AN: I must confess I left poor Miss York sitting in the Bennet drawing room mending clothes while I followed a white plot rabbit down a very strange hole. I found this story dancing at the bottom and lured it back with me for your reading pleasure.
Just remember, any resemblance to historical fact or values is entirely in your imagination. This is fiction. This is fantasy. I ought to have changed the names to protect the innocent. Too late now.
Welcome to what happens when Darcy's world collides with the curse from Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma ½. I hope you enjoy it. I can now return to Miss York.
Stopping at Hatchard's to buy books had so far been the highlight of Elizabeth Bennet's current visit to London. She enjoyed losing herself in a good book and saved the majority of her allowance, "pin money" as her mother called it, for occasions such as this. After paying for her purchases she had sent the footman with them to retrieve the carriage. She planned to wait just outside the door for its arrival.
As she reached the doors a very handsome man in expensively elegant clothing came up beside her. He held the door as she passed through, nodded in acknowledgment of her thanks and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
Elizabeth was sorry there had been no opportunity of an introduction. He was very attractive indeed. She sighed as she realized, if he clothing was anything to go by, he was probably far too wealthy to take interest in the daughter of a country squire of middling means, particularly one with relatives in trade.
She watched him walk away. He appeared to be attempting to stay close to the building, but a man carrying a large and awkward bundle ran into him, propelling him off the sidewalk into the street. At that moment, a carriage passed next to him at a good clip,, running through a deep puddle left from the previous day's rain and drenching the man from head to toe.
Elizabeth stood horrified as she saw his figure seem to shrink and crumple in upon itself. His beaver fell down over his head even as long dark curls sprouted from beneath it. Not sure what was happening, she still stepped forward to see if he needed help getting out of the street. She was amazed no one else seemed to have noticed, but it was still early and there were not many people about.
"Damn!" said a distinctly feminine voice. "I knew I should not have come out today."
"Excuse me, but are you well?" asked Elizabeth in concern as she reached the edge of the sidewalk. The figure raised the hat slightly and Elizabeth gasped as she realized the face under the brim was that of a woman! The muddy, sodden clothes now hung rather loosely off a petite frame with a completely different set of curves than those Elizabeth had admired earlier.
"Sir, I mean, Miss, do you require assistance?" Elizabeth asked, while wondering if perhaps she was the one who needed help. Had she gone mad?
The woman stepped towards her, holding up the loose breeches and clearly having trouble managing the now too-large Hessians, which had completely lost their glossy shine. "Actually, I think I do," she said in consternation. "There is no way I can return home like this. I can barely walk in these clothes."
"My carriage is just pulling up," Elizabeth said. "I can take you somewhere if that would help. I would like to know what just happened to you. I have never seen the like."
"Nor have I," the other said ruefully. "Do you perchance have access to someplace I can have a moment of privacy along with a pitcher of hot water?"
"Yes, at my aunt's house."
"Please take me there then," she said fervently. "I would prefer to be seen by as few people as possible while I am like this."
"You can change back?"
"Yes, with the hot water, but the clothing can be rather uncomfortable as I shift back."
Elizabeth nodded. The carriage had just pulled up and the footman opened the door. He started to protest as Elizabeth helped her new acquaintance move towards it.
"John, please step aside," Elizabeth said. "My friend is returning to the house with me."
"Yes, miss," he said dubiously.
Elizabeth unfolded a rug that lay on the seat and placed it so the other woman could sit upon it and wrap it about herself, both to warm up and to protect the seat. The boots were clearly causing her a great deal of difficulty.
"Would you be more comfortable if I help you remove your boots?"
The woman looked scandalized for a moment, then seemed to remember the situation. "Yes, that might work," she said. "My socks will be ruined as I leave the carriage, but I can replace them easily enough. It truly is impossible walking in them while trying to keep my other clothing from falling off."
She took off the hat, which kept sliding down over her eyes, setting it on the seat beside her. Elizabeth held the boot tops while the woman slid her feet out of them. Those, too, were set aside for the moment. She settled back in the seat and pulled the rug close around her.
"I know there is no one to provide an introduction, so may I ask your name? It will be much easier if I have something to call you." Elizabeth said.
"I would really prefer to remain unknown in this form," she said. "It is terribly embarrassing."
"I must call you something. Give me a name."
"I am Will, uh..." she began.
"Willa shall do," said Elizabeth with a chuckle. "I am Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. However since I am on a first name basis with my new friend, Willa, please call me Lizzy."
"I...um...thank you," she said, looking and sounding rather flustered.
"Can you tell me how this happened to you?" asked Lizzy.
"I am not completely sure. I think it must have been the powder."
"The powder?"
"Oh, yes. A few days ago I was in my study working when the butler brought in the afternoon post. I had him set it down on the desk as I was busy writing. At the top of the pile was a large, somewhat puffy, envelope. As Mr. Carson moved away he bumped against the desk and a weighty volume I had foolishly balanced on the edge of it fell to the floor. He picked up the book and set it back on the desk right atop the envelope, which burst open on the end closest to me. A cloud of sparkly powder shot out of it right into my face. It settled on my skin and clothing and then seemed to fade away even before Mr. Carson had finished apologizing. I checked the envelope, but it was now empty. The only thing written on it was my direction, there was no return, no note. All it had held was the powder."
"Very strange. What happened next?"
"Nothing at first. A while later I went upstairs to wash up before dinner. Although I could no longer see the powder I wanted to make sure it was gone. I had some hot water which my valet left for me on the edge of the washstand, but I was feeling oddly hot, so I poured some cold water. I reached into the bowl and splashed a handful on my face and whoosh! I turned into this!" She looked down at herself.
"I was so surprised I jumped and bumped into the pitcher of hot water, which spilled all over me. That was when I discovered how uncomfortable it can be changing back while wearing fitted clothing."
"Oh dear," said Lizzy.
"I thought perhaps I was ill and delirious. It seemed so impossible. I needed to try it again, but wanted to be sure I could change back. I requested more hot water then asked my servant to leave for a time. Once again I splashed my face with the cold water and once again I changed. It is the oddest sensation I could ever imagine."
"Does it hurt?"
"Not exactly. It is just...odd. Everything changes all at once. Suddenly I am shorter and weaker. My balance is different and I have all this hair, not to mention all the other changes," she shook her head and the long curls bounced. "I don't know how you women manage."
"I expect I would be wondering how men manage if the reverse happened to me," Lizzy chuckled.
"I suppose so," Willa said with a sigh. "I have tried the change back and forth a few times. I worried that the hot water might not work at some point, but it has every time. I discovered I can drink cold liquids, but must be careful not to spill any on myself. It isn't just water I must worry about – any cold liquid seems to do. With the rain we have been having I have been afraid to go outside. I did have business I needed to take care of, though, so when it cleared up today I thought I would venture out with caution. I completed my business and rewarded myself with a stop at Hatchard's to see if a rare book I ordered had come in. After that drenching I am glad it had not. The book would have been ruined."
"Well now I can tell we will be friends," Lizzy said with a smile. "Anyone who is more concerned about ruining a book than ruining their clothing is someone I can get along with."
Willa smiled. "Did you find anything interesting while you were at Hatchard's?"
"Oh yes. I was able to purchase several volumes I have been hoping to read. I found a few new novels, two histories I have been looking for and a volume on crop rotation that is supposed to have very good information."
"Why would you be interested in crop rotation? Do you run an estate?" Willa asked a bit sharply.
"To some extent, I do," Lizzy replied. "My Papa does not take a great deal of interest in the workings of our estate and we were not doing as well as we should have been. For the last five years I have been handling the accounts and making improvements. I have tried to learn as much as I can, with good results. Our productivity has increased noticeably."
"Your father should be ashamed, leaving the running of the estate to a young woman."
"It gives him more time to read his books. I do a better job than he did anyway." Lizzy answered.
Willa looked as if she might have something more to say, but thought better of it and remained silent for a time.
"Why are you here in London?" she finally asked Lizzy.
"I am visiting with my aunt and uncle, who live here. I am allowed a month to visit each year, which makes for a pleasant change of pace. I arrived three days ago, so I have the majority of my visit before me."
"Are you fond of your aunt and uncle?"
"I am, perhaps, more fond of them than of my own parents," Lizzy said a little bashfully. "They are very kind people and treat me and all my sisters well."
"Do you have many sisters?"
"Four of them. I am second eldest. And before you ask, no, I do not have any brothers. That is part of the reason my father takes so little interest in the estate. It is entailed and unless my father were to have a son, it will be inherited by a distant cousin my father despises."
"I can understand the frustration of it, but that is still no excuse for neglecting a property."
"It is not neglected. I care for it. Now let us leave the subject before we argue. Tell me, do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Willa looked annoyed, but answered the question. "I have a younger sister. No brothers, although one of my cousins is as close to me as a brother would be. Oh, I dread the thought of him ever finding out about this. The teasing would be endless." She sighed again.
"I wonder if there is a way to fix the problem? Of course I have never heard of such a thing happening before, so I have no idea where to start looking," Lizzy said.
"I had thought if I could find out who sent the envelope I might be able to learn how to stop changing. I did not recognize the writing and there was not even a postmark. Somehow it made it to me without going through the official post. My butler said that no messengers had arrived."
"The envelope is almost as mysterious as the malady."
"Malady," Willa snorted. "I suppose that is as a good a way to describe it as any."
They both felt the carriage stop and Lizzy looked out. They had drawn up before the door of a respectable-looking house on a clean and neat street. "We are here," she said.
Lizzy carried the boots and hat so Willa would have hands free to better manage the loose clothing. They moved swiftly into the house and Lizzy took her straight up the stairs to a bedroom.
"Stay here and I will fetch some hot water," she told her guest as she set the boots on the floor and the hat on the dressing table. She soon returned with a clothes brush, a pitcher of hot water and a length of toweling.
"I will leave you here to change," she said. "Please come downstairs when you are ready. The drawing room is the first door off the hall to the right as you reach the bottom of the stairs."
Willa thanked her and Lizzy left. She went to the drawing room and occupied herself flipping through her new books, which John the footman had brought in for her. She had glanced through them all and piled them up in the order in which she planned to read them before her guest came downstairs.
He was even more handsome than she had remembered, despite the slightly disheveled, mud-stained clothing. He bowed as he entered the room. "Miss Bennet," he said in greeting.
She stood and curtsied. "Sir."
Just then Lizzy's aunt came in. She looked in surprise at the man standing just inside her drawing room.
"Mr. Darcy," she said, "whatever are you doing here?"
The gentleman started in surprise. "I am not sure I recognize you, madam. How do you know who I am?"
"Well, of course you were only twelve the last time I saw you. It is just that you look so much like your late father I recognized you immediately. I am Madeline Gardiner, née Brooks. My father was the vicar in Lambton until his elder brother passed away and Father inherited the estate. You had little to do with me, although I think you knew my younger brother, Samuel Brooks."
Mr. Darcy nodded, although he still seemed somewhat disconcerted at being recognized. "Yes, I do remember him and I remember your father. I must apologize for being here uninvited and in such a state. I had a bit of an accident and Miss Bennet was kind enough to allow me to come in and get myself sorted out. I am pleased to renew our acquaintance."
Lizzy thought he looked more concerned than pleased. She wondered if it was just worry that they now knew his name or if he felt above his company in the house of the vicar's daughter.
"The pleasure is mine, sir," said Mrs. Gardiner. "I remember my time in Lambton fondly. Your parents were such excellent people. I particularly remember how kind your mother was. It is nice to hear a familiar accent and have the reminder of those good times."
He bowed. "I appreciate your kind words and hospitality. I wonder if you would have one of your servants hail a cab for me. I do not have my carriage available and I need to return home. I should also like a word with your niece before I go – with the door open for propriety's sake, of course."
"I will go have our carriage brought round for you while you have your word with Lizzy. I will leave the door open and trust you to behave properly." She stepped out of the room.
When she was out of earshot Mr. Darcy quietly asked, "How much for your silence, Miss Bennet?"
"Mr Darcy!" she said reprovingly. "I have told you that I am Willa's friend and I do NOT betray my friends' secrets. I will forgive you the insult this time since you do not know me well, but I caution you not to think me a mercenary again. You have no need to worry. I would not even tell my sister Jane, and she is closer to me than anyone." She laughed a little. "Not that she would believe me anyway," she added.
He drew a deep shuddering breath. "I thank you, Miss Bennet. And I apologize for jumping to the conclusion that I would need to bribe you into silence. I am so constantly surrounded by people who want a piece of me for my money or estate. It is strange to find someone who offers friendship without a price."
"I am sorry it is such novel experience for you," Lizzy said quietly. "You may count on me as such a friend."
"You have my thanks, for that and more. I do not know how I would have been able to make my way home as I was."
She smiled, but said no more as Mrs. Gardiner returned to let them know the carriage would be around in a few minutes.
"How did you and Lizzy meet, Mr. Darcy"
"We ran into each other at Hatchard's and discovered we have interests in common. I am most grateful she was willing to assist me after my accident."
"You were not hurt?" asked Mrs. Gardiner.
"Not seriously. I just found myself wet and muddy and without transport home."
"I am glad she was able to assist you. Ah, there is the carriage now. Just give your direction to the coachman and he will take you there directly." She led the way into the foyer.
Darcy bowed to both ladies.
"Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet, good day to you." They curtsied in response. He turned and left.