson by the name of William Collins?"
"Only if my hand is on a Bible," his sister's friend spoke dryly. "Then I would claim him as my late husband's cousin. Past that I would have to seriously consider denying any knowledge of him. Why?"
"Please bear with me. Answer my questions and I will answer yours; I promise." Fredrick asked her what kind of man this Mr. Collins was.
"I would trust him as far as I could toss him. I know it is important to feel good about oneself; however, Mr. Collins carries it too far. He is very condescending to those around him, very much a controlling man: I feel horrible for his wife. The few times I was visiting Mrs. Collins, he appeared very secretive. If he thinks you have something he wants, or has something that the parson does not wish to hand over then, Mr. Collins will do what he can to smear your good name; those are his good qualities."
"You have pretty much stated what I have already surmised." Fredrick looked straight at the widow and bluntly said, "Would it surprise you to hear I learned, from personal experience, in London that it has been the parson who started smearing your name in the first place?"
"But why? He has Longbourn. It is not like I have any sons who could take it from him."
"I am not sure, but apparently he is tossing mud towards anyone with the name of Bennet."
"You said personal experience. Did he try smearing my name to you?"
Fredrick looked from the Widow Bennet to Charlene. His eyes widened in surprise. The marquess was certain his sister's friend was not in the dark on Thomas's connections to the Montgomerys; clearly she was.
"Did you not ever tell your friend of the family relations?"
"No. Father and grandmother were not getting along and Larissa was already catching the eye of Thomas. So, I dared not speak." When asked about now, Charlene sighed. "I wanted her to come here and feel at ease, I did not feel as if I had invited her out of pity over what people were saying." Lady Dunkin turned to Larissa, who was looking extremely confused. "I am sorry Larissa, I should have told you a lot sooner, but Thomas's grandmother, Margaret, and our grandmother, Henrietta, were sisters. I thought for sure Thomas would have said something long before now."
"His parents were not on speaking terms with their relations. And early on I learned not to ask questions. So, we are cousins?"
"Yes. Well, we are, Fredrick is not."
"How can that be? He is your brother."
"Yes and no." Fredrick sighed. "They took me in when they found me as an infant wandering my parent's property. Yes, they started taking me up to the main house only..." The marquess let his shoulders drop as his mind turned to the day he recalled sitting at the dining room table. "My parents smelled death before they even got within a hundred yards of the front entrance. A servant came to the door waving them away, even when they saw me."
"Take the boy! Get him out of here! He is not one of us anyway!"
"The Montgomery couple took me in and gave me their name." Fredrick went to speak only to see the widow appearing to take a second look at him, in a way she had not before. "Do you mind telling me why you are studying me like that?"
"I was not going to say anything; I saw it in you the first time I saw you, but thought myself to be, well, a bit mad if I am to be honest. Figured I must be more stressed out than I thought. However, with what you have just said, perhaps I am not so crazy after all."
"Please explain yourself."
"I will... it was not just me Mr. Collins was attacking in London; not directly; it was you."
"Are you saying I am a Bennet?" Fredrick uncrossed his legs and leaned forward in shock.
"That or your mother was. It is in your walk, the way you hold yourself, and even in your humor. I heard you conversing with your servants and daughter. And, while there was no mocking of them, your satirical usage of words matches all of the Bennet men I know."
"What else do you see?" Fredrick leaned forward. "And do not tell me there is nothing; I can see it in your eyes."
"You will not be flattered, I fear; and I could very well be wrong."
"I never cared for flattery, so I am not concerned about that. I only care about having the truth on my side. So, now, tell me... what else do you see?"
"I see Mr. Collins's father in your eyes."
"Well, that is a first." Fredrick leaned back. "I sure hope that is the only way I resemble that bastard."
"Fredrick!" Charlene gasped; she had not ever heard her brother use such language towards another human being.
"I apologize, sister, and to you too, Widow Bennet. You very well may be correct; I have no way of knowing at this point. However, I met Mr. Collins's father once... and he was exactly what I just said. If he is indeed the one who sired me, then he did me a huge favor by having someone else raise me. For no man who leaves his son to be raised by someone else, when they know full well where he is at, has the means to raise him, and yet breathes no word of having sired the child does not deserve to be called father."
"Perhaps it was his wife who is at fault? While I had not realized Mr. Collins Senior. had a possibility of a first marriage, I had a hunch that the parson's mother was... an original piece, if you catch my drift."
"Oh, I catch it alright." Fredrick decided right then and there that he was going to have to start digging to find out if indeed that was the parson's motive for bashing the Bennet name to him in London. "For now." He stood up and held out his arm. "Do you think it would be outrageously forward of me to request a dance from you tonight at our sister's insanely over-the-top party? It might just silence the gossip for a little while—or give their restless tongues something far more interesting to chatter about. What do you say?"
"I think I would like that dance." Larissa appreciated the gentleman's offer and went willingly down to the party, followed by Charlene, who was grinning wide; she was hoping for more than what her brother was offering at the moment; nonetheless, the lady was wise enough to keep her mouth shut.