PP AU NON-CANON GENERAL REGENCY

Guest... calling Jane's husband stupid is jumping the gun at this point as he has not even been brought into the story at this point. You are making an assumption; it might be wise to remember how to spell the word assume and why it is wise not to do it. As to Jane being stupid... giving someone a chance to prove their good points does NOT make one stupid. If you think it does, we will simply have to agree to disagree.

Ashes to Honor

Previously:

"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.

Conversations in the Ballroom

Ch. 16

An empty dance, no sound, and plenty of light surrounded Larissa as she sat on a platform reliving the night before. Music had filled the room, people had laughed, eaten, and danced even when she and Mr. Montgomery had entered the room, or most of them had. There had been a small corner that had whispered among themselves.

Any words had not been heard, but Larissa could not miss their looks. And she could easily fill in the type of talk that had to have been going on. 'How can a gentleman like him dance with a woman like her?' 'I heard the widow came from Meryton and was the means by which her husband was killed.' Her thoughts would have continued only light footsteps were heard coming her way. Turning her head, Larissa saw Patience coming her way carrying some canvas and charcoal.

"Mrs. Bennet, I was hoping you could show me how to draw," Patience spoke timidly. "My father and aunt do not vocally say it, but I know my vases do not look so... great, nor do my flowers."

"Let us go sit at the table near the window. I will see what I can do to help."

Larissa and Patience sat at a table near one of the tall, narrow windows.

"First, remember vases have a delicate shape, not broad like a milk can. So, try starting with the narrow oval at the top. Then do not go so dark..." Larissa explained how Patience's lines needed to be tapered slightly inward and down. "Think of it like... a wine glass."

Patience listened intently. She took Mrs. Bennet's instructions to heart and carefully drew as instructed.

"Now, that we are at the bottom, flare the lines slightly out. Yes, they should be wider than the middle." Larissa drew her own. "But, as you can see by what I have drawn, not as wide as any milk can."

"What about the flowers?" Patience asked once her vase was done.

"Start with the stems. Extend them out from the top of the vase." Mrs. Bennet again not only gave instructions but drew as well. "Keep your lines light and flowing. Your flowers will have a more natural appearance."

The two artists were so engrossed in the lesson they failed to see Patience's father enter through the ballroom's main door and stand at the top of the stairs, his sister following after him. Neither one spoke as they watched a normally very active young girl sit engrossed in an art lesson. Finally, Charlene whispered low.

"Patience has never sat still like that for her governess for any of her art lessons."

"You feel the need to tell me this, why?" Fredrick replied and then asked his own question. "Does she not ever ask to go to town?"

"No," Charlene sighed. "I wish she would. I confess, if that Mr. Collins fellow was around I think I would want to have a not so nice conversation with him." She then asked her own question. "Have you had any luck finding out if you are indeed a Bennet or Collins? I mean, other than the connections the Montgomerys have with the Bennets."

"Yes and no."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I found out where William's father was living as a young man and went to a local parish where his family had connections. They had historical archives. There was an elderly parish clerk on the grounds when I arrived. I told them I may have connections to the family but that I was not sure. And that I was looking for proof."

"He let you look?"

"Yes, through ledgers, documents and such. I happened to catch sight of an old family Bible. It was covered in dust, tucked away on a shelf. Typical names, dates and such. Most of it seemed pretty straightforward."

"But?

"One page listed William's parents' marriage clearly, no question, his mother's date just as plain." He set his jaw hard. "Your friend very well may be right about that Collins... male... being my father."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because there was another entry above it, a scribbled note as it were in a margin, but part of it had been erased. I could only read the name of Sophia and a date two years before the marriage date of William's mother to his father. The thing is, it is unclear whether or not they were living in northern England or Scotland at the time of the marriage."

"So, there is a high chance Mr. Collins did indeed have a first marriage."

"The note was unclear and incomplete. But, yes, it did indeed suggest Mr. John Collins might have been married twice, with the first marriage ending before the second began. However, there was no official record of his first wife's death or any other confirming details. I could find no solid proof. It is as if someone took it and either hid it or destroyed it."

"You have an interest in Larissa?"

Fredrick stated plainly that if he was... it was between the lady and himself, not his sister. "And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Anthony is not taking the chance we have given him. I am heading down to Derbyshire to clean up his mess."

"Are you dragging the law into it?"

"He did that himself and is already sitting in prison; I had nothing to do with it, and no, you are not to attempt to get him out. If you try it will do you no good; his sisters' husbands have already been informed to stay out of it."

Charlene, as a mother, was sick to her stomach. She, as a human being, understood. Therefore, she resolved not to make a single move that would aid her son in getting out from behind any bars.

Fredrick let go of the railing and went down the steps toward Larissa Bennet and his daughter. It was not that he was being cold-hearted leaving his sister on the landing near the door; it was simply the gentleman could do nothing about Anthony's choices. And he refused to own someone else's choices. And, besides, right now, there were other matters to attend to before heading south, one of which required a talk with the woman sitting at the table with Patience.

Larissa was not deaf, nor was she blind; therefore, while she may not have heard the door opening up at first, the lady did not miss Fredrick's footsteps heading their way, nor did she miss the look in his eye which shouted Mr. Montgomery wished to speak to her.

"Is something wrong?" Mrs. Bennet asked once he stopped by the table.

"Nothing that cannot be taken care of." Fredrick glanced down at his daughter's drawing and his eyes widened. "Clearly, my daughter is blossoming under your tutelage." The gentleman then focused back on what he had come for, but not before dismissing Patience from the ballroom. It was only when the young lady had left, did he ask the widow to please take a walk with him.

It was only when they were in the gardens did Fredrick speak again. "My nephew, who was living on one of our estates in Derbyshire, is now sitting in a London prison." Before Mrs. Bennet could respond, the gentleman continued on. "No, I have no intention of bailing him out. He is twenty-four and is old enough to know what he was doing. However, I have a list of his debts. I am going to pay them because, ethically speaking, I do not want my sister's name ruined. Nonetheless, I have talked to the authorities and, while some of them think I am being harsh, they have agreed he will stay there and do the complete time as if the debts had not been paid."

"What do you want from me?" Larissa knew the look and did not hide that fact. "I see in it in your eye."

Fredrick took a deep breath and then let it go as he began speaking, "Many women have entered this home claiming to care about my daughter. Insisting they understand children, but within a very short time insist I need to commit Patience."

"Commit her? What for? There is nothing wrong with your daughter's mind."

Fredrick grinned wide at Larissa's honest shock and statement. "They claim she is insane, should not be running loose." He bit back a laugh as the widow scowled and let out something akin to 'Oh, Fiddlesticks.' "You have shown her not only kindness, but skills she desperately needs. I have seen you, when it is appropriate, be willing to show her dances that no one else has wanted to take time to teach her. Furthermore, given my potential Bennet and, unfortunately, Collins lineage which would give me rights to Longbourn, I need someone by my side in whom I can trust."

Larissa felt as if her lungs were growing smaller in size. She might not be book smart like her late husband, but the widow was not stupid. It did not take a genius to see where this was going.

"Patience is always talking about you, Charlene confessed to me her -unwarranted- test in acknowledging my title to you in a letter and yet you have not fawned all over me as most women do when meeting me, nor have you talked up a storm about my title. I have come to admire you for your own merits. I am not simply wishing to make a proposal of marriage to you for the sake of my daughter or a practical arrangement. I genuinely believe we can support and strengthen each other; for you have already been backing me up when Patience attempts to go running to you over a decision I have made, one which she does not like."

"I learned the hard way on that one. I saw the result of what happens when people do not back a parent up." Larissa sighed then grinned wide. "It helped I did not feel like having my host blow his stack."

Fredrick smiled back. "Would you still have my back as my wife?"

Larissa clasped her hands and turned her head to look at some of the flowers. "Do you realize what you are asking? I mean really?"

"You mean..." Fredrick stopped their walk and had her face back towards him. "Am I truly aware of all the talk surrounding Longbourn and the fire?"

"Yes." Larissa could not stop tears from sliding down her cheeks though she tried; and the lady found herself taking a deep breath and then slowly letting it out.

"My sweet, Mrs. Bennet..." Fredrick gently gathered her close and allowed her to cry in a manner she had not done in a very long time. "Charlene told me about the fire and, yes, thanks to a few men who know Mr. Collins, I know what those types of men are saying. I, for one, believe none of the negative rumors. I have seen enough of your actions up here to know you are innocent." Taking a step back he lifted her chin. "Will you consider my offer? Even if it turns out that... male... sired me?" When she started to giggle, he asked, "What is so funny?"

"I am sorry, but the idea of you being related to Mr. Collins is hilarious. You are ten times the man he could ever hope to be. Besides, the thought of Longbourn being yanked from under William's feet because of this is quite amusing."

"I suggest we not put the horse before the cart." Fredrick kept his arms around her waist. "What I found only suggests a first marriage and it certainly gave no hint of any child being born of any such union. Now, is your answer yes?"

"Of course, but..." Again, she sighed. "I know not how to break it to my family. Mary and Kitty talk to me with no problem, Jane sort of and Elizabeth? Dead silence on her part. And do not even consider George or Lydia; they would only be interested in your money. I fear my youngest's actions are my paybacks for my unwise choices of yesteryears." She then looked up at him and felt herself shy for the first time years. "Name's Larissa."

"We all have those as to actions of our youth we regret, Larissa. Some more so than others." Fredrick took her by the hand. "With your permission, since I have to deal with the aftermath of Anthony's own choices, I would be willing to deal with breaking the news to your family... at least to the Darcys."

"You would not mind?" Larissa admitted she was playing coward on that one. "I must confess I should, but I fear they will think I am simply marrying you for your title and the fact you spent time in the military. And, in my younger days, they would have been correct."

"I would not mind." Fredrick smiled and led her back into his sister's home; they would tell his family the news first and then they would deal with Larissa's family next.