![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_sharpe_endThe war had been, he was certain, simpler in its way. You knew who your enemies were, and where they'd be coming from. Peacetime was much more confusing, and it fed into a certain rejection of the society he found himself embedded in. A society that seemed to just want to move on and forget. Every time he saw some poor disabled veteran in the cities, and saw someone turn their head to not see their calls for charity - it set his blood to boiling. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel now, a gentleman, he was told - but he well remembered who he had been. Where he was from.
And now he found himself in the countryside, handling a local garrison and supposed to be making himself into a country gentleman. He would likely have been discarded too, save that Old Wellington remembered his friends and debts.
The 'estate' that he was seeking to establish was a nightmare. Learning about farming was harder than learning about making bloody siegeworks! But at least it was a chance to make some work for lads from the old regiment who'd fallen on hard times. Men who were often a bit rough 'round the edges - but you could trust them. Which was more than he could say for the local gentry and society.
Some appeared to like him. But his workers heard the other side of it - the gossip. Who liked you, who didn't, who considered you a threat to their demesne for whatever reason...it was a madness he didn't understand. Maybe this was why Old Boney had lost - when he was just a general all had fallen before him. The second he'd become political, a part of him had to dedicated to fighting the vipers, hadn't it?
And then, above all, there was the arrangement. He'd acquired, of all things, an uncle - not bad for a kid from the muck of London. Suddenly now he was the respectable Richard Sharpe, the war hero Richard Sharpe...he had family, history. And, if he couldn't prevent it, a betrothed.
His marriage to Theresa had been...a meeting of two fiery personalities in the crucible of war. He had only just come to terms with her death, and now he was supposed to warm to a woman of society? Someone he barely knew, had no measure of - and as a part of the system he couldn't help but judge her by his own views of the system...
Thus a 'casual' dinner at her parents' home - arranged by his uncle and her father. Grudgingly, he could admit he liked Mr. Bennet. And though he barely knew Elizabeth Bennet, he could at least credit that she'd turned down that blasted Collins, a man whose head seemed so full of air that you could ring it like a church bell. But he'd live outside society so long he didn't wan to marry someone who was an ordinary part of it.
That was the beginning and end of it, really. If he was going to re-marry, if he was going to have a true family life he could bring his daughter back home to - it would have to be someone exceptional.
And now he found himself in the countryside, handling a local garrison and supposed to be making himself into a country gentleman. He would likely have been discarded too, save that Old Wellington remembered his friends and debts.
The 'estate' that he was seeking to establish was a nightmare. Learning about farming was harder than learning about making bloody siegeworks! But at least it was a chance to make some work for lads from the old regiment who'd fallen on hard times. Men who were often a bit rough 'round the edges - but you could trust them. Which was more than he could say for the local gentry and society.
Some appeared to like him. But his workers heard the other side of it - the gossip. Who liked you, who didn't, who considered you a threat to their demesne for whatever reason...it was a madness he didn't understand. Maybe this was why Old Boney had lost - when he was just a general all had fallen before him. The second he'd become political, a part of him had to dedicated to fighting the vipers, hadn't it?
And then, above all, there was the arrangement. He'd acquired, of all things, an uncle - not bad for a kid from the muck of London. Suddenly now he was the respectable Richard Sharpe, the war hero Richard Sharpe...he had family, history. And, if he couldn't prevent it, a betrothed.
His marriage to Theresa had been...a meeting of two fiery personalities in the crucible of war. He had only just come to terms with her death, and now he was supposed to warm to a woman of society? Someone he barely knew, had no measure of - and as a part of the system he couldn't help but judge her by his own views of the system...
Thus a 'casual' dinner at her parents' home - arranged by his uncle and her father. Grudgingly, he could admit he liked Mr. Bennet. And though he barely knew Elizabeth Bennet, he could at least credit that she'd turned down that blasted Collins, a man whose head seemed so full of air that you could ring it like a church bell. But he'd live outside society so long he didn't wan to marry someone who was an ordinary part of it.
That was the beginning and end of it, really. If he was going to re-marry, if he was going to have a true family life he could bring his daughter back home to - it would have to be someone exceptional.
no subject
Date: 22 Jul 2025 01:55 (UTC)His proposal had been far less of the eye-opening experience than her friend's ultimate acceptance had been. She had been shocked at first of course but when she sat with Charlotte's words a while she had come to the ultimate conclusion that while she didn't fear being in genteel poverty her sisters would very much mind. She had no wish to be settled with Mr. Collins but for the sake of her sisters one of them must marry and the sooner, the better.
So she capitulated. She had barely met the man intended for her but her father seemed to like him rather well. He'd been trying to school him some on estate management over the course of the last few months and as Elizabeth entered the room Mr. Bennet's face took on a look she knew very well was likely up to some mischief or humor.
"There you are. I was just speaking to Mr. Sharpe of your impeccable management skills."
Elizabeth's expression went from curiosity to a slight smile of amusement. "Visiting the tenants isn't precisely an impeccable skill, Papa. I'd thank you not to give Mr. Sharpe unrealistic expectations."
In truth Elizabeth did have a touch more to do with the estate than simple visitations. While daughters might not typically be schooled in such affairs Mr. Bennet hadn't had a son to pass his knowledge to and Elizabeth had always been keen to learn. She was often the one who visited fields on her daily walks and spoke of improvements needed to their tenant's homes and the like.
no subject
Date: 23 Jul 2025 02:06 (UTC)But he speaks before he turns to actually regard her, and in truth he hasn't seen her at a distance of under ten feet yet - that's how absurd this all is.
"If you can get them to stop looking at me like I'm Old Boney back from the dead to steal their silverware, I'll be more than thankful," he began.
But then there she was and she was...not at all what he'd expected. He wasn't quite sure what he had expected, but she wasn't it. Something in the eyes, the way she carried herself.
He offered a hand to shake, like an idiot, before remembering what he was supposed to do, which was take and ceremonially kiss it. He straightened up, covering his embarrassment with a slight cough.
"I'm used to shouting at infantry, y'see," he added. It was a stupid remark, he felt, immediately. Made him sound like one of those officers - he'd meant having to be heard above the din of battle.
"Not that I have to do much of that these days," he added, hastily.
no subject
Date: 23 Jul 2025 04:30 (UTC)A little amused smile quirks at her lips. She can't help it really, there was simply something in his obvious embarrassment that made her both feel for him and likewise be amused by the turn of the conversation. It colors the tone of her voice, more laughing jest than anything.
"I would hope not. The closest thing we might have to an infantry for you to shout at would be the donkeys on the farm itself. They might be stubborn enough to be good substitutes."
Mr. Bennet took a mock serious tone himself. "Don't encourage any mischief until after you're married, my dear. Then you will have time enough for all the mischief you like."
Elizabeth winces internally just a touch at the talk of marriage. She had hoped to avoid any such chatter until after this visit. Mr. Sharp would soon meet her mother after all and it was just as likely he would decide against the entire arrangement after. Not many men wished a mother in law of Mrs. Bennet's caliber, particularly with the woman still angry at her least favorite daughter for not securing Mr. Collins.
Her father had begun to stand so the group could all go to the dining room. Mr. Sharpe's comment on his tenants was still on Elizabeth's mind though and now that they were to walk together to the dining room it seemed fit to give her opinion.
"As I understand it you are new to running an estate, yes? The tenants might not know what to make of you at the moment. I assure you however if you take the time to speak to them they will warm to you in time. Learn about each of them, ask them what problems they might be facing and see if you can't aid them in some way."
no subject
Date: 26 Jul 2025 22:00 (UTC)"New is an understatement," he admits, though, as they're heading in. "I'm not cut out for it, can barely make heads or tails out of the accounts book." He shakes his head. "Your advice is sound, but as their landlord, they'll automatically assume I'm like the ghouls who usually run their lives. It's going to be an uphill struggle."
And he realizes, belatedly, just how much that reveals the chip on his shoulder he's borne his entire life.
"I want it to be better for everyone," he hastily adds.
It's true, though - the people who now owe him view him as one of the knobs, and the knobs view him as being barely jumped-up dirt. Too short for Richard, too long for Dick, that's it in a nutshell. But at least his initial fear, that Elizabeth Bennet would prove to be a vapid, unintelligent member of the gentry is being rapidly dispelled.
He'd been rather concerned about that.