PP AU NON-CANON GENERAL REGENCY

An Unexpected Win

Previously:

A group of young girls walked by and Mr. Bennet fell quiet not wishing for them to overhear him. It was only when they had passed did he speak again.

"In spite of only being in my late forties. I simply am getting too old for games." Thomas shook his head. "Yes, I said games, Larissa. If I did not feel a pull to go so strongly, I would write to Paul and demand answers to whatever game he is playing and tell him I was not budging until he spit answers out."

Dilemma and Resolve

Ch. 6

Lady Catherine's maid opened the grand doors to her drawing room, allowing Mr. Collins to walk into the space which radiated an air of 'timeless' elegance, so the mistress of Rosings Park claimed. Heavy draperies in a deep burgundy hue had been hung from the ceiling to the floor. She insisted it created a striking contrast against the intricately molded walls.

"The atmosphere must be warm and inviting to my guests." Lady Catherine stood in the middle of the room as it was being decorated. "This drawing room must be lit up by a soft glow of a magnificent chandelier which will hang in its center."

The crystals, as if not daring to disobey lady Catherine's orders, cast shimmering waves with every flicker of light onto the walls as well as the furniture and the flooring. Every corner of the room was skillfully arranged. Expensive furnishings were placed with care, each piece a masterpiece bought from foreign shores, upholstered in plush velvet and some other expensive fabric. A finely carved marble fireplace, its mantle decorated with delicate porcelain figurines and golden-framed mirrors, served as the focal point of the room.

"Lady Catherine." A maid entered the room. "Mr. Collins has come calling as you asked."

"Show him in."

Mr. Collins walked, more like scurried in. He glanced around at the walls that were adorned with exquisite paintings and tapestries. The parson had insisted each told its own unique story, but his patron had not seemed to care. Nor had Lady Catherine bothered to listen to him play at the piano which waited silently in one of the corners, ready to fill the air with melodious- if someone would simply take the time to play it.

"I hear you are traveling to Cornwall. Why go so far when you have no position offered?"

"I have an... acquaintance who I helped in the past and now is in need of advice, personal. Promised if he ever needed me, I would come. A letter came, and I must fulfill my promise."

"Surely, it can wait." Lady Catherine huffed. "You have obligations here at Rosings Park. If you are to go, you must tell me what is going on."

"I have promised not to disclose what he has written, Lady Catherine." Mr. Collins spoke in horror. "It is his own private matter." The parson was not about to admit what was in the letter he had received from a Mr. Kinglsey; it was far too mortifying for a parson to admit to. Most of the gentleman's letter still rang in his mind loud and clear.

Mr. Collins,

I shall refrain from delving into the matter concerning my family, for since then I became aware that another party has implicated your name and you are not wholly to blame. Thus, I believed you to be a man who, generally speaking, abstains from gambling, drinking, or any other vices that have wrought havoc upon the lives of many men. I trusted that you were the sort of gentleman who would remain uninvolved in the affairs of others.

However, my perception altered the night you visited the King's Hotel before your departure from town. I am at a loss to understand why you sought to join our game of chance, though I endeavored to persuade you to wait for a new game to commence. Nevertheless, you joined, and while I emerged victorious, the rest of you were not so fortunate. The others settled their debts with me that night, but you did not. You assured me that you would pay within the year.

I have waited with patience, yet to no avail. For the sum I won, I could readily take you to court, and I need not elaborate on what I could persuade them to award me. However, not that I hold any regard for Lady Catherine's opinion, but for the sake of the modest reputation you may hold among your congregation, I shall extend to you an opportunity for redemption.

Come to Cornwall on the appointed date, and we shall engage in another game; a friend of mine will, at the very least, bear witness to our—shall we say—transaction. He is not a gambler, and despite what some may claim, he has never participated in a card game involving money. The terms shall be disclosed upon your arrival. If you do not show a prison shall be your new home." There had been more, and it was enough to seal William Collins' mouth to anyone.

"In that case, I suppose you must go. Only do wrap it up as quickly as possible. Your congregation must not be deprived of their parson for long."

"Yes, Lady Catherine, I most appreciate your good graces in allowing me to go."

William hurried out the door and wasted no time in getting into his coach. Anne, who had watched him leave, felt there was more than what he was saying and, if she had been privy to his thoughts; the sweet lady would have known she was correct. However, since there was no need for her to press the subject, she ignored the drawing room and headed into the kitchen. It was a habit her mother did not approve of but, since Anne's health had improved, there was not much her mother could do to stop her.

The kitchen was full of activity. The savory aroma of roasting meats and freshly baked bread mingled in the air. Brand new pots and pans gleamed from their hooks, and a wooden table in the center was full of ingredients in various stages of preparation. Anne's head cook was at the stove busy with the main dish of mutton and mint jelly, which her mother was fond of. It might not have been cooked, as Lady Catherine's daughter cared little for the meal; however, since her mother only ate at the main house twice a week, she saw no harm in it. Turning to the assistant cook, Anne asked what the dessert would be.

"Yorkshire pudding, Miss Anne, just as requested."

"By requested I am thinking you mean my mother?"

"Yes, Miss Anne, she said the sweet pastries had been decided against. Did I misunderstand her?"

"No, she chose to...misunderstand me. You may go ahead and finish the pudding. However, if it would not be too much trouble, please, make at least a small amount of sweet pastries?"

"I would be more than happy to, Miss Anne."

"Thank you. Has anyone seen Mr. Jordan?"

"No, ma'am." The maids bit back a silly grin, knowing Anne's upcoming vows were making her mother fume, and they could hear Lady Catherine coming down the hall. "I am sure the stablemaster is out taking care of the horses, but he is due to come in and help the steward soon. I am sure if you need him, you can talk to him then."

"Thank you. Please inform him that Miss Anne was seeking him when you see him."

"Certainly, Miss Anne."

"What need have you with the stable master at this hour?" inquired Lady Catherine as her daughter turned around. "Surely, whatever it is can wait."

"He is in charge of my horses, Mother. And, let us face reality: we are to be married. I may speak with him whenever I wish. Moreover, with all due respect, last I checked, I am thirty years old and am not obliged to account for every single one of my actions to you." Anne added as she walked away, "If you do not care for it, move to London; no one bars your way."

Anne left Lady Catherine with her jaw nearly on the floor. While part of her cared how her words affected her mother, she was weary. Weary of arguing with that relation, close though they were, and fatigued from attempting to convey to Lady Catherine that Mr. Jordan was as industrious and caring as her own father had ever been. And as to him being interested in Anne solely for her wealth and estates?

"Whether or not you like it, Mother, I approached him, not the reverse."

"How could you, Anne? Have you no shame? He is of the working class! Your father was a knight, your grandfather an earl. Our family has resided in this area for generations; we have obligations to uphold."

"The only obligation I have is to keep our name untarnished, and..." Anne set her jaw firmly. "Patrick Jordan is an honest, hardworking, kind-hearted gentleman who has extended a hand to more than one man during hard times. There is no shame in marrying him. And we shall be wed by the month's end, in a private ceremony. Patrick agreed to marry someone he could respect; we are both weary of solitude."

There had indeed been much more to it. However, 'that' was not a subject Anne wished to debate with her mother. Essentially, it boiled down to Anne having witnessed a respect in Mr. Jordan's eyes that few men had ever shown her. Thus, rather than entertain all the titled men who had come her way, she had approached the stable master.

"You informed our butler that you would only consider remarrying if the proposal came from someone you could respect. You expressed your weariness of residing in a one-bedroom cottage and mentioned that any suitor should possess at least a three-bedroom home. You stated that passionate love was of no concern, as you had already experienced it. Thus, I present my offer. Marry me, and I shall have no objection to your obtaining Rosings Park. I have observed your prudent management of finances, your adept handling of people, and your exemplary work ethic."

"And what of you? What do you seek to gain from this arrangement?"

"A gentleman who understands how to treat a lady, one who comprehends the meaning of fidelity, and who, when no other obligations demand his attention, is not so insecure as to feel the need to keep his wife under his thumb. Furthermore, should my health issues return, a man who will adhere to his vows and ensure my well-being, without exploiting the wealth acquired through our union. I trust you are that gentleman?"

"Aye, Miss Anne, I am."